Digital 5 To Unveil New Server/Client Home Networking System
By Mark Long -- e-inSITE, 1/5/02
Digital 5 has announced that the company will be rolling out a new server/client home networking system at CES in Las Vegas next week that has been designed to enable the wireless streaming of multimedia content to all the rooms in a home environment. Called Netmedia, the embedded technology currently offers support for WMA, MP3, WAV and other multimedia formats, as well as RTP/RTSP and various additional streaming protocols, with video functionality to follow later in the year.
The IP-based technology--which has been implemented using TI's TMS320C5000 DSP family--is targeted at OEMs of next generation digital entertainment devices such as intelligent networked speakers, DVD/CD players, and digitally enabled clock radios/receivers. Netmedia's optimization software also includes codec engines that reportedly run under a networked RTOS environment with less than 200 KB of code to cut down on the DSP overhead.
According to Digital 5, Netmedia can be used to create synchronized, multiple stream, home digital entertainment network components. PC support is available right now, with provisions for next generation home entertainment servers to follow. Audio Networking options are also currently available for 802.11b and other LAN standards.
The Netmedia client combines embedded system technology with the company's Netmedia networking software. The total system can also be implemented on a low-cost, small-footprint embedded system card that will enable notebooks and PCs to store digital music or access digital entertainment audio peripherals.
"Just as printers and speakers are to a PC so will Netmedia be to enabled peripherals," claims president and CEO Ron Stevens. "Netmedia provides the fastest and most distinctive form factor for adding low cost streaming multimedia connectivity to standard home products
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