CableLabs Issues Specifications for DOCSIS 1.1 Modems.LOUISVILLE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 22, 1999-- Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. (CableLabs(R)) has issued two new specifications that allow for advanced features and security in high-speed cable data modems A modem used for sending data and not faxes. See modem and fax/modem. . These new capabilities soon will be built into cable modems that may be sold at retail. Certification of those modems will begin in mid-2000. The first new specification, known as DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) A cable modem standard from the CableLabs research consortium (www.cablelabs.com), which provides equipment certification for interoperability. 1.1, defines new functionality that allows cable operators to provide guaranteed bandwidth, i.e. quality of service (QoS), to cable modem customers. The 1.1 specification is the foundation for PacketCable(TM), a CableLabs-managed project aimed at identifying, qualifying, and supporting Internet-based multimedia products over cable systems. The release of the DOCSIS 1.1 specification follows the release, on March 12, of the first of a series of PacketCable specifications. PacketCable-based products will enable new classes of services utilizing cable-based packet communication networks. DOCSIS stands for Data over Cable Service Interface Specification (communications, networking) Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification - (DOCSIS) ITU-approved interface requirements for cable modems involved in high-speed data distribution over a cable television network. and is the former name of the CableLabs Certified cable modem project, an effort that has resulted in high-speed modems being certified for retail sale. The functionality incorporated into DOCSIS 1.1 is compatible with earlier DOCSIS 1.0 cable modems and headend equipment. The second new specification, known as Baseline Privacy Interface Plus (BPI (Bits Per Inch) The measurement of the number of bits stored in one linear inch of a track (storage channel) on a disk or tape. Bit density on magnetic disks has reached 800,000 bpi (800 Kbpi). See tpi, areal density and magnetic disk. BPI - bits per inch +), further enhances the already-strong data privacy and service protection offered by the earlier DOCSIS 1.0 specifications. The new security specification strengthens service protection by incorporating digital-certificate-based authentication (1) Verifying the integrity of a transmitted message. See message integrity, e-mail authentication and MAC. (2) Verifying the identity of a user logging into a network. of cable modems and customers. BPI+'s enhanced service Enhanced service is service offered over commercial carrier transmission facilities used in interstate communications, that employs computer processing applications that act on the format, content, code, protocol, or similar aspects of the subscriber's transmitted information; protection supports the offering of premium multicast services to customers. "The cable industry has shown remarkable speed in attaining first a retail modem through DOCSIS 1.0, and now, the next level of technology for cable modems," said Dr. Richard R. Green, CableLabs president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "We will continue to evolve this technology in order to help our members deliver new services that will benefit consumers with added choice and new functionality," he added. Green credited CableLabs' Andrew Sundelin as being a key proponent of the DOCSIS 1.1 specification writing process inside CableLabs with the support of nine vendors. "Interoperability testing, including creating test plans and procedures, will begin in April and will run through March of next year," said Rouzbeh Yassini Rouzbeh Yassini is an Iranian-American engineer, self-credited with creating the cable modem and helped propel broadband through cable. He was the founder of LANcity and helped establish the cable modem industry standard (DOCSIS) through Cable Television Laboratories. , executive consultant to CableLabs and the head of the cable modem initiative. "We anticipate beginning certification waves for 1.1 in April 2000," Yassini added. He noted that DOCSIS 1.1 headend equipment also will be qualified on a similar schedule. DOCSIS 1.1 headends must support 1.0 and 1.1 modems and DOCSIS 1.1 modems must be able to act as a 1.0 modem when connected to a DOCSIS 1.0 headend. To accomplish interoperability and certification for 1.1, while at the same time continuing to pursue additional certification of DOCSIS 1.0 modems, CableLabs is assembling a new team of 19 contributing engineers. Engineers from the following companies are participating: Askey, Broadcom, Cisco Systems “Cisco” redirects here. For other uses, see Cisco (disambiguation). Cisco System,Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO, HKSE: 4333 ) is an American multinational corporation with 54,000 employees and annual revenue of US $28.48 billion as of 2006. , Ericsson, General Instrument, Motorola, Philips, 3Com, Panasonic, Digital Furnace, Thomson, Terayon, Toshiba, and Com21. CableLabs is a research and development consortium of cable television system operators representing the continents of North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. and South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . CableLabs plans and funds research and development projects that will help cable companies take advantage of future opportunities and meet future challenges in the cable television industry. It also transfers relevant technologies to member companies and to the industry. In addition, CableLabs acts as a clearinghouse to provide information on current and prospective technological developments that are of interest to the cable industry. CableLabs maintains web sites at http://www.cablelabs.com; http://www.cablemodem.com; http://www.cablenet.org; http://www.opencable.com; and http://www.packetcable.com. |
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