SoftConnex Announces a Complete USB Embedded Host Solution for TeraLogic¡¦s Cougar Digital TV Platform

Fremont, Calif. (November 27, 2000) — SoftConnex Technologies, Inc. (SoftConnex), developers of USBLink - the most complete USB host solution available for the embedded market, today announced support for TeraLogic's Cougar Digital TV platform, thereby enabling connectivity between Cougar and a wide variety of USB devices. The USBLink solution provides OEM customers with the main stack and a wide array of class drivers, which together enable the Cougar to communicate with external USB peripherals such as keyboards, mice, printers, storage devices, digital still cameras, and MP3 players. Virtually no software development is required on the customer's end.

"We are very pleased to be a part of the TeraLogic Cougar Third Party Partner Program," said Robert Lowe, President of SoftConnex. "The set-top box market is fertile ground for USBLink and our partnership with TeraLogic will help extend our reach to the leading set-top box manufactures."

The Cougar Digital TV Development Platform allows the rapid deployment of set-top boxes and digital TV sets that are compliant with worldwide DTV standards. Compliance includes all 18 ATSC formats, ARIB, DVB, DIRECTV and the OpenCable standard. When combined with SoftConnex's USBLink, this comprehensive solution gives OEMs the ability to support a wide variety of value added services, such as online photo printing and video conferencing, which are anticipated to become profit centers for MSOs in the foreseeable future.

"SoftConnex's USBLink is a valuable addition to the third party software that is included with the Cougar platform. CE manufacturers can now easily incorporate this important connectivity standard in their products and reduce product development time," said Mark O¡¦Brien, Director of Platforms Marketing.

SoftConnex's USBLink provides a framework for developing class drivers to support USB devices. This framework allows either class drivers to manage USB device configuration or the USB stack to perform the necessary configuration, interface initialization and allocation of USB data pipes or endpoints.

USBLink supports simple topologies with one USB device attached to the root hub, as well as complex topologies characterized by cascading USB hubs and several different USB devices. USBLink also simulates a plug-and-play environment within the host RTOS, thereby allowing insertion and extraction of USB devices at will. Finally, SoftConnex is building upon the latest developments in wireless technology by enhancing USBLink with USB to wireless connectivity capabilities.