Important elements of MOST technology and, in particular the data link layer have been developed by SMSC and Harman/Becker outside of MOST Cooperation and are not part of the MOST Specifications. Both companies have committed to offer a stepwise access to their proprietary MOST Connectivity IP. SMSC will license both companies’ intellectual property for new and existing generations of MOST networks according to the market size of established MOST nodes, encouraging competition and assisting in the growth of the MOST marketplace.

"Harman/Becker and SMSC have committed to offer a stepwise opening process for new generations of MOST that goes along with market size ..."

"… from 10 million nodes sold: the respective technology generation has proven to be mature. SMSC will offer licenses to its MOST Interface Design IP."

"… from 50 million nodes: Harman/Becker and SMSC open the Data Link Layer of the respective MOST generation and offer licenses to their respective MOST Protocol IP to enable others to do their own interoperable designs of a MOST interface."

Press Releases

• Harman/Becker and SMSC open MOST Data Link Layer for existing and future generations. Read more
• The MOST Cooperation Steering Committee welcomes the commitment of Harman/Becker and SMSC to open the Data Link Layer of MOST. Read more

Please Note MOST is a standard that has been developed by and within the MOST Cooperation, a consortium of key automotive companies and suppliers. As is typical for standards based technologies, there is complementary technology and intellectual property that is important in implementing standards-based products but is not part of the standard itself. The Data Link Layer of MOST developed by Harman/Becker and SMSC is one example as it is not part of the MOST standard. This MOST Protocol IP license process is similar to the CAN network in which BOSCH is the main holder of the protocol IP, which it licenses on a royalty bearing basis.