Multi-Media Digital Interface Systems and Methods

• US 20080201756A1
• Filed: 02/11/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semtech Canada Corp. (Semtech Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Semtech Canada Corp. (Semtech Corporation)
• Inventors: Hudson, John, Rofheart, Martin, Lynch, David L., MacDougall, Jack, Shakiba, Mohammad Hussein
• Granted Patent: US 8,462,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/119
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0264 Arrangements for coupling to transmission lines duplexing arrangements H04L5/14; line equalisers, line build-out devices H04L25/03878
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0272 Arrangements for coupling to multiple lines, e.g. for differential transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03343 Arrangements at the transmitter end

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided herein for interfacing a first multi-media digital device with a second multi-media digital device. An exemplary method includes the steps of: (i) converting a plurality of differential digital content channels from the first multi-media digital device into a plurality of single-ended digital content channels; (ii) transmitting the plurality of single-ended digital content channels from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device via one or more coaxial cables; and (iii) receiving the single-ended digital content channels from the one or more coaxial cables and converting the single-ended digital content channels back into a plurality of differential digital content channels that are supplied to the second multi-media digital device. Additional steps of the exemplary method may include: (i) transmitting one or more auxiliary channels between the first multi-media digital device and the second multi-media digital device; and (ii) combining the one or more auxiliary channels with at least one of the plurality of digital content channels to form a combined channel to be transmitted from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

Claims

1. A method of interfacing a first multi-media digital device with a second multi-media digital device, comprising:

converting a plurality of differential digital content channels from the first multi-media digital device into a plurality of single-ended digital content channels;

transmitting the plurality of single-ended digital content channels from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device via one or more coaxial cables; and

receiving the single-ended digital content channels from the one or more coaxial cables and converting the single-ended digital content channels back into a plurality of differential digital content channels that are supplied to the second multi-media digital device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting one or more auxiliary channels between the first multi-media digital device and the second multi-media digital device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

combining the one or more auxiliary channels with at least one of the plurality of digital content channels to form a combined channel and transmitting the combined channel from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

separating the combined channel into the one or more auxiliary channels and the at least one of the plurality of digital content channels at the second multi-media digital device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

combining the plurality of digital content channels into a combined digital content channel; and

transmitting the combined digital content channel over a single coaxial cable coupling the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

combining the combined digital content channel with one or more auxiliary channels to form a combined channel; and

transmitting the combined channel over a single coaxial cable coupling the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

separating the combined channel into the plurality of digital content channels and the one or more auxiliary channels at the second multi-media digital device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a configuration and control channel, the method further comprising:

transmitting information on the configuration and control channel from the second multi-media digital device to the first multi-media digital device via the single coaxial cable.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration and control channel is a bidirectional configuration and control channel, the method further comprising:

transmitting information on the bidirectional configuration and control channel between the second multi-media digital device and the first multi-media digital device via the single coaxial cable.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration and control channel carries information regarding the configuration and operation of the second multi-media digital device.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one digital content channel is a clock channel, the method further comprising:

combining the clock channel with the one or more auxiliary channels to form a combined channel; and

transmitting the combined channel over a single coaxial cable coupling the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a status channel, the method further comprising:

transmitting information on the status channel from the second multi-media digital device back to the first multi-media digital device via the single coaxial cable.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the status channel carries hot-plug detect information associated with the second multi-media digital device.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a supply channel for carrying power between the first multi-media digital device and the second multi-media digital device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital content channels carry encrypted data.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

serializing the plurality of single-ended digital content signals into a single digital content bit stream;

modulating the digital content bit stream; and

transmitting the digital content bit stream from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device via a single coaxial cable.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

conditioning the digital content bit stream prior to transmitting it over the single coaxial cable.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the conditioning step is based on information regarding the transmission characteristics of the single coaxial cable.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

combining the digital content bit stream with one or more auxiliary channels to form a combined channel; and

transmitting the combined channel over the single coaxial cable.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

separating the combined channel into the digital content bit stream and the one or more auxiliary channels at the second multi-media digital device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

demodulating the digital content bit stream; and

deserializing the digital content bit stream to recover the plurality of single-ended digital content signals at the second multi-media digital device.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a configuration and control channel, the method further comprising:

