About MIPI Alliance: FAQ

Background and Objectives
Technology, Products and Applications
Structure and Membership
Industry Impact
Patent Licensing and Objections
Confidentiality

MIPI Alliance Background and Objectives:

Q: What is the goal of the MIPI Alliance?
A: To benefit the entire mobile industry by establishing specifications for standard hardware and software interfaces in mobile terminals and encouraging the adoption of those standards throughout the industry value chain.

Q: What does "MIPI" stand for?
A: Mobile Industry Processor Interface. Specific uses of the acronym include:
     MIPI Alliance -- The organization.
     MIPI Member – Any company who joins the MIPI Alliance.
     MIPI Specification -- A specification adopted by the MIPI Alliance.

Q: How do you pronounce MIPI?
A: “mippee”.

Q: Who heads up the initiative?
A: Intel, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, STMicroelectronics, and Texas Instruments are the current Board members that lead the organization. Working Groups are chaired by individuals from a variety of member companies. IEEE-ISTO was contracted to provide administration for the Alliance.

Q: What progress has been achieved since the initiative was originally launched?
A: MIPI Alliance has completed specifications in the areas of physical interface (D-PHY), camera (CSI), display (DSI and DCS), test and debug parallel trace interface, system trace protocol, system power management interface (SPMI), RFIC to baseband IC interface (DigRF^SM), processor interface emulation (PIE), high-speed synchronous interface (HSI) physical layer, serial low-power inter-chip media bus (SLIMbus®), unified protocol (UniPro^SM), and descriptor and configuration data transfer (DDB). These specifications are currently being adopted across a broad range of mobile terminal products. Various other specifications are under development.

Q: What problem is MIPI trying to solve, exactly?
A: In a word: fragmentation. The mobile industry suffers from too many interfaces which are incompatible yet typically not differentiated. This leads to incompatibility between products, redundant engineering investments to maintain multiple interface technologies, and ultimately higher costs (but most likely not higher margins/value). MIPI intends to reduce this fragmentation by developing attractive targets for convergence which have technical and intellectual property rights benefits over proprietary alternatives.

Q: What is a mobile terminal?
A: A common example would be a mobile phone or smartphone. MIPI often uses the more general term "mobile terminal" to reflect an increasing diversity in the types of "connected" products which are entering the marketplace, many of which may differ substantially from a traditional mobile phone.

Q: Will MIPI always be restricted to mobile phone application processors or do you plan to expand the concept into other areas?
A: MIPI is focused on the application engine and associated peripherals in “smartphones”, but the use of MIPI Specifications is not necessarily limited to these products. Considering the constant evolution of product categories and the number of member companies who are active in multiple market segments, MIPI interfaces may be utilized in other related products. However, MIPI has no interest in defining standards for market segments already well-served by other standards bodies and consortia.

Technology, Products and Applications:

Q: In very simple terms, what are hardware and software interfaces to application processors?
A: A processor or system-on-a-chip typically has several ports or busses which interface to a variety of peripherals such as displays, cameras, memory, or communications devices. In the context of MIPI, specifications for such hardware interfaces will impact both the processors and the peripheral devices. These standard hardware interfaces may also impact low-level software which abstracts hardware resources from the higher-level software such as applications and operating systems.

Q: What is the result of standardizing these hardware and software interfaces? What is the benefit of such standardization?
A: Standard interfaces will yield greatly improved interoperability between peripherals, application processors, and system-on-a-chip products from multiple vendors. Development time and effort will be reduced for all companies on the value chain, because less time and effort will be redundantly invested in proprietary solutions. This will enable the industry to re-focus valuable resources into other areas which bring more direct benefit to consumers .

Q: Are any MIPI specifications available yet? If not, when will they become available?
A: A: A full listing of our completed specifications will soon be available in the Working Groups section of this site.

Q: How will MIPI specifications be made available?
A: MIPI Alliance will publish its specifications as defined in its Bylaws, which currently limits distribution only to member companies. MIPI Alliance membership has been structured so that all companies in the mobile industry can join and participate.

