BroadSync HD technology is Broadcom's enhanced implementation of the IEEE 802.1 Audio Video Bridging (AVB) draft standards, which provide quality of service (QoS), frame synchronization and timing that is necessary to stream professional quality audio and video traffic over Ethernet. BroadSync HD Technology enables the extraordinary streaming of professional quality audio/video (A/V) traffic over Ethernet to networked electronic devices.
Professional quality requires four things:
- Very low delays for data. Live performances and recording must have no more than 2ms of network delay. Consumer equipment can typically have larger values: up to 50ms.
- Reserved bandwidth for streams. There needs to be a way for applications to reserve bandwidth on the network for a path between a source and destination.
- Synchronization between multiple streams going to different devices. Multiple speaker systems in a professional environment require synchronization within 1 microsecond.
- Distribution of multiple studio-quality reference clocks throughout the network.
Applications that use AVB to establish an end-to-end reservation can meet all the professional quality requirements described above, and do so even if there are eight 100Mbit/sec Ethernet links between endpoints. Utilizing AVB, the transmission of audio and video streams can be synchronized within a microsecond of each other, with very low delays, and with minimal lost data due to network congestion.
For example, in the case of a Broadsync HD full-duplex switched 100 Mb/s Ethernet network, any two endpoints that establish a stream reservation have less than 2 milliseconds packet delivery delay, less than 1 microsecond synchronization error, zero long-term wander, low jitter, and zero data loss due to congestion. If the links are 1Gbit/sec or faster, the delays, bandwidth, and synchronization limits are even better.
Broadsync HD technology is based on AVB, a set of open, non-proprietary standards that are a designed to coexist with standard IT uses of Ethernet. In addition, AVB provides a common interface for professional quality streaming regardless of the layer 2 technology used. That way, applications can use the same software for all network types, provided that AVB is implemented on that network.
No, we are not referring to 1080i/p. In this case, High Definition specifically pertains to High Definition audio (the best professional sample rates and bit depths, as well as large numbers of channels), and High Definition video (both compressed and uncompressed) since the data rates can be 100 Mbit/sec, 1Gbit/sec and even 10Gbit/sec. In fact, BroadSync HD over 10G links even supports the new 3 Gigabit studio reference rates.
With AVB capability, Ethernet cables can replace older, proprietary or more expensive cabling technologies such as analog audio and video, component video and HDMI.
Not yet, but perhaps this will change given that there is now a choice between a point-to-point non-networked technology that uses expensive dedicated cables, and a well proven network technology that uses a much less expensive cabling system. Historically, Ethernet has provided the lowest cost interconnect technology at any particular bit rate, once each particular technology matured, and we expect this to continue in the future. Furthermore, since Ethernet is part of the 802 architecture, it is easily bridged to a variety of other layer 2 networks ... this is not true of HDMI nor the other dedicated wire connections.
Initially one could expect to see this technology used in networked electronics devices for consumer or professional audio/video applications. Technically, this technology could be applied anywhere there is a time-sensitive streaming signal between two networked electronic devices such as industrial control, test and measurement, or telecom.
Yes, we have announced a partnership with Harman International.
Broadcom is the first in the industry to have an end-to-end silicon portfolio that supports the IEEE 802.1 AVB draft specifications including Ethernet switches, end-point devices, physical layer devices (PHYs) and software.
Broadcom is the first in the industry to have an end-to-end silicon portfolio that supports the IEEE 802.1 AVB draft specifications including Ethernet switches, end-point devices, physical layer devices (PHYs) and software. And, with our BroadSync HD technology, we are providing the benefits of AVB, plus some additional enhancements to improve performance and make it easier to configure.
Broadcom does not provide revenue details or guidance for specific technologies.
We see applications for this technology in consumer electronics, professional-grade audio/video electronics and also potentially a market in closed network environments such as automobiles and commercial aircraft.
No. AVB requires only very small changes to network hardware; most of the changes are in the firmware for network infrastructure devices like switches. Even there, AVB switch firmware is simpler than existing network firmware, and provides significant advantages to the consumer by providing robust self-configuration and management that does not require an IT department in the home or studio.
The task group has a page on the IEEE website - http://www.ieee802.org/1/pages/avbridges.html
This will provide you with details on the status of the standards and a history of the progress made thus far.
Important factors that may cause such a difference for Broadcom in connection with BroadSync HD technology include, but are not limited to
Additional factors that may cause Broadcom's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the list that can be found at http://www.broadcom.com/press/additional_risk_factors/Q22009.php.
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss the foregoing risks as well as other important risk factors that could contribute to such differences or otherwise affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of this date. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.
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