Core powers up home networks

A revolutionary new chipset from Entropic Communications is based on the MIPS32 4KEm processor core.

A revolutionary new chipset from Entropic Communications, which allows homeowners to create a high-speed multimedia network and share high-speed video and data throughout the home using existing coaxial cable, is based on the MIPS32 4KEm processor core.

The c.Link-270 chipset enables coax to transmit digital data at 270Mbit/s, or more than 20 times the speed of most home networks.

The chipset's two ICs consist of an RF front end and a baseband controller built around the 4KEm processor core.

Entropic is a founding member of the Multimedia Over Coax Alliance (MoCAT), which made headlines when it was announced last month at the Consumer Electronics Show, and which includes industry leaders Cisco Systems, Comcast, EchoStar Communications, Panasonic, Motorola, RadioShack and Toshiba.

MoCA is developing standards for the distribution of content over in-home coax cable, allowing consumers to easily link household devices such as TVs, digital video recorders and PCs, and access high-quality voice, video and data from room to room.

According to Entropic President and CEO Patrick Henry: "Our goal was to give consumers the most cost-effective method for networking high-quality video and data throughout the home at blazing-fast speed.

The MIPS core not only gave us the performance we needed, but also offered the most flexibility to meet some very challenging design requirements".

"Consumer-friendly solutions, such as those from Entropic, greatly enhance the user experience and underscore why MIPS-based devices, such as digital TVs and DVD recordable devices, are fast becoming the popular choice in home entertainment", said Jack Browne, Vice President of Worldwide Sales at MIPS Technologies.

"We applaud Entropic as they take advantage of the high performance MIPS architecture to bring consumers new ways to share content".

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