Q: Why is the PHY specification independent of the camera and display specifications?
A: MIPI determined that this separation of tasks was the most optimal use of MIPI resources and MIPI member company resources. For MIPI, this enabled efficient use of expert participants’ time and produced a single PHY specification which would be re-used by multiple interface specifications. For member companies, much of their investment in PHY implementation can be re-used for camera, display and future interface implementations .

Q: What product categories will the MIPI Standard influence?
A: The MIPI Alliance is primarily focused on smartphones and similar application-rich, networked devices, although MIPI Specifications may prove useful in other product categories .

Q: What are serial interfaces and why are they important ?
A: Serial interfaces typically reduce the number of pins, wires, or printed circuit conductors used to carry a signal. In a simple example, instead of a parallel interface simultaneously sending a bit of data thru 8 different pins, a serial interface could send the same 8 bits, consecutively, thru a single wire. This reduction in signal paths can be critical to mobile phone design constraints, such as moving signals thru a flexible connector used in the hinge of a flip-phone. Such flexible connectors are often very limited in the number of wires/signals they can carry, so using serial interfaces allows more components on one side of the hinge to be connected to other components on the opposite side of the hinge. Other features typically found in serial interfaces, such as differential signaling, bring many benefits to other mobile phone design challenges like electro-magnetic noise and interference. Hence, there is a trend toward serial interfaces in many areas of electronics .

Q: What is an Application Processor?
A: Application processor is a term often used to describe the microprocessor based system-on-a-chip (SoC) which runs applications in a mobile product. Typically it runs an open OS (Operating System) and is independent of other processors(s) which may manage the wireless modem, though there are exceptions to these cases.

Q: What is an Open OS (Operating System)?
A: An Open OS is a high-level operating system that provides application engines and a execution environment as well as a scheduler. Typically the Open OS uses the MMU (Memory Management Unit) in an application processor.

Q: Will the MIPI Alliance define a new set of API's that must be adopted by a MIPI- compliant OS?
A: No. The MIPI Alliance has no plans to specify operating system requirements.

Q: Is the MIPI Alliance agnostic about air interface standards?
A: Yes. MIPI Specifications address the interface between application processors and associated peripherals. Interfaces based on MIPI Specifications could be used in products supporting any network such as GSM, CDMA2000, WCDMA, PHS, TD-SCDMA, etc.

Q: Will MIPI-based products be interchangeable?
A: MIPI Specifications will define characteristics of certain common interfaces, not entire application processors or peripherals, so it is unlikely that MIPI-c Compliant products from different manufacturers would be pin-compatible.

Q: Are the internal architecture and bus structures covered by MIPI Specs?
A: No, the MIPI Alliance is only focused on interfaces among processors and peripherals. Application processor and peripheral vendors are free to develop unique and differentiated products, including proprietary internal architectures and bus structures. MIPI-specified interfaces will simply improve the inter-connectivity of these devices.

Q: The MIPI website lists an address at IEEE. Did MIPI become part of IEEE?
A: No. The MIPI Alliance has contracted the IEEE Industry Standards and Technology Organization (ISTO) to provide administrative support for our organization. MIPI remains an independent, not-for-profit corporate entity.

Q: Who can join the MIPI Alliance?
A: Any company can join MIPI, but current membership reflects the following segments of the mobile industry :

• Mobile Device Manufacturers
• Semiconductor Companies
• Software vendors
• Peripheral manufacturers
• IP providers
• Others

Q: Who has joined the MIPI Alliance?
A: An up-to-date list of MIPI's member companies can be found in Current Members.

Q: Is it too late to join MIPI? Is there a deadline for joining MIPI?
A: Any company may join MIPI at any time. There is no plan to limit the number of members, nor is there any intention to create a deadline after which companies may not apply. MIPI intends to benefit the entire mobile industry.

