Interval Promises Mediawire Home Networking Technology

Computergram International, June 23, 1998

Interval Research Corp, the Paul Allen-owned think tank based in Palo Alto, California, was demonstrating its prototype MediaWire home network technology at the Digital Living Room conference in Dana Point, California yesterday. MediaWire is said to integrate audio, video, data, control and telephony into a single digital network architecture at a cost low enough for home usage, by using existing telephone wiring as its physical layer.

The single connector system can achieve data rates of up to 44Mbps, according to system architect Glenn Edens. Interval said the technology would open up opportunities for device sharing and cross functionality, such as video phones, multi-room audio visual and macro behavior of the home. MediaWire is self- configuring in that there are no device IDs to set, and connections between devices can be made in any order. There was no information on the underlying technology at press time, and no details of availability. Company CEO David Liddel gave the keynote speech at the conference. Two years ago, Interval spun off three technology companies: Web site services outfit Carnelian Inc, multi-player video games company Ogopogo Studios, now renamed Electric Planet Interactive, and Purple Moon, a developer of interactive games for girls (CI No 3,042).