EchoStar announced it will add IEEE 1394 digital connectors to next-generation set-top decoder boxes, using VividLogic’s FireBus Home Entertainment Infrastructure.
VividLogic’s FireBus software will provide digital connectivity and interoperability, and will enable EchoStar to develop HDTV satellite TV receivers that seamlessly interoperates other devices, such as digital camcorders, digital VCRs, digital televisions, and audio/video hard drives in the 1394 network.
FireBus includes 5C (a.k.a. DTCP) content protection and provides an application development interface (API) based on Home Audio Video interoperability (HAVi) standards for home networking.
Tom Taylor, EchoStar engineering VP, said his company will support both 1394 and DVI connections in next generation equipment. He added that VividLogic’s system was selected for 1394 because it enabled the satellite provider to “quickly integrate a mature software stack with a proven track record and open APIs.”
