Synopsys to Acquire SpringSoft

News release:

Synopsys to Acquire SpringSoft

Acquisition Will Complement Synopsys' Technology Portfolio and Help Accelerate Delivery of SoC Debug and Custom Implementation Tools to Customers

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS), a world leader in software and IP used in the design, verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems, through its Taiwan subsidiary, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SpringSoft (TAIEX:2473), a global supplier of specialized IC design software headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan. The SpringSoft acquisition supports Synopsys' strategy to quickly and effectively deliver the advanced capabilities that will help semiconductor customers solve their toughest design challenges, including verification and custom implementation.
Under the terms of the agreement, Synopsys Taiwan will commence a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of SpringSoft for NT$57.00 (approximately US$1.90) per SpringSoft share in cash and acquire any remaining shares pursuant to a follow-on merger. The gross transaction value will be approximately US$406 million (NT$12.2 billion), or approximately US$305 million (NT$9.2 billion) net of cash acquired. The transaction, which is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, is subject to the minimum tender of 51 percent of the current outstanding SpringSoft shares, the approval of the follow-on merger by SpringSoft shareholders, regulatory approvals in Taiwan, and other customary closing conditions.
After the closing, SpringSoft will become part of Synopsys and SpringSoft stock will cease trading. When completed, Synopsys anticipates the transaction to be slightly accretive to fiscal 2013 non-GAAP earnings per share.
Verification requirements have exploded as designs have become increasingly complex, and debugging is the most time-consuming part of verification, taking up nearly half of the design cycle. At the same time, custom implementation tools have not kept up with the dramatic improvements seen in digital design. The combination of SpringSoft's and Synopsys' industry-leading verification technology portfolios will help accelerate delivery of a unified, powerful system-on-chip (SoC) debug environment so customers can continue to meet the demands of today's complex electronic designs. In addition, by integrating the physical design technology and teams from SpringSoft, Ciranova and Magma, Synopsys can accelerate innovation and offer a higher level of automation in custom implementation tools.
"This acquisition will increase Synopsys' investment in Taiwan by growing our local engineering expertise, technology development capabilities and customer support," said Chi-Foon Chan, president and co-CEO at Synopsys. "Combining SpringSoft's team and platform with Synopsys' complementary technology will help Synopsys lead further innovations in debug to more rapidly address the growing verification challenge. Simultaneously, SpringSoft's innovative custom implementation solution and its strong presence in leading Asian, European and U.S. semiconductor companies will help accelerate Synopsys' delivery of automation and innovation to an area of IC design that has been stagnant in the past."
About Synopsys
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys' comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at www.synopsys.com.

Microsoft and Amdocs Software Systems Limited Sign Patent Agreement

Press release:

Microsoft and Amdocs Software Systems Limited Sign Patent Agreement

July 24, 2012

Agreement covers Amdocs’ use of Linux-based servers in its data centers.

inShare

REDMOND, Wash. — July 24, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. announced today that it has signed a patent cross-license agreement with Amdocs Software Systems Limited. The patent agreement provides mutual access to each company’s patent portfolio, including a license under Microsoft’s patent portfolio covering Amdocs’ use of Linux-based servers in its data centers. Although specific terms of the agreement are confidential, Microsoft indicated that Amdocs will pay Microsoft an undisclosed amount of money under the agreement.

“This agreement with Amdocs adds to the more than 1,100 patent license agreements Microsoft has entered into over the last decade,” said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel, Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft. “Microsoft’s licensing program ensures respect for its world-class intellectual property portfolio while at the same time making available to others the result of its multi-billion dollar annual investment in research and development.”

Microsoft’s Commitment to IP Collaboration

The licensing agreement is another example of the important role IP plays in ensuring a healthy and vibrant IT ecosystem. Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, the company has entered into more than 1100 licensing agreements and continues to develop programs that make it possible for customers, partners and competitors to access its IP portfolio. The program was developed to open access to Microsoft’s significant R&D investments and its growing, broad patent and IP portfolio.

