OpenCable
Encyclopedia
OpenCable is a set of hardware and software specifications under development in the United States
by CableLabs
to "define the next-generation digital consumer device" for the cable television industry. The consumer-facing brand tru2way
was introduced in January, 2008.
OpenCable uses SCTE
standards for the video, transport and various interface requirements, but also adds a requirement for a Java
based software interpreter to support the OpenCable Application Platform
(OCAP). It also requires a decryption
system for protected content employing CableCARD
s or the proposed software-based Downloadable Conditional Access System
(DCAS).
The goal is to create a common hardware/software standard for digital cable
television
within the U.S., hence promoting competition among licensed device manufacturers, while at the same time making it improbable that any one software company dominates digital television.
Tru2way
is the brand name for interactive digital cable services delivered over the cable video network, for example interactive program guides, interactive ads, games, chat, web browsing, and t-commerce. The brand also appears as “” and is used to market cable services, applications, and devices that support the tru2way cable architecture. Tru2way is the successor, consumer-focused, name for technology known as OpenCable. Major cable operators have committed to deploy support for the tru2way platform in service areas covering more than 90 million U.S. homes by the end of 2008. As of December, 2008, Comcast and Panasonic are offering services and a limited number of consumer products that support Tru2way in the Chicago and Denver MSAs.
CableLabs
, the industry’s research and development arm, licenses the brand to cable companies and cable programmers that deliver tru2way applications and services, as well as consumer electronics (CE) manufacturers that build devices that support such applications and services. Use of the mark on CE devices requires CableLabs certification testing for conformance to the tru2way specifications (also known as the OpenCable Host 2.1 Specifications). Tru2way includes a middleware
technology that may be built into televisions, set-top boxes, and other devices. The technology enables cable companies and other interactive application developers to “write” applications once and see them run successfully on any device that supports the tru2way architecture. With tru2way technology, consumers can access interactive digital cable programming, including video-on-demand and pay-per-view
content, without the need for a cable operator-supplied set-top box
. The tru2way technology is capable of supporting all cable services now delivered to consumers via leased set top boxes, as well as future services written to the tru2way platform.
is implemented using both Java and a pluggable decryption
card. This would work much like DirecTV
's encryption system. When a crack
of the current encryption system in use becomes widespread, a new card can be sent out to consumers and a new encryption system will be employed. Putting portions of the restrictions management in the Java interpreter allows greater flexibility in billing.
At the present time (circa 2007), the OpenCable specification(s) do not make any use of a Java interpreter for the purpose of performing or managing the deployed conditional access (CA) systems, of which there are two primary types: (1) integrated or embedded, and (2) CableCARD based.
Also under development is the newer software-based Downloadable Conditional Access System
(DCAS). It is hoped that DCAS will eliminate the need for a CableCARD
.
or Scientific Atlanta for 10–20 years when they make the capital investment to use either system for their digital cable operations. With OpenCable a consumer can use an MPEG-2
decoder from either company and the cable company can switch between the system at only the cost of the decryption card for each consumer and the backend costs. The decryption cards will probably license
for $10 to $20, much less than the $50 for a simple decoder or $500 for a full featured digital video recorder
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by CableLabs
CableLabs
Founded in 1988 by cable television operating companies, Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. is a not-for-profit research and development consortium that has cable operators as its members. System operators from around the world are eligible to be members. Members dues are based on revenue...
to "define the next-generation digital consumer device" for the cable television industry. The consumer-facing brand tru2way
Tru2Way
Tru2way is a brand name for interactive digital cable services delivered over the cable video network, for example interactive program guides, interactive ads, games, chat, web browsing, and t-commerce. The brand also appears as “'” and is used to market cable services, applications, and devices...
was introduced in January, 2008.
OpenCable uses SCTE
SCTE
The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers or SCTE is a non-profit professional association for the advancement of technology related to cable telecommunications engineering. Founded in 1969, SCTE has a current membership of over 12,000 individuals.- Publications :SCTE offers several...
standards for the video, transport and various interface requirements, but also adds a requirement for a Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
based software interpreter to support the OpenCable Application Platform
OpenCable Application Platform
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...
(OCAP). It also requires a decryption
Encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
system for protected content employing CableCARD
CableCARD
CableCARD is a special-use PCMCIA card that allows consumers in the United States to view and record digital cable television channels on digital video recorders, personal computers and television sets without the use of other equipment such as a set top box provided by a cable television company...
s or the proposed software-based Downloadable Conditional Access System
Downloadable Conditional Access System
Downloadable Conditional Access System or DCAS is a proposal advanced by CableLabs for secure software download of a specific Conditional Access client which controls digital rights management into an OCAP-compliant host consumer media device...
(DCAS).
The goal is to create a common hardware/software standard for digital cable
Digital cable
Digital cable is a generic term for any type of cable television distribution using digital video compression or distribution. The technology was originally developed by Motorola.-Background:...
television
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
within the U.S., hence promoting competition among licensed device manufacturers, while at the same time making it improbable that any one software company dominates digital television.
Tru2way
Tru2Way
Tru2way is a brand name for interactive digital cable services delivered over the cable video network, for example interactive program guides, interactive ads, games, chat, web browsing, and t-commerce. The brand also appears as “'” and is used to market cable services, applications, and devices...
is the brand name for interactive digital cable services delivered over the cable video network, for example interactive program guides, interactive ads, games, chat, web browsing, and t-commerce. The brand also appears as “
CableLabs
CableLabs
Founded in 1988 by cable television operating companies, Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. is a not-for-profit research and development consortium that has cable operators as its members. System operators from around the world are eligible to be members. Members dues are based on revenue...
, the industry’s research and development arm, licenses the brand to cable companies and cable programmers that deliver tru2way applications and services, as well as consumer electronics (CE) manufacturers that build devices that support such applications and services. Use of the mark on CE devices requires CableLabs certification testing for conformance to the tru2way specifications (also known as the OpenCable Host 2.1 Specifications). Tru2way includes a middleware
Middleware
Middleware is computer software that connects software components or people and their applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact...
technology that may be built into televisions, set-top boxes, and other devices. The technology enables cable companies and other interactive application developers to “write” applications once and see them run successfully on any device that supports the tru2way architecture. With tru2way technology, consumers can access interactive digital cable programming, including video-on-demand and pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
content, without the need for a cable operator-supplied set-top box
Set-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
. The tru2way technology is capable of supporting all cable services now delivered to consumers via leased set top boxes, as well as future services written to the tru2way platform.
Digital rights management
DRMDigital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
is implemented using both Java and a pluggable decryption
Encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
card. This would work much like DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
's encryption system. When a crack
Software cracking
Software cracking is the modification of software to remove or disable features which are considered undesirable by the person cracking the software, usually related to protection methods: copy protection, trial/demo version, serial number, hardware key, date checks, CD check or software annoyances...
of the current encryption system in use becomes widespread, a new card can be sent out to consumers and a new encryption system will be employed. Putting portions of the restrictions management in the Java interpreter allows greater flexibility in billing.
At the present time (circa 2007), the OpenCable specification(s) do not make any use of a Java interpreter for the purpose of performing or managing the deployed conditional access (CA) systems, of which there are two primary types: (1) integrated or embedded, and (2) CableCARD based.
Also under development is the newer software-based Downloadable Conditional Access System
Downloadable Conditional Access System
Downloadable Conditional Access System or DCAS is a proposal advanced by CableLabs for secure software download of a specific Conditional Access client which controls digital rights management into an OCAP-compliant host consumer media device...
(DCAS). It is hoped that DCAS will eliminate the need for a CableCARD
CableCARD
CableCARD is a special-use PCMCIA card that allows consumers in the United States to view and record digital cable television channels on digital video recorders, personal computers and television sets without the use of other equipment such as a set top box provided by a cable television company...
.
Increased competition
In the current market a cable operator is locked into either MotorolaMotorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
or Scientific Atlanta for 10–20 years when they make the capital investment to use either system for their digital cable operations. With OpenCable a consumer can use an MPEG-2
MPEG-2
MPEG-2 is a standard for "the generic coding of moving pictures and associated audio information". It describes a combination of lossy video compression and lossy audio data compression methods which permit storage and transmission of movies using currently available storage media and transmission...
decoder from either company and the cable company can switch between the system at only the cost of the decryption card for each consumer and the backend costs. The decryption cards will probably license
License
The verb license or grant licence means to give permission. The noun license or licence refers to that permission as well as to the document recording that permission.A license may be granted by a party to another party as an element of an agreement...
for $10 to $20, much less than the $50 for a simple decoder or $500 for a full featured digital video recorder
Digital video recorder
A digital video recorder , sometimes referred to by the merchandising term personal video recorder , is a consumer electronics device or application software that records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card or other local or networked mass storage device...
.