26 Monday 10.09.2012
theibcdaily
DVB takes on CI Plus development
By Martin Gold, chairman CM-CI-Plus Module
In February 2011, DVB and CI Plus LLP agreed that DVB would take over the development of the CI Plus specification beyond the current Version 1.3. CI Plus LLP will continue to operate a Compliance and Robustness regime for implementations of the specification, and maintenance of the V1.3 specification remains the responsibility of CI Plus LLP. CI Plus is built on the earlier DVB Common Interface specification, which was formally standardised as EN 50221 in 1997, and extended by ETSI TS 101 699 in 1999. Work in DVB on CI Plus started in April 2011 with the development of Commercial Requirements for the next version of the CI Plus specification, Version 1.4. The requirements for this version are a superset of the V1.3 specifications, and full backwards compatibility is maintained such that a V1.4 Host, ie an Integrated Digital TV (IDTV) or set-top box (STB), should operate with V1.3 and earlier Modules, and similarly a V1.4 Module should operate in V1.3 and earlier Hosts. The functionality of such combinations is obviously limited to their mutual capability. The Commercial
Requirements for V1.4 defined a number of new features that will be included in the specification. These features are summarised below: Dual-tuner support: CI Plus versions up to V1.3 only enable a single Transport Stream in and out of the Module. If a
Q&A Sven
Baechtiger, international sales
manager, Fischer
Connectors
For IP-delivered content, the file format known as ISOBMFF (ISO Base Media File Format) is expected to be prevalent, and therefore the V1.4 specification will support IP-delivered content as ISOBMFF in addition to the more familiar Transport Stream. The recently standardised MPEG-DASH protocol for adaptive bit-rate delivery is expected to be supported by Hosts with IP connectivity. The CI Plus interface will also include a mode in which the delivery protocol and content format are supported within the Module, the content being returned to the Host in one of the two supported formats. • Extension of CI Plus Browser: There are extensions for the Browser to make use of broadband connectivity, and to enable improvements to the user experience of operator applications using the Browser, such as for VOD and EPGs. • Module Application launching: There is improved support for launching of Applications supported by the Host middleware (e.g. MHP or HbbTV).
Martin Gold: ‘It’s hoped that DVB work on technical spec will be completed during 2012 for approval in early 2013’
dual-tuner device, such as a Digital Video Recorder wishes to handle two encrypted services on different Transport Streams, then this is currently possible only by use of two Modules. V1.4 will enable this functionality to be achieved more cost-effectively using a single Module. IP-delivered content: Many Pay-TV broadcast and telco operators are interested in delivering TV content over IP, often as a supplement to broadcast services. Host
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devices are increasingly capable of being connected to broadband networks. Beyond the budget and small-screen devices, almost 100% of IDTVs on sale today have such capability. While some DRM systems are currently being embedded in Host devices, the extension of CI Plus to enable the DRM function to be included within the Module (or to use the Module’s CA System for IP content) will increase the flexibility for IP- delivered services.
What do you think are the key developments in, or threats to, your market sector at the current time? Broadcast technology and techniques evolve rapidly and as a world key player in complete connecting solutions we need to set the pace and stay ahead of competition. With increasing demand in data rate transmission, growing number of electronics to interconnect, a need for miniaturisation and fibre optic connections, we proudly propose the corresponding innovative products on the market.
• Usage Rules Information extension: The Usage Rules Information (URI) data (not to be confused with Uniform Resource Identifiers) will be extended to support trick-mode control and selectable output control. The detailed definition of the functionality is out of the scope of DVB’s specification. DVB is therefore working with CI Plus LLP in order to give appropriate consideration to the Compliance and Robustness aspects. • Transcoding and Watermarking: While it is already possible technically to perform such functions in the Module, the current specification prohibits any manipulation of the content by the Module beyond decryption. The V1.4 specification will relax these constraints to enable Modules to include transcoding and/or watermarking functionality.
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The Commercial
Requirements were completed in time for the DVB Technical Module to start development of the technical specification in December 2011 and it is hoped that the DVB work on the technical specification will be completed during 2012 for approval in early 2013. Since completion of the Commercial Requirements for V1.4, the Commercial Module has been considering a longer term topic of the Module form factor. The PCMCIA module format adopted by the DVB
‘The leading contender for a new form factor is USB. It is already widely used on Host devices for other purposes, and, in its more recent versions, has a substantial data transfer capacity’
Common Interface in the 1990s, and still used by CI Plus, was current in the PC industry at the time. It is no longer used by the PC industry, and while its use could continue indefinitely in the TV industry, it is recognised that there are now alternatives that would reduce the
implementation cost both of the Module and of CI Plus support in a Host device.
The leading contender for a new form factor is USB. It is already widely used on Host devices for other purposes, and, in its more recent versions, has a substantial data transfer capacity. The DVB Commercial Module has asked the Technical Module to make a preliminary technical validation of the suitability of USB for the CI Plus interface. If this validation is positive, then the Commercial Module will proceed with definition of Commercial Requirements for a USB version of CI Plus.
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