Sigma’s Z-Wave Technology Reaches New Milestone with IP Interoperability for Home Control over the Internet

Sigma Demonstrates IP-Wave Single Chip Solution That Powers Consumer Products at Networld-Interop 2009
Interop Las Vegas 2009
IPSO Booth #2513

Sigma Designs, Inc. (Nasdaq: SIGM), a leader in digital media processing system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for consumer electronics, today announced the IP-Wave single chip solution, which offers complete interoperability between Sigma’s Z-Wave wireless home control and the widespread Internet Protocol (IP) standards. IP-Wave technology is made possible by a single chip that is embedded in home consumer products. Once embedded, it allows home lights, appliances, HVAC systems, entertainment centers and security systems to connect over a Z-Wave wireless mesh network and now also via the Internet, for energy management and home remote control. This game-changing technology will be demonstrated inside home consumer products for the first time in the IPSO (IP for Smart Objects Alliance) Booth #2513 at this week’s Networld-Interop show, taking place in Las Vegas from May 17-21.

“Running an IP stack on the Z-Wave single chip solution is a major stepping stone in the opening of the Z-Wave technology and it further supports the role of Z-Wave’s ecosystem in the digital home,” noted Ken Lowe, vice president of strategic marketing for Sigma Designs. “Like home entertainment networks, it is also imperative that home control networks be able to interface with the Internet. Interoperability between IP and Z-Wave is a crucial step in the process.”

The Internet Protocol (IP) is a protocol used for communicating data across a packet-switched network using the Internet Protocol Suite, referred to as TCP/IP. It is the widespread adoption of this unified protocol that has enabled any computer or consumer device to communicate with any others over the Internet.

By converging Z-Wave and IP, Sigma enables end-to-end home control networks and applications from anywhere on the Internet all the way into sensor networks. It will allow for the use of IP technology and knowledge in new applications directly onto low-cost, low-power devices. As with all previous Z-Wave protocol advances, IP-Wave will remain backwards compatible to existing Z-Wave products while adding compliant IP services to Z-Wave nodes, and will allow for the use of proven Z-Wave device and command classes in IP networks.

There are a number of scenarios for which IP-Wave can be used:
Access from the Internet to the home for control of Z-Wave devices
Reporting status information from sensors in the home (e.g. energy consumption of specific devices) through the Internet
Using TCP/IP as backbone for large commercial control networks to extend Z-Wave networks

While previous Z-Wave/IP demonstrations have been shown in the engineering development platform stages, the demonstrations at this year’s Network-Interop will showcase, for the first-time ever, real home products using Z-wave over IP. The demos will also illustrate how using the Z-wave over IP router technology will allow consumers to combine their existing Z-Wave networks with these new IP-Wave networks for greater flexibility and access. This product demonstration puts Sigma Designs at the forefront of implementing an IP solution into a variety of products and applications empowering consumers to take simple affordable control of the things that matter most to them such as energy management, security and safety in their homes.

About Sigma Designs, Inc.

Sigma Designs is a leading fabless provider of highly integrated SoC solutions that are used to deliver multimedia entertainment throughout the home. Sigma’s SoC solutions include media processors and wireless communication devices which combine semiconductors and software as critical components of high-growth consumer applications including IPTV-based set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, HDTVs, entertainment connectivity devices and RF-based home control devices. Headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., Sigma Designs also has design centers or sales offices in Canada, China, Denmark, France, Japan, Korea (third party), Singapore and Taiwan. For more information, please visit Sigma Designs’ web site at www.sigmadesigns.com.

About Z-Wave Technology

Sigma Designs’ Z-Wave technology is an award-winning, proven and interoperable wireless mesh networking technology that allows a wide array of devices in and around the home to communicate including lighting, appliances, HVAC, entertainment centers and security systems. Z-Wave brings many benefits to everyday life including remote home monitoring, home healthcare, safety and security, and energy conservation. Z-Wave certified products are currently available from leading consumer brands in more than 300 products. Z-Wave is the recipient of the Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award in the wireless category, the CNET “Best of CES Award” in the enabling technologies category, along with PC World’s World Class Award.

For more information about Z-Wave, please visit www.z-wave.com.

Z-Wave® is a registered trade mark of Sigma Designs, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

Contacts

Sigma Designs, Inc.
Ken Lowe, 408-957-9850 (Press)
kal {at} sdesigns(.)com
or
Ruder Finn
Kristie Heins Fox, 312-329-3985 (Press)
heinsfoxk {at} ruderfinn(.)com