home audio video interoperability (HAVi)

The term HAVi (Home AudioVideo Interoperability) stands for an interface between a home gateway and a set-top box, and for a consortium whose goals are aimed at the consumer market and the home network. HAVi is a standardized interface for regulated access and control of AV devices.

The HAVi interface leverages IEEE 1394, FireWire, and creates plug-and-play interoperability on a 1394 network, regardless of whether a personal computer is available as a host. With the cooperation of the IEEE 802.11e Working Group and the 1394 Trade Association, home networking can be wireless multimedia. For example, the home network could function as an entertainment network by controlling transmissions between AV devices such as tape recorders and VCRs, DVD drives, set-top boxes, receivers, televisions, music and video systems.

The HAVi consortium consists of consumer electronics companies such as Sony, Philips, Grundig, Hitachi, Panasonic,Sharp, Thomson Multimedia, Toshiba, Matsushita and others.