The C-3e NP delivers over 3000 MIPS of computing power and full software programmability to the evolving access markets. The C-3e NP architecture uses eight Channel Processors for physical interface connections, packet/cell data parsing, and protocol transformation. The Channel Processors also integrate Ethernet MACs (10/100, Gigabit) and SONET/SDH framers (OC-3/STM-1, OC-12/STM-3) that can help lower overall system costs. The C-3e NP also includes eight Services Processors that can be used concurrently for processing more advanced functions (such as SARing, traffic management, and encapsulated protocol processing), and built-in coprocessors for accelerating classification, buffer management, and traffic management tasks. This highly-flexible architecture can address and adapt to virtually any protocol, such as: AAL-1, AAL-2, AAL-2 SSSAR, AAL-5 SAR, ATM TM 4.1, IMA, IPv4, IPv6, UDP, RTP, GTP, Header Compression, L4 Port Classification, VoIP, ICMP, PPP (Multi-Class, Multi-Link, PPP-MUX), IP DiffServ, MPLS, PoS, Frame Relay, and HDLC.

Along with its extensive multi-protocol programmability, the C-3e NP is designed to enhance the performance of access applications. For example, the voice gateway function in wireless infrastructure and multiservice platforms requires the flexibility to support ATM (AAL-5 and AAL-2) and/or IP (VoIP) switching and termination at high performance. In this type of application, the C-3e NP is capable of greater than 1.4M AAL-2 Common Part Sublayer (CPS) packets/second switching performance (up to two OC-3's worth of switching equal to over 28,000 simultaneous conversations), 7.5M packets/second of IPv4 routing performance, and 2 x OC-12c full duplex of AAL-5 Segmentation and Reassembly (SARing) performance.

"Motorola continues to simplify the arduous job of designing the modern network," says Eric Mantion, Senior Analyst, Networking Technology for In-Stat/MDR. "By providing programmable devices -- at almost every level of the communications hierarchy -- that are supported by the Smart Networks Alliance, network designers can create systems today with no fear of what tomorrow brings. This 'programmability insurance' provides an extended time-in-market that allows for better infrastructure ROI in these financially thrifty times. The C-3e NPU is particularly well thought out in that it provides wonderful flexibility in applications that are too small for a C-5e(TM) NPU but too big for a PowerQUICC II(TM) processor."

For access applications requiring advanced flow-based traffic management -- from 4Kbits/second up to 1 Gigabit/second - system designers can add the Q-3 TMC, which provides ATM TM 4.1 and IETF Diffserv-compliant policing, shaping, monitoring, and scheduling of up to 64k flows/connections. The Q-3 TMC can support up to 4096 virtual channels that can be rate limited to conform to a particular downstream link bandwidth, such as an xDSL link, or have minimum bandwidth guarantees with weighted fair sharing on the excess bandwidth available at the virtual port or interface.

For aggregating many TDM interfaces into the C-3e NP, Motorola's forthcoming TDM Channel Adapter products provide highly cost-effective interface densities -- without sacrificing functionality. By design, these adapters will aggregate 8 to 16 TDM lines consisting of multiple, independent, logical channels into a single C-3e NP Channel Processor, enabling the C-3e NP to support aggregation of up to 256 T1/E1 lines with up to 2048 logical channels of HDLC, ATM, and transparent data.

"The level of flexibility and performance of the C-3e NP, Q-3 TMC, and TDM adapters helps our customers to deliver more services with faster time-to-market than was possible with standard product or ASIC-based designs," said Bob Gohn, vice president of marketing for Motorola's C-Port Network Processor Family. "Customers are finding this expanded range of solutions in the C-Port Family to be extremely compelling. With the ability to mix and match network processors, traffic managers, and adapters, they can accommodate various system design requirements."

Like the rest of the C-Port Network Processor Family, the C-3e NP uses the same simple programming model comprised of robust Applications Programming Interfaces (APIs), C language programmability, and a comprehensive development environment that maximizes development productivity. Customers can easily scale applications from the C-3e NP to the C-5e NP (for up to 5Gbps throughput), and can expect to scale to even higher speeds with future C-Port Family network processors.

The C-Port Network Processor Family is an integral part of Motorola's comprehensive communications processor portfolio, which includes PowerPC ISA based Host Processors, PowerQUICC(TM) Integrated Communications Processors, and networking Digital Signal Processors (DSPs). From SOHO and Enterprise network applications to higher bandwidth/higher function Access and Edge applications, vendors are able to leverage the depth of the Motorola product portfolio for their system designs. For example, when Motorola DSPs are combined with the C-3e NP, OEMs can create intelligent, high-performance Packet Telephony solutions.

Pricing and Availability

Tools and applications that support C-3e NP development are available today in the C-Ware(TM) Software Toolset version 2.1, allowing OEMs to start coding and simulating C-3e NP applications now. The C-3e NP is expected to sample in the third quarter of 2002 with the suggested list price of $225 (USD) in 10K quantities. The Q-3 TMC is expected to sample in the third quarter of 2002 with the suggested list price of $235 (USD) in 10K quantities. The first of Motorola's TDM Channel Adapter products is expected to sample in the fourth quarter of 2002.

About Motorola

As the world's #1 producer of embedded processors, Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector creates DigitalDNA(TM) system-on-chip solutions for a connected world. Our strong focus on wireless communications and networking enables customers to develop smarter, simpler, faster and synchronized products for the person, work team, home and automobile. Motorola's worldwide semiconductor sales were $4.9 billion (USD) in 2001. http://www.motorola.com/semiconductors.

Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT - news) is a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2001 were $30 billion. http://www.motorola.com/

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