Abstract: A processor receives data corresponding to a sensor, and generates a frame having a header and a payload. A data type value is selected from a set of multiple data type values corresponding to different respective types of data, the set of multiple data type values including at least i) a first data type value corresponding to video data from a camera, and ii) a second data type value corresponding to non-video data. The header is generated to include one or more fields set to the selected data type value to indicate a type of data included in the payload, and the payload is generated to include the data received from the sensor. The processor provides the frame to an Ethernet network interface. The Ethernet network interface encapsulates the frame in an Ethernet packet, and transmits the Ethernet packet via an Ethernet link.

Abstract: A sensor bridge, for use in an Ethernet network in a vehicle, includes a sensor interface, a mapper and a communication processor. The sensor interface is configured to receive sensor data from a sensor installed in the vehicle. The mapper is configured to form mapped sensor data by applying to the sensor data a direct mapping that maps specified parts of the sensor data to corresponding bit positions in one or more Ethernet packets. The communication processor is configured to generate the one or more Ethernet packets including the mapped sensor data, and to transmit the one or more Ethernet packets over the Ethernet network.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an imaging sensor in a vehicle includes an Ethernet transceiver, a sensor interface and a local processor. The Ethernet transceiver is configured to communicate over an in-vehicle Ethernet network with a remote processor. The sensor interface is configured to communicate with the imaging sensor. The local processor that is local to the apparatus and remotely located from the remote processor is configured to receive from the imaging sensor, via the sensor interface, image data and auxiliary data related to the image data, to send at least the image data to the remote processor via the Ethernet transceiver, to generate locally, based on the auxiliary data, and independently from the remote processor, control commands to control an operational aspect of the imaging sensor, and to send the control commands to the imaging sensor via the sensor interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling simultaneous multimedia content and user data streaming from a handheld device to a display device is disclosed. The apparatus enables power charging of the handheld device while streaming the multimedia content and the user data from the handheld device. The apparatus comprises a data-multimedia-power interface (DMPI) connector installed in the handheld device and designed to enable the transport of at least high definition multimedia signals, data signals, a power signal, and control signals between the handheld device and the display device; and a DMPI circuit for multiplexing the high definition multimedia signals with the data signals, to enable simultaneous streaming of the respective multimedia content and the user data to the display device, wherein the DMPI circuit further extracts a power signal from the display device for power charging of the display device.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling simultaneous multimedia content streaming and power charging of handheld devices, comprises a universal connector installed in a first device and enables connectivity of at least one multimedia display interface and at least one data interface with a second device, the first device is connected to the second device using a charging-streaming cable having, at one end, a first connector compliant with the universal connector, and at the other end, a second connector compliant with a multimedia display interface and a third connector compliant with a data interface of the second device, wherein streaming of the multimedia content is from the universal connector in the first device to the second connector in the second device and power charging of the first device is through the third connector of the second device; and a detector for determining a type of the multimedia display interface of the second device.

Abstract: A home multimedia network comprises a plurality of source nodes, wherein each of the source nodes includes an apparatus for concurrently transmitting and receiving high-speed data services; a plurality of sink nodes, wherein each of the sink nodes includes the apparatus for concurrently transmitting and receiving high-speed data services; a switch for connecting a first group of the plurality of source nodes located at one room to one or more sink nodes located at a different room than the first group of source nodes, the first group of source nodes and the one or more sink nodes are connected to the switch through a twisted-pair cable, the high-speed data services are concurrently transported over the twisted-pair cable, wherein the high-speed data services include at least uncompressed multimedia data, Ethernet data, and Universal Serial Bus data.

Abstract: A multimode physical (MMP) layer circuit for physical (PHY) layer handling of signals transported over a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) cable in a home multimedia network, wherein the signals are compliant with at least two different PHY layer modes. The MMP layer circuits comprises a plurality of PHY transceivers respectively coupled to a plurality of TP channels of the HDMI cable through a HDMI connector, wherein each PHY transceiver of the plurality of PHY transceivers handles signals transported over its respective TP channel according to a PHY layer mode of the transported signals; and a controller is coupled to the HDMI connector and to each of the plurality of PHY transceivers, the controller recognizes the PHY layer mode of signals transported over each of the plurality of TP channels and sets each of the plurality of PHY transceivers according to the recognized PHY layer mode.

