Now it's DIVI time at IBC
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DiviCom InterSect Gives Cable
Operators New Interactive Service
Capabilities
DiviCom Introduces Industry's First DVB/DAVIC-Compliant Controller,
Delivers TCP/IP Traffic to Set-Top Boxes for Interactive Applications
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 1998-- DiviCom Inc.
(NASDAQ:CUBE - news), a leading provider of compression systems for digital television, today
created another opportunity for cable operators to increase revenue streams with the introduction of
InterSect, an interactive set-top box controller.
InterSect allows cable operators to deliver reliable TCP/IP traffic to devices such as set-top boxes;
which can deliver exciting interactive applications such as Web-browsing, e-mail, stock ticker, and
electronic program guides.
InterSect is the first DVB/DAVIC headend product designed to control DVB/DAVIC based
set-top boxes. DVB and DAVIC are worldwide standards organizations working to define
specifications and practices for digital video implementation. The InterSect controller supports the
out-of-band DVB/DAVIC specification allowing cable operators to deliver video and data at the
same time.
One example of an integrated video/data service is the bundled transmission of a sports match with
statistics on the major players. A subscriber could browse through information on the player of his
choice while watching the game.
An example where the video and data are not integrated is when a subscriber pays to have certain
data continually downloaded to his set-top, such as stock quotes or e-mail, regardless of the video
channel to which he is currently tuned.
InterSect supports these types of applications today, and DiviCom is actively working with several
manufacturers creating interactive DVB/DAVIC set-top boxes and will announce certification upon
completion of interoperability testing. Cable operators will be able to take advantage of these
integrated solutions by the end of 1998.
''By delivering TV-based Internet access and other real-time interactive services, cable operators
will generate new revenue and differentiate their offerings from competitive broadcast digital video
providers,'' said Michael W. Harris, president of Kinetic Strategies Inc., a leading broadband
research firm.
''InterSect enables cable operators to deliver a range of interactive services over their DVB/DAVIC
video networks.''
Timing is Everything
''The technology is finally catching up with the dream. Combined with our MediaView encoder
products, InterSect can help our customers expand their revenue streams,'' said Tom Lookabaugh,
president of DiviCom. ''These standards-based products allow cable operators to create an
infrastructure for delivering both high quality video entertainment and interactive data services to their
subscribers.''
Since 1993, interactive television services have been promoted in the media, but cable subscribers'
access has been limited to electronic programming guides and pay-per-view movie purchases.
Both Cable Operators and Subscribers are Ready
Internet content has increased dramatically. Set-top boxes are more intelligent. Standards such as
DVB and DAVIC define how data will be delivered over two-way Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC)
connections. Data display formats such as Java and HTML are readily available and HFC networks
are expanding.
Our vision at DiviCom has been to bring the highest quality digital video entertainment and interactive
solutions to the consumer. InterSect is helping to make that vision a reality.
InterSect provides a means for cable operators to differentiate themselves from Direct Broadcast
Satellite (DBS) providers by offering new revenue generating applications. Savvy cable subscribers
are looking at the latest technologies and asking, ''What's next?'' With InterSect, the question
becomes, ''How soon?''
InterSect Controller Benefits
Cable service operators can enhance revenues by using the following key capabilities of the
InterSect controller:
-- Offering interactive data based services such as stock ticker,
customer news, e-commerce -- while subscribers are simultaneously
watching TV programming
-- Create/integrate into a standards-based transmission environment
-- Use a single InterSect to support thousands of set-top boxes
InterSect Controller Features
The InterSect meets current cable transmission requirements and
provides future friendly technology with the following key features:
-- DVB and DAVIC compliance
-- Management capabilities for both central and distributed
diagnostic control (SNMP is the key protocol)
-- Modular/reliable system design with a hot-swappable power supply
-- Supports a wide variety of set-top boxes
-- Support for standard input/output interfaces
DiviCom Inc.
DiviCom develops and integrates products that make digital video networking possible. Products
include audio/video encoding, data broadcast solutions, network management systems, consulting
and integration services. Based on the MPEG-2, DVB and ATSC international standards,
DiviCom's products enable digital video broadcasting over a variety of networks including satellite,
wireless, fiber and cable.
DiviCom is a wholly-owned subsidiary of C-Cube Microsystems Inc. (NASDAQ:CUBE - news),
and both companies are based in Milpitas, Calif. C-Cube is the leading provider of digital video
silicon solutions for the communications and consumer markets. DiviCom can be reached at
+1.408.944.6700 or on the World Wide Web at divi.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The
statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
The successful deployment and release of interactive DVB/DAVIC set-top controllers and set-top
boxes is subject to potential delay and other risks inherent in hardware/software development.
Also, there is no assurance that such set-top boxes will achieve market acceptance, due to the
rapidly changing market for such products, competition and other factors.
