HDMI Alt Mode Enables Video, Internet Over USB Type-C

By Michael Justin Allen Sexton
published

HDMI Licensing, LLC released a new HDMI Alt Mode that will enable direct video output from a device to a display over USB Type-C without the need for any special adapters or converters.

USB Type-C ports with support for HDMI Alt Mode will have the same video output features as an HDMI 1.4b connection. This includes the ability to output audio and 4K video, and it can also access the internet over the connection as well using HEC (HDMI Ethernet Channel).

“USB Type-C is quickly becoming the connector of choice for many types of consumer electronics products wanting a single solution for audio, video, data and power,” said Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF President and COO. “Easily connecting devices with USB Type-C to the huge installed base of HDMI-enabled TVs is a substantial benefit to consumers. We’re also coordinating with HDMI Licensing to ensure consumers can recognize when HDMI Alt Mode is supported on USB Type-C devices,” he added.

Interestingly, HDMI Licensing, LCC, didn’t go into detail on how HDMI Alt Mode works. The cable itself does not use any hardware to alter the signals sent over the wires, which means the smart device must encode the signal before transmitting it to the display. It could be that HDMI Alt Mode can be enabled in firmware, but it may also require additional hardware to work.

There are several other USB Type-C Alt Modes already on the market, such as SuperMHL and DisplayPort ALT Mode, but these require additional hardware controllers that raise production costs and have seen limited adoption as a result. If HDMI Alt Mode needs a new controller as well, then it, too, may struggle.

“The USB Type-C connector is gaining traction in the mobile and PC markets,” said Rob Tobias, president of HDMI Licensing, LLC. “Consumers expect to easily connect these devices to displays with a USB Type-C to HDMI cable and utilize the capabilities and features of native HDMI. This specification will also result in more source devices incorporating HDMI. HDMI continues to evolve to meet the needs of the over 1,600 worldwide adopters making HDMI products, and grow upon the nearly six billion HDMI devices shipped,” he said.

HDMI Licensing, LLC feels confident that it will succeed, however, due to the widespread adoption of HDMI. The HDMI Alt Mode is available now to OEMs, so we should see devices supporting HDMI Alt Mode sometime in 2017.

Michael Justin Allen Sexton
Michael Justin Allen Sexton is a Contributing Writer for Tom's Hardware US. He covers hardware component news, specializing in CPUs and motherboards.
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9 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Achoo22
    What kind of firewalling options are available when your TV is drawing its Internet connection from your HTPC? Ugh, that sounds like a nightmare.
    Reply
  • psiboy
    What an idiotically pointless product! Why only hdmi 1.4b yes it "outputs 4k" but only at a crappy 30hz! Should have been HDMI 2... might have stood a chance then....
    Reply
  • delaro
    18539932 said:
    What an idiotically pointless product! Why only hdmi 1.4b yes it "outputs 4k" but only at a crappy 30hz! Should have been HDMI 2... might have stood a chance then....

    4K isn't all that huge at the moment, the majority of consumers are still happy with 1080P. 4K content still isn't massive and it will be another 2 years before we see a large transition to it. 1080P was around for a good 5 years before content caught up to it.
    Reply
  • antilycus
    With every device that has an HDMI connection (male or female), including cables, having to pay HDMI Licensing, LLC....it's only a matter of time before they've priced themselves right out of the market and Display Port, USB, or some other fee-less device becomes the norm. Companies are saving millions a year by ditching HDMI Licensing fees. It's why Dell and HP have moved away from HDMI
    Reply
  • delaro
    HDMI, USB and Thunderbolt all have license fees, HDMI is the most expensive @ fifteen cents (US$0.15) per unit sold but even that isn't much to a company that sells millions of units per year. For a company to pay 1 million in fees for HDMI they would need to sell 66,666,667 units, not many companies come even close to that and those that do wouldn't notice the savings at all.
    Reply
  • targetdrone
    18537993 said:
    What kind of firewalling options are available when your TV is drawing its Internet connection from your HTPC? Ugh, that sounds like a nightmare.

    Welcome to the Internet of Things and the death of us all. :(
    Reply
  • problematiq
    18537993 said:
    What kind of firewalling options are available when your TV is drawing its Internet connection from your HTPC? Ugh, that sounds like a nightmare.

    I suspect it will use the firewall of whatever device it is pulling net through. On a side note, I wonder if you would have to bridge your connections? That or it uses third party software to enable bridging.
    Reply
  • Jack Skell
    Vlans.
    Reply
  • psiboy
    18544158 said:
    18539932 said:
    What an idiotically pointless product! Why only hdmi 1.4b yes it "outputs 4k" but only at a crappy 30hz! Should have been HDMI 2... might have stood a chance then....

    4K isn't all that huge at the moment, the majority of consumers are still happy with 1080P. 4K content still isn't massive and it will be another 2 years before we see a large transition to it. 1080P was around for a good 5 years before content caught up to it.

    You miss my point. 30hz.... why bother.
    Reply