What is digital TV middleware? Steve Morris steve.morris@mhp-interactive.org Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org

What is middleware? Middleware is a software layer that sites on top of (or instead of) the OS in an STB It allows a content developers to work without having to consider low-level issues for an STB Drivers, Operating System, etc. This makes it easier to write complex applications Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org

Middleware What is middleware? Middleware runs between the device drovers/OS and the application Literally ‘in the middle’ of the software stack Application Application Application Application Middleware CA System RTOS Device drivers STB hardware Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org

Why use middleware? Makes it easier to write complex applications Allows portability across hardware and operating systems Applications will run on any platform the middleware has been ported to The application developer doesn’t need to consider the OS/hardware in every STB the application will run on Makes it easier for third parties to write applications Only need to learn about a few middleware platforms More abstraction makes learning easier Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org

Types of middleware Proprietary middleware Open middleware Designed by a single company Licensed to STB manufacturers Most common in pay TV Open middleware Standardised by an industry body Can be implemented by anyone Licensing fee is usually small More commonly used in free TV e.g. MHEG in UK terrestrial market Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org

Proprietary middleware examples OpenTV Core (OpenTV) the Microsoft of iTV middleware 70% market share MediaHighway (Canal+) Microsoft TV (Microsoft) Liberate PowerTV NDS Core (NDS) Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org

Open middleware examples MHEG DAVIC MHEG + Java MHP Open middleware standard from DVB Broad industry support Used as basis for other standards OCAP Open standard for US cable market Based on MHP ACAP ATSC’s middleware based on MHP ARIB B23 JavaTV Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org

So what does it do? All middleware offers the same basic features Hides the hardware/OS layer from an application and provides a set of commonly used functions Abstracts over complex hardware and software functions Provides a more natural environment for developers Allows the use of pre-built components E.g web browsers, graphics support Offers better software tools E.g. more choice of programming language Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org

Services the middleware offers An application model MPEG decoder/demux access Graphics display Access to multiple video planes Access to graphics/video integration features Service information access User input (via RCU or keyboard) Supports a standard input model and key codes Access to the return channel (TCP/IP) Modem or broadband Memory management Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org

Services the middleware offers Software development environment Usually C/C++ or Java Sometimes other languages Possibly proprietary scripting languages HTML may be supported More complex features Internationalisation Web browsing & internet access May be offered as a core part of the middleware or as an additional option To reduce cost and space Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org

Problems with closed middleware Too many different middleware vendors Different markets use different middleware Content must be developed repeatedly for different customers Content can’t be re-sold This limits the total size of the market Licensing costs are quite high ~US$10 per box for OpenTV, for example This increases STB costs Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org

The next challenges How do we grow the market? This is why open standards are so popular STBs can be treated more like VCRs Transition from vertical to horizontal markets Allows current big players a smaller piece of a much larger market Getting true interactivity We don’t have this yet Requires advanced features Not popular in a bad economic environment Too expensive and no proven business model But we are making progress, e.g. BSkyB in the UK Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org

Will open middleware really take off? No-one knows yet Many companies support it Including some proprietary middleware vendors See it as a chance to grow the overall market Allows the entire industry to change its business model From vertical to horizontal markets Sell STBs through retail outlets Less exposure for network operators Allow customers more choice Move from one operator to another without replacing your STB Add more features to an STB, e.g. PVR, games console, broadband gateway Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org

For more information: Questions? http://www.mhp.org http://www.interactivetvweb.org “Interactive TV standards”, S. Morris & A. Smith-Chaigneau (Pub. Focal Press, ISBN 0240806662 ) Copyright © Steven Morris 2005 All Rights Reserved Downloaded from http://www.interactivetvweb.org Copyright © Steven Morris 2002. All rights reserved.