TSBroadcaster 2 is a headend server which automatically encodes and plays out OCAP and ETV applications according to a defined schedule. It is suitable for live transmission or lab use. [View screen shot of TSBroadcaster 2].

The primary delivery mechanism for OCAP applications is DSM-CC object carousels. TSBroadcaster generates object carousels, encodes them into MPEG-2 transport streams, which are delivered by TSPlayer. TSPlayer can stream MPEG-2 either in-band or via a number of out-of-band delivery methods as specified elsewhere on this page (to the right).

TSBroadcaster also generates the appropriate signalling, which makes the OCAP set-top-box aware of the existence of an application and specifies whether the application is bound or unbound.

TSBroadcaster servers are accessed by a web browser. All aspects of TSBroadcaster's functionality can also be accessible via an API. This allows easy integration with other headend software.

Both signed and unsigned OCAP applications are supported by TSBroadcaster. For signed (authenticated) applications, the appropriate hash, certificate and signature files are created externally using OCAP SFG prior to generation of the object carousel.

TSBroadcaster can generate a mixture of both OCAP and ETV transport streams on the same server.

Delivery of multiple transport streams requires either TSPlayer systems with multiple outputs or multiple TSPlayer systems. Typically an additional TSPlayer is required for each pair of outputs, with TSPlayer being disabled from the TSBroadcaster system itself when more than two play-outs are required. For example, four transport streams can be accommodated with one TSBroadcaster and two TSPlayers each with two outputs. Outputs of TSPlayer systems may be either ASI or Gigabit Ethernet or a mixture of both.

TSBroadcaster supports OCAP, ETV, ACAP, MHP and MHEG application definition and play-outs.