I Think were on different tracks. The HDMI 1.4 standard consist of a HDMI connector with 19 pins. 2 of those are reserved voor Etherne. It was invented to have a TV provide Ethernet to its connected perhipials. So one RJ45 in the TV and the PVR, STB, etc recieve Ethernet from the TV.
We might be on different tracks - the ethernet to HDMI would be good for ethernet over short distances such as from device to TV or a router in the same room. It would be quite bad for ethernet across factory floor or crossing several rooms through a duct. The spacing between the fingers on the connector is not up to it as far as I can tell from looking at it. Hence arguing for a separate connector.
But then again, you might be more correct to use the standard. It should be possible to have two connectors - one that just does ethernet and one that does HDMI. So long as the HDMI devices are compliant, nothing bad should happen if accidentally connecting to wrong HDMI connector :)
Hey Aaron / Luke, did you catch all that? Have two HDMI connectors - one with ethernet and one with HDMI signals!