More information about Microsoft’s licensing programs is available athttp://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing/.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Synopsys and SMIC Announce DesignWare IP for 40-nm Low-Leakage Process

Press release:

Synopsys and SMIC Announce DesignWare IP for 40-nm Low-Leakage Process

Synopsys’ DesignWare Embedded Memory, Logic Library, Analog and Interface IP for SMIC’s Advanced Low-Power Process Enables Faster Development of SoCs for Mobile Markets

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and SHANGHAI, China, July 10, 2012 -

Highlights:

• Latest collaboration yields availability of 15 Synopsys® DesignWare® IP products on SMIC’s 40-nanometer low-leakage (40LL) process technology, enabling designers to incorporate functionality more easily into advanced low-power SoCs
• Proven interface PHY IP, including PCI Express®, USB and DDR, helps SoC designers ensure interoperability with the latest standards
• High-quality analog IP, including audio codecs and data converters, helps designers meet low-power, application-specific SoC requirements
• Embedded memories and logic libraries for the SMIC 40LL process enable design teams to optimize entire SoC designs for both speed and energy efficiency

 Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP used in the design, verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems, and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (“SMIC”; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981), China’s largest and most advanced semiconductor foundry, today announced the availability of a broad set of Synopsys DesignWare IP on the SMIC 40-nanometer (nm) low-leakage (40LL) process. The SMIC 40LL process technology combines advanced immersion lithography, strain engineering, ultra shallow junction and ultra low-k dielectric to deliver the optimized power and performance required of mobile multimedia and consumer devices. By offering a wide range of proven IP on SMIC’s advanced low-power process, Synopsys is enabling designers to incorporate more functionality into their advanced system-on-chip (SoC) designs with less risk and faster time to market. Since 2005, the collaboration between Synopsys and SMIC has resulted in Synopsys’ delivery of a broad portfolio of IP supporting SMIC processes from 130-nm to 40-nm.

Synopsys DesignWare IP available now or scheduled to be available later this year on the SMIC 40LL process includes:

• Interface IP for widely used protocols such as USB 2.0/3.0, PCI Express 2.0/1.1, MIPI, SATA, DDR, and HDMI that reduces interoperability risk
• Audio codec and data converter IP, optimized for a wide range of high-performance, low-power applications
• Embedded memories and logic libraries that enable designers to achieve both high speed and low power across the entire SoC

“Access to a broad portfolio of silicon-proven IP in a high-performance, low-power process technology is critical for companies designing SoCs for multimedia consumer products in China and around the world,” said Chris Chi, Chief Business Officer at SMIC. “Our collaboration with Synopsys offers designers targeting the consumer market a proven path to a wide range of technology-leading IP on advanced process nodes. Our first-pass silicon success with Synopsys' DesignWare USB, HDMI and audio codec IP, where all critical performance metrics meet or exceed the target specifications, demonstrates the stability and maturity of SMIC's 40LL technology.”

“Our longstanding collaboration with SMIC provides SoC designers with optimized IP across a range of processes for widely used interface protocols such as USB, PCI Express and DDR, as well as foundational elements such as logic libraries and embedded memories,” said John Koeter, vice president of marketing for IP and systems at Synopsys. “Together, we have a track record of silicon success over a range of IP from 130-nm to 65-nm. Extending our IP offerings to SMIC’s 40LL process allows designers to take advantage of SMIC’s advanced low-leakage process technology and integrate high-quality IP with less risk.”

