Solutions

MOST provides the means to distribute multimedia information and to control the devices that use this information. The use of POF or UTP as the common supported standard network media not only results in extremely low infrastructure costs. However, with MOST the preferred information transportation layer can be based on an individual customer's needs. A desire to reduce electromagnetic interference may result in some systems using optical transmission, while preserving media unity favors the use of unshielded twisted pair cabling. MOST supports it all.

MOST technology presents an environment where hardware is no longer the limiting factor to new multimedia application development. By approaching the network from a full system standpoint, all layers required for application development are defined and standardized. This includes hardware and software layers geared toward distribution and control of multimedia information.

The MOST specification describes both the hardware and the software required to implement a multimedia network. MOST defines the layers one up to six and even parts of layer seven of the OSI reference model so that designers developing applications can concentrate on the functions that affect the end user rather than the complexities of the underlying network. All MOST devices have been designed using this API so compatibility is assured.

SMSC Automotive Information Systems' primary strength is in providing a total system solution for multimedia networking based on MOST technology. We design highly integrated mixed signal integrated circuits, and combine them with the real-time, object-oriented software required to fully implement a complete system design.

System software and application programming interfaces (APIs) are crucial as well to ensure that devices from different manufacturers can interact with each other. The APIs need to be object oriented so applications can concentrate on the functions they provide. They need to be able to control all the features that devices - A/V equipment, GPS navigation systems, telephones or telematics systems for example - provide via the network. SMSC's MOST NetServices software stack and API are the de facto standard providing this control.

Developing MOST devices requires tools that cover both sides of the communication. On one side there is the application and the MOST interface, and on the other side is the MOST network. Because SMSC's interface chips and NetServices software comply fully with the MOST standard, its tools for analysis and debugging MOST systems are the ideal solution.

Designing MOST into a system is easy using SMSC's solutions. As a leading provider of MOST technology, SMSC's products and services are at the leading edge of multimedia networking technology.