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August/September 2005 Edition
Featured Article
Evolution of the Cable Modem: From a Web Access Device to a Consumer Electronics Product
By Irvind Ghai, Director of Cable Marketing, and Etai Zaltsman, Chief Technology Officer
Texas Instruments DSP Systems
In its original form, the cable modem was considered an access device designed to deliver one service: the World Wide Web. It was a mysterious box, installed for the consumer by their cable service provider. Each home typically had only one, with networked access to multiple users via a router if the consumer was tech-savvy. Once installed, the modem would stay with the homeowner, silently blinking as it dependably delivered Internet access until the end of its working life. There was no "upgrade cycle" like so many other electronics products in the home.
Now, the model is changing. Cable modems are "morphing" into consumer electronics products as new services are being offered by cable service providers. This transformation into a consumer electronics product implies:
- We will see cable modem technology embedded into devices where the modem is not the primary function. In some cases, the user may not even know there is a cable modem inside
- There will be many modems in the home instead of one modem serving all connected devices
- Cable modems (or the devices they are embedded in) will be replaced more often, not just if the device is broken, but when new models emerge with more features, more stylish form-factors, etc.
We believe there are several consumer electronics products which will benefit from this evolution:
- Digital TVs – FCC-mandated digital TVs will be based on the OpenCable standard that defines a means for providing integrated broadcasting and interactive multimedia services. Part of this standard is the DOCSIS Set-Top Gateway (STG) that is used to replace the legacy Out-of-Band (OOB) channel used to send information like security keys and program guides.
- Cordless telephones – With voice over IP subscriptions growing and cable modem manufacturers offering embedded media terminal access (EMTA) products with voice capabilities, the next logical step is to put the modem in the cordless phone with RF input rather than a RJ-11 connection.
- Residential Gateways – The modem is integrated either at the chip or system level with WLAN networking, VoIP and video processing capabilities.
In order for this transition to occur, several things need to happen:
- Different partners and marketing alliances – New equipment manufacturers and distribution channels will enter the market as companies outside of the traditional cable modem market eye the opportunities.
- Form factor – The modem will need to adapt to multiple form factors, some of them very small, to be embedded into new products. This requires creative layouts and special consideration to maintain the RF performance and prevent interference. TI and TI's ODMs have many years of expertise in this area
- Product development and testing – Consumer electronics manufacturers that are not familiar with DOCSIS will need to get a turnkey solution that will look like a NIC (Network Interface Card). TI can help these customers by providing a complete, closed package that includes hardware, software, documentation that enables seamless integration of the modem. TI can also provide help in testing the product and with submission to CableLabs for certification.
- Interfaces – The embedded modem should offer multiple interfaces to allow flexibility in connecting to the other part of the system. With the TNETC460x device, TI provides many interfaces starting from the standard and fast interfaces like Ethernet and USB2.0 and a flexible universal host port interface that allows almost any general purpose CPU to connect to the device. The TNECT460x also features TI's VLYNQ interface which enables glueless connections between other TI peripheral chips, such as WLAN and VoIP, to expand the functionality of the system.
- Efficient system integration – A standalone modem requires a power supply, power regulators, memory, etc. When embedding the modem into a consumer electronics device, cost savings can be achieved by sharing redundant components. The TNETC460x includes features like internal boot ROM that can eliminate dedicated flash that stores the software image and utilizes the flash that often already exists in the other parts of the system.
- Ongoing standardization – The DOCSIS standard continues to progress, with new features and changes added, such as DOCSIS 3.0. TI is intimately involved with the standards development bodies and the inherent programmability of our solutions enables our customers to future proof their products while implementing the latest features.
This evolution of the cable modem from a simple web access device to a consumer electronic product bodes well for everyone. It offers consumers increased convenience; they can simply buy the television model they like that fits their home décor and budget. There will no longer be a need to find a place for that non-descript square black cable box or squeezing behind the cabinet to figure out which wire goes where. It optimizes operational costs of the local cable provider by saving on the technician's time. Similarly with the cordless phone that has the integrated cable modem, the end consumer can buy the color, shape and model that they identify with—when they get home there is no need to set up additional routers and then find a phone plug. Again, the cable company does not need to do a truck roll to cut the NID, thereby saving on spending.
TI is committed to this burgeoning market as a natural extension of our R&D investment and leadership in the DOCSIS and PacketCable space. TI will likely close out 2005 with 70% market share in the EMTA segment. The MSO, OEM and ODM leaders that make this possible are well positioned to attract other partners to seed these new markets.
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