transmitting information on the configuration and control channel from the second multi-media digital device back to the first multi-media digital device via the single coaxial cable.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the configuration and control channel is a bidirectional configuration and control channel, the method further comprising:

transmitting information on the bidirectional configuration and control channel between the second multi-media digital device and the first multi-media digital device via the single coaxial cable.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the configuration and control channel carries information regarding the configuration and operation of the second multi-media digital device.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

combining the combined channel with a clock channel; and

transmitting the combined channel and the clock channel over a single coaxial cable coupling the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a status channel, the method further comprising:

transmitting information on the status channel from the second multi-media digital device back to the first multi-media digital device via the single coaxial cable.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the status channel carries hot-plug detect information associated with the second multi-media digital device.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a supply channel for carrying power between the first multi-media digital device and the second multi-media digital device.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the plurality of single-ended digital content channels from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device via a plurality of coaxial cables.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

for each of the plurality of single-ended digital content channels, transmitting the single-ended digital content channel from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device via a separate coaxial cable.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

transmitting a differential clock signal from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the differential clock signal is transmitted from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device via a twisted-pair cable.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

converting the differential clock signal into a single-ended clock signal; and

transmitting the single-ended clock signal from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device via one of the one or more coaxial cables.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

transmitting one or more auxiliary channels between the first multi-media digital device and the second multi-media digital device.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

combining the one or more auxiliary channels with at least one of the plurality of digital content channels to form a combined channel and transmitting the combined channel from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

separating the combined channel into the one or more auxiliary channels and the at least one of the plurality of digital content channels at the second multi-media digital device.

37. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

frequency multiplexing at least one of the single-ended digital content channels with one or more auxiliary channels to form a combined signal; and

transmitting the combined signal to the second multi-media digital device over at least one of the one or more coaxial cables.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving the combined signal from the coaxial cable; and

demultiplexing the single-ended digital content channel from the auxiliary channel.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

frequency multiplexing at least one of the single-ended digital content channels with a plurality of auxiliary channels to form a combined signal; and

transmitting the combined signal to the second multi-media digital device over at least one of the one or more coaxial cables.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

applying a high-pass filter to at least one single-ended digital content channel to form a high-pass content channel;

applying a low-pass filter to the auxiliary channel to form a low-pass auxiliary channel; and

combining the high-pass content channel with the low-pass auxiliary channel to form the combined signal.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

applying a high-pass filter to the least one single-ended digital content channel to form a high-pass content channel;

applying a low-pass filter to one of the plurality of auxiliary channels to form a low-pass auxiliary channel;

applying a band-pass filter to one of the plurality of auxiliary channels to form a band-pass auxiliary channel; and

combining the high-pass content channel with the low-pass auxiliary channel and the band-pass auxiliary channel to form the combined signal.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a configuration and control channel, the method further comprising:

transmitting information on the configuration and control channel from the second multi-media digital device back to the first multi-media digital device via one of the one or more coaxial cables.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the configuration and control channel is a bidirectional configuration and control channel, the method further comprising:

transmitting information on the bidirectional configuration and control channel between the second multi-media digital device and the first multi-media digital device via one of the one or more coaxial cables.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the configuration and control channel carries information regarding the configuration and operation of the second multi-media digital device.

45. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

frequency multiplexing at least one of the single-ended digital content channels with a clock channel to form a combined signal; and

transmitting the combined signal to the second multi-media digital device over at least one of the one or more coaxial cables.

46. The method of claim 37, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a status channel, the method further comprising:

transmitting information on the status channel from the second multi-media digital device back to the first multi-media digital device via one of the one or more coaxial cables.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the status channel carries hot-plug detect information associated with the second multi-media digital device.

48. The method of claim 37, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a supply channel for carrying power between the first multi-media digital device and the second multi-media digital device via one of the one or more coaxial cables.

49. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

providing a first and second filter hybrid for each of the plurality of single-ended digital content channels, the first filter hybrid positioned in proximity to the first multi-media digital device and the second filter hybrid positioned in proximity to the second multi-media digital device;

generating a plurality of combined signals using the first filter hybrids, each of the plurality of combined signals comprising one of the single-ended digital content channels and an auxiliary channel; and

transmitting the plurality of combined signals from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device via the one or more coaxial cables.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

extracting the single-ended digital content signals and the auxiliary channels using the second filter hybrids.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the first filter hybrids comprise a high pass input for receiving the single-ended digital content channel, a low pass input for receiving the auxiliary channel, and a combined frequency-multiplexed output for outputting a combined signal.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the first filter hybrids comprise a high-pass input for receiving the single-ended digital content channel, a low-pass input for receiving a first auxiliary channel, a band-pass input for receiving a second auxiliary channel, and a combined frequency-multiplexed output for outputting a combined signal.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the first filter hybrids comprise a high-pass filter coupled between the high pass input and the combined frequency-multiplexed output, and a low-pass filter coupled between the low-pass input and the combined frequency multiplexed output.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the first filter hybrids comprise a high-pass filter coupled between the high pass input and the combined frequency-multiplexed output, a low-pass filter coupled between the low pass input and the combined frequency multiplexed output, and a band-pass filter coupled between the band-pass input and the combined frequency multiplexed output.

55. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of differential digital content channels are HDMI content channels.

56. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of differential digital content channels are DisplayPort content channels.

57. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration and control channel is a Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) channel.

58. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration and control channel is a Display Data channel.

59. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration and control channel is an Enhanced Display Data channel.

60. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration and control channel is an Enhanced Extended Display Identification channel.

61. An interface system for coupling a first multi-media digital device with a second multi-media digital device, comprising:

a plurality of differential to single-ended converters that convert a plurality of differential digital content channels from the first multi-media digital device into a plurality of single-ended digital content channels;

one or more coaxial cables for transporting the plurality of single-ended digital content channels from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device; and

a plurality of single-ended to differential converters that convert the single-ended digital content channels from the one or more coaxial cables back into a plurality of differential digital content channels that are supplied to the second multi-media digital device.

62. The interface system of claim 61, further comprising:

interface circuitry for transmitting one or more auxiliary channels between the first multi-media digital device and the second multi-media digital device.

63. The interface system of claim 62, wherein the interface circuitry comprises:

one or more combiners for combining the one or more auxiliary channels with at least one of the plurality of digital content channels to form a combined channel;

the one or more coaxial cables transporting the combined channel from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

64. The interface system of claim 63, further comprising:

one or more seperators for separating the combined channel into the one or more auxiliary channels and the at least one of the plurality of digital content channels at the second multi-media digital device.

65. The interface system of claim 61, further comprising:

circuitry for combining the plurality of digital content channels into a combined digital content channel; and

means for transmitting the combined digital content channel over a single coaxial cable coupling the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

66. The interface system of claim 65, further comprising:

one or more combiners for combining the combined digital content channel with one or more auxiliary channels to form a combined channel; and

means for transmitting the combined channel over a single coaxial cable coupling the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

68. The interface system of claim 66, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a configuration and control channel, the system further comprising:

means for transmitting information on the configuration and control channel from the second multi-media digital device to the first multi-media digital device via the single coaxial cable.

69. The interface system of claim 68, wherein the configuration and control channel is a bidirectional configuration and control channel, the system further comprising:

means for transmitting information on the bidirectional configuration and control channel between the second multi-media digital device and the first multi-media digital device via the single coaxial cable.

70. The interface system of claim 68, wherein the configuration and control channel carries information regarding the configuration and operation of the second multi-media digital device.

71. The interface system of claim 65, wherein at least one of the digital content channels is a clock channel, the method further comprising:

circuitry for combining the combined digital content channel with one or more auxiliary channels to form a combined channel; and

means for transmitting the combined channel over a single coaxial cable coupling the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

72. The interface system of claim 66, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a status channel, the system further comprising:

means for transmitting information on the status channel from the second multi-media digital device back to the first multi-media digital device via the single coaxial cable.

73. The interface system of claim 72, wherein the status channel carries hot-plug detect information associated with the second multi-media digital device.

74. The interface system of claim 66, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a supply channel for carrying power between the first multi-media digital device and the second multi-media digital device.

75. The interface system of claim 61, wherein the digital content channels carry encrypted data.

76. The interface system of claim 61, further comprising:

a serializer coupled to the plurality of single-ended digital content signals for generating a single digital content bit stream; and

a modulator for modulating the digital content bit stream;

wherein the digital content bit stream is transported from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device via a single coaxial cable.

77. The interface system of claim 76, further comprising:

circuitry for conditioning the digital content bit stream prior to transporting it over the single coaxial cable.