Q: How do you join the MIPI Alliance?
A: Membership requires signing a Membership Agreement and paying nominal membership dues. To become a member, go to the How to Join page.

Q: How much does it cost to join the MIPI Alliance?
A: A: The fee structure scales with levels of membership and currently ranges from $8,000 to $40,000. Member fees are discounted for smaller companies to minimize obstacles to membership. The current membership fees are on the Membership Overview page.

Q: Why are there different levels of membership in the MIPI Alliance?
A: Different companies place different value on membership depending on their markets, resources, strategies, etc. Multi-level membership addresses this by providing several different levels of involvement to match any individual company’s needs. For example, some companies have the desire and resources to influence specifications; others may simply want access to the specifications once they are published.

Q: What are the levels of membership in the MIPI Alliance?
A: The MIPI Alliance has three levels of Membership: Adopters, Contributors and Board Members .

• Adopter Members receive access to MIPI Specifications and have various rights and obligations regarding development of products which implement those specifications, including patent license rights and obligations .
• Contributor Members have the rights and obligations of Adopter Members, plus the opportunity to participate in the working groups.
• Board Members have all rights and obligations of a Contributor Member plus a voting board seat.

Q: What is the structure of the board of the MIPI Alliance?
A: Today the board of MIPI Alliance, Inc. consists of representatives from six companies: Intel, Motorola , Nokia, Samsung, STMicroelectronics and Texas Instruments. The Bylaws allow for additional board members to be elected by the board.

Q: Which companies write the specifications?
A: Many Board and Contributor member companies collaborate in the development of MIPI specifications, including most of the leading suppliers of phones, semiconductors, display panels and camera sensors in the mobile industry. MIPI specifications typically reflect multiple technology submissions from multiple companies .

Q: Are MIPI Members required to license their intellectual property to other Members?
A: Members have both rights and obligations regarding narrowly defined intellectual property relating directly to MIPI Specifications. These obligations are defined in the MIPI Membership Agreement, and are consistent with many similar consortia-style standards organizations.

Industry Impact:

Q: There seem to be many standards in the mobile industry. How does MIPI fit in ?
A: The MIPI Alliance is focused on driving progress toward making new services and the application-rich devices which enable them available more quickly and broadly.

Q: Specifications are one thing, but how can MIPI be confident that adoption of these specifications is broad enough to make them a standard ?
A: The depth of MIPI membership – currently about 165 companies representing virtually all segments of the industry -- strongly suggests that there is more than ample support in the mobile industry to establish MIPI Specifications as the standards in their respective technology solutions. Future product introductions are likely to further reinforce this expectation.

Q: When will products be available which implement MIPI interfaces?
A: It depends on the type of product. Chips and components such as camera sensors or displays began to enter the market in 2006. Phones which utilize those components began to enter the market in late 2007.

Q: What are the benefits of MIPI to the mobile industry?
A: Development cycles and design complexity will be reduced at mobile device manufacturers, semiconductor companies, and software companies. Service providers will face fewer obstacles and lower costs in deploying new services and products. Consumers will enjoy access to more compelling services at a faster rate.

Important Note: MIPI Alliance does not provide legal opinions and has no official interpretation of language of the MIPI Membership Agreement and MIPI Bylaws. As a matter of normal practice, MIPI requests that companies consult with their own legal counsel for interpretation of clauses in the documents and their application to company concerns.

Q: What licensing benefits are provided to MIPI Members?
A: MIPI Member companies are entitled to important benefits and owe certain obligations to all other Members. Among these are duties to share through licensing the benefits of their world-wide patent protected intellectual property ("IPR"), including IPR claimed in patent applications. These obligations are defined in the MIPI Membership Agreement which is signed by MIPI and every Member company, binding on the Member and all its Affiliates. These claims are licensed by each Member to every other Member (including in each case all Affiliates).