Availability
DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY, HDMI 1.4 TX PHY, DDR multiPHY, MIPI D-PHY, PCI Express 2.0/1.1 PHY, SATA 1.5Gb/s/3Gb/s PHY, SATA 6Gb/s PHY, and select audio codecs and data converter IP are available now from Synopsys on the SMIC 40LL process. DesignWare USB 3.0 PHY, HSIC PHY, data converters and AFE for LTE and Wi-Fi, and Embedded Memory and Logic Library IP are available for early adopters. Availability for the DesignWare HDMI RX PHY and DDR3/2 PHY IP is planned for Q4 2012.
About DesignWare IP
Synopsys is a leading provider of high-quality, silicon-proven IP solutions for system-on-chip (SoC) designs. The broad DesignWare IP portfolio includes complete interface IP solutions consisting of controllers, PHY and verification IP for widely used protocols, analog IP, embedded memories, logic libraries, processor cores and subsystems. To support software development and hardware/software integration of the IP, Synopsys offers drivers, transaction-level models, and prototypes for many of its IP products. Synopsys' HAPS® FPGA-Based Prototyping Solution enables validation of the IP and the SoC in the system context. Synopsys' Virtualizer™ virtual prototyping tool set allows developers to start the development of software for the IP or the entire SoC significantly earlier compared to traditional methods. With a robust IP development methodology, extensive investment in quality, IP prototyping, software development and comprehensive technical support, Synopsys enables designers to accelerate time-to-market and reduce integration risk. For more information on DesignWare IP, visit http://www.synopsys.com/designware.
About Synopsys
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys’ comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at www.synopsys.com.
About SMIC
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (“SMIC”; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) is one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in Mainland China, providing integrated circuit (IC) foundry and technology services at 0.35-micron to 40-nanometer. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, SMIC has a 300mm wafer fabrication facility (fab) and three 200mm wafer fabs in its Shanghai mega-fab, two 300mm wafer fabs in its Beijing mega-fab, a 200mm wafer fab in Tianjin, and a 200mm fab under construction in Shenzhen. SMIC also has customer service and marketing offices in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Taiwan, and a representative office in Hong Kong. In addition, SMIC manages and operates a 300mm wafer fab in Wuhan owned by Wuhan Xinxin Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation. For more information, please visit www.smics.com.

Synopsys' DesignWare IP for PCI Express with Support for Low-Power Sub-States Successfully Taped Out in Multiple Designs

News release:

Synopsys' DesignWare IP for PCI Express with Support for Low-Power Sub-States Successfully Taped Out in Multiple Designs

Industry-First Support for New PCIe L1 Sub-States Reduces Power Consumption

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Highlights:

• Synopsys is the first IP provider to offer new "off" and "snooze"  power states (L1 sub-states) in PCI Express® controller IP
• Ten customer designs have integrated Synopsys' new PCI Express IP with L1 sub-states into camera, card reader, networking and wireless applications, with multiple product tapeouts
• L1 sub-state implementation can reduce PCI Express standby power consumption by approximately 99 percent

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP used in the design, verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems, today announced that its industry-first PCI Express controller IP with support for low-power sub-states has successfully taped out in multiple designs. The addition of the L1.1 ("snooze") and L1.2 ("off") sub-states to Synopsys' DesignWare® controller IP for PCI Express 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 enables designers to reduce power consumption in key market segments, including camera, card reader, networking and wireless applications serving the ultrabook and tablet markets. L1 sub-states reduce a PCI Express system's link idle power consumption from 15 to 20 milliwatts per lane to 10 microwatts per lane, or by approximately 99 percent, by repurposing the signals between the PHY and the controller so that they turn off the high-speed circuits in the PHY when not in use.
"Reducing power consumption in every aspect of an SoC is key for a mobile design's success," said Eric Esteve, market analyst at IPnest. "The availability of L1 sub-states in PCI Express controller IP will enable lower power consumption, which in turn improves battery life—a key differentiator in today's mobile designs."
Reducing standby power is a prerequisite for the emerging thin and light form factor mobile markets, and has now become critical in multiple market segments that must meet stringent regulatory power requirements such as European Regulation 1275/2008. To address these requirements, PCI-SIG members, including Synopsys, are proposing L1 sub-states to supplement previously adopted power saving features such as Latency Tolerance Reporting (LTR) and Optimized Buffer Flush/Fill (OBFF). Synopsys' first-to-market support for L1 sub-states has already enabled market leaders to integrate this new power-saving technology into ten designs while maintaining backward compatibility with existing PCI Express devices. With first silicon back on several of these designs, adopters are well on their way to delivering their low-power mobile products on or ahead of schedule.
"With the availability of L1 sub-states in our DesignWare controller IP for PCI Express, Synopsys leads the industry in adopting and rolling out the latest PCI-SIG enhancements," said John Koeter, vice president of marketing for IP and systems at Synopsys. "Our complete PCI Express controller IP portfolio helps reduce designers' integration risk and development time. With our first-to-market rollout of L1 sub-states, the portfolio continues to be on the forefront of power conservation for mobile and consumer device designers using PCI Express."
AvailabilitySynopsys® DesignWare controller IP for PCI Express with support for L1 sub-states is available now. For more information, please visit http://www.synopsys.com/pcie. The L1 sub-state engineering change request (ECR) is in the final stages of becoming an engineering change notification (ECN) to the PCI Express specification.