78. The interface system of claim 77, wherein the conditioning circuitry is coupled to a source of information regarding the transmission characteristics of the single coaxial cable.

79. The interface system of claim 76, further comprising:

at least one combiner for combining the digital content bit stream with one or more auxiliary channels to form a combined channel; and

means for transmitting the combined channel over the single coaxial cable.

80. The interface system of claim 79, further comprising:

at least one separator for separating the combined channel into the digital content bit stream and the one or more auxiliary channels at the second multi-media digital device.

81. The interface system of claim 80, further comprising:

a demodulator for demodulating the digital content bit stream; and

a deserializer for deserializing the digital content bit stream to recover the plurality of single-ended digital content signals at the second multi-media digital device.

82. The interface system of claim 79, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a configuration and control channel, the system further comprising:

means for transmitting information on the configuration and control channel from the second multi-media digital device back to the first multi-media digital device via the single coaxial cable.

83. The interface system of claim 82, wherein the configuration and control channel is a bidirectional configuration and control channel, the system further comprising:

means for transmitting information on the bidirectional configuration and control channel between the second multi-media digital device and the first multi-media digital device via the single coaxial cable.

84. The interface system of claim 82, wherein the configuration and control channel carries information regarding the configuration and operation of the second multi-media digital device.

85. The interface system of claim 79, further comprising:

circuitry for combining the combined channel with a clock channel; and

means for transmitting the combined channel and the clock channel over a single coaxial cable coupling the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

86. The interface system of claim 79, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a status channel, the system further comprising:

means for transmitting information on the status channel from the second multi-media digital device back to the first multi-media digital device via the single coaxial cable.

87. The interface system of claim 86, wherein the status channel carries hot-plug detect information associated with the second multi-media digital device.

88. The interface system of claim 79, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a supply channel for carrying power between the first multi-media digital device and the second multi-media digital device.

89. The interface system of claim 61, further comprising:

a plurality of coaxial cables for transmitting the plurality of single-ended digital content channels from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

90. The interface system of claim 89, wherein each of the plurality of single-ended digital content channels is coupled to a separate coaxial cable for separately transmitting the single-ended digital content channels from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

91. The interface system of claim 89, further comprising:

means for transmitting a differential clock signal from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

92. The interface system of claim 91, further comprising a twisted-pair cable for transmitting the differential clock signal from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

93. The interface system of claim 91, further comprising:

a differential to single-ended converter for converting the differential clock signal into a single-ended clock signal; and

means for transmitting the single-ended clock signal from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device via one of the one or more coaxial cables.

94. The interface system of claim 89, further comprising:

means for transmitting one or more auxiliary channels between the first multi-media digital device and the second multi-media digital device.

95. The interface system of claim 94, further comprising:

a combiner for combining the one or more auxiliary channels with at least one of the plurality of digital content channels to form a combined channel;

wherein the combined channel is transmitted from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

96. The interface system of claim 95, further comprising:

a separator for separating the combined channel into the one or more auxiliary channels and the at least one of the plurality of digital content channels at the second multi-media digital device.

97. The interface system of claim 61, further comprising:

a frequency multiplexer coupled to at least one of the single-ended digital content channels and one or more auxiliary channels and forming a combined signal; and

means for transmitting the combined signal to the second multi-media digital device over at least one of the one or more coaxial cables.

98. The interface system of claim 97, further comprising:

a demultiplexer at the second multi-media digital device for demultiplexing the single-ended digital content channel from the auxiliary channel.

99. The interface system of claim 97, further comprising:

a frequency multiplexer coupled to at least one of the single-ended digital content channels and a plurality of auxiliary channels and forming a combined signal; and

means for transmitting the combined signal to the second multi-media digital device over at least one of the one or more coaxial cables.

100. The interface system of claim 97, wherein the frequency multiplexer further comprises:

a high-pass filter coupled to the least one single-ended digital content channel to form a high-pass content channel;

a low-pass filter coupled to the auxiliary channel to form a low-pass auxiliary channel; and

combining circuitry for combining the high-pass content channel with the low-pass auxiliary channel to form the combined signal.

101. The interface system of claim 99, wherein the frequency multiplexer further comprises:

a high-pass filter coupled to the least one single-ended digital content channel to form a high-pass content channel;

a low-pass filter coupled to one of the plurality of auxiliary channels to form a low-pass auxiliary channel;

a band-pass filter coupled to one of the plurality of auxiliary channels to form a band-pass auxiliary channel; and

circuitry for combining the high-pass content channel with the low-pass auxiliary channel and the band-pass auxiliary channel to form the combined signal.

