1. What is digital TV middleware?
Steve Morris
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2. 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
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3. 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
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4. 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
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5. 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
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6. Proprietary middleware examples
OpenTV Core (OpenTV)
the Microsoft of iTV middleware
70% market share
MediaHighway (Canal+)
Microsoft TV (Microsoft)
Liberate
PowerTV
NDS Core (NDS)
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7. 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
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8. 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
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9. 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
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10. 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
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11. 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
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12. 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
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13. 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
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14. For more information: Questions? http://www.mhp.org
“Interactive TV standards”, S. Morris & A. Smith-Chaigneau
(Pub. Focal Press, ISBN )
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Copyright © Steven Morris All rights reserved.