 | June 1, 2000 |
Open sesame
STANDARDS: Spec may open floodgates for gateways
Not to be confused with that creaky iron gate in the front yard, future residential gateways will both safeguard our electronic domiciles and aggregate and distribute voice, video, and data services. Already, companies are rushing IC and system-level products to market for a developing standard called the Open Services Gateway Initiative (OSGi, www.osgi.org).
At May's Connections 2000 show in San Diego, the OSGi group debuted the first rev of the spec, with backing from more than 60 companies. The standard lays ground rules for interoperability among the home's various networks (data, entertainment, control, and communication). The group claims the spec will also allow consumers to selectively and safely expose elements of their smart home to outside services such as remote control or diagnostics.
Meanwhile, a number of companies showed gateways, related products, and smart-home scenarios. Coactive Networks introduced its Coactive Connector 3000, which links multiple computers or appliances to a DSL or cable broadband service. The gateway integrates a dial-up modem as well, and connects clients using a phoneline LAN. Coactive targets service providers, who in turn will install the gateway in customers' homes. Potential services go beyond Internet access to remote e-services such as power management and security.
For developers and service providers that want to pursue gateway projects, IBM announced the Service Management Framework—an OSGi-compliant software tool kit (available at www.embedded.oti.com/download/technologies/wesd.htm).
Meanwhile, Texas Instruments and Novell are teaming to develop a reference design for an ADSL gateway. The design builds upon the OSGi feature set using Novell's NDS eDirectory software, which will allow service providers to offer automatic provisioning of services like voice and video. Similarly, Sun Microsystems and Gatespace have allied to deliver enabling technologies to gateway developers.
On the IC front, Broadcom introduced the BCM3250 Advanced Set-top Box Transmission Chip, which adds residential-gateway functions to a set-top box. The IC supports digital video, VoIP services across home LANs, and links to digital consumer-electronic gear via IEEE 1394.
Demos at Connections 2000 provided glimpses of the potential of all this. ShareGate revealed its plans for a residential gateway with VoDSL services. And Cisco showed its Internet Home Gateway working alongside Home Director's Network Connection Center in a fully automated home scenario, which included Web-enabled appliances from Whirlpool as well as security and home LAN features.
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