A TiVo spokesperson said the company could not comment on the Cisco suit.

In addition to and its intellectual property in 2005 for $7 billion, Cisco is for $5 billion. NDS is a maker of software designed to create pay TV video offerings that enable subscribers to view, search and navigate digital content on any device.

NDS products include set-top/DVR, program guide and digital-content software, and video headend systems. Customers include cable and satellite TV providers.

Jim Duffy has been covering technology for over 25 years, 21 at Network World. He also writes The Cisco Connection blog and can be reached on Twitter @Jim_Duffy. 

in Network World's Data Center section.