CE makers developing standard for digital home network

Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, March 23, 1998

Cryptically worded and selectively disseminated memo said group of European and Japanese CE manufacturers had created "draft specifications" for "open standard" that will be made public to AV and multimedia industries and digital broadcast service providers. However, document didn't give time frame for publication - or even specify physical nature of network or respective roles of group members Grundig, Hitachi, Matsushita, Philips, Sharp, Sony, Thomson, Toshiba.

Network will be hard-wired and based on IEEE-1394 digital interface, Television Digest has learned, with some possibility for wireless and infrared links. Meanwhile, critical issue that draft specifications address, one source said, is underlying software for Command Transaction Set (CTS) that makes possible interoperation among devices. Instead of AV product's microprocessor responding only to its manufacturer's proprietary control commands, all like devices would use same programming language regardless of brand. Consequently, for instance, Panasonic VCR could be used to control Sony TV.

Standardized network has applications beyond home. For example, "smart" AV devices would be able to download, distribute and store programming or other content piggybacked on digital signal from broadcast, satellite, cable or telco service. At Jan. CES, Sony demonstrated system in closed-door sessions for content service-providers. This month, Sony Consumer AV Pres. Jolm Briesch said home network would create new revenue opportunities from broadcasters' ability to carry "incremental data" on DTV signal (TVD March 2 p12).

Agreement among major CE makers on standards seems to conclude long quest for universal home network system. Attempts to achieve that goal go back more than 15 years and have included various systems such as D2B (Domestic Digital Bus) protocol from Matsushita, Philips, Sony and Thomson, which in 1991 was incorporated into Home Bus System (HBS) embraced worldwide except for U.S. HBS used variety of carriers for digital command data, including phone, coaxial and AC wiring, infrared and RF.

RF connection isn't mentioned in home network standard by CE makers - who were no-shows at coming-out party for Home Radio Frequency Working Group (HRFWG) of PC companies and telcos spearheaded by Compaq, Intel and Microsoft (TVD March 9 p16). HRFWG espouses use of 2.4 GHz band for communication among home electronics products, with PC as control center. One company in 8-member standards group wouldn't characterize it as "anti-Microsoft alliance" but said that for interaction of digital AV products "it is necessary to realize an open environment" - oblique reference to proprietary systems such as Microsoft's Windows or Windows CE, which can be applied to running AV entertainment devices. RF, though widely used for CE devices in U.S., particularly at 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz bands, is problem overseas. Regulations vary from country to country, and bands best suited for AV use often are occupied by other applications.

Significantly absent from standards group is NEC, which last year announced novel wireless system for networking multimedia components through IEEE-1394 interface (TVD Oct 27/97 p17). instead of hardwired system, which is limited to 14-3/4 ft. cable runs linked by repeater amps, NEC system uses infrared relay good for 33 ft. between transceivers. Spokesman for group member Sharp told us alliance will concentrate on specs for hard-wired system, but hadn't ruled out infrared extensions. And although standards group didn't mention digital CDMA wireless telephony, Sony in past has suggested it has role in home network.

CableLabs approved IEEE-1394 specification as link between OpenCable digital set-top boxes and TV sets and DVD players. Interface will be specified for OpenCable set-tops to be bought by CableLabs members, group said.