Open Cable Application Platform

In North America, the Multimedia Home Platform ( MHP) - with rather small deviations - known as OpenCable Application Platform ( OCAP ). As an alternative to MHP, which has established itself more common in Europe, Asia and Australia, where OCAP is touted as a software standard for interactive television. It is sold under the brand now tru2way. How MHP OCAP also based on Java, so both standards are based on the Globally Executable MHP (GEM ) defined by the DVB Project. OCAP has been defined by the American CableLabs in cooperation with the DVB Project.

The differences to the MHP are rather low, most ( or GEM compatible ) applications can therefore run unchanged on both systems. Opposite the MHP platform however OCAP has an important extension, called the Monitor application. This replaces the vendor- Navigator of the MHP by a (usually from the cable network provider provided ) OCAP - based application with elevated privileges. This assumes according to the work of the navigator of the MHP, the "look and feel" can also be provided by cable network provider.

Currently there are two versions of the OCAP standards:

  • OCAP v1.0 - corresponds to MHP v1.0 ( current version: v1.0.3 )
  • OCAP v2.0 - corresponds to MHP v1.1 ( current version: v1.1.2 )

(April 2005)

Common with MHP

The MHP is the first rung of a larger family that is used worldwide standards. The first branch of the MHP was a variant for the American cable networks, the so-called OCAP (Open Cable Application Platform ). OCAP replaces some of the MHP APIs that are for example only needed in DVB networks by alternative solutions. During the development of OCAP then had the idea to define a DVB standard, which describes a common subset of OCAP and MHP and is good for other variants. Such a common subset describes the GEM standard ( Globally Executable MHP), is to promote the worldwide dissemination of the MHP. Currently, the following, building on GEM standards exist:

  • The MHP, as a software platform in DVB networks
  • OCAP, as the platform for ( American ) cable networks,
  • ACAP, a platform for the American terrestrial television networks,
  • ARIB B.23, a variant for the Japanese television networks ( ARIB ) and
  • BD -J, the variation for the Blu- ray Disc, which requires no radio support.

The fact that all systems based on GEM, it is possible with little effort to develop applications that can run on all of these system. Only when special, available only in certain versions features to be used, for example, an EPG application, appropriate adjustments must be made.

Future developments of the MHP, or GEM standards are also developed in the following areas:

  • To support the functionality of hard disk recorders (PVR),
  • Multimedia home networking,
  • The support of interactive HDTV formats,
  • Interactive services via broadband IP connections (e.g., DSL or the digital cable network ), and
  • An abstract XML-based description of application ( PCF, Portable Content Format )
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