A group of Chinese consumer electronics firms have teamed up to develop a next-generation interactive television and home networking interface known as Digital Interface for Video and Audio (Diva).

The interface will handle the transmission of uncompressed video and audio data performed by existing interfaces such as DisplayPort.

But Diva will also include a high-speed bidirectional data transmission channel to allow the consumer to locate, connect and control various devices from a Diva-enabled digital television.

The Diva Consortium believes that integrating multimedia and data communication is vital to help consumers streamline and simplify the connections among an increasing number of gadgets and devices in the home.

Manufacturers of such devices are currently limited in their ability to accommodate a network of devices, and Diva will offer the ability to connect multiple source devices to multiple displays.

This should help to monitor and control various digital home appliances from the TV in the living room, and to organise various personal and mobile entertainment devices in the same network.

The China Video Industry Association has agreed to fully support the Diva standard and has promised to help push its global adoption.

The Diva Promoters Group expects to release the specification by the end of this year, and will be demonstrating the technology at the China Digital Home Industry Association Summit on 21 May in Guangzhou, China.

The Diva Consortium's charter members include well known Chinese brands such as Sichuan Chang Hong Electric, Qingdao Haier, Hisense Electric, Konka Group, Nanjing Panda Electronics, Skyworth Group, SVA Information Industry, TCL and Synerchip.