Middleware to turn MCUs to home networking

Renesas Technology Corp and Ubiquitous Corp are to co-operate in the development and sales of home network oriented solutions based on the two companies' technological expertise.

Renesas Technology Corp and Ubiquitous Corp are to co-operate in the development and sales of home network oriented solutions based on the two companies' technological expertise and have entered into a comprehensive collaboration covering product commercialisation, marketing, technical research and technical support.

This collaboration calls for Ubiquitous to undertake development of network middleware and embedded operating systems while Renesas Technology handles hardware development including platforms and LSIs.

A system for co-operation between the two companies will be set up quickly to bring to market home network oriented solutions, combining the technologies of both.

As the initial phase of the collaboration, middleware for TCP/IP use and UPnP use developed by Ubiquitous for white-goods control networks will be incorporated in Renesas Technology's H8S Family, SH-2 Series, and M16C Family microcomputers, and Ubiquitous' TCP/IP and UPnP AV middleware for audio/video home electrical appliance networks will be installed in Renesas Technology's SH3-DSP Family and SH-4 Family.

Renesas Technology plans to market these products to manufacturers of home electrical appliances, audio/video equipment, and other household gadgets.

Embedding these UPnP-compatible microcomputer products will enable various kinds of home electrical equipment to be connected to a network without the need for complex operations or settings.

In moving toward the realisation of a ubiquitous network society in which a variety of information devices are widely employed, the home electrical appliance market is witnessing ongoing development of technologies for controlling appliances connected to a network from inside or outside the home.

In this environment there is a demand not only for network construction using conventional powerful and expensive high-end products, but also for the development of small, lightweight, and economical low-end products that will make it possible to network a wide range of domestic electrical equipment.

A wide range of the Renesas Technology microcomputers is available, covering the entire spectrum from low-end 4bit to high-end 32bit products.

With their use in a wide variety of home electrical and electronic devices, from white goods such as rice cookers, microwave ovens and refrigerators to audio/video devices such as DVD players and digital TVs, these products offer high-cost-performance solutions.

At the same time, Ubiquitous' lightweight, high-performance network oriented middleware supports a wide range of applications, from the white-goods market to home audio/video equipment requiring high-speed transmission of large volumes of image data.

In particular, Ubiquitous boasts the world's most compact code size for TCP/IP and UPnP protocol compatible middleware, at 10-15% the size of previous middleware products of this kind, enabling it to be incorporated into low-end microcomputers for the first time.

Incorporating light and powerful Ubiquitous middleware into the most suitable Renesas Technology microcomputer products, regardless of high-end or low-end classification, makes it possible to implement networking of a wide range of home electrical appliances.

As a result, even users unfamiliar with networking can easily handle intelligent electrical appliances in the home, bringing nearer the advent of a true ubiquitous network society.

Renesas Technology and Ubiquitous will release a software development kit (SDK) at the Embedded Systems Expo and Conference (ESEC) to be held in Tokyo from 7th to 9th July 2004.

Initially, SDK support will only be provided in Japan, but an overseas support system will also be set up by October 2004, and global home network oriented solutions will be offered with a view to realising a ubiquitous network society.

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