These trends indicate an interesting market opportunity: the provision of on-demand services through the exploitation of the growing amount of local storage offered by DTR devices.  In order to explore these possibilities, Cabot Communications has embarked on a technical research project to explore the control of DTR functionality via MHEG-5 Resident Programs (RPs).

One of the central project research objectives is the exploration of Push Video on Demand (VOD) technology which would enable packages of programming to be ‘pushed’ onto viewers’ DTRs.  The pushed content would be drawn either from existing linear channel schedules or could include programming that has not been transmitted as part of the typical broadcast schedule.  The technology enables content to be captured off air, primarily overnight, and stored on the hard disk drive (HDD).  Although the project is currently exploring broadcast of content via DTT, it will also be possible to deliver it through a broadband connection.  Viewers will then be able to create personal packages of content to complement their regular recordings, which, through extensions to MHEG-5 RPs, could be navigated through and grouped in a manner suited to them.  Viewers could, for instance, create personal genre-specific packages, such as sports or drama specific ones.  This provides viewers with a richer range of programming which can be launched at a time convenient to them, without increasing broadcast bandwidth.

The utilisation of push mechanisms also opens up several other application scenarios as the technology provides MHEG-5 authors with the building blocks to create more dynamic applications based on audio and video clips or segments as well as the traditional text and graphics.  These features create many creative opportunities for content providers to both extend existing interactive services and offer completely new ones, such as:

• Narrative based video games which, until now, could only be played on PCs or games consoles

• Channel specific ‘mini guides’ and interactive content navigation

• Resident promotional trailers which can be launched as desired by the viewer

• The ability to store and load extensive amounts of information such as elaborate graphics, sound files or even educational material

• Richer audio and video content for existing MHEG-5 applications allowing, for example, movie trailers or additional feature material

The ability to store and launch MHEG-5 applications on the HDD in this way will enable application providers to deploy a wider range of applications whilst reducing usage of broadcast bandwidth.

For further information regarding this, or any other Cabot solution, please contact us.