Broadcom Completes World's First Microsoft® Mediaroom™ Client Integration With New Embedded Wireless HD Set-Top Box Solution

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
Broadcom logo

Broadcom Delivers Production-Ready, Carrier-Grade Wi-Fi for Whole-Home High Definition Video Distribution

IRVINE, Calif. — Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced that its Broadcom® BCM4717V wireless system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution is the world’s first to complete the Microsoft® Mediaroom™ wireless client integration inside a high definition (HD) set-top box (STB). When coupled with Broadcom’s popular BCM7405 set-top box SoC solution, the BCM4717V-based module enables OEMs to build IPTV solutions that connect to the service wirelessly. Previously, multiple set-top boxes within a home were connected to one another, and to the TV service, via a wired network (such as MoCA, HPNA and Ethernet). The addition of the BCM4717V to the Microsoft Mediaroom client now provides carriers with an embedded wireless option for the in-home deployment of set-top boxes that yields a far faster and less expensive installation method.

The completion of this Mediaroom wireless client integration highlights the continued commitment by Microsoft and Broadcom to make carrier-grade wireless TV service a reality. Broadcom also worked very closely with Cisco Systems to integrate the BCM4717V with Mediaroom into their ISB7005 IP set-top box and VEN401 Access Point. Mediaroom client integration adds the features and functions necessary to control and manage a wireless interface for wide deployment in a carrier network as well as providing a rigorous testing procedure to ensure that consumers will experience glitch-free video anywhere in their home. Functionally, a Broadcom-enabled wireless STB is indistinguishable from a traditionally wired STB, offering the same quality of service (QoS), but now adds reliable and robust distribution of HD video services, whole-home digital video recorder (DVR) services, and content sharing across multiple screens/devices such as TVs, PCs, and mobile phones via Wi-Fi.

Highlights/Key Facts:

  • According to ABI Research, approximately 15.5 million STBs will ship with Wi-Fi in 2015 — growing at 35 percent annually from 2010 to 2015.
  • Microsoft Mediaroom now supports BCM4717V-based modules on BCM7405 platforms to enable Wi-Fi as a deployment option.
  • Carrier-grade Wi-Fi means that the radio, physical layer (PHY) device, media access controller (MAC), and application layers have been optimized to minimize packet loss, provide whole-home coverage, and minimize video glitches as a result of interference or changing wireless conditions.
  • The BCM4717V IPTV solution provides:
    • Primary operation on the 5GHz band to allow the greatest frequency agility.
    • 2.4GHz is also supported for communication with legacy devices.
    • MII/GMII connection to the IPTV host SoC such as the BCM7405.
    • A superior MIMO radio and digital architecture, coupled with a high power front-end to provide excellent whole-home wireless coverage.
    • Automatic detection of multimedia streams to enable QoS processing.
    • Advanced interference mitigation features to ensure robust and reliable wireless video transport.
    • Added intelligence to enable reliable multicast traffic over a wireless network.
    • Support for three direct antenna inputs inside of the STB, along with intelligent algorithms to increase performance regardless of the location and orientation of the client device.
  • The Broadcom BCM7405 set-top box SoC solution previously completed Microsoft Mediaroom wired client integration.