SCIENCE

Brilliant Telecommunications has announced a joint development program with National Semiconductor to deliver the industry's best performing IEEE 1588-2008 solution. This program combines cutting-edge technologies from both companies -- the DP83640 Precision PHYTER from National and Brilliant's IEEE 1588v2 software stack and algorithms for synchronization of packet-based networks and equipment. Together, Brilliant and National's joint solution offers system designers unprecedented performance and cost benefits. The combined solution is ideal for applications such as IP Backhaul, cell site routers, 3G and 4G basestations, femtocells, picocells, smart grid, digital video broadcast, home networking and industrial Ethernet.

National's DP83640 Precision PHYTER device delivers the highest level of deterministic timestamping accuracy with a resolution of eight (8) nanoseconds. Equipped with a 96-bit internal counter, the PHYTER timestamps IEEE 1588 packets with sub-nanosecond precision and generates multiple clock outputs with very low jitter.

Brilliant pioneered the first ever commercial deployment of IEEE 1588 in a mobile operator's network in 2008 and is the leading supplier of IEEE 1588 products today. Its synchronization algorithm has been validated and deployed operationally by many operators to provide unmatched frequency and phase accuracy -- a key requirement for some of the most demanding applications in telecom, video broadcast and electric power networks.

The collaboration between Brilliant and National delivers the best packet-based synchronization performance with commercially available components. The solution consists of a combination of National's DP83640 device and Brilliant's software running on an FPGA or a microprocessor. The use of standardized software and hardware interfaces between the PHY and the MAC make the solution easily adaptable to existing architectures. Other features include multiple synchronized clock outputs and support for Synchronous Ethernet.

"We are excited to collaborate with a proven market leader such as Brilliant for high performance timing and synchronization solutions," said David Boisvert, Technologist at National Semiconductor. "Today, nearly all new IP applications require precise timing, including femtocells, basestation, cell site routers, broadcast and smart grid applications. Through this collaborative effort, we are able to address these specific market requirements in terms of performance, cost, manageability and flexibility."

"National Semiconductor is a tier-1 global analog leader providing a broad range of high-performance network device solutions," commented Dr. Charles Barry, President, Brilliant Telecommunications. "Through this collaborative effort, we can develop and market the most cost effective timing solutions. Thus offering the best-in-class performance in jitter and phase noise with excellent phase stability during normal network operation and extended holdover and seamless failover for robustness in the event of network impairments."

Brilliant and National will showcase the new, high-performance solution at the upcoming PlugFest 2010 at the University of New Hampshire, September 29-Oct 1, 2010.