Broadcast and Development

Focus is on primarly the software interfaces to be used by DTV receivers which support interactive TV (iTV) applications. There are numerous interface definitions (often referred to as application programming interfaces or APIs) but the most established and open ones are:

1. The Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) authored by the DVB.

2. The OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP), as defined by CableLabs.

3. The Advanced Application Platform (ACAP), as specified by ATSC.

Why is conformance testing required?

Software which runs on DTV receivers, whether it is set top boxes or integrated into the television itself, is becoming more and more sophisticated. It is essential that such software is submitted to vigorous quality and conformance testing.

Conformance and interoperability is clearly an issue. Multiple vendors are producing iTV receivers. Typically the middleware implemented is according to an industry standard such as DVB MHP or OpenCable's OCAP. Similarly iTV applications are being written in line with these specifications.

There is already a wide variety of MHP and OCAP applications available. The consumer requires a high level of confidence that these applications will always run sucessfully (and without change) on any of the available receivers claiming conformance to this particular iTV standard.

UniSoft's primary role in the TV industry is to help make deployment of interactive services a reality by offering the tools and, when appropriate, developing robust conformance test technologies.