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OpenCable Application Platform

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The OpenCable Application Platform, or OCAP, is an operating system layer designed for consumer electronics that connect to a cable television system, the Java-based middleware portion of the platform. Unlike operating systems on a personal computer, the cable company controls what OCAP programs run on the consumer's machine. Designed by CableLabs for the cable networks of North America, OCAP programs are intended for interactive services such as eCommerce, online banking, Electronic program guides, and digital video recording. Cable companies have required OCAP as part of the Cablecard 2.0 specification, a proposal that is controversial and has not been approved by the Federal Communications Commission. Cable companies have stated that two-way communications by third party devices on their networks will require them to support OCAP. The Consumer Electronics Association and other groups argue OCAP is intended to block features that compete with cable company provided services and that consumers should be entitled to add, delete and otherwise control programs as on their personal computers.[1] On January 8, 2008 Cable Labs announced [2] the Tru2Way brand for the OpenCable platform, including OCAP as the application platform.

Technical Evolution

2003 – The first end-to-end MHP/OCAP system comprised of Advanced Digital Broadcast's digital set-top box, Sun Microsystems "Sun Blade" servers and Java software, Strategy & Technology's (S & T) head-end equipment and authoring tools, and a series of popular, revenue-generating applications including electronic program guides and video-on-demand, was demonstrated[3] at NCTA Cable Show in Chicago.

2009 – The first fully-integrated OCAP stack in a set-back box designed to be used with Sony Bravia TV’s [40” and larger] was unveiled by Advanced Digital Broadcast at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.[4]

2011 – The third generation OpenCable platform that includes 3D video capabilities and innovative features such as patent-pending DVR-Lite[5]™ technology was unveiled by ADB at The Cable Show 2011 . The ADB 4731 CDM offers the industry’s best performing OCAP stack for delivering advanced video and interactive services over cable networks.[6] The company also launched an entry level OCAP-compliant set-top box at the same show.

Technical overview

OCAP is the Java based software/middleware portion of the OpenCable initiative. OCAP is based on the Globally Executable MHP (GEM)-standard, and was defined by CableLabs. Because OCAP is based on GEM, it has a lot in common with the Multimedia Home Platform (MHP)-standard defined by the DVB project. One of the leaders in the evolution and adoption of the standard is Advanced Digital Broadcast, having acquired iTV systems and services company Vidiom Systems in 2006.[7]

The current version of the OCAP standard is OCAP v1.1.4[8]


References

  1. ^ "CE Industries Continue To Debate Interactive Cable". This Week in Consumer Electronics (TWICE). 2006-01-30. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  2. ^ "Tru2way Brand to Succeed 'OpenCable Platform' in Consumer and Retail Settings". 2008-01-08.
  3. ^ http://www.interactivetvweb.org/news
  4. ^ http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=170245&site=lr_cable
  5. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set-Back_Box
  6. ^ http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=208947&site=lr_cable
  7. ^ http://www.cedmagazine.com/Article.aspx?id=52522&LangType=1033&terms=
  8. ^ http://www.cablelabs.com/opencable/specifications/ocap_114.html

See also

Current events

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