December 1, 2008

Reality Check: Features, Negated and Otherwise

By David Broberg

A recent Bullpen article by Bruce Bahlmann claimed that cable set-top boxes "negated features" of modern TV sets rendering them "dumb monitors." Cable operators have invested more than $100 billion to upgrade their networks over the years and have introduced many new and advanced service offerings. These tend to look less like traditional over-the-air broadcasting than like custom services over a private network. To deploy this ever-changing suite of new services, operators install a network client appliance in the home (a set-top) that is able to communicate over this private network and provide access to the new services. The display output of this set-top is the same as that of a DVD or Blu-ray disc player, and it needs only a monitor and sound system. So to the extent that a Blu-ray or DVD player "negates" features of an expensive TV set, the set-top does so, too. It is simply another box that can provide content to the TV set.

TV set manufacturers are free to integrate DVD or Blu-ray players into their digital TV (DTV) sets. To do so requires that they follow the specifications and license requirements of the formats' owners. With the integration of disc players into TV sets, manufacturers can chose to deploy the more limited and one-way functionality by implementing the traditional DVD specifications and license, or they may implement the more advanced, high-definition (HD) and interactive, two-way functionality by following the Blu-ray and Blue-ray Disc Java (BD-J) license and specifications.

Likewise, TV manufacturers are also free to integrate cable TV functionality into their DTV sets. In the same way as integrating a disc player, they can choose to integrate cable services in a simple one-way functionality by following the Unidirectional Digital Cable Product (UDCP) requirements and license, or they may choose to integrate the more advanced two-way and interactive cable features by following the tru2way license and specifications.

The integration of either into a DTV set does not "negate" the features or benefits of the DTV set; rather, it enhances and complements them. In either case, some local control is necessary when the set is utilizing those services to avoid resource conflicts, and in either case, this local control may be relinquished when the set is no longer operating in that mode.

Both one-way products and tru2way cable products can fully access and utilize the cable content for any advanced feature otherwise available on that set, including picture-in-picture (PIP), digital video recording (DVR), time-shift-buffers for pausing live TV, home networking, etc. By their nature, one-way or unidirectional products cannot take advantage of certain interactive services, but tru2way products certainly can and do.

Tru2way technology is built into certified devices from the beginning; it is not something downloaded later. Interactive applications that run on these products may be downloaded by the cable operator or may be provided as part of the program being viewed. Nothing "takes over" the consumer electronics (CE) device or blocks any other applications. Instead, there may be certain guidelines downloaded to prevent resource conflicts, which are provided to enable cooperation between CE applications and cable applications. Similar resource conflict resolution is necessary for the integration of an interactive Blu-ray player.

CableLabs' specifications and licenses fully support the use of Ethernet ports on both unidirectional and tru2way products as a means of bringing in other services or sharing cable services over a home network. CableLabs is working with the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), CE companies and cable operators on these specifications. CableLabs specifications and licenses define minimum requirements and have always encouraged innovation and features that go beyond that minimum; negating features was never part of the work plan.

David Broberg is VP, consumer video technology, for CableLabs.