What is digital TV middleware Steve Morris steve

What is digital TV middleware? Steve Morris steve. morris@mhp-interactive. org Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org

What is middleware? • Middleware is a software layer that sites on top of (or instead of) the OS in an STB • It allows a content developers to work without having to consider low -level issues for an STB – Drivers, Operating System, etc. • This makes it easier to write complex applications Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org

What is middleware? • Middleware runs between the device drovers/OS and the application • Literally ‘in the middle’ of the software stack Application Middleware RTOS CA System Device drivers STB hardware Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org

Why use middleware? • Makes it easier to write complex applications • Allows portability across hardware and operating systems – Applications will run on any platform the middleware has been ported to – The application developer doesn’t need to consider the OS/hardware in every STB the application will run on • Makes it easier for third parties to write applications – Only need to learn about a few middleware platforms – More abstraction makes learning easier Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org

Types of middleware • Proprietary middleware – Designed by a single company – Licensed to STB manufacturers – Most common in pay TV • Open middleware – – Standardised by an industry body Can be implemented by anyone Licensing fee is usually small More commonly used in free TV • e. g. MHEG in UK terrestrial market Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org

Proprietary middleware examples • Open. TV Core (Open. TV) – the Microsoft of i. TV middleware – 70% market share • • • Media. Highway (Canal+) Microsoft TV (Microsoft) Liberate Power. TV NDS Core (NDS) Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org

Open middleware examples • • MHEG DAVIC – MHEG + Java • MHP – Open middleware standard from DVB – Broad industry support – Used as basis for other standards • OCAP – Open standard for US cable market – Based on MHP • ACAP – ATSC’s middleware based on MHP • • ARIB B 23 Java. TV Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org

So what does it do? • All middleware offers the same basic features • Hides the hardware/OS layer from an application and provides a set of commonly used functions – Abstracts over complex hardware and software functions – Provides a more natural environment for developers – Allows the use of pre-built components • E. g web browsers, graphics support – Offers better software tools • E. g. more choice of programming language Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org

Services the middleware offers • An application model • MPEG decoder/demux access • Graphics display – Access to multiple video planes – Access to graphics/video integration features • Service information access • User input (via RCU or keyboard) – Supports a standard input model and key codes • Access to the return channel (TCP/IP) – Modem or broadband • Memory management Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org

Services the middleware offers • Software development environment – Usually C/C++ or Java – Sometimes other languages • Possibly proprietary scripting languages – HTML may be supported • More complex features – Internationalisation – Web browsing & internet access • May be offered as a core part of the middleware or as an additional option – To reduce cost and space Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org

Problems with closed middleware • Too many different middleware vendors – – Different markets use different middleware Content must be developed repeatedly for different customers Content can’t be re-sold This limits the total size of the market • Licensing costs are quite high – ~US$10 per box for Open. TV, for example – This increases STB costs Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org

The next challenges • How do we grow the market? – This is why open standards are so popular • STBs can be treated more like VCRs • Transition from vertical to horizontal markets – Allows current big players a smaller piece of a much larger market • Getting true interactivity – We don’t have this yet – Requires advanced features • Not popular in a bad economic environment – Too expensive and no proven business model • But we are making progress, e. g. BSky. B in the UK Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org

Will open middleware really take off? • No-one knows yet • Many companies support it – Including some proprietary middleware vendors – See it as a chance to grow the overall market • Allows the entire industry to change its business model – From vertical to horizontal markets – Sell STBs through retail outlets • Less exposure for network operators – Allow customers more choice • Move from one operator to another without replacing your STB • Add more features to an STB, e. g. PVR, games console, broadband gateway Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org

Questions? • For more information: – http: //www. mhp. org – http: //www. interactivetvweb. org – “Interactive TV standards”, S. Morris & A. Smith-Chaigneau (Pub. Focal Press, ISBN 0240806662 ) Copyright Steven Copyright © Steven© Morris 2002. Morris All Rights Reserved rights reserved. 2005 Downloaded from http: //www. interactivetvweb. org