14 Companies Participate in Successful OpenCable Interoperability Event
LOUISVILLE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 28, 1999-- Cable
Television Laboratories, Inc. (CableLabs(R)) announced today that
major success was achieved by 14 companies working together during the
recent OpenCable(TM) interoperability event held in Los Angeles.
Nine major consumer electronics manufacturers joined five
conditional access suppliers and three headend suppliers for
interoperability tests of removable security technologies, a critical
component in opening the cable set-top market to greater competition,
and moving cable set-top circuitry into TVs and onto retail shelves.
A significant level of interoperability was demonstrated by
multiple point-of-deployment security modules (POD modules) inserted
into the POD interface slots of multiple set-top "host" devices. "This
kind of interoperability testing is an extremely valuable part of the
whole process," said CableLabs President and CEO, Dr. Richard R.
Green. "We have used this process successfully in the past with our
DOCSIS cable modem program, and it has proven to accelerate the
development work of the different vendors," Green added. This event
proves we are on track for cable companies to deliver fully
functioning POD modules by the FCC's July 2000 deadline."
The tests were conducted in the Los Angeles facilities of
MediaOne.
Three types of manufacturers participated: 1) those companies
that produce "host" devices, such as set-tops, PC card receivers, and
integrated TV/set-tops; 2) cable headend suppliers; and 3) companies
that manufacture "PODs," or removable security "point-of-deployment"
cards that handle conditional access and encryption of premium cable
channels.
"This list of participants (see below) shows that OpenCable is
attracting many quality manufacturers, including large, reputable
consumer electronics vendors into the cable industry," said Don
Dulchinos, Senior Director of Advanced Platforms and Services for
CableLabs. "It's always been a goal of OpenCable to extend removable
security not just into set tops, but also into a range of devices that
receive MPEG-2 digital video, related program content, and interactive
applications."
OpenCable is a fast-track initiative sponsored by leading cable
television companies, managed through CableLabs, with a goal of
attaining interoperable digital set-top boxes and other advanced
digital devices manufactured by multiple vendors.
These devices would be capable of delivering digital video, data
and interactive services to a television set. The capability also may
be built into consumer electronics devices, such as digital television
receivers.
The tests were the second in a planned series involving POD
security modules, which take the form of slide-in PCMCIA cards used in
personal computers. PODs are important to the future retail set-top
environment, because when consumers purchase standalone set-tops or
combination TV/set-tops, they need a way to order and to receive
encrypted content - such as premium cable channels - from cable
operators.
To view photos of the interoperability event, please go to the
Internet at www.opencable.com/interop.html.
Participating Vendors:
Set-tops/TVs: Headends:
General Instrument Divicom
LG Electronics General Instrument
Microsoft Scientific-Atlanta
Panasonic POD Modules:
Samsung General Instrument
Philips Mindport/SCM Microsystems
Scientific-Atlanta Nagra/SCM Microsystems
Thomson Consumer Electronics Scientific-Atlanta
Zenith Electronics NDS/SCM Microsystems
CableLabs is a research and development consortium of cable
television system operators representing the continents of North
America and South America. CableLabs plans and funds research and
development projects that will help cable companies take advantage of
future opportunities and meet future challenges in the cable
television industry.
It also transfers relevant technologies to member companies and
to the industry. In addition, CableLabs acts as a clearinghouse to
provide information on current and prospective technological
developments that are of interest to the cable industry. CableLabs
maintains web sites at www.cablelabs.com; www.cablemodem.com;
www.cablenet.org; www.opencable.com, and www.packetcable.com.
CONTACT:
CableLabs(R)
Mike Schwartz, 303/661-9100
m.schwartz@cablelabs.com
|
