New alliance to create guidelines to make HD easier for consumers

A coalition of electronics manufacturers and media companies have formed the High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance (HANA) to develop guidelines for secure high-definition audio visual networks intended to hasten the creation of new, higher-quality, easier-to-use HD products.

The founding members include Charter Communications, JVC, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, NBC Universal, Samsung and Sun Microsystems. Additionally, ARM, Freescale Semiconductor and Pulse~LINK have joined HANA as contributing members.

HANA's mission is to create industry design guidelines, using existing technology and specifications that will enable consumers to:

• View, pause and record five or more HD channels simultaneously without compromising quality of service;
• View, pause and record HD anywhere in the home with just one set-top box;
• Share personal content from PCs to AV devices while keeping protected content secure;
• Control all AV devices and access content with just a single remote per room;
• Add any device to the home network with just one cable.

HANA-compliant products will include HDTVs, next-generation DVD players, personal video recorders, set-top cable boxes and home theaters. The first commercial products are expected to be available at International CES 2007. The alliance plans to facilitate compatibility among various manufacturers' products through compliance testing and HANA-organized developers' conferences.

HANA is in discussions with standards bodies, such as the CEA, CableLabs, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the ATSC and the 1394 Trade Association.

For more information, visit www.HANAalliance.org.

Back to the top

---