Digital Harmony Demonstrates IEEE 1394 Home Audio Storage Concept

Standalone Disk Drive Can Simultaneously Record And Play

29-Jan-01

Digital Harmony Technologies Inc., a leader in the development of IEEE 1394 technologies for home entertainment networks, demonstrated a home audio storage concept made possible by the interoperability of their technology with Western Digitalís native 1394 audio/video hard disk drive (AV HDD) technology. The demonstration included simultaneous recording and playback of audio over the bi-directional IEEE 1394 serial bus. The 1394 AV HDD technology communicates with Digital Harmonyís popular audio adapter reference design, based on Digital Harmonyís 1394 OEM transceiver module called DHIVAô (Digital Harmony Interface for Video and Audio).Utilizing technology from Sonyís Interconnect Architecture Research Laboratory in San Jose, California, Western Digitalís 1394 AV HDD technology supports all currently defined audio/video and SBP-2 transmission formats simultaneously on the IEEE 1394 bus. This allows the storage device to be used both as a traditional computer peripheral and as a peer-to-peer consumer electronics device (i.e., no computer required). The device can be used for time-shifted recordings, a feature made popular by todayís new personal video recorders (PVRs).In the demonstration system, the 1394 AV HDD technology is connected to Digital Harmonyís industry-leading audio adapter with a single 1394 cable. The DHIVA-powered audio adapter converts standard audio formats to 1394 audio formats, compliant with open international standards. The 1394 audio data streams to the AV HDD where it is recorded, time-shifted and then played back through the Digital Harmony audio adapter. Audio recording and playback can occur at the same time, taking full advantage of the bi-directional nature of the IEEE 1394 bus.Communication between the 1394 AV HDD technology and the Digital Harmony device is based on open international standards for the IEEE 1394 bus, seen by many as the key to device and system interoperability. Digital Harmony plays a leading role in the development of these audio standards as a member of the 1394 Trade Association.Digital Harmony, the first company to ever demonstrate audio on the IEEE 1394 bus, is developing DHIVA-based 1394 products with a growing family of licensees such as Denon, Harman/Kardon, Polk Audio and Onkyo. ""The peer-to-peer storage device is one of the ëkiller appsí of upcoming Digital Harmony-enhanced entertainment networks. This interoperable technology will help spur the growth of the 1394 home entertainment marketplace in 2001,"" said Greg Bartlett, President of Digital Harmony. For more information about Digital Harmony Technologies, visit www.digitalharmony.com.

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