Harman/Becker and SMSC Open MOST® Data Link Layer
for Existing and Future Generations
HAUPPAUGE, NY, October 1, 2007 - SMSC (Nasdaq: SMSC)
announced today that SMSC and Harman/Becker Automotive Systems have
committed to open and license, on a royalty-bearing basis, their
proprietary Data Link Layer intellectual property for existing and
future generations of the Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST®)
multimedia network. By making available their key technologies for
the lower layers of MOST, semiconductor companies will be provided
an opportunity to manufacture and supply chips that incorporate an
interoperable MOST interface.
MOST is an open standard for multimedia network communication for
automobiles and other applications that has been developed by and
within the MOST Cooperation, a consortium of key automotive
companies and suppliers. As is typical for standards-based
technologies, there is complementary technology and intellectual
property that is important in implementing standards-based products
but is not part of the standard itself. The Data Link Layer
developed by Harman/Becker and SMSC is one example as it is not part
of the MOST standard. To date, SMSC and Harman have not made the
details of their proprietary Data Link Layer public and it is not
part of the MOST Cooperation specifications.
"Given the growth in the market for MOST-based products, both
Harman/Becker and SMSC now believe that this is an opportune time to
make our proprietary technology available to encourage competition
and assist in the growth of the MOST marketplace," said Helmut
Schinagel, CEO of Harman/Becker Automotive Systems.
Harman/Becker and SMSC intend to make their technology available
in a step-wise process linked to market growth for existing and
future generations of MOST:
As a particular generation of the MOST technology (e.g.
MOST25, MOST50, or future faster generations) matures to a total
market size of 10 million nodes sold, SMSC intends to offer a
royalty-bearing license to its design implementation of the MOST
Data Link Layer to other semiconductor companies. This license
will enable other companies to implement SMSC's design of a MOST
interface on their own chips subject to the limits of the
semiconductor processing. SMSC will assist licensees on a fee
basis to help to ensure interoperability with SMSC's existing
implementations.
When the market for a particular implementation of the MOST
technology has reached a size of 50 million nodes sold,
Harman/Becker and SMSC intend to publish the details of the Data
Link Layer of the respective generation of MOST to other members
of MOST Cooperation and license the use of SMSC's and
Harman/Becker's respective patents to other members of MOST
Cooperation allowing them to provide their own design
implementations of an interoperable data link layer for MOST based
products. Licenses to the MOST Link Layer patent intellectual
property will be available on a royalty-bearing basis similar to
other comparable networking technologies, such as the Controller
Area Network (CAN).
The precise details of the licensing arrangements offered by
Harman/Becker and SMSC will be reflected in respective licensing
agreements to be executed by interested parties.
"As the first generation of MOST is approaching a market size of
50 million nodes sold, SMSC has developed a detailed specification
of its Data Link Layer. Members of the MOST Cooperation may request
copies of the specification and the license agreement via SMSC's web
site," said Christian Thiel, General Manager of SMSC's automotive
product line. "With this opening step, we are demonstrating our
commitment to making our technology available competitively in line
with growing market size. We expect this to accelerate the success
of MOST."
About MOST Technology:
MOST multimedia technology enables the networking of feature-rich
infotainment systems in automobiles by providing the means to
distribute multimedia entertainment functions among the various
control devices around the car. For example, a CD changer, radio,
global positioning system, mobile telephone and DVD player can be
established in an efficient ring network and can send crisp,
static-free audio signals digitally to the amplifier by utilizing
the MOST network.
About the MOST Cooperation:
The MOST Cooperation was founded in 1998 by BMW, DaimlerChrysler,
Harman/Becker and OASIS SiliconSystems (acquired by SMSC in March
2005) to establish and refine MOST as a common standard for today's
and tomorrow's needs of automotive multimedia networks. Today, the
Cooperation includes 15 international carmakers and more than 70 key
component suppliers all working with MOST Technology and
contributing towards its innovation. For more information see http://www.mostcooperation.com/.
About Harman/Becker Automotive Systems:
Harman/Becker Automotive Systems is the automotive division of
Harman International, Inc. Harman/Becker provides leading-edge
entertainment, information and communication systems for the
automotive industry and the aftermarket. Harman International
Industries, Incorporated (http://www.harman.com/) is a
leading manufacturer of high-quality, high-fidelity audio products
and electronic systems for the consumer and professional markets.
The company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol "HAR."
Harman/Becker and Harman International are trademarks of Harman
International Industries, Incorporated, registered in the United
States and/or other countries.
About SMSC:
Many of the world's most successful global technology companies
rely upon SMSC as a go-to resource for semiconductor system
solutions that span analog, digital and mixed-signal technologies.
Leveraging substantial intellectual property, integration expertise
and a comprehensive global infrastructure, SMSC solves design
challenges and delivers performance, space, cost and time-to-market
advantages to its customers. SMSC's application focus targets key
vertical markets including consumer electronics, automotive
infotainment, PC and industrial applications. The Company has
developed leadership positions in its select markets by providing
application specific solutions such as mixed-signal embedded
controllers, non-PCI Ethernet, ARCNET, MOST and Hi-Speed USB.
SMSC is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York with operations in
North America, Asia and Europe. Engineering design centers are
located in Arizona, New York, Texas and Karlsruhe, Germany.
Additional information is available at http://www.smsc.com/.
SMSC and MOST are registered trademarks of
Standard Microsystems Corporation.
