tcp/ip compression

[CCH Concepts]

hi im new to the forum. i have a question that hopefully someone can help with. how would one go about compressing a signal into TCP/IP so it can be networked on an ethernet network and still be able to use the network for normal use. i have found some chip set that allows multiple data streams to be compressed onto a ethernet out, but i dont really understand the processes involved. so anyone got experience in this field?

[Simon (Webmaster)]

Hi

If you want to go down the microcontroller route it might be worth looking at www.microchip.com/ethernet. There are PIC microcontrollers or external ethernet controllers available if you would rather use a different brand of microcontroller, and the firmware stack is free to use. If you get stuck the microchip forum is pretty helpful too. I should say I haven't yet built an ethernet interface but have been looking at their controllers for an upcoming project.

[CCH Concepts]

im looking to do a version of a already avalibale product. i can say the first part without giving away my plan. im looking to compress hdmi to tcp/ip, this way it can be sent via a ethernet network. there is a company already doing this and im looking to undertsnad whats involved. are they just compressing the raw data and then decompressing it without the firmwear knowing what it has processed or is there more intelegence needed and it actually processing the hdmi signal. im really hope if the first option, because this would reduce development alot.

[Simon (Webmaster)]

Rather a late reply - only just noticed your last post. At a guess I would think that as long as the data at the output is an accurate reproduction of that at the input there should be no need for the transmission system to be able to interpret the data. However HDMI is not something I have looked into, and I suspect is pretty complex since if carries video, audio, control signals (connected devices can control one another) and you would have to avoid falling foul of the HDCP content protection system if you want to transmit HDCP protected video.