DVB takes over CI Plus development with version 1.4

The DVB has approved the commercial requirements for version 1.4 of the CI Plus specification. Separately the DVB has formed a partnership with the 3D@Home Consortium to encourage the development of standards for 3D TV and to share knowledge.

The commercial requirements for CI Plus version 1.4 build on the current version 1.3 of CI Plus by adding support for dual-stream operation with a single module – meaning that a dual-tuner DVR host can be supported – as well as support for DRM-protected IP delivered content. Other features include CI Plus browser extensions, additional uniform resource identifiers, signaling and extensions and clarifications for module applications running on host middleware.

The move follows an agreement with CI Plus LLP that DVB will take responsibility for future development of the CI Plus specification. It is anticipated that the technical work will take a year. Following its publication CI Plus LLP will adopt the specification.

The DVB has also formed a partnership with the 3D@Home Consortium. The consortium was formed in 2008 with the mission to speed the commercialisation of 3D and provide the best possible viewing experience by facilitating the development of standards. In February 2011, the DVB Steering Board approved the specification for a first phase 3DTV delivery system based on the commonly used ‘frame-compatible’ system.

“3D@Home is an important organisation for 3DTV. They have many areas of interest, including the study of ‘human factors’ associated with 3DTV viewing that we are hoping to learn from. For our part, our work developing delivery specifications for 3DTV, will be helpful for 3D@home.  Both organizations have things to share with each other,” said David Wood, chair of DVB’s Commercial Module on 3DTV.