itvt

–Demo’s What it Claims is World’s First Common Interface Plus App

Bristol, UK-based digital TV software provider, Ocean Blue, has
released what it describes as “early details” about a new design tool it is
developing, which it claims will enable fast, visual development of
MHEG applications for broadcast to set-top boxes and integrated
digital television sets. Dubbed Triton, the new, Windows-based
software tool is scheduled to be released by the fall. According to the
company, once an application has been designed with the tool, its
visual components are translated into MHEG-5 application code, ready
for loading into a DSM-CC carousel and broadcast (note: among other
things, the MHEG-5 standard drives interactivity on the UK’s
free-to-air digital terrestrial platform, Freeview).

Ocean Blue is targeting the new tool at broadcasters and other content
providers that are looking to develop red-button services for DVB
platforms. The tool requires little or no programming expertise, the
company says, and includes a built-in MHEG-5 validation and test
system. Ocean Blue says that it plans to follow Triton’s release with the
release of an integrated GUI generator. According to the company, the
tool will support the current generation of both SD and HD MHEG
applications, and will include plug-in extensions for new profiles as the
latter are introduced. The company says that the ability to use a single
tool for all formats and extensions of MHEG-5 will enable companies
to maintain the same look-and-feel and have access to common
components across all their products. “This development will allow
designers to reduce cost and time-to-market for MHEG application
authoring,” Ocean Blue managing director, Ken Helps, said in a
prepared statement. “We are currently working with a handful of clients
to ensure the tool meets their requirements, and would welcome interest
from any other parties.”

According to Ocean Blue, the Triton tool features a drag-and-drop-style
scene editor that supports multiple layers for sophisticated scene
construction, and incorporates wizards and a library of standard
components to enable quick development. Color palettes and fonts
across a complete design can be altered at the click of a button, the
company says, and the tool also integrates a spell checker. The
company also says that customers will be able to build their own
libraries of reusable component sets, in order to accommodate a
corporate look-and-feel within teams, and across projects and
organizations.

In other Ocean Blue news: The company says that it has developed the
world’s first CI+ application, paving the way, it claims, for highly
interactive subscriber content on integrated digital television sets.
According to Ocean Blue, the application, which was recently
previewed at the ANGA Cable show in Cologne, is the first to use the
new Common Interface Plus (CI+) standard, delivering advanced
graphic applications inside a Conditional Access Module (CAM), to
run on a CI+-enabled TV. The app was developed in cooperation with
SmarDTV. (Note: the CI+ Forum, whose participants include such CE
giants as Panasonic, Philips, Samsung and Sony, has only recently
finalized the CI+ specification for the secure delivery of pay-TV
services to digital TV receivers. According to the Forum, the enhanced
security within the new CI+ specification allows smartcards and CAM’s
to be used with any set-top or IDTV that supports the standard, thus
giving consumers a choice of receiver equipment.)

Ocean Blue claims to have developed a complete CI+ solution,
including CI+ browser software for inclusion in host devices, such as
set-top boxes and IDTV’s; an application authoring tool with
applications for the CAM; and test and performance tools to ensure
compliance. The company claims that the solution can deliver
advanced, visually rich subscriber applications, including PVR and
VOD apps. “We have demonstrated new CI+ applications to a number
of cable and satellite operators, who have been blown away by its
capabilities,” Ocean Blue’s Ken Helps said in a prepared statement.
“They can see huge potential in the ability to deliver complex
applications to the TV, no longer being constrained to simple text
menus. We expect the new format to be very popular in future IDTV
developments.”

According to Ocean Blue, its browser, combined with the new CI+
system, offers a range of advanced features and functions:

• IDTV’s and set-top boxes can run applications contained in the CAM.
• CI menus can be branded, associating encrypted content to the
  broadcaster/content provider.

• Graphic and display capabilities are greatly enhanced (including
  bitmaps, custom fonts and color schemes).

• Advanced applications can combine broadcast CI+ content with
  embedded CI+ CAM content.

Ocean Blue says it will work with the CI+ Forum to evolve its CI+
browser to incorporate new features, as specified in specification
updates. Those new features are slated to include HD graphic support,
16-bit mode, fast rendering and caching. The company also says that it
will offer a comprehensive CI+ developers’ pack that will include
Triton, a CI+ authoring tool, the company’s visual design system, test
and conformance software, and activation software for embedding into
a digital television set.