Abstract: A multimedia interface cable for achieving complete interoperability between different types of multimedia display interfaces. The cable comprises a first multimedia connector including a plurality of contact pins of at least high-speed multimedia signals and control signals; a second multimedia connector including a plurality of contact pins of least high-speed multimedia signals and control signals; a plurality of un-crossing conducting wires for coupling the plurality of contact pins of the high-speed multimedia signals in the first multimedia connector to the plurality of contact pins of the high-speed multimedia signals in the second multimedia connector; and a plurality of conducting wires for coupling the plurality of contact pins of the control signals in the first multimedia connector to the plurality of contact pins of the control signals in the second multimedia connector.

Abstract: A triple-mode connectivity apparatus for enabling interoperability between a multimedia display interface and a data interface. The apparatus comprises a universal connector installed in a first device and structured to enable connectivity between the multimedia display interface and the data interface of a second device, the first device is connected to the second device using a cable having a first connector compliant with the universal connector and a second connecter compliant with the data interface of the second device; a physical layer interface for processing signals compliant with the multimedia display interface and the data interface; and a detector for detecting an interface type of the second device and setting the apparatus to process signals according to the determined interface type.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling simultaneous multimedia content and user data streaming from a handheld device to a display device is disclosed. The apparatus enables power charging of the handheld device while streaming the multimedia content and the user data from the handheld device. The apparatus comprises a data-multimedia-power interface (DMPI) connector installed in the handheld device and designed to enable the transport of at least high definition multimedia signals, data signals, a power signal, and control signals between the handheld device and the display device; and a DMPI circuit for multiplexing the high definition multimedia signals with the data signals, to enable simultaneous streaming of the respective multimedia content and the user data to the display device, wherein the DMPI circuit further extracts a power signal from the display device for power charging of the display device.

Abstract: A Fast Ethernet and HDMI Ethernet channel (HEC) physical layer circuit. The physical layer circuit comprises a Fast Ethernet physical layer module implementing a physical layer specification of a Fast Ethernet communication standard; a hybrid circuit connected to the fast Ethernet physical layer module using a first twisted-pair wire and a second twisted-pair wire and capable of processing transmit and receive HDMI Ethernet channel (HEC) signals concurrently transported over a third twisted-pair wire; a switch for bypassing the hybrid circuit; and a controller for controlling the operation the hybrid circuit and the switch according to the operating mode of the physical layer circuit, wherein the operation mode of the physical layer circuit is any of a fast Ethernet and a HEC.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling simultaneous multimedia content streaming and power charging of handheld devices, comprises a universal connector installed in a first device and enables connectivity of at least one multimedia display interface and at least one data interface with a second device, the first device is connected to the second device using a charging-streaming cable having, at one end, a first connector compliant with the universal connector, and at the other end, a second connector compliant with a multimedia display interface and a third connector compliant with a data interface of the second device, wherein streaming of the multimedia content is from the universal connector in the first device to the second connector in the second device and power charging of the first device is through the third connector of the second device; and a detector for determining a type of the multimedia display interface of the second device.

Abstract: A triple-mode connectivity apparatus for enabling interoperability between a multimedia display interface and a data interface. The apparatus comprises a universal connector installed in a first device and structured to enable connectivity between the multimedia display interface and the data interface of a second device, the first device is connected to the second device using a cable having a first connector compliant with the universal connector and a second connecter compliant with the data interface of the second device; a physical layer interface for processing signals compliant with the multimedia display interface and the data interface; and a detector for detecting an interface type of the second device and setting the apparatus to process signals according to the determined interface type.

Abstract: An apparatus for swapping output high-speed multimedia signals. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a plurality of inputs coupled to a multimedia transmitter; a plurality of outputs coupled to a plurality of pins of a multimedia interface connector; and a controller for generating a control signal for configuring an order in which the plurality of inputs are routed to the plurality of outputs, wherein the order in which the plurality of inputs are routed to the plurality of outputs is set to enable un-crossing of one or more conducting wires coupling the plurality of inputs to the multimedia transmitter and to enable un-crossing of one or more conducting wires coupling the plurality of outputs and the plurality of pins of the multimedia interface connector.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring high-definition multimedia signals over four twisted-pairs. The system includes a multimedia source for transmitting multimedia data and source-to-sink management data to a multimedia sink over a first channel, a second channel and a third channel wherein the multimedia source is further being capable of transmitting a clock signal to the multimedia sink over a fourth channel; and a multimedia sink for transferring sink-to-source management data to the multimedia source over the fourth channel. The clock signal and the sink-to-source management data are simultaneously transmitted over the fourth channel. Each of the channels comprises a single twisted-pair, thereby the channels can bounded in a twisted pair type cable comprising at least one of: Category 5, Category 5e, Category 6, and Category 6e.

Abstract: A multimode physical (MMP) layer circuit for physical (PHY) layer handling of signals transported over a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) cable in a home multimedia network, wherein the signals are compliant with at least two different PHY layer modes. The MMP layer circuits comprises a plurality of PHY transceivers respectively coupled to a plurality of TP channels of the HDMI cable through a HDMI connector, wherein each PHY transceiver of the plurality of PHY transceivers handles signals transported over its respective TP channel according to a PHY layer mode of the transported signals; and a controller is coupled to the HDMI connector and to each of the plurality of PHY transceivers, the controller recognizes the PHY layer mode of signals transported over each of the plurality of TP channels and sets each of the plurality of PHY transceivers according to the recognized PHY layer mode.

Abstract: A home multimedia network comprises a plurality of source nodes, wherein each of the source nodes includes an apparatus for concurrently transmitting and receiving high-speed data services; a plurality of sink nodes, wherein each of the sink nodes includes the apparatus for concurrently transmitting and receiving high-speed data services; a switch for connecting a first group of the plurality of source nodes located at one room to one or more sink nodes located at a different room than the first group of source nodes, the first group of source nodes and the one or more sink nodes are connected to the switch through a twisted-pair cable, the high-speed data services are concurrently transported over the twisted-pair cable, wherein the high-speed data services include at least uncompressed multimedia data, Ethernet data, and Universal Serial Bus data

Abstract: A Fast Ethernet and HDMI Ethernet channel (HEC) physical layer circuit. The physical layer circuit comprises a Fast Ethernet physical layer module implementing a physical layer specification of a Fast Ethernet communication standard; a hybrid circuit connected to the fast Ethernet physical layer module using a first twisted-pair wire and a second twisted-pair wire and capable of processing transmit and receive HDMI Ethernet channel (HEC) signals concurrently transported over a third twisted-pair wire; a switch for bypassing the hybrid circuit; and a controller for controlling the operation the hybrid circuit and the switch according to the operating mode of the physical layer circuit, wherein the operation mode of the physical layer circuit is any of a fast Ethernet and a HEC.

Abstract: A multimedia interface cable for achieving complete interoperability between different types of multimedia display interfaces. The cable comprises a first multimedia connector including a plurality of contact pins of at least high-speed multimedia signals and control signals; a second multimedia connector including a plurality of contact pins of least high-speed multimedia signals and control signals; a plurality of un-crossing conducting wires for coupling the plurality of contact pins of the high-speed multimedia signals in the first multimedia connector to the plurality of contact pins of the high-speed multimedia signals in the second multimedia connector; and a plurality of conducting wires for coupling the plurality of contact pins of the control signals in the first multimedia connector to the plurality of contact pins of the control signals in the second multimedia connector.

Abstract: An apparatus for swapping output high-speed multimedia signals. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a plurality of inputs coupled to a multimedia transmitter; a plurality of outputs coupled to a plurality of pins of a multimedia interface connector; and a controller for generating a control signal for configuring an order in which the plurality of inputs are routed to the plurality of outputs, wherein the order in which the plurality of inputs are routed to the plurality of outputs is set to enable un-crossing of one or more conducting wires coupling the plurality of inputs to the multimedia transmitter and to enable un-crossing of one or more conducting wires coupling the plurality of outputs and the plurality of pins of the multimedia interface connector.