All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to
DiviCom on the date hereof, and neither C-Cube Microsystems Inc. nor DiviCom assumes any
obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
Information for Editors About DVB and DAVIC
The Digital Video Broadcasting Project (DVB) is a consortium of over 230 broadcasters,
manufacturers, network operators and regulatory bodies in more than 30 countries worldwide,
committed to designing a global standard for the delivery of digital television. Numerous broadcast
services using DVB standards are now operational, in Europe, North and South America, Africa,
Asia, and Australia.
The Digital Audio-Visual Council (DAVIC) is a non-profit association based in Geneva,
Switzerland, aimed at promoting the success of digital audio-visual applications and services based
on specifications that maximize interoperability across countries and applications/services.
With DAVIC, producers of digital audio-visual content can reach the widest possible audience,
users can have seamless access to information, carriers can offer effective transport, and
manufacturers can provide hardware and software to support unrestricted production, flow and use
of information.
DIVI management tools
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DIVI platform flexibility for Conditional access
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DiviCom Debuts DVB-SimulCrypt
Solution
Broadcasters Gain Flexible Encryption Options with DVB SimulCrypt
Complementing DiviCom's Experience with Multiple CAS Vendors
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 1998-- DiviCom Inc.
(NASDAQ:CUBE - news), a leading provider of compression systems and networking solutions for
digital television, today announced it has successfully developed DVB-SimulCrypt solutions for
digital service providers wishing to deploy multiple conditional access (CA) systems and different
set-top boxes supporting those CA systems.
Conditional access defines how a digital television signal is encrypted or scrambled and is at the
heart of pay-TV systems worldwide. SimulCrypt allows several CA systems to be used in a single
headend system, in conjunction with the DVB Common Scrambling Algorithm.
Developed by the worldwide standards organization DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting), SimulCrypt
allows the same broadcast (with different embedded conditional access information) to be viewed on
several different CA-equipped receivers. By deploying SimulCrypt, DiviCom customers can
increase their market penetration by enabling set-top receivers with multiple different CA vendors'
smart cards to view their programming.
In addition, with SimulCrypt, service providers can select CA and compression vendors
independently, ensuring that they can purchase the best-of-breed in both categories.
''Standards are becoming increasingly important as the complexity of broadcast systems increases,''
said Andrew Glasspool, chairman, DVB SimulCrypt committee, and consultant. ''The
implementation of the DVB/SimulCrypt headend protocols reduces the initial integration time and the
time required to add new systems to an existing implementation.''
''DiviCom is once again proving its commitment to standards,'' said Tom Lookabaugh, president of
DiviCom. ''We stand apart from other headend suppliers through the successful integration of our
systems with those from various CA system vendors including NagraVision, Irdeto, France Telecom
[NYSE:FTE - news], Canal+, and Telenor, among others.''
Currently, DiviCom is testing an integrated DVB SimulCrypt system with the Canal+ MediaGuard
and NagraVision CA systems.
DiviCom Inc.
DiviCom develops and integrates products that make digital video networking possible. Products
include audio/video encoding, data broadcast solutions, network management systems, consulting
and integration services. Based on the MPEG-2, DVB and ATSC international standards,
DiviCom's products enable digital video broadcasting over a variety of networks including satellite,
wireless, fiber and cable.
DiviCom is a wholly-owned subsidiary of C-Cube Microsystems Inc. (NASDAQ:CUBE - news),
and both companies are based in Milpitas, Calif. C-Cube is the leading provider of digital video
silicon solutions for the communications and consumer markets. DiviCom can be reached at
408/944-6700 or on the World Wide Web at divi.com.
Information for Editors:
At the set-top box, conditional access systems can be considered as having two parts: the
'decryption' and the 'descrambling' systems. The decryption system translates coded keys received
by the set-top that are needed by the descrambler to work. The descrambler makes the received
pictures and sound intelligible.
The area of conditional access has received particular attention within DVB. Owing to the ''closed''
nature of CA technology, an open standard was too simple a goal, and indeed not necessarily
desirable, as a single CA standard, once ''hacked'' could cause immense losses of revenue for
broadcasters. Discussions were difficult and lengthy, but common consensus yielded a package of
measures. One of these is SimulCrypt, which uses a Common Scrambling Algorithm.
The Common Scrambling Algorithm was designed with the goal of minimizing the likelihood of piracy
attack over a long period of time. The specification, prepared by the Conditional Access Specialists'
Group, is lodged with a custodian.
The technical details are distributed, and the technology licensed, by the custodian to appropriate
organizations upon signature of a license agreement. Using the Common Scrambling Algorithm and
DVB SimulCrypt in the standard MPEG data transport it is possible to incorporate multiple
messages that all enable control of the same scrambled broadcast but are generated by a number of
different CA systems. This ''SimulCrypt' technique allows both the delivery of one program to a
number of different decoder populations that contain different CA systems, and also for the transition
between different CA systems in any decoder population, for example to recover from piracy. |