About DesignWare IP
Synopsys is a leading provider of high-quality, silicon-proven IP solutions for system-on-chip (SoC) designs. The broad DesignWare IP portfolio includes complete interface IP solutions consisting of controllers, PHY and verification IP for widely used protocols, analog IP, embedded memories, logic libraries, processor cores and subsystems. To support software development and hardware/software integration of the IP, Synopsys offers drivers, transaction-level models, and prototypes for many of its IP products. Synopsys' HAPS® FPGA-Based Prototyping Solution enables validation of the IP and the SoC in the system context. Synopsys' Virtualizer™ virtual prototyping tool set allows developers to start the development of software for the IP or the entire SoC significantly earlier compared to traditional methods. With a robust IP development methodology, extensive investment in quality, IP prototyping, software development and comprehensive technical support, Synopsys enables designers to accelerate time-to-market and reduce integration risk. For more information on DesignWare IP, visit http://www.synopsys.com/designware.

About SynopsysSynopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys' comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com.
PCI Express is a registered trademark of PCI-SIG.  

Princess Sumaya University for Technology Receives Charles Babbage Grant from Synopsys

News release:

Princess Sumaya University for Technology Receives Charles Babbage Grant from Synopsys

First in MENA Region to Establish New Full- and Semi-custom IC Design Laboratories

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP used in the design, verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems, today announced that Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) in Amman, Jordan is the first university in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to receive the Charles Babbage Grant from Synopsys. Through the grant, PSUT receives licenses for Synopsys' comprehensive, industry-leading electronic design automation (EDA) software, along with curriculum support and professor training. The grant also provides new computer hardware, printers and educational equipment, enabling PSUT to create two new laboratories for full- and semi-custom integrated circuit (IC) design for 20 students.
Lack of access to commercial-grade design tools for advanced research and microelectronic design is a common issue facing universities today. Synopsys helps solve this challenge through initiatives like the Charles Babbage Grant and its Worldwide University Program, which provide select universities with design software for modern electronic design flows and leading commercial IC fabrication processes. Previous grant recipients outside of United States include the Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Southampton, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology (MIET), Yerevan State University and the State Engineering University of Armenia.
"PSUT is very grateful for this grant," said Professor Issa Batarseh, PSUT president. "It will provide our engineering students with access to world-leading software and tools and allow us to enhance our curricula."
"We always welcome industry collaboration and support," Dr. Wejdan Abu Elhaija, the Dean of King Abdullah II School for Electrical Engineering, added. "We're pleased to strengthen our relationship with Synopsys."
"Supporting programs that enable semiconductor design through academia continues to be an important priority for Synopsys," said Anwar Awad, vice president of engineering of the IP/Solutions group at Synopsys. "Working with PSUT, we have been able to create an educational program that will cultivate advanced IC design skills in Jordan and prepare graduates to establish local industry." Awad formally opened the lab in a ceremony attended by PSUT students and faculty on May 28.
Synopsys and the Department of Electronics Engineering at the King Abdullah II School of Electrical Engineering at PSUT began collaborating in 2010 by establishing a microelectronics education program through a VLSI course integrated into the Electronics Engineering curriculum in IC design. In addition to EDA software and computer resources, Synopsys provides PSUT with support, advisors, faculty training and facilitates student and faculty exchanges. In 2011, Jordanian students participated in internships and joined Student Working Groups at the Synopsys Armenia Educational Department and R&D center. The students also successfully competed in the International Microelectronics Olympiad of Armenia, an annual competition that recognizes and inspires young talented engineers involved in microelectronics. PSUT and Synopsys are continuing to strengthen their cooperation in research and education. Again this year, PSUT students will intern at Synopsys Armenia and participate in theSeventh International Microelectronics Olympiad of Armenia.
About the Charles Babbage GrantThe Charles Babbage Grant provides select universities worldwide with state-of-the-art EDA tools, training, support and technology. It enables institutions of higher education to enhance their expertise in microelectronics circuits and system design. Use of the Synopsys tools on modern, powerful computers from the grant helps universities to better prepare their graduates for the future by providing hands-on experience with current industry practices, modern design techniques and actual design tools and computer hardware. This enhances the students' understanding of how learning applies to the real world of IC design. The grant is named after British mathematician and inventor Charles Babbage, who designed and built mechanical computing machines on principles that anticipated the modern electronic computers of today over 150 years ago. For more information about the Synopsys Worldwide University Program, visit us at http://www.synopsys.com/Community/UniversityProgram/Pages/default.aspx.
About Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT)Founded in 1991, Princess Sumaya University for Technology is a not-for-profit, top-ranked private university offering bachelors and masters degrees in business, IT and engineering. Its location within the El-Hassan Science City and the Royal Scientific Society has granted the university a special status within the scientific matrix of Al-Jubeiha, Amman, which includes the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, the Higher Council for Science and Technology and the Royal Geographic Center. For more information, please visit the PSUT website at http://www.psut.jo/main.
About Synopsys
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys' comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com/.