Q: What patents are the subject of licensing benefits and obligations?
A: Patents and patent applications with claims called "Necessary Claims" in the MIPI Membership Agreement since they are necessarily infringed by an implementation of a MIPI Specification. The claims must be within the "Scope of IPR" which is another important term defined in the MIPI Membership Agreement.

Q: What kind of licenses are these?
A: These licenses are "worldwide, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, non-transferable (except as provided in Section 7.10)" of the MIPI Membership Agreement to do the things normally associated with broad licenses.

Q: Do the licenses involve the payment of money or other compensation, like royalties as an example?
A: If the licenses are for Compliant Portions (defined in the MIPI Membership Agreement ) inside a Mobile Terminal (also defined in the MIPI Membership Agreement) or in certain components or accessories, no compensation can be required of the licensee. However, see the next question.

Q: Does the MIPI Membership Agreement cover licenses for Compliant Portions outside the Mobile Terminal?
A: The MIPI Membership Agreement provides that if the Compliant Portions are NOT IN a Mobile Terminal, the license required by the MIPI Membership Agreement must be on RAND (reasonable and nondiscriminatory) terms, which generally is taken to mean with or without compensation.

Q: Is it possible for MIPI Members who are negotiating RAND licenses to agree that the licenses should be without compensation?
A: Yes, but that is a matter for the parties to the negotiation to decide.Q: Does MIPI have a list of licenses or holders of relevant Intellectual Property that might be required for implementation of a Specification if a Member is interested in obtaining licenses (on RAND or other terms) for Compliant Portions outside the Mobile Terminal?
A: MIPI does not require disclosure of relevant intellectual property or of licenses required for MIPI Specification implementation nor does MIPI maintain a list of Member company licenses. MIPI does not inquire as to Member technology or the existence of licenses. In addition, patent or other Intellectual Property searches are not conducted or otherwise required by MIPI. For some, but not all, MIPI Specifications there is a list of the MIPI members who contributed to the formulation of the Specification. This may be of assistance in identifying potential licensors, but potential licensees should consult with their own counsels for advice on licensing matters.

Q: Are MIPI Specifications confidential?
A: Yes. All MIPI Members are bound to preserve the confidentiality of MIPI Specifications. The term “confidential”, is defined, and certain exceptions are described, in Section 4 of the MIPI Membership Agreement. Review that Section for the details.

Q: Is the confidentiality obligation limited to Specifications?
A: No, it extends to the confidential information of MIPI and that of all Members.

Q: Can a Member ever disclose the content of a MIPI Specification?
A: Yes. For example, disclosure may be made to employees and contractors who have a need to know and are bound by confidentiality obligations.

Q: What about customers?
A: There may also be disclosure to customers who likewise must agree to keep the information confidential "as part of Member’s product for the purpose of developing and selling products complying with the MIPI Specification(s).”

Q: What is the purpose in allowing this?
A: To assist Members in providing information useful in MIPI compliant product development or to provide support documentation for the Member's products.

Q: How much can be disclosed?
A: Only so much disclosure as is required in the good faith judgment of the Member. This is all described in detail in the MIPI Policy on Disclosure by MIPI Members of Board adopted MIPI Specifications. But read the disclosure policy carefully. Even when permitted there are important special requirements in the event of disclosure.

Q: Who can advise a Member about how much and when disclosure is okay?
A: Members should seek the advice of their own Company counsel.

Q: What if a Member feels a disclosure is important and in the best interests of MIPI but it isn’t specifically mentioned in the disclosure policy?
A: Request permission from the MIPI Board.

Q: When a MIPI Specification is implemented can the source code of the implementation software be disclosed (such as may be the case of open source software)?
A: Yes. But the Specification itself may not be disclosed unless otherwise allowed. Consult the MIPI Policy on Source Code Disclosures.Q: Bottom line, what can happen within MIPI if a Member violates the confidentiality terms of the MIPI membership?
A: It could lead to suspension or termination of membership. See the MIPI Bylaws Article IV, Section 3 (d).