CableLabs Issues OpenCable Specification for High-Definition Set-Top Boxes; Cable Industry Milestone

Business Wire, August 29, 2002

Business Editors & Technology Writers

LOUISVILLE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 2002

Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. (CableLabs(R)) has extended the family of OpenCable(TM) Host Core Functional Requirements Specifications with the release of the Advanced Host and High Definition STB Host specifications. The Advanced Host specification describes requirements for retail products that are compatible with the OCAP(TM) 2.0 and with the DOCSIS(TM) Set-top Gateway specifications issued earlier this year. The High Definition STB Host specification describes requirements for retail set-top boxes that decode all formats of high-definition signals used on digital cable plants.

"We have worked with consumer electronics companies on these draft specifications over the past two years and with their invaluable input, the specifications now have reached a build-to or Issued status," said Time Warner Cable Senior Vice President of Advanced Engineering and Subscriber Technology Mike Hayashi.

The new Host specifications are available to manufacturers, content developers, and the public through the OpenCable Web site (www.opencable.com). This collection of specifications establishes a road map for companies to create a wide variety of retail cable products that can fully support interactive services and digital high-definition signals provided over broadband cable networks.

The Advanced Host specification assists consumer electronics makers by defining requirements for products that can make use of the high-speed DOCSIS-compatible modems within the receivers. These Advanced Host products also will be the first products to support the OCAP 2.0 specifications for interactive services. Using the embedded DOCSIS-compatible modem, devices built to the Advanced Host specification can support broadband communication applications such as interactive games, video e-mail and instant messaging.

The High Definition Host specifications help define the requirements for a retail set-top box that is designed to decode all the latest high-definition digital programs provided by digital cable networks. This new specification includes requirements for the baseband Digital Video Interface (DVI) with the High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), providing the best possible digital picture to the latest HDTVs. Inter-industry support for DVI was reached in July 2001 between U.S. cable and DBS operators and a number of movie studios. "Incorporating DVI and HDCP into the OpenCable High Definition Host spec is a major step in fulfilling the cable industry's support for this digital connector," said Don Dulchinos, VP of Advanced Platforms and Services at CableLabs.

The specification also defines a wide variety of alternate interfaces including IEEE-1394 with Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP), as well as the high-definition analog component interface (EIA/CEA-770.3-C) ensuring connectivity to all varieties of digital televisions and recorders.

CableLabs is a research and development consortium comprised of cable television system operators worldwide. CableLabs plans and funds research and development projects that will help cable companies take advantage of future opportunities and meet future challenges in the cable television industry.

In addition, CableLabs acts as a clearinghouse to provide information on current and prospective technological developments that are of interest to the cable industry. CableLabs maintains web sites at www.cablelabs.com; www.packetcable.com; www.cablenet.org; and www.opencable.com.