PRESS RELEASE

Oriental Cable Network (OCN) to Deploy Cisco Videoscape for New Multi-Screen Video Experiences in Shanghai, China

Cisco Videoscape to Power New Generation of Networked Video Services For One of China's Largest Cable Operators

SHANGHAI and BOSTON – The Cable Show 2012 – May 22, 2012  – Cisco today announced it is collaborating with the leading Chinese cable operator, Oriental Cable Network (OCN), to develop next-generation video experiences for consumers based on Cisco Videoscape®, an open platform that utilizes the cloud, the network, and client devices to deliver new video experiences over the Internet.  OCN, one of the China's largest cable operators, will deploy Videoscape to enable new multi-screen video services for PCs, tablets, smart phones and other mobile devices for its customer base throughout Shanghai, China.

OCN will deploy the Videoscape platform, which provides service providers with an end-to-end system to implement TV Everywhere-like services.  The Videoscape Quickstart solution, including Videoscape Media Suite, Content Delivery System for Internet Streaming (CDS-IS), Cisco Media Processor (CMP) and Cisco Digital Content Manager (DCM), will enable OCN to create new consumer experiences by giving subscribers the ability to access content from multiple devices, anywhere.  Further, The Videoscape platform also enables OCN to establish the foundation needed for future capabilities, such as linear delivery to managed and unmanaged devices, Cloud DVR, Video on Demand (VoD), and companion experiences.

"With the immense popularity of mobile devices in Shanghai, it was imperative that we partner with a technology leader capable of enabling our network to progressively scale our services," said LIU Jiuping, senior vice president of OCN.  "We are very pleased to be working closely with Cisco to deliver a new generation of exciting multi-screen video services for our customers."

Supporting Resources:

•  Cisco Videoscape
• Cisco Service Provider blog: SP360

Tags/Keywords:

Cisco, Videoscape, IP video, network, online video, streaming video, video, video innovation

RSS Feed for Cisco:  http://newsroom.cisco.com/rss-feeds

About Cisco 

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate.  Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go tohttp://newsroom.cisco.com.

# # #

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

# # #

AMD Selects Synopsys as a Verification IP Partner

News release:

AMD Selects Synopsys as a Verification IP Partner

Expands Collaboration to Further Accelerate SoC Verification

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP used in the design, verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems, today announced a multi-year agreement to provide Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) with its next-generation Discovery™ Verification IP (VIP). Based on the new VIPER architecture, the recently announced Discovery VIP family provides inherent performance, ease-of-use and extensibility to speed and simplify verification of the most complex system-on-chip (SoC) designs. This agreement covers a variety of VIP titles including USB 3.0, ARM® AMBA® AXI™ interconnect, SATA 3.0, PCI Express® Gen 3, and MIPI, as well as Synopsys' Protocol Analyzer, a unique protocol-aware SoC debug environment.
"In our verification environment for Southbridge SoCs and IP cores, we utilize several interfaces, including AXI3™ and USB 3.0. After an extensive evaluation, we selected Synopsys' next-generation Discovery VIP for several of our leading SoC designs," said Thomas Bodmer, manager of design engineering at AMD. "With Discovery VIP, we have seen benefits in minimizing our simulation runs and achieving higher coverage. We have used Synopsys' Protocol Analyzer technology to narrow down protocol violations and debug the root causes."
The growing use of increasingly complex interface protocols makes verification and debug of SoCs one of the most difficult and time-consuming aspects of functional verification. VIP provides functional models that engineers use to test all SoC interfaces before manufacturing, enabling them to verify whether an interface conforms to published specification. Synopsys' Discovery VIP family offers up to four times (4X) higher performance than other commercial VIP, as well as ease-of-use, ease-of-debug, configuration, coverage and test-development capabilities to improve SoC verification productivity.
"The strategic agreement announced today expands and accelerates the successful long-standing verification collaboration between AMD and Synopsys," said Manoj Gandhi, senior vice president and general manager of the Synopsys Verification Group. "With the increasingly critical nature of VIP in SoC verification, we continue to collaborate with AMD to deliver leading VIP technology that helps manage the total cost of verification."
About Synopsys®
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys' comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com/.

