Epigram Licenses Patented Technology From Tut Systems

Tut Systems Inc., a developer of high-speed Internet access systems, has agreed to license its patented HomeRun technology to fabless integrated circuit-vendor Epigram, Inc. Tut's 1 Megabit per second (Mbps) HomeRun technology has been selected by the Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) as its 1.0 specification.

Products based on the HomePNA standard allow consumers to create in-home networks of PCs and other devices over existing phone lines without interruption of voice services. Epigram's internally developed iLine10 chipset family enables home phone line networks running at 10 Mbps. Epigram is licensing intellectual property rights from Tut Systems so iLine10 silicon can be functionally interoperable with products based on the HomePNA 1.0 implementations currently on the market.

Tut and Epigram are among the 11 founding members of the HomePNA, which aims to deliver easy-to-use, affordable, high-speed consumer networking solutions over existing telephone wires. Tut's HomeRun, has been licensed to more than 25 vendors in the technology industry including 3Com, AMD, AT&T Wireless, Compaq, Conexant, IBM, Intel, Lucent, Motorola and National Semiconductor.

Products currently on the market based on HomePNA's 1.0 specification—including Compaq Presario Internet PCs, Diamond Multimedia's HomeFree, Linksys HomeLink and many others—allow customers to set up cost effective in-home networks at 1 Mbps for connecting PCs and other devices to share Internet access, data and peripherals.

The licensing agreement between Tut and Epigram ensures that future home networking products based on Epigram's iLine10 chipsets will be compatible with HomePNA 1.0 products currently on the market.