Intel launches USB 3.0 extensible host controller interface draft spec

Since interoperability among devices from multiple manufacturers is important for consumer adoption of SuperSpeed USB products, Intel explained that the xHCI draft specification revision 0.9 supports compatibility among various implementations of USB devices and is meant to make it easier to develop software support.

By Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor -- Electronic News, 8/14/2008

To allow a standardized method for USB 3.0 host controllers to communicate with the USB 3.0 software stack, Santa Clara, Calif-based chip giant Intel Corp today released its Extensible Host Controller Interface (xHCI) draft specification revision 0.9 in support of the USB 3.0 architecture, also known as SuperSpeed USB.

Since interoperability among devices from multiple manufacturers is important for consumer adoption of SuperSpeed USB products, Intel explained that the xHCI draft specification revision 0.9 supports compatibility among various implementations of USB devices and is meant to make it easier to develop software support.

The specification describes the registers and data structures used to interface between system software and the hardware, and were developed to be compatible with the USB 3.0 specification being developed by the USB 3.0 Promoter Group, with the xHCI draft specification revision 0.9 being made available under RAND-Z (royalty free) licensing terms to all USB 3.0 Promoter Group and contributor companies that sign an xHCI contributor agreement

“The future of computing and consumer devices is increasingly visual and bandwidth intensive. Lifestyles filled with HD media and digital audio demand quick and universal data transfer. USB 3.0 is an answer to the future bandwidth need of the PC platform. AMD believes strongly in open industry standards, and therefore is supporting a common xHCI specification,” commented Phil Eisler, AMD corporate VP and general manager of the chipset business unit, in a statement.

Dell, Microsoft and NEC also gave their support in Intel’s announcement.

Intel noted that it will make a revised xHCI 0.95 specification available in Q4, which will also be released under RAND-Z licensing terms via an xHCI adopter’s agreement.

In other Intel news, the company announced a partnership with Mountain View, Calif-based communications technology company Jajah on a telephony application that leverages Intel’s Remote Wake technology, which is capable of turning the home PC into an 'always available' communications hub but allowing the home PC to 'wake up' from energy efficient sleep mode to accept phone calls.

With Jajah’s telephony support, the computer has direct access to Jajah’s IP-telephony network that allows the PC to both make and receive high quality, low cost phone calls. Also, certain Intel motherboards with support for Intel Remote Wake technology will be available next month.

“Intel and Jajah have a common objective to deploy technology building blocks that deliver a richer communication experience for consumers…The combination of our technologies enables added convenience and energy efficiency for consumers who want the PC to be a genuine two-way communication platform for their IP-based telephony services,” added Joe Van De Water, director of consumer product marketing at Intel.