PRESS RELEASE

Nilesat Chooses Cisco Media, Satellite, and Broadcast Solution

Cisco Builds on Experience in Video and IP Protocol to Deliver High-Quality Video for Nilesat the Leading Satellite Operator in Middle East & North Africa Region

CAIRO, Egypt, 11 May 2012 - At Cairo ICT 2012, Cisco and Nilesat, the leading satellite operator in the MENA region, announced that Nilesat has successfully installed Cisco® Digital Media solutions for its contribution network.

Cisco's end-to-end Media, Satellite, and Broadcast Video Solution provides all the important features Nilesat will need in the digital headend, including acquisition, video encoders and transcoders, video processors, encryption and management.  Using the Cisco Lifecycle Services approach, Cisco and its partners developed a broad portfolio of services that addressed all aspects of planning, deploying, operating, and optimizing Nilesat's video network. The Cisco ROSA® Video Service Manager system will also provide a complete solution for end-to-end management. It will monitor, manage, and control equipment and services throughout the Nilesat network.

Currently the new digital contribution system between the Nilesat headend and the Egyptian Radio & Television Union (ERTU) site carries 32 government TV channels and hosts 40 radio stations to be broadcast over Nilesat's Satellites, Cisco video solutions at Nilesat headend (Nilesat DVB Center) is also processing more than 150 TV and radio channels.

Highlights / Key Facts:

• Cisco's Nilesat installation is built around three of its  latest encoding solutions :
  1. Cisco D9036 Modular Encoding Platform which provides multi-resolution, multi-format encoding for all applications requiring high levels of video quality.
  2. Cisco DCM Series D9900 Digital Content Manager MPEG Processors the next generation of intelligent headend processing equipment combines compactness and flexibility and leads to a cost-effective solution.
  3. The Cisco ASR 1002 Router which comes in a two-rack unit (RU) form factor and  is an ideal solution for a large branch office, for WAN aggregation, or as a managed high-speed customer premises equipment (CPE) device to support enhanced features such as security, deep packet inspection, and firewall.
• As the number of advanced applications continues to expand in the Nilesat network, managing and monitoring the network and its performance increases in importance.  The Cisco ROSA Video Service Manager system will reduce complexity, increase uptime and also help to decrease operating expenses.
• Media production, contribution and distribution solutions are also integral to the Cisco Media, Satellite, and Broadcast Solution. They provide the foundation for an end-to-end digital workflow that dynamically moves media through each stage in the media delivery process.

• With Cisco media production solutions Nilesat will not only be able to  easily extend content to any business unit, partner, or customer device, anywhere in the world, but it will also be able to reduce costs by consolidating and virtualizing media applications and infrastructures. The delivery of new content will also be accelerated.
• Cisco media production solutions will also enable Nilesat to adopt the concept of the medianet: an intelligent network of networks that is optimized end-to-end for dynamic media experiences.  This will help to deliver a single, scalable IP architecture that extends from the point of content ingest through every aspect of editing and production, across video contribution and distribution networks, all the way to the customer screen. A medianet will transform the customer experience by delivering more content, mobility, personalization, and control.
• Cisco media contribution solutions can provide editing and modifying content for regions and sponsors, add special graphic treatments and transport content, error-free, to dispersed facilities. In a sporting event, for example, video feeds may originate from a stadium and be edited and enhanced at an onsite editing facility. They are then transported to a national or global broadcast center for distribution.

• Cisco's media distribution solutions will allow Nilesat to serve hundreds of operator head-ends and affiliate locations thereby meeting requirements for diverse video formats, quality levels, and compression standards. Also, with media distribution solutions Nilesat can deliver finished content and advertising to consumers in new ways.

