Ubicom Tool Helps Tune the Net for Games; Launches Free Online Playability Tool to Measure and Improve Network Performance.MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Ubicom(TM), Inc., a leading provider of communications processor and software solutions, has launched a free testing tool to help online gamers defeat game lag. By using the tool, gamers can determine their OPScore, or Online Playability Score, a benchmark that measures "game lag" under different network conditions. The OPScore benchmark can be used to effectively tune users' home networks and internet connections to greatly reduce game lag. Online gaming See gaming. performance can be affected by traffic congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. in Custom Premise Equipment such as broadband modems and routers. This congestion is caused by high bandwidth applications such as file sharing Copying files from one computer to another. See peer-to-peer network, file sharing protocol and file and printer sharing. , e-mail, and picture uploads. Network congestion In data networking and queueing theory, network congestion occurs when a link or node is carrying so much data that its quality of service deteriorates. Typical effects include queueing delay, packet loss or the blocking of new connections. results in delay, jitter A flicker or fluctuation in a transmission signal or display image. The term is used in several ways, but it always refers to some offset of time and space from the norm. For example, in a network transmission, jitter would be a bit arriving either ahead or behind a standard clock cycle , and loss of data that is experienced as game lag. The OPScore benchmark, developed by Ubicom, measures the flow of game data and other traffic on users' own internet connection to give a precise OPScore. OPScore values relate directly to scoring in games such as "frags" per minute in Quake 3, ranging from 0.0 (unplayable) to 5.0 (optimal performance). This measurement technique is based on research conducted separately by major universities and Ubicom. The OPScore test can be run from any Windows PC An x86-based computer that runs some version of Windows. See x86 and Windows. with an internet connection and can be found at http://gamer.ubicom.com. "The popularity of online gaming received a boost with the launch of the Xbox 360 just weeks ago and will again with PlayStation's launch this coming spring. As a result, gamers are demanding the best performance ever from their networks," said Keith Morris, Ubicom vice president of marketing. "Quality of Service technologies are found in many products, but are often difficult to set up and rarely used to their full potential. Our StreamEngine(R) technology already helps maximize bandwidth for superior performance and automatically scans the network for a wide variety of applications. Additionally, now with the OPScore test, gamers can determine how to improve their gaming set-up to maximize network performance." About StreamEngine(R) Technology StreamEngine(R) technology delivers an enhanced online experience by employing powerful Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms. The key to making this useable for a home or small office is Intelligent Stream Handling, a patent-pending algorithm which automatically manages the flow of traffic going to the Internet, without the need for user configuration. As a result, real-time, interactive traffic, such as gaming, VoIP, and video conferencing, are automatically given the appropriate priority when other users and applications use the network. In addition, Intelligent Stream Handling minimizes the impact of large packet, lower priority traffic on latency-sensitive traffic and eliminates delays caused by DSL DSL in full Digital Subscriber Line Broadband digital communications connection that operates over standard copper telephone wires. It requires a DSL modem, which splits transmissions into two frequency bands: the lower frequencies for voice (ordinary or cable modem connections. StreamEngine(R) effectively eliminates the lag and breakup problem in online gaming and other voice/video applications. About Ubicom, Inc. Ubicom, Inc. is a leading supplier of communication processor and software platforms that address the needs of the rapidly evolving digital home and small office. Ubicom's StreamEngine(R) technology enables innovative, high quality, high performance wired and wireless networking products and services for broadband applications. The company provides optimized system-level solutions to OEMs for a wide range of products that deliver consistent quality for real time interactive applications such as VoIP, video, audio and online gaming combined with exceptional coverage in wireless applications. The company's technology is deployed in a variety of areas including wireless routers, access points, VoIP gateways, streaming media devices, print servers and other network devices. Ubicom's unique multithreaded multithreaded - multithreading processor design, real-time operating system (operating system) Real-Time Operating System - (RTOS) Any operating system where interrupts are guaranteed to be handled within a certain specified maximum time, thereby making it suitable for control of hardware in embedded systems and other time-critical applications. , and application-level solutions combine to ensure a high-quality user experience with fast time to market for our customers. Ubicom is a venture-backed, privately held company privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. with corporate headquarters in Mountain View, California For the census-designated place, see Mountain View, Contra Costa County, California. For other places called "Mountain View", see . Mountain View is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city gets its name from the views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. . For more information, visit www.ubicom.com. |
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