Texas Instruments Brings More Consumer Features and High-Speed Interactivity to Cable Set-Top Boxes and Digital TVs11 April 2006
Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE: TXN) (TI) today announced its Puma-based DOCSIS set-top gateway (DSG) solution for cable set-top box (STB) and digital television (DTV) manufacturers. These DOCSIS set-top gateway products enable multi-service operators (MSO) to deliver video, data and voice streams, as well as the necessary STB control features, over a single DOCSIS network. This combination provides additional revenue opportunities from enhanced interactive services not possible with legacy out-of-band (OOB) configurations, while reducing MSO expenditures and operational costs. For more information, visit http://www.ti.com/dsg .
In-Stat, a leading technology research firm, recently forecasted that the number of worldwide cable modem subscribers will reach 99 million by 2009. In addition, In-Stat also noted that DSG-enabled products will soon expand the reach of cable broadband services beyond the PC.
"As the competition for pay-TV and high-speed data service heats up, cable MSOs are solidifying their subscriber base by offering advanced services such as Video-on-Demand, digital video recording and even video dating services," according to Mike Paxton, In-Stat's cable industry analyst. "With DSG-based solutions, cable MSOs can rapidly install or update interactive applications and continue to meet the growing subscriber demand for advanced services."
The Advantages of DSG-enabled Set-tops and Digital TVs
In the United States, where cable is the established video services delivery method, set-top-boxes and digital TV's can now provide an enhanced user experience. An embedded DOCSIS solution improves traditional services such as Video-on-Demand and Pay-per-View, while enabling the delivery of next- generation services such as IPTV, video telephony and high-speed data transmission.
Existing Legacy OOB standards (SCTE 55-1/DVS 178 and SCTE 55-2/DVS 167) cannot support all of these features -- due to the limited upstream channel -- and do not provide a single, unified standard for the industry. TI's Puma- based products are versatile, providing both advanced DSG and legacy OOB compatibility over a single hardware platform, eliminating the need for a separate OOB transceiver and RF front end. Original equipment manufacturers can build end products that support both DOCSIS and legacy system mechanisms, allowing for a smooth transition to an end-to-end DOCSIS network.
"TI is enabling the Cable DOCSIS era, with field hardened solutions for cable STB and digital television DTV manufacturers," said Irvind Ghai, Director for TI's Cable Modem Business Unit. "By partnering with the top OEMs and MSOs, TI has developed products leveraging our proven PUMA technology at the core of the DOCSIS Set-Top gateway to provide additional revenue opportunities, while optimizing system costs."
TI DSG Hardware and Software Development Kits
TI's DSG solution is based on its industry-leading Puma family of cable modem solutions and is compliant with DOCSIS and CableLabs(TM) certification requirements, giving STB and DTV manufacturers a field-proven, robust platform on which to build their products.
TI's DSG platform includes a complete reference design kit including both hardware and software development kits, helping manufacturers speed time to market. The hardware development kit leverages the Puma TNETC460x DOCSIS cable modem chip with CableCard interface, and a legacy OOB (SCTE 55-1/DVS 178 and SCTE 55-2/DVS 167) transceiver, designed for cost effectiveness. Available 10/100 Ethernet and USB 1.1/ USB 2.0 ports provide flexibility in interfacing to the STB/DTV host processor.
Availability
The TI DSG platform is available today. OEMs looking for a turnkey solution can take advantage of DSG enabled embedded cable modems (available today) from several of TI's third party partners.
Texas Instruments Broadband Solutions
For OEMs developing broadband communications solutions, TI's advanced signal processing-based silicon and software platforms deliver the optimal performance, lower power consumption, and system-level integration required to rapidly deploy differentiated next-generation products for cable modems, digital subscriber line (xDSL) modems, integrated access devices (IADs), VoIP gateways, carrier infrastructure, and home and office wireless networking. See http://www.ti.com/broadband .
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world signal processing requirements. In addition to Semiconductor, the company's businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries.
Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at http://www.ti.com .
Trademarks
Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance, Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Source: prnewswire
All trademarks and copyrighted information contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Related Computer Hardware Articles
|