Executive Quotes:

Mr. Salah Hamza, chief technology officer and acting chairman, Nilesat

"Nilesat chose Cisco's Media, Satellite, and Broadcast Video Solution because satellite communications in Egypt are evolving rapidly and we know how important it is to invest in the latest state-of-the-art solutions to enable us to take our customer offering to the next level.  The Cisco solution will enable us to do this cost-effectively whilst also delivering the highest possible quality service."

Olaf Krahmer, president and general manager, Cisco, Egypt

"Based on Nilesat's business need Cisco introduced a platform that completely moved away from the traditional next-generation direct-to-home platforms and as a result we were able to successfully deploy a smart solution offering high performance and system availability whilst reducing the capital and operational expenditure  for Nilesat overall. Following this successful deployment, Cisco is now working very closely with Nilesat to introduce other new technologies that will help enhance their customer offering in the Middle East region and even further."

Links / URLs:

• Nilesat web-site  :  www.nilesat.com.eg
•  The Network in Africa: http://newsroom.cisco.com/africa

About Nilesat:

The Egyptian Satellite Company, Nilesat, is a joint-stock company operating under the Free Zone Law in 6th of October City, and the name of a series of Egyptian communications satellites. It was established in 1996 to operate Egyptian satellites, associated ground control stations and up-linking facilities. It has launched 2 satellites to the 7° West orbital neighborhood (Nilesat 101 and Nilesat 102), and launched its second generation satellite, NILESAT 201 in August 2010. In December 2010, Nilesat broadcasts over 600 TV channels, and over 100 digital radio channels uplinked either from Cairo, Dubai, Amman, Doha, Riyadh and Beirut and covering North Africa, the Middle East and the Gulf Region. Nearly 76% of the TV channels are free to air, the remaining channels are encrypted. Nilesat viewership in the MENA region has shown steady growth, from 11 million households in 2003 to more than 40 million households in 2009. Nilesat is enjoying the highest viewership in the MENA region according to the most recent surveys in 2010, about 95 % of the house hold in the MENA region. For more details visit: http://nilesat.com.eg

About Cisco:

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com.  For ongoing news, please go tohttp://newsroom.cisco.com.

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Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

Samsung Electronics Tapes out Gigahertz+ ARM Cortex-A15 Processor with Synopsys IC Compiler

Press Release:

Samsung Electronics Tapes out Gigahertz+ ARM Cortex-A15 Processor with Synopsys IC Compiler

Hardened core used in industry's first ARM® Cortex™-A15 processor-based SoC for mobile computing devices

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP used in the design, verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems, today announced the successful collaboration between Synopsys and Samsung Electronics on the implementation of an ARM Cortex-A15 MPCore™ processor. The processor core was implemented by Samsung Austin Research Center (SARC) using Synopsys IC Compiler place-and-route technology, a cornerstone of the Synopsys Galaxy™ Implementation Platform. Running at operating speeds in excess of a gigahertz on Samsung's 32nm low power process, the hardened core has already been deployed in the industry's first Cortex-A15 processor-based SoC for mobile computing devices. The high speed was enabled through a unique combination of innovative optimization techniques and differentiated high-performance technologies which have made IC Compiler the tool of choice for high-performance designs across multiple process nodes.
"Our mission is to deliver the highest frequency while minimizing power for high-end processor and graphics cores targeted to the mobile computing and digital home markets," said Keith Hawkins, vice president, SARC. "Globally, this was the first production tapeout of a Cortex-A15 processor and we relied exclusively on IC Compiler and the Galaxy tool suite to predictably achieve our performance and power targets."
Samsung fabricated the three–million-instance, dual-core Cortex-A15 processor on a 32LP high-K metal gate (HKMG) process. Synopsys collaborated closely with SARC on an implementation methodology based on key high performance technologies and optimization techniques in the Galaxy Implementation Platform to meet Samsung's stringent mass production criteria for an on-time tapeout. The processor core relied on Physical Datapath in Design Compiler® Topographical and IC Compiler for the structured placement of registers to meet power and area objectives. Layout-based debug with Design Compiler Topographical allowed quick analysis of library, netlist and placement issues to close timing. Clock mesh in IC Compiler and PrimeTime® provided the low skew and increased on-chip-variation (OCV) tolerance necessary for the high-performance core.
"Samsung is a leading provider of silicon in the mobile computing market, as can be seen by its smart phone and tablet market penetration," said Antun Domic, senior vice president and general manager, Implementation Group at Synopsys. "Being at the forefront of next generation mobile products, Samsung has driven many of the technology innovations that have reinforced the position of IC Compiler as the leading choice for high-performance design. The benefits of our ongoing partnership can be seen in the impressive level of performance delivered by this gigahertz-plus processor core."
About Synopsys®
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys' comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com/.

PRESS RELEASE

Cisco CCNP Service Provider Certification Validates Professional-Level Skills for Deploying and Optimizing IP Next-Generation Networks

Cisco Service Provider Certification Portfolio Delivers Job-Ready Capabilities to Help Ensure Performance, Reliability and Security of Networks

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 24, 2012 – Cisco today announced the availability of its Cisco CCNP® Service Provider certification developed to validate the skills and knowledge of network engineers to deploy and optimize a next-generation carrier-grade network capable of rapid expansion to support new managed services.

With rapidly evolving service provider network infrastructures and increasing customer requirements, it is imperative for service providers to have highly skilled personnel in the latest core, transport, and edge technologies relevant in the industry today. The CCNP Service Provider certification coupled with the recent release of the CCNA Service Providerand current CCIE Service Provider certification provides networking engineers with a complete training and certification portfolio in IP next-generation networks (IP NGN).

Key Facts:

• Professional-level CCNP Service Provider courses and exams deliver a deep understanding of major components of service provider networks and IP NGN infrastructure for delivering managed services.
• The training enables candidates to gain extensive hands-on experience in configuring and troubleshooting Cisco carrier-grade networking devices using native Cisco IOS® and IOS XR operating systems.
• The certification validates an individual's ability to implement, validate end-to-end and optimize technologies including carrier routing (BGP, IS-IS, OSPF, Multicast), SP core network services (QoS, MPLS, MPLS-TE) and SP edge network services (Layer 2 VPNs, MPLSLayer 3 VPNs, Carrier Ethernet).
• The certification is composed of the following courses and exams:
  • SPROUTE (642-883): Deploying Cisco Service Provider Network Routing
  • SPADVROUTE (642-885): Deploying Cisco Service Provider Advanced Network Routing
  • SPCORE (642-887) Implementing Cisco Service Provider Next-Generation Core Network Services
  • SPEDGE (642-889) Implementing Cisco SP NGN Edge Network Services

Supporting Quotes

• Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, vice president and general manager of Learning@Cisco, said: "Service providers seeking to transform into ‘experience providers' must be able to offer fully integrated and personalized voice, video and data services to anyone, anywhere, anytime using any device. The Cisco Service Provider certification program validates the capabilities of network engineers with the latest core and intelligent edge technologies in order to deliver a scalable carrier-grade infrastructure capable of rapid expansion to support the ongoing introduction of new managed services."

• Aleksandar Ristoski, Backbone Network department manager, Tusmobil, Slovenia, said: "The SPCORE and SPEDGE courses are a must-have for anyone wanting to get a deep understanding of a Cisco powered IP/MPLS backbone. The material and labs covered in the SPCORE and SPEDGE courses are essential for any network professional that handles IP/MPLS-powered SP networks."

Supporting Resources

• Find out more about CCNP Service Provider Certification today at:

https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/ccnp_service_provider

• CCNP Service Provider Certification exams are available now through Pearson Vue:http://www.vue.com/cisco/
• Training courses are available through Cisco Authorized Learning Partners:

http://tools.cisco.com/GlobalLearningLocator/LLocatorHome.do

Social Media Destinations:

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/learningatcisco
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cisco-Career-Certifications/111552132193668
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3443017
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/cisco

Technorati Tags: Talent Development, Cisco Certified, Network, Certifications, IT Certifications, Cisco, Cisco Learning Network, Education, CCNP, Learning@Cisco, Service Provider, Next Generation Networks, IP NGN, Carriers

RSS Feed for Cisco: http://newsroom.cisco.com/rss-feeds

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go tohttp://newsroom.cisco.com.

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