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The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has approved DisplayPort version 1.2. DisplayPort (DP) is a royalty-free technology which key IT players like Intel, Microsoft, HP, Nvidia, AMD, Dell, Apple, Lenovo, and other key IT players. DisplayPort aims to replace the DVI and HDMI interfaces by offering interoperability over a DP connector. The new standard allows any digital display to be driven from a multi-mode DisplayPort source. The new standard adds a higher speed auxiliary channel which will enable bi-directional data transfer over a single cable. This will support USB data at up to 720 Mbps, enabling embedded webcams, speakers, and USB hubs over a single cable.

DisplayPort v1.2 also supports Ethernet data. DisplayPort v1.2 doubles the data rate of the existing v1.1a standard to 21.6 Gbps. To achieve the 21.6 Gbps rate, the data rate across the four lanes has doubled from 2.7Gbps to 5.4Gbps. With the increased data rate a single DP connector can support multiple monitors. The new standard will enable a resolution of up to 3840×2400 at 60Hz on a single monitor, two WQXGA (2560 x 1600) monitors, or four WUXGA (1920 x 1200) monitors. The new spec will support 3D Full HD Stereo content at 120Hz and High Color Range Quad Full HD (3840 x 2160 p). DisplayPort v1.2 also adds new audio enhancements including multiple channels, video synchronization assistance, and support for high-definition audio formats including the DRA standard from China.

The new version is also backward compatible with the older standard, so all the ports, cables, and devices will be interchangeable. However, they will revert to the lowest common denominator, “It is completely backward-compatible with DP v1.1a and requires no new cables or other equipment, making it the standard of choice across the industry,” said Bill Lempesis, executive director of VESA. DP v1.2 provides copyright protection.

DisplayPort v1.1 added support for High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). Digital Content Protection, an Intel subsidiary developed and licenses HDCP. The technology encrypts the audio and video components of HD content to prevent unauthorized copying and viewing of the  HD video content as it travels across DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, GVIF, and UDI connections. In the past, adding HDCP has forced users to buy and/or upgrade their equipment with HDCP-compliant products.

DisplayPort also includes an optional DPCP (DisplayPort Content Protection) copy-protection from Philips, which uses 128-bit AES encryption. It also features full authentication and session key establishment (each encryption session is independent). There is an independent revocation system, which is licensed separately. DPCP also verifies the proximity of the receiver and transmitter to make sure users are not bypassing content protection systems to send data out to distant, unauthorized users.

DisplayPort’s main competition is High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) which recently updated its specifications. Ars Technica points out that the new HDMI standard is more confusing than ever, ” … the one cable to rule all AV equipment will now have 45 potential variations for customers to choose from—let alone the numerous (and often dubious) “quality” levels offered at hard-to-swallow prices.” Ars Technica concludes that the new HDMI standard seems, ” to add complexity to a system that was originally designed to greatly reduce the complexity of connecting AV equipment in the first place. The new micro-HDMI connector also seems redundant.”

Brian O’Rourke, the principal analyst for In-Stat, told EDN in 2008 that manufacturers’ shipments [of DisplayPort] will grow to more than 600 million units in 2012. Most of these shipments will be PCs and PC peripherals.

“I don’t see DisplayPort really gaining significant market share in the consumer-electronics world in the next five years,” says O’Rourke. “During that time, it will dominate the PC and PC-peripheral world, and HDMI will dominate the consumer-electronics world … The key for DisplayPort in the PC segment is that you can get rid of both the DVI controller and the VGA silicon.” Randy Lawson, iSuppli’s senior analyst for display electronics told EDN that iSupply expects that by 2010 DP will dominate desktop and notebook PCs adoption rates.

DisplayPort has several advantages for use on mobile equipment. DP is easier than HDMI to integrate and implement in silicon as chips get smaller. Alan Kobayashi, a director of R&D at  STMicroelectronics says that as semiconductor processes shrink, DisplayPort is more efficient than current display technologies. DisplayPort has a lower power consumption than HDMI, according to Pericom Semiconductor’s Abdullah Raouf. DisplayPort in on the newer north-bridge chip sets’ integrated graphics on newer CPUs, as well as in discrete GPUs on graphics cards, according to Bruce Montag, chairman of the DisplayPort Task Group and senior technical staff member at Dell. “The market is quickly moving toward the integration of  DisplayPort IP into a north-bridge or a discrete-graphics solution,” says In-Stat’s O’Rourke. Digital TVs will begin adopting DisplayPort as an external port by 2010.  In-Stat expects that, higher-end digital TVs and then to other digital-CE products, including Blu-ray players and recorders and set-top boxes. will then adopt DP in the consumer market.

DisplayPort is an attractive option for those seeking to cut the cost and improve the bandwidth and scalability of A/V interface connections. The computer electronics industry is increasingly adopting open industry standards. DisplayPort’s support of  A/V, USB, and Ethernet make it a more open standard. Open standards like DisplayPort v1.2 provide a more versatile system which should be a consideration in any purchasing decision. ISuppli, “believes that the DisplayPort interface standard will be the successor to the venerable VGA interface on PC monitors as well as desktop and notebook PCs“. VESA’s Lempesis points out that DisplayPort  is “a truly open, flexible, extensible multimedia interconnect standard” and “is rapidly gaining traction in consumer electronics applications.”

Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.