“First” fully interoperable 100/200/400Mbps powerline communications

The fully interoperable 100Mbps, 200Mbps and 400Mbps powerline communications technologies were created and patented for the Universal Powerline Association (UPA) Digital Home Standard for multimedia home networking and service provider applications. The solutions are designed for Smart Grid and embedded applications.

The 100Mbps Montgo chipset is intended for Internet sharing, audio and data networking. The 200Mbps Aitana chipset and DS2's 400Mbps technology address next-generation advanced, simultaneous multimedia applications for service provider and consumer home networking applications. The powerline communications technologies offer full backward and forward interoperability between each new generation of technology. Other powerline technologies cannot create a networked digital home when different generations of technologies are used together for home networking or service provider applications. This makes them unsuitable for embedded applications.

The powerline communications technologies enable simultaneous use of video streaming, Internet browsing and Online gaming by different people within the home. They also enable new applications to be integrated into an existing network without disrupting it, or if there isn't one, can establish a new network that will be open to new systems joining at a later date. This paves the way toward embedding powerline technology in everyday devices. By using DS2-based devices, consumers can be sure that the next powerline application they buy will work within the home network they have already established.

The Smart Grid solution, meanwhile, includes unique network planning and manageability functions to support commercial BPL and Smart Grid services. Available as a firmware upgrade, the Smart Grid solution benefits from new modular architecture that promotes code reuse thus reducing the development cycle while allowing product developers greater access to advance on-chip features for greater customization and product differentiation.