102. The interface system of claim 97, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a configuration and control channel, the system further comprising:

means for transmitting information on the configuration and control channel from the second multi-media digital device back to the first multi-media digital device via one of the one or more coaxial cables.

103. The interface system of claim 102, wherein the configuration and control channel is a bidirectional configuration and control channel, the system further comprising:

means for transmitting information on the bidirectional configuration and control channel between the second multi-media digital device and the first multi-media digital device via one of the one or more coaxial cables.

104. The interface system of claim 102, wherein the configuration and control channel carries information regarding the configuration and operation of the second multi-media digital device.

105. The interface system of claim 61, further comprising:

a frequency multiplexer for multiplexing at least one of the single-ended digital content channels with a clock channel to form a combined signal; and

means for transmitting the combined signal to the second multi-media digital device over at least one of the one or more coaxial cables.

106. The interface system of claim 97, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a status channel, the system further comprising:

means for transmitting information on the status channel from the second multi-media digital device back to the first multi-media digital device via one of the one or more coaxial cables.

107. The interface system of claim 106, wherein the status channel carries hot-plug detect information associated with the second multi-media digital device.

108. The interface system of claim 97, wherein the one or more auxiliary channels includes a supply channel for carrying power between the first multi-media digital device and the second multi-media digital device via one of the one or more coaxial cables.

109. The interface system of claim 97, further comprising:

a first and second filter hybrid for each of the plurality of single-ended digital content channels, the first filter hybrid positioned in proximity to the first multi-media digital device and the second filter hybrid positioned in proximity to the second multi-media digital device;

the first filter hybrids generating a plurality of combined signals, each of the plurality of combined signals comprising one of the single-ended digital content channels and an auxiliary channel; and

means for transmitting the plurality of combined signals from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device via the one or more coaxial cables.

110. The interface system of claim 109, further comprising:

circuitry in the second filter hybrids for extracting the single-ended digital content signals and the auxiliary channels.

111. The interface system of claim 109, wherein the first filter hybrids comprise a high pass input for receiving the single-ended digital content channel, a low pass input for receiving the auxiliary channel, and a combined frequency-multiplexed output for outputting a combined signal.

112. The interface system of claim 109, wherein the first filter hybrids comprise a high-pass input for receiving the single-ended digital content channel, a low-pass input for receiving a first auxiliary channel, a band-pass input for receiving a second auxiliary channel, and a combined frequency-multiplexed output for outputting a combined signal.

113. The interface system of claim 109, wherein the first filter hybrids comprise a high-pass filter coupled between the high pass input and the combined frequency-multiplexed output, and a low-pass filter coupled between the low-pass input and the combined frequency multiplexed output.

114. The interface system of claim 112, wherein the first filter hybrids comprise a high-pass filter coupled between the high pass input and the combined frequency-multiplexed output, a low-pass filter coupled between the low pass input and the combined frequency multiplexed output, and a band-pass filter coupled between the band-pass input and the combined frequency multiplexed output.

115. The interface system of claim 61, wherein the plurality of differential digital content channels are HDMI content channels.

116. The interface system of claim 61, wherein the plurality of differential digital content channels are DisplayPort content channels.

117. The interface system of claim 68, wherein the configuration and control channel is a Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) channel.

118. The interface system of claim 68, wherein the configuration and control channel is a Display Data channel.

119. The interface system of claim 68, wherein the configuration and control channel is an Enhanced Display Data channel.

120. The interface system of claim 68, wherein the configuration and control channel is an Enhanced Extended Display Identification channel.

121. The interface system of claim 61, wherein at least one of the differential digital content channels is a clock channel.

122. The interface system of claim 121, further comprising:

circuitry for combining the clock channel with at least one auxiliary channel to form a combined channel; and

means for transmitting the combined channel from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.

123. The interface system of claim 62, further comprising:

circuitry for conditioning the one or more auxiliary channels prior to being transmitted between the first multi-media digital device and the second multi-media digital device.

67. The interface system of 66, further comprising:

one or more separators for separating the combined channel into the plurality of digital content channels and the one or more auxiliary channels at the second multi-media digital device.