Alcatel-Lucent wins tech Emmy for Cloud DVR

Alcatel-Lucent has received an Emmy award for technology and engineering for “pioneering work in implementation and deployment of Network DVR.”

The Network DVR allows content to be stored in the cloud rather than on the hard drive of a traditional DVR or set-top box, allowing several shows to be recorded simultaneously and then accessed anytime, anywhere, and from any device. The technology also enables a different time-shifted services such as ‘start-over’, rewind and catch-up TV.

“We are extremely proud to be recognised by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for our contribution to enhancing the way we all watch TV. Alcatel-Lucent was one of the first companies to recognise the potential for using cloud and IP networking to replace the traditional set-top box or DVR in order to give viewers far greater freedom in how they watch TV, as well as enable Pay TV providers to develop innovative services at lower costs,” said Paul Larbey, head of Alcatel-Lucent’s IP video business.

The prize marks the second time that Alcatel-Lucent has received a tech Emmy but is its first since 1997, when Alcatel-Lucent’s Bell Labs was awarded for its work on digital TV as part of the HDTV Grand Alliance.

At the same time Alcatel-Lucent and Telecable – a service provider for the Spanish region of Asturias – said that they are partnering on an IP-based ‘TV anywhere’ project that will establish Telecable as the first cable operator in Spain to offer “advanced, cloud-based personal video recording.”