CopperLAN smart device interface – NAMM

 January 2012, Anaheim, CA – CopperLAN is new Meta definition under the IEEE 802 committee that is an IP based protocol that utilizes the same PHY and MAC blocks for CAT5, USB and Firewire connectivity for the music, performance and broadcast industries (http://copperlan.org/).

The interface was shown with a large variety of plug-in devices and stomp boxes. It can be used to support effects pedals, lighting, microphone preamps and a whole variety of “live performance” and “studio setup” gear. What is unique about the interface is the 1 time installation on the host to identify the device, and then it creates a network connectivity map. In this structure, once the device is identified, it does not matter where in the chain it is connected (an issue for firewire and USB) and in what sequence in the network it is hooked up (a DHCP consequence for IP based connections). The network is tolerant of connecting the device on one format (such as USB) one time and then a different interface next time (e.g. CAT5 or Firewire) and still recognizing the device, being able to load the controls and configuration and operate from a connection diagram.

CopperLAN – Plug-in modules and control panel

The embedded code and its associated SDK for client side device creation uses a custom controller core that does not require the DHCP interface and has a virtualized NIC for multiple protocol interfaces. The system is based on a a free to use RTOS that has an embedded Linux core, and operates with NXP2300, Pic32, and Renesas SH2 controllers in addition to DMX controllers.

CopperLAN – Additional Modules

The peer-to-peer system operates as a “dumb switch” configuration next to the standard internet NIC, so both Mac and PC platforms can still have a full WAN capability in parallel with the CopperLAN system. One of the nice features of the host side package is the ability to create a “snapshot in the time machine” so gig and session configurations, and device settings can be saved and both reloaded or played back on demand. To help store all of these “time machine” views, the device can operate with a standard NAS.

The SDK for the development and host side is available as freeware from the site. For endpoint hardware that is designed and sold, the organization has a low cost fixed royalty pricing of 2EU/unit that is paid when the end unit is sold at retail, not put in the distribution channel.

A number of vendors have products today, and the interface was designed by musicians with an engineering background, rather than engineers who played music so the usability and real world functionality are high.