Voyager MHEG-5 & DSM-CC

Ocean Blue is pleased to announce that its extensively deployed Voyager MHEG-5 software, is being continually updated to conform to evolving profiles for the UK and around the world.

Voyager is a DVB (Digital Video Broadcast) based MHEG-5 interactive software middleware system which is ready for integration into digital televisions and set top boxes. The MHEG-5 engine allows the set top box to receive digital interactive terrestrial television transmissions from DVB-S, T or C broadcasters.

The DSM-CC data carousel (a data transmission mechanism) has support and is supplied as part of Voyager MHEG-5.

Voyager MHEG-5 and DSM-CC was originally developed by Philips Electronics and Ocean Blue has the sole development and worldwide distribution licence.

New MHEG-5 Product Developments - MHEG-5 with support for HD & Telecommunications link.

The Digital TV Group (DTG), the industry association for digital television in the UK, are close to finalising specifications for both MHEG support of High Definition (HD) TV broadcasts streams and broadband return path for interactive television on the UK digital terrestrial TV platform (Freeview). Ocean Blue is a part of these design groups. The new support for HD broadcasts (MPEG4 & H.264) and a telecoms links allowing true 2 -way interactivity to set top boxes and televisions, will provide consumers with even greater forms of viewing, entertainment, including interactivity applications and even shopping opportunities.

Ocean Blue is fully supporting the new DTG MHEG standards for its product range.

MHEG-5 Specification for HD.

The DTG working group in conjunction with Ocean Blue are finalising the new specification for HD support functions within MHEG-5, which will also be incorporated within the DTG D book.

The HD MHEG extension is centered around utilising the enhanced graphics capability of HD ready hardware, whilst supporting both legacy SD and new HD MHEG-5 applications.

Use of JPEG bitmaps, AAC audio (streams and clips) and improved colour map definitions will enhance the audio / visual experience of MHEG. Additional changes to graphics have been made to ensure that any upscaling of SD MHEG applications to HD generate a high quality image on HD graphics planes.

Two different profiles have been developed that will cater for different equipment capabilities and scenarios

a) Platform has HD graphics plane but no MPEG-4 / H.264 capability
b) Platform can support both HD graphics and MPEG-4 / H.264

As per all Voyager enhancements and evolutions, the new HD development involves additional software interfaces to the existing API. By maintaining the existing API and only adding relevant functionality it ensures that Ocean Blue's existing customers require minimal effort to update and integrate; whilst new customers benefit from integrating a mature and stable software solution.

MHEG-5 Support for Telecoms Links

The DTG working group is in the closing stages of developing and delivering to the industry the specification for a broadband and PSTN return path as an extension to the existing interactive TV software UK profile MHEG-5. This extension is additional to the current UK profile (v1.06) of MHEG-5.

Interactive Revenue Streams

In recent years there has been industry wide recognition for the need to enhance interactive services through the introduction of a return path. A return path will allow content providers to offer viewers a new range of applications e.g. voting, games, chat-like services (allowing viewers to send in comments and opinion), video on demand and interactive transactions for purchasing goods and services.

In addition, it opens up the possibility of more advanced interactive services to enable data or streamed audio/video to be delivered over the broadband path for example IPTV set top boxes, this allows a combination of both internet based TV, Free to Air TV channels and Pay per view television.