OpenTV Middleware

Set-top box functionality is become increasingly complex, with even the most basic devices needing to support a rich user interface and functionality such as video-on-demand. PVRs have moved from being a niche to a standard offering. In the near future the set-top box will evolve into a Home Media Gateway. In this increasingly complex environment service providers want a managed and consistent user experience across set-top boxes while minimizing the cost of those set-top boxes and client middleware is a critical component for this.

NAGRA’s OpenTV Middleware solutions provide the core operating software for set-top boxes, with a rich and complete feature set for digital TV from basic linear TV to home networking. The solutions are scalable ranging from low-end “zapper” boxes to advanced PVRs and gateways, supporting any network type (cable, satellite, IPTV, terrestrial) including hybrid networks.

Internet Velocity with Broadcast Reliability

We believe that to be competitive, pay TV services need to be able to innovate at the same rate as internet based service. We call this, internet velocity innovation. However, at the same time people expect TV to just work and therefore we need to maintain the broadcast reliability expected of television services.

Exceptional Modular Personalized User Interfaces

The user experience is a key differentiator for service providers and to beat the competition the user interface needs to be exceptional, it needs to be feature rich while simple to use and standout in a crowded market. Consumers also expect to be able to personalize their user interfaces to match their needs and requirements, removing unnecessary clutter.

Advanced User Interfaces

OpenTV Middleware has support for advanced user interfaces and can be provided bundled with a range of reference user interfaces providing a feature rich end user experience.It uses the latest browser based runtime environments for applications. In particular it supports an SVG with JavaScript runtime for the core television applications. SVG provides the power of a mark-up language with the performance required to show full screen rich media application on today’s set-top boxes.

Open Ecosystem

We believe that a single company cannot provide all the solutions required by service providers, particularly when we are trying to achieve Internet velocity innovation. Therefore the OpenTV middleware supports an open ecosystem, so that multiple parties can develop solutions and applications for a deployment.

Feature Rich and Proven

The OpenTV middleware provides all the features required for an advanced digital TV deployment, from traditional linear and on-demand television to home networking and gateway capabilities. This is backed with over 16 years of industry leading middleware experience, with over 165 million devices deployed.

Service Provider Controlled

Middleware allows service providers to choose their hardware platform, and be independent of a particular set-top box vendor. The OpenTV Middleware empowers service providers with the freedom to not only to choose their set-top box hardware, but their real-time operating system as well.

Open Architecture

OpenTV middleware has an open Linux based architecture leveraging open source components where available. This enables new technologies and third party software to be rapidly integrated. Our philosophy is to minimize the amount of proprietary code required to provide an effective, complete and fit for purpose solution for service providers.

Pre-integrated

The OpenTV middleware is provided with pre-integrated drivers for the leading chipsets from the major chipset vendors including Broadcom, Intel and ST. This further reduces the time to market for new deployments.

Features

Traditional Linear TV
Time shifted TV and personal video recorder
Video on demand (including pull, progressive, adaptive and streamed)
Internet content access
Local content access from USB attached devices
Content access from within the home networking using DLNA
Whole home PVR
Home media gateway
3rd Party Application/Widget Support
Platform monitoring and management
Companion device support

Featured Solutions

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