OpenCable Application Platform
Encyclopedia
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 guide
s, 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.
On January 8, 2008 Cable Labs announced the Tru2Way
brand for the OpenCable
platform, including OCAP as the application platform.
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.
At present two versions of the OCAP standard exist:
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
layer designed for consumer electronics
Consumer electronics
Consumer electronics are electronic equipment intended for everyday use, most often in entertainment, communications and office productivity. Radio broadcasting in the early 20th century brought the first major consumer product, the broadcast receiver...
that connect to a cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
system, the 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 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...
portion of the platform. Unlike operating systems on a personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
, the cable company controls what OCAP programs run on the consumer's machine. Designed 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...
for the cable networks of North America, OCAP programs are intended for interactive services such as eCommerce, online banking
Online banking
Online banking allows customers to conduct financial transactions on a secure website operated by their retail or virtual bank, credit union or building society.-Features:...
, Electronic program guide
Electronic program guide
Electronic program guides and interactive program guides provide users of television, radio, and other media applications with continuously updated menus displaying broadcast programming or scheduling information for current and upcoming programming...
s, and digital video recording. Cable companies have required OCAP as part of the 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...
2.0 specification, a proposal that is controversial and has not been approved by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
. 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
Consumer Electronics Association
The Consumer Electronics Association is a standards and trade organization for the consumer electronics industry in the United States. The Consumer Electronics Association is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $173 billion U.S...
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.
On January 8, 2008 Cable Labs announced the 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...
brand for the OpenCable
OpenCable
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...
platform, including OCAP as the application platform.
Technical overview
OCAP is the JavaJava (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/middleware portion of the OpenCable
OpenCable
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...
initiative. OCAP is based on the Globally Executable MHP
Globally Executable MHP
Globally Executable MHP is a DVB specification of a Java based middleware for TV broadcast receivers, IPTV terminals and Blu-ray players. GEM is an ETSI standard and an ITU "Recommendation...
(GEM)-standard, and was defined 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...
. Because OCAP is based on GEM, it has a lot in common with the Multimedia Home Platform
Multimedia Home Platform
Multimedia Home Platform is an open middleware system standard designed by the DVB project for interactive digital television. The MHP enables the reception and execution of interactive, Java-based applications on a TV-set. Interactive TV applications can be delivered over the broadcast channel,...
(MHP)-standard defined by the DVB project.
At present two versions of the OCAP standard exist:
- OCAP v1.0
- OCAP v2.0
See also
- Tru2WayTru2WayTru2way 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...
- DCASDownloadable Conditional Access SystemDownloadable 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...
- Embedded JavaEmbedded Java[This section needs to be updated, as Embedded Java covers much more than Java ME and Sun SPOT alone -- it also covers embedded use of Java on top of Java platforms such as JavaCard and Java SE ]...
- Java Platform, Micro EditionJava Platform, Micro EditionJava Platform, Micro Edition, or Java ME, is a Java platform designed for embedded systems . Target devices range from industrial controls to mobile phones and set-top boxes...
- ARIBAribArib is a town in northern Algeria....
- Interactive digital cable ready
- OEDNOEDNFounded in October, 2007 - the OpenCable Application Platform EBIF Developer Network is an online developer network for the promotion of Interactive Television application and service development on digital cable television....
External links
- Sun Microsystems' Java TV
- Alticast OCAP Solutions
- Zentek OCAP Stack
- Vivid Logic OCAP Solutions
- MHP official standards for interactive television and related interactive home entertainment.
- MHP tutorials
- MHP Knowledge Database
- The OCAP/EBIF Developer Network