CEA to introduce MOST gateway reference model

Fiber Optics Weekly Update, March 25, 2005

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) said it is developing a reference model for a "black box" or gateway interface into the MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) network for cars.

CEA is working with the MOST Cooperative to develop the reference design, which could lead to the first market-ready car-audio MOST interfaces by 2006, said CEA's staff director Chris Cook.

The MOST fiber-optic network is expected to connect multimedia devices in 48 percent of cars worldwide by 2008, he said, noting that CEA is leading an effort to develop a gateway into that network to ensure that aftermarket products will be able to interface with these vehicles.

CEA said that it will build a reference model for a MOST black box that will be type certified. It will allow audio products to connect to MOST with two-way control.

Cook said the necessity for a MOST interface is growing more pressing because the first U.S. car in the top 60 car models to offer MOST will ship in April, namely the BMW 3 Series. Without a MOST gateway, the aftermarket would not be able to add products to the car, he said.

Cook said future MOST standards will address video, but first the industry must resolve digital rights management issues, as there may be digital recording devices on the network.