System

mediabank has 4 core elements and several additional devices planned as the market develops. Most are variations of existing hardware.


medianodes interface high bandwidth media to video & audio or audio-only entertainment points within the home. medianodes are inexpensive, passively cooled computers designed to boot from the server(s). Without fans or hard disks, medianodes are quiet and more robust than a standard computer. They are designed for wall-hugging mounting to compliment thin HDTVs, or horizontal use in entertainment centers;
The mediabank remote is simplified over standard remote controls - 6 buttons and a touch interface. It uses RF communication for greater range and more flexible distributed control;
The touch tablet is the high-end control interface capable of complete control of lighting, entertainment and security via a floorplan or room hierarchical interface. The tablet also provides quicker and more intuitive library and playlist management as well as content hyperlinking and internet browsing;

The media server is a collection of several independent devices with a common user interface. The main module is the media server with RAID storage. It is the conduit for all entertainment and system upgrades. Two other devices are initially planned for the server - a home control / security interface and a communications interface. Should there be a failure in one system, the remaining systems continue to operate.

The media server / medianodes can manage multiple sources of real-time (broadcast) content including, cable, satellite, IPTV, NTSC / ATSC broadcasts, and IP-based A/V streams, as well as coordinate time shifting (DVR) resources within the server or in other locations of the home. The server and medianodes can also tap on-demand content internal or external to the home, including content stored on the server's RAID, content stored on personal computers, and Video-on-Demand (VOD) sources. The server and medianodes are designed to work with set top boxes (STBs) rather than replace STBs;

A low-cost, audio-only medianode with an integral lower-power amplifier is planned for high-end and retro-fit audio zones. Power and communications are implemented across standard speaker wires or Cat-5 cable;
An analog to digital (A/D) adapter can insert analog content from legacy devices - VCRs, tape decks, etc., onto the digital network for distribution. IR signals are captured at the medianodes and routed back to the A/D adapter, allowing single-point legacy devices to have limited participation in the distributed environment.

 

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(C) 2006  Kris Carlsen