IEEE WIE: IP and Open Source -- Making the Conflict Constructive

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IP and Open Source

Making the Conflict Constructive

Join us for an informative talk by Vicki Mitchell, Director of SoC Software Engineering at Altera which answers the question "How does a technology company protect innovation yet still differentiate to win in an open source world?"

When : Tuesday, November 11th

11:30: Light lunch sponsored by Altera

12 - 1: Tech Talk

1 - 1:30: Dessert and Mixing

Where : Altera Corporation, Room 3171

Note: Attendees will need to get a temporary badge from Altera security. Please bring the required identification

• US citizens: government-issued photo id
• Permanent residents: both a green card and a US government ID
• Non-citizens: passport

Hosted By : Women@Altera www.altera.com , and

IEEE SCV Women in Engineering, http://ieee-wie-scv.org/

Cost : Free

Abstract:

IP and Open Source: Making the Conflict Constructive

Altera, like many others, contributes to the open source community to enable software such as the Linux kernel to run on our SoCFPGA platform. Altera's contributions include improvements to the general kernel and devices, as well as new SoCFPGA-specific functions such as FPGA Management. By nature, these improvements benefit everybody – Altera, our customers, and our competitors. This presentation helps answer the question, “How does a technology company protect innovation yet still differentiate to win in an open source world?”

We have reviewed several examples of strategies and behaviors for managing open source software. The strategies come from three distinct hardware platforms: Soft processor IP, embedded FPGA SoCs, and stand-alone SoCs such as i.MX and OMAP. Key components of leadership are identified, and the steps a hardware vendor can take to establish such leadership are explained. An example of how these specific strategies were applied in a recent Altera contribution to the open source community is included. We also share how open source contributions can be promoted in the market, as well as some tips to help overcome the technical and legal challenges, with the ultimate goal of making everyone a winner in the open source community.

About the speaker:

Victoria (Vicki) Mitchell manages the worldwide embedded software team at Altera. Her group is responsible for models and simulation, development tools, and OS enablement for Altera’s microprocessor subsystems. Vicki has been leading this team since joining Altera in late 2011, and is responsible for the build-out of the software function at the Austin Technology Center.

Vicki has over 25 years experience in low-level, systems software, the majority of which has been for semiconductor companies including Cirrus Logic, SigmaTel, and IDT. Prior to joining Altera, she was the Director of Software Development for Wolfson Microelectronics, where she produced software for audio controllers. Vicki holds a BS in Software Engineering from Colorado Technical University.