ClearOne Digital Media - Manual (Page 16)

Control
IR – Infrared Control (IR) is the most ubiquitous control method and format. Though every
manufacturer uses a slightly different standard, IR is so ubiquitous that near Universal
Remote Controls are available to operate nearly any consumer electronics device known.
IP – Internet Protocol is the preferred way to control any device as it eliminates issues with
IR interference and limited command sets. Using IP some manufacturers define a great
number of parameters that are not typically available on an IR remote.
Serial – Serial control otherwise known as RS-232 is the most common and widely used
standard for control of modern systems, after IR. Advantages of RS-232 include its wide
support and inclusion in many products. However, with RS-232, cable distance limitations
and the aging protocol are just a few of the reasons it is being rapidly replaced by IP which
offers much greater flexibility, reduced cabling and infrastructure requirements, and overall
greater reliability.
CEC – Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) provides for integrated, “one-touch”
commands across multiple linked components. When enabled CEC allows system-wide
behaviors such as one-touch play or one-touch record, where pressing a single button
launches a series of coordinated commands greatly streamlining the user experience. CEC
is enabled courtesy of HDMI because of the “smart” two-way connection protocols, which
allow devices to communicate and interact with each other using EDID information and
other mechanisms. Devices connected with HDMI have the ability to scan the other devices
capabilities to automatically configure certain settings. Though few consumer electronics
devices today take advantage of CEC, it is a capability all audio video professionals should
be aware of if and when it begins to show up in devices.
pg 16 StreamNet Digital Media and System Design Reference Guide
Common AV Signals and Interfaces
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