Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

@ Cable-Tec Expo: Multi-screen viewing is a challenge

By atesmeh | November 15, 2011

There are a lot of operational hurdles to consider when it comes to offering a true multi-screen experience across TVs, tablets and mobile devices, but cable operators can cut through the clutter by following a few key strategies.

