ATIS IPTV Interoperability Forum Issues Phase 1 Specs

The ATIS IPTV Interoperability Forum released five new standards establishing IPTV’s foundational framework.

• IPTV Linear TV Service (ATIS-0800018), which establishes IPTV’s fundamental building blocks for expansion into more advanced services, including pay-per-view and next-generation gaming.
• IPTVConsumer Domain Device Configuration Metadata (ATIS-0800022), which specifies the data structures (metadata) required to provide basic information needed to acquire IPTV content.
• Media Formats and Protocols for IPTV Services (ATIS-0800013), which is a comprehensive listing of the protocols and media formats required for the implementation of IPTV-related services.
• IPTV Terminal Metadata Specification (ATIS-0800029), which defines the data structure that facilitates the exchange of user-related data and the IPTV devices
• Fault Codes for IPTV (ATIS-0800028), which includes a categorized listing of fault codes for IPTV functions and components.

These documents are available from the ATIS Document Store.

This is a good effort but it still seems like too little too late.

ATIS Releases Initialization and Discovery Standard

ATIS released a standard created by the ATIS IPTV Interoperability Forum (IIF): Network Attachment and Initialization of Devices and Client Discovery of IPTV Services (ATIS-0800017). This document specifies the initial set of activities that prepare devices in the consumer domain to receive and consume IPTV services. It is a foundation specification addressing fundamentals such as the initialization and attachment phases for the Delivery (home) Network Gateway (DNG) and the IPTV Terminal Function (ITF), which includes the set top box. Comprehensively, it covers network attachment, service provider discovery, service provider attachment and services discovery procedures.

Through addressing basic issues such as how an IPTV terminal connects to the network, helping the system know which service providers are available there and the services they offer, as well as allowing connection to these providers and offerings, ATIS-0800017 is the beginning of a suite of standards that will enable interoperability starting with a simplified user experience for IPTV service attachment. Soon to follow will be a specification enabling access to linear television services—television as we know it today—through a managed IP network.

This appears to be a sound piece of foundation work. It will be interesting to see how it finds its way into established IPTV systems.

ATIS Validates IPTV "CableCard"

ATIS'x IP-Based Separable Security Incubator (ISSI) has proven the viability of an access card broadly compatible with set-top boxes and televisions that enables IPTV providers to ensure the security of high-value content. The VueKey™ is an enhancement of the CableCard® standard to enable IP flows that are network-technology-agnostic. ATIS stated that the time and cost for adaptation will be minimal for vendors creating the components that will deliver IPTV because the card utilizes the existing CableCard design,

Recently held interoperability testing conducted by ISSI members CCAD, Cisco, and Motorola found the VueKey™ solution is a viable approach to meet separable security directives set by the FCC in Docket 97-80. It accomplishes separable security and is harmonized with, and backwards compatible to, the existing unidirectional CableCard standard.

There were important details that were not discussed. It is important that the VueKey be a two-way approach. The original one-way CableCard failed in the market because it did not support important functions such as the interactive program guide or video on demand.

Assuming that ATIS has done this right, this will be a big step toward embedding IPTV set-top boxes into consumer products such as TVs or DVRs.

ATIS DRM Webinar

The U.S. standards group will host a webinar on Digital Rights Management. It will examine issues surrounding deploying DRM technology and how to measure its impact on QoE end-to-end. As defined by ATIS' IPTV DRM Interoperability Requirements.

The webinar presentation will include:

• IPTV, DRM and QoE requirements from a network solutions provider perspective
• Developing standards for DRM - ATIS IPTV Interoperability Forum (IIF)

Moderator:

• John F. Bernhards, Vice President, Marketing & Public Relations, ATIS

Speakers include:

• Dr. Stefan Winkler, Principal Technologist at Symmetricom's QoE Assurance Division
• Bob Kulakowski, Chief Technology Officer at Verimatrix, Inc.

Thursday, October 18, 20071:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT/10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. PDT

Register at: http://qoe.symmetricom.com/atis2

DRM is a key issue for IPTV systems and the standards orientation in this webinar should make it worthwhile.

ATIS Releases IPTV Architecture Document

ATIS has released its its IPTV High Level Architecture document, which is a high level architectural framework for end-to-end systems’ implementation and interoperability. It will serve as reference architecture for the IPTV functional specifications to be defined in separate documents.

This document is available from the document center on the ATIS website for $108 for non members.

This work is important but rather after the fact. Most major carriers have already committed to IPTV architectures. They will have to evolve the pre standard implementations to standards over time.