CableLabs’ most recent tru2way interoperability session featured a record number of 22 software and hardware vendors during the week-long event.
Application developers and hardware manufacturers joined together for a week of laboratory sessions, where numerous tru2way and Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format (EBIF) applications ran across multiple headends, user agents and set-top boxes.
The 22 participating companies were ADB Global, Alcatel-Lucent, Biap Inc., Cisco Systems, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Ensequence, Flashlight Engineering, Funai, HSN, iCueTV, itaas, Intel, S&T, Softel, Sony Electronics, Starz Entertainment, Time Warner Cable, TVWorks, UniSoft, Universal Electronics, Vidiom Systems and VividLogic.
More than 35 tru2way and ETV applications were contributed from the interop participants.
Examples featured at the interop event ranged from test and diagnostic applications to those geared toward a consumer experience, such as shopping by remote or customizing the television-viewing experience.
CableLabs said having more participants at a single interop increased the opportunities to collaborate. For example, in the recent interop, an OCAP application developer had the opportunity to run its application on as many as six different tru2way host devices, and an ETV application was integrated on four user agents – all in a single location.
EBIF applications are gaining momentum this year as cable operators are starting to deploy applications such as sports and stock tickers and local weather. Tru2way is also ripening on the vine as cable operators deploy more of the advanced set-top boxes that are needed to enable tru2way’s functionalities.
At The Cable Show in Washington, D.C., last month, the Comcast Media Center was one of the companies in attendance that demonstrated live EBIF applications.
CableLabs is planning its next tru2way interoperability event for this fall, and there is no charge to participate.
