HDTV MPEG-2 Transport Streams, up to the highest resolutions:
1920x1080 interlaced
1280x720 progressive
DVD MPEG-2 VOB files
MP3 audio files, including ID3 tags
Still JPEG photos
Media Server
The Media Server must be capable of serving full-rate audio and video
data to multiple clients simultaneously. It must be networked. It
must have enough storage space to hold 50 hours of HDTV programming,
about 500GB of disk space.
Ethernet Network
The network infrastructure will be 100Mbps Ethernet over Category 5E
(Cat5E) cable, with a 10/100 switch at the heart of the network.
Wired Ethernet is the physical medium of choice for several reasons:
High-Speed. Cat5E cable is capable of 1Gbps operation, and
gigabit equipment is rapidly becoming available. Standard wireless
networks are capable of theoretical 54Mbps at best, with
much-lower real-world numbers. (22Mbps for 802.11g, barely
enough for one high-definition video stream)
Secure. Unlike wireless networks, wired ethernet can only be
snooped via physical access to the network. For a home network,
someone would have to break into your home, a hopefully unlikely
prospect.
Flexible. Many new media devices include ethernet connections
as a standard feature. As new devices are produced they will be
able to connect to the Personal Media Network without any issues.
HDTV-capable Video Player
At locations with a television or video screen, it must be possible to
play back high-definition (1920x1080 interlaced) MPEG-2 video
signals from the Media Server. This requires a device with a
component video output, a 100Mbps ethernet interface, and the ability
to decode MPEG-2 video streams.
MP3-Capable Audio Player
At locations with speakers only, it must be possible to play back MP3
audio signals from the Media Server. This requires a device with
stereo audio output and a 10Mbps ethernet interface.