Broadcom’s set-top box chip family will also support NDS’ XTV(TM) software for cable and satellite TV system control including Random Access Scrambled-stream Protocol (RASP) technology. The RASP technology enables personal video recording (PVR) to handle tasks such as fast-forward, pause and rewind on encrypted content. XTV offers greater control over the TV-viewing experience by enabling viewers to pause a live TV program, instantly replay a program being watched, or skip ahead in a recorded program to a favorite scene. RASP enables the efficient retrieval of encrypted content off a hard disk in the set-top box.
The proliferation of consumer products that offer integrated local storage highlights a developing trend in the electronics industry, said Mike Paxton, Senior Analyst with Cahners In-Stat’s Converging Markets & Technologies Group. ‘Pockets of storage are beginning to appear throughout the home in response to several factors. One of the most important of these factors is that satellite and cable TV operators sense great revenue potential in interactive applications that offer integrated local storage. The Scottsdale, Ariz., research firm estimates that PVRs will capture the majority of consumer electronics products that integrate hard disk drives, with total worldwide PVR unit shipments forecasted to surpass 28 million by 2004.
We’re optimistic that XTV will become the de facto standard for PVR set-top boxes. Broadcom’s leadership in cable and satellite set-top box chips combined with next-generation NDS technologies will enable manufacturers to offer advanced PVR functionality, premium video and broadband services worldwide, said Dr. Jas Saini, Vice President, Consumer Devices, NDS Group plc.
Through NDS’ Videoguard, pay-TV operators can offer subscribers greater control over their TV viewing experiences through functions including password protection, spending limits and parental rating controls. Videoguard can also target programming, advertising and promotions to subscribers by geographic area, market segment, business or personal interests. For operators, it supports revenue opportunities by implementing flexible program packaging, pricing tiers, and a range of pay-per-view options. Through greater program choice, it can potentially generate higher revenues per subscriber.
By adding hardware support for NDS’ XTV and RASP technologies into our next-generation set-top box chips, we are optimizing our chips for the rapidly emerging market for interactive PVR applications, said Rich Nelson, Senior Director, Marketing, Broadcom’s Broadband Communications Business Unit. And by integrating the NDS ICAM functionality, Broadcom is supporting the latest technology from the leading Conditional Access system supplier.
Currently, the Broadcom(R) BCM93730 Advanced Home Gateway Set-Top Box Reference Design supports XTV and RASP, as well as NDS smart cards. The major chips in the reference design consist of the BCM3250 set-top box, single-chip front end (dual QAM demodulators, DOCSIS 1.1 capable MAC, DAVIC 1.2/1.5 MAC) and the BCM7030 video decoder chip (dual SD or HDTV, transport, MPEG2 decoder, and 2D/3D graphics). The reference design allows set-top box manufacturers to develop software supporting NDS-based cable and satellite systems for existing and next-generation chips.
