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Conexant Adds Miniature Single-Chip Silicon Tuner To Its Programmable Cable Modem Solution
Conexant provides all of the silicon and software required for a finished product, plus the flexibility to support multiple worldwide standards and new feature sets using the industry's only programmable, single-chip digital cable modem Conexant Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNXT) Monday introduced the first cable modem reference design from a single supplier to include all necessary silicon and software for creating a complete subscriber modem that can support all popular worldwide cable-modem standards. Manufacturers add their own box and branding, while retaining the unprecedented flexibility to software-upgrade their platforms to customize feature sets, support new standards or migrate to future capabilities such as Internet Protocol (IP) telephony and home networking. Conexant's CN9420CM cable modem reference design is intended to significantly reduce the time it takes to get new cable-modem products to market, and will be sold exclusively to cable-modem manufacturers. The heart of the CN9420CM is Conexant's CN9414 single-chip cable modem, the industry's only solution to feature a programmable Media Access Control (MAC) layer that manufacturers can software-upgrade to new feature sets or industry standards. The CN9420CM reference design also includes a comprehensive suite of driver, application and operating system code, and is the first to include key application software above the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack for such critical cable-modem functions as registration, authentication and software downloading. Rounding out the design is the ready-to-manufacture cable-modem board, plus all of the schematics, board lay-out files, documentation and input/output port cables for a complete subscriber cable-modem product. ""Until now, cable-modem manufacturers either had to develop their own application software, or use software from multiple other sources to create a total solution,"" said John Graham, Vice President of Marketing for Conexant's Digital Infotainment Division. ""This is the first cable modem design platform that has been developed from the ground up as a complete system solution including hardware, software and all the other components required for a finished product. Plus, it's the only platform that supports today's industry standards and can be software-upgraded to new features sets and standards as this rapidly emerging marketplace evolves through 2000 and beyond."" In addition to Conexant's single-chip CN9414 cable modem, Conexant's reference design incorporates all of the software required to meet Data Over Cable Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 1.0/1.1 requirements established by Cable Television Laboratories Inc. (CableLabsÆ). This includes all system controller software and peripheral drivers for the CN9414's Ethernet, universal serial bus (USB) and tuner functionality, plus software code for its programmable cable MAC. Conexant supplies all of the MAC services software and the majority of higher-layer services software, including support for a complete TCP/IP stack, plus simple network management protocol (SNMP) software and other important network management application layers above the TCP/IP software stack. Additionally, Conexant's reference design provides a complete set of application programming interface (API) documentation, including datasheets, application notes and a DOCSIS designer's guide. Conexant has invested in an extensive testing laboratory to perform the full suite of CableLabs Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP) tests, which cable- modem manufacturers must complete before entering their products into the CableLabs certification process. Manufacturers also can re-program the CN9414's cable MAC to support other widely-used worldwide standards established by the EuroDOCSIS, Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) and Digital Audio Visual Council (DAVIC) organizations. Conexant's CN9420CM is available immediately. About Conexant Conexant's Digital Infotainment Division is a leading provider of semiconductor systems for broadband and broadcast communications applications. Addressing the convergence of PCs with consumer entertainment products, the division's broad portfolio includes cable and wireless modems, IP telephony products, digital set-top boxes, and digital broadcast and video solutions for personal computing appliances. With revenues of approximately $1.5 billion, Conexant is the world's largest independent company focused exclusively on providing semiconductor products and systems solutions for communications electronics. With more than 30 years of experience in developing communications technology, the company draws upon its expertise in mixed-signal processing to deliver integrated systems and semiconductor products for a broad range of communications applications. These products facilitate communications worldwide through wireline voice and data communications networks, cordless and cellular wireless telephony systems, personal imaging devices and equipment, and emerging cable and wireless broadband communications networks. The company aligns its business into five product platforms: Network Access, Wireless Communications, Digital Infotainment, Personal Imaging, and Personal Computing. Conexant is a member of the Nasdaq-100 Index, which represents the largest and most active stocks listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market across major industry groups.