As digital media becomes the primary source of education and entertainment, the home computer has become the heart of the digital home, housing the family photo album, music library, videos, games and is the conduit to the extremely popular online social communities.

While many homes have more than one computer and various digital multimedia devices, most homes still have one primary PC or home server that contains most of the content and is the main conduit for internet access. A true digital home will require the ability to connect and consolidate the content and applications available on the PC(s) to various multimedia products throughout the home.

A major challenge for the connected home is finding a simple way to distribute this content through the home. While the tech savvy can find a way to interconnect their home electronics with a strong understanding of computer networking, it is beyond the scope of most consumers. The everyday user needs simple device connectivity solutions that are reliable and secure.

One of the key issues in most homes is that there is only one central computer, usually in the home office or den, away from the family room and TV.

While solutions exist, most move some of the TV content over to the PC and deliver only selected media content. Few actually focus on delivering true PC content to the TV and none deliver a true PC experience with full online interactive browser capabilities and access to PC applications.

Enabling access wherever a TV is available will provide true PC to TV connectivity and a full PC experience with convenient access to computing applications:

• Surf the internet on the TV in any room.
• Check email, bank balance, YouTube, Facebook, MySpace or other sites.
• Have Skype/VOIP video calls from any room, instead of a tiny screen.
• Share and distribute your multimedia content more effectively throughout the home, including pictures and music.
• Enable PC or Online gaming via the large screen in the home theatre or family room, including educational games for the kids, or MMPORG games for the teens.

The critical differentiator from existing media solutions is the ability to maintain a full PC experience and user interface, so that the learning curve is short, and users will have a familiar experience out of the box. The applications are endless and growing and all can be serviced simply and easily using standard technology that is available today.

With numerous digital video technologies capable of extending high quality video from the desktop to the TV, the challenge in implementing true PC to TV solutions is in enabling peripheral connectivity.

The Solution

With over two billion devices in the marketplace, USB has become the peripheral interface of choice for PC and connected electronics. Offering plug and play functionality for all types of devices, USB is the ideal but for the 5 metre restriction in wired connection reach.

With technologies such as ExtremeUSB from Icron Technologies, USB connections can break through the 5 metre cable limitation and can be deployed to provide peripheral connectivity in many remote desktop applications. Designed together with standard video interfaces such as VGA, DVI or HDMI, creates a unique solution that extends the power of a PC well beyond the desktop.

Combined video and USB connectivity solutions allow the primary PC in the home to be connected to a variety of devices without having to move the computer. It allows the consolidation of content and applications to be accessed throughout the home via a standard and well understood means.

The Enabling Technology

ExtremeUSB ExtremeUSB, developed and commercialized by Icron Technologies Corporation, enables USB peripherals to be placed wherever users need them.

ExtremeUSB is capable of providing USB 2.0 up to 10 km (6.2 miles) away from a host computer over fibre optics, or any distance over wireless technologies such as 802.11g or .11n. With ExtremeUSB technology, peripheral devices function as if they are within the 5 metre (16.4 foot) limit specified by USB-IF, bringing home entertainment to a new level. ExtremeUSB enables remote connection of any USB device, from iPods, hard drives, webcams, educational toys, and mobile phones, to simple keyboards, mice and joysticks.

Key advantages of USB 2.0 connections enabled by ExtremeUSB:

• True plug-and-play connectivity. No new software drivers required for operation. USB devices are connected and operate as if they were plugged directly into the PC.
• No restrictions on device types supported. Other media extenders and USB connection protocols restrict access to certain devices.
• Common hardware support for multiple operating systems. ExtremeUSB needs no software drivers and operates on Windows, MAC OSX and Linux PCs.

Extension solutions using CAT 5 cabling, Ethernet, wireless, power Line, or coax, are possible, leveraging connection infrastructure already available in the home, making what once was available only to the tech savvy user, available to anyone.

With an ever expanding list of acronyms and technologies promising to be the next best thing in home networking only serving to add to the confusion and complexity, Icron recognizes that existing technologies that are well understood and accepted can be used to provide simplified home connectivity solutions.

ExtremeUSB is the ideal solution for peripheral connectivity in home networking applications. By utilizing USB combined with video running over existing connection infrastructure, users can extend their PC experience throughout the home, and enjoy the endless benefits of home network connectivity today.