1394 Trade Association Issues New Specifications on IPv4, 1394b Cables and Connectors, and HANA Content Protection

The 1394 Trade Association has issued a set of new specifications covering compliance for IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) over 1394, High Definition Audio-Video networking protection, and cable and connectors up to 4.5 meters.

The IPv4 over 1394 specification defines compliance tests for IPv4 over IEEE-1394, focusing on the features and functions specific to IPv4 over IEEE-1394 -- not IPv4 in general.  It indicates how to verify the use of IEEE 1394-2008 and its supplements for the transport of IPv4 datagrams, and defines the tests to verify the methods, data structures and codes for that purpose. The specification also defines tests to verify the methods for an address resolution protocol (1394 ARP) and a multicast channel allocation protocol (MCAP), both of which are specific to 1394.

The new cable and connector specification evaluates cable and connector products against the established test criteria for the 1394 standards. The document establishes the performance requirements for all short haul copper connectors and cable assemblies up to 4.5 meters long with plugs at both ends manufactured according to IEEE 1394-2008.  It covers 1394b (beta and bilingual) short haul connectors and cable assemblies up to 4.5 meters in length with plugs at both ends, and incorporates all the compliance criteria already in place for 4-circuit and 6 -circuit short haul connectors and cables. Verifying all dimensional, intermatability and performance characteristics of connector and cable assembly manufacturing according to the 1394 standard is important to achieving market acceptance.

The new HANA specification details content protection mechanisms and uses within the High Definition Audio-Video system architecture. It provides the required elements and behavior for handling protected content, preventing access for unapproved uses both within the HANA home networks and pre-empting distribution beyond the HANA home network to which it is licensed.

Content protection in HANA is designed to operate at the aggregated network level instead of in individual devices. Content in the home is free to move among and be copied to any HANA device in the cluster without any restriction.  The content protection controls enable movement of audio and video within the cluster, while protecting it from unauthorized redistribution outside the HANA cluster. 

1394 Trade Association Completes Three More New Specifications

The 1394 Trade Association has issued a trio of additional specifications, finishing a busy 2009 with new documents concerning Open Host Controller Interface (OHCI) compliance; PHY Silicon compliance; and High Definition Audio Video Networking (HANA) content services.

The new OHCI P2P Network and Functional Test specification defines the point-to-point, network and functional tests that must be passed before a 1394 Open Host Controller Interface (OHCI) implementation can earn a 1394 TA FireWire or iLINK 1394-Compliant logo. The OHCI test specification outlines an extensive set of tests, which if passed, validate that an OHCI behaves as expected when stimulated by compliant OHCI software and compliant 1394 bus activity.

The IEEE-1394 PHY Silicon Network Interoperability Test is designed to verify IEEE-1394 PHY silicon implementations in specific standard configurations relative to a list of functions, including data/strobe (DS) only, beta only, hybrid bus, root, not root, junior border, not junior border, senior border, not senior border, proxy root, and not proxy root -- all while being  stressed with asynchronous and isochronous traffic. Functional tasks such as suspend/resume, disable/enable, and standby/restore are tested at a high level.   PHY silicon that passes this test specification will very likely interoperate with other PHY silicon that has similarly passed the test specification.

The TA also completed the HANA content services specification, which details the management of content information and the access to content information. HANA devices use a content directory to make items available to other HANA devices, including content physically stored in the device. This also applies to information residing on a storage medium outside of the device, for example on a network attached hard drive or other storage medium outside of the HANA device.

For more details on all specifications, visit www.1394TA.org and access the members section.