The HDMI 1.4 standard includes a few pins for Ethernet, max 100Mbps. One could make a breakout cable. Splitting the Ethernet and HDMI outside the tablet and no need to "invent" an extra connector nor adding it to the eoma-68 carries or card-fronts
Too bad those are not on the market yet.
Too bad.
Where I see a problem is trying to make HDMI and ethernet work at the same time. If someone connect an ethernet with HDMI cable to HDMI, then you would expect the HDMI to survive a miswire and/or a fault as a result of going through some ducting. So invariably you are going to end up with an overspec'd HDMI that handles ethernet which is likely an all round expensive standard to follow.
So I'm thinking kick out the HDMI from the mini-HDMI connector and just use 4 pairs for ethernet. May be some manufacturer could be persuaded to put in a key that prevents normal mini-HDMI connectors connecting to it.
I was thinking put some mini screw holes on each side like RS232 connectors to hold the connectors in place once connected and screwed down. The connector geometry could then be altered to prevent standard HDMI connecting to it because the connector is different to HDMI anyway and requires modified tooling. That would be good for server rooms, but cheap consumer items would probably not use screw down connectors.