Ethernet Bridge Technology helps connect A/V equipment.
Press Release Summary:
Suited for consumer and professional applications, BroadSync(TM) HD technology enables streaming of HD audio/video (A/V) traffic over Ethernet to networked electronic devices. This custom implementation of IEEE 802.1 Audio Video Bridging (AVB) draft standard provides QoS, frame synchronization, and timing required for professional-quality streaming. Also promoting material reduction, solution enables one Ethernet cable to replace variety of cables currently used to connect A/V equipment.
Original Press Release:
Broadcom Makes Ethernet More 'Entertaining'
New BroadSync(TM) HD Technology for Consumer and Professional Audio/Video Applications Leverages Broadcom's Extensive Ethernet IC Experience and Leadership
IRVINE, Calif., March 31 -- Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ:BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced BroadSync(TM) HD technology to enable extraordinary streaming of high definition (HD) audio/video (A/V) traffic over Ethernet to networked electronic devices. This new technology expands the market for Broadcom's existing Ethernet portfolio beyond traditional networking applications by promoting Ethernet as a cost effective, easy-to-install technology, with professional levels of Quality of Service (QoS), for the consumer and professional A/V electronics market. BroadSync HD technology is Broadcom's custom implementation of the IEEE 802.1 Audio Video Bridging (AVB) draft standard, which provides guaranteed QoS, frame synchronization and timing that is necessary to stream professional-quality audio and video traffic over Ethernet.
For more information about the IEEE 802.1 AVB Task Force, please visit: http://www.ieee802.org/1/pages/avbridges.html
The growth of digital media content has created a need to access and distribute this content reliably and cost effectively. As a result, many dedicated interfaces (such as analog audio and video, component video and HDMI) are being replaced with network-based interfaces and technologies such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi(R), MoCA(R) and Bluetooth(R). This transition creates an opportunity for equipment manufacturers to reduce the wide array of interfaces in use today to a few proven easy-to-use technologies that are relatively inexpensive. In support of this trend, the IEEE 802.1 AVB draft standard will ultimately enable a single Ethernet cable to replace the variety of cables that are now used to connect audio and video equipment. Furthermore, Ethernet connectivity will now enable these devices to be connected together via a network, and to the Internet, allowing access to online content.
"The connectivity technologies used today in consumer and professional audio/video electronics can be difficult to use with a plethora of seemingly identical connectors and obscure labels," said Michael Johas Teener, Technical Director, Broadcom's Enterprise Networking Group. "These technologies also present technical issues such as limited performance, fixed functionality and the inability to connect with computers or the Internet. Broadcom's BroadSync HD technology solves these problems by combining guaranteed bandwidth, quality of service, and low latency with the flexibility and performance of Ethernet."
Broadcom is leading the effort to promote the AVB draft standard, which uses standard Ethernet connectivity (i.e. Category 5 cabling and RJ45 connectors), as the common underlying technology for high quality network-based streaming that will eventually replace most other types of connectivity presently used in A/V equipment. Since Ethernet is cost effective and widely used in networking today, modifying it is much easier and less expensive than adding networking to existing dedicated interfaces.
BroadSync(TM) HD Technology
BroadSync HD technology is Broadcom's custom implementation of the AVB draft standard, and it expands the market for the company's current Ethernet-based products. This technology has the potential to lower the cost of equipment that currently uses other analog and digital point-to-point connectivity technologies because it originates from a standards-based network protocol. With the addition of BroadSync HD technology, Broadcom Ethernet products can support the most demanding connection requirements of consumer and professional A/V equipment. Broadcom is the first in the industry to have an end-to-end silicon portfolio that supports the IEEE 802.1 AVB draft specification including Ethernet switches, end-point devices, physical layer devices (PHYs) and software.
Today, Broadcom is working with strategic partners, such as Harman International, to bring this technology to market.
"The IEEE 802.1 AV Bridging standard promises to revolutionize connectivity for audio and video components, and we see Broadcom as a strategic partner in the effort to bring this technology to market," said Rick Kreifeldt, Vice President, Harman International Corporate Technology Group. "Broadcom's leadership in Ethernet technology, coupled with our expertise in consumer, professional, and automotive audio/video, will result in exciting new products in all of our markets."
About Broadcom
Broadcom Corporation is a major technology innovator and global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment. We provide the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices. These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything(R).
Broadcom is one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies, with 2008 revenue of $4.66 billion, and holds over 3,100 U.S. and over 1,400 foreign patents, more than 7,600 additional pending patent applications, and one of the broadest intellectual property portfolios addressing both wired and wireless transmission of voice, video, data and multimedia.
Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at +1.949.926.5000 or at www.broadcom.com.
Broadcom, the pulse logo, Connecting everything, the Connecting everything logo and BroadSync(TM) are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Bluetooth is a trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. MoCA is a trademark of the Multimedia over Coax Alliance. Wi-Fi is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
