EnThink Introduces Connectivity Solution for IEEE 1394 Audio Video Applications

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EnThink Introduces Connectivity Solution for IEEE 1394 Audio Video Applications

Robust 5C Digital Content Protection Technology For High Speed Data Transfer

Santa Clara, Calif.,—June 21, 1999 - Santa Clara-based EnThink, Inc. today announced its latest ready-to-use connectivity solution for audio/video applications in IEEE 1394 environments. This important building block is being demonstrated at the Design Automation Conference (DAC'99) starting today in New Orleans and is one of the first such demonstrations by a technology provider. For the Silicon Valley start-up this is yet another step towards the deployment of high-speed serial communications functionality in Internet Appliances.

The IEEE 1394 serial bus is a connectivity standard that is an important enabling technology today, as consumer electronics moves towards becoming all digital. EnThink's newly developed Audio/Video (AV) Link Layer Solution, which is designed as an interconnectivity solution for a wide variety of digital electronic products like set-top-boxes, televisions, VCRs, video cameras, and other consumer applications.

The P1394a compliant AV Link Layer Controller supports transmission of digital content across the IEEE 1394 interface at speeds of up to 400 MBps, making it one of the fastest IEEE 1394 devices for audio/video data. The AV interface is optimized for digital video in accordance with IEC 61883 specifications - a widely agreed upon method for transferring digital video over the IEEE 1394 high performance serial bus. The AV Link can process AV content transferred in MPEG-2 data streams as well as in other AV data formats for Digital Video (DV) and Digital Satellite System (DSS) applications.

A key design feature is the implementation of a secure and robust technology for the protection of digital content transmitted between digital electronic products. The content protection technology is jointly developed and promoted by five companies who are leaders in the consumer and computer electronics world, namely, Hitachi, Ltd., Intel Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Sony Corporation and Toshiba Corporation (Hence the name 5C and 5C System). EnThink's AV Link solution implements the 5C Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP) Method to protect the illegal intercepting, tampering and copying of digital data as it traverses the IEEE 1394 bus.

"EnThink is one of the early implementers of the 5C Digital Content Protection technology", said Steven Ballogh, Acting President of the Digital Transmission Licensing Administrator (DTLA), the licensing body for the DTCP Specification. "EnThink's development of a content-protection-enabled IEEE 1394 offering will help accelerate the adoption of a cross-industry digital transmission content protection solution for a broad range of digital audio/visual products, particularly in the consumer electronics market segment".

The 5C Content Protection hardware and software is a separate block that can be licensed by users of any IEEE 1394 technology.

Compliance with the P1394a standard enables the AV Link to support simultaneous real-time (isochronous) data transfers and non-time dependent (asynchronous) data transfers. This allows devices with real-time, high-bandwidth data content, such as digital video from a DVD player, to efficiently share the IEEE 1394 bus with a non-real-time device such as a computer disk drive. The AV Link also supports multiple device-to-device connection while enabling simultaneous transmission and reception of data over each connection.

Offering hot plug-and-play, the AV Link enables devices to be connected without the need to power down equipment or reconfigure the 1394 bus. The core features a generic 8-, 16- or 32-bit host interface that easily supports most microprocessors and microcontrollers available today. For developing embedded applications, the AV Link is fully supported with software such as HAL. Also available is the supporting Audio/Video Control Protocol software that provides a command set to control consumer electronic audio/video equipment transferring data over the IEEE 1394 bus.

The IEC 61883 Audio/Video Link Layer Solution, with Content Protection, adds to EnThink's growing family of IEEE 1394 connectivity solutions that include the P1394a Generic Link and Physical Layer Cores.

About EnThink

EnThink Inc. is a leading provider of ready-for-use technology building blocks in the communications and connectivity domains. It acts as a one-stop shop for OEM customers, with a comprehensive product portfolio that includes proven Intellectual Property (IP) Cores, firmware, systems software and integration services. EnThink's offerings enable the development of new and innovative Internet-ready solutions for home networking, mobile computing and other consumer and business applications.

EnThink is a registered trademark of EnThink Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.