(1) (
System-
On-
Chip) Pronounced "S-O-C." An electronic system on a single chip. A system-on-chip (SoC) typically includes a CPU along with graphics and other processing components. For example, a smartphone SoC would include the processor cores, graphics, USB, audio and camera processing. In this case, only radio and power management chips are required to provide a three-chip solution.
RAM may be included in an SoC; however, RAM is generally a separate chip such as in a package on package (PoP) module. A system-on-chip (SoC) may also contain a microcontroller rather than a single-chip processor.
The more functions contained within a single chip, the more systems can be miniaturized for handheld use with an ancillary reduction in power. See
mobile platform,
microcontroller,
system in package,
package on package and
SOCcentral.com.
(2) (SOC) (
Security
Operations
Center) A facility SOC monitors human and vehicle access within a building or complex. An information technology SOC monitors the hardware, software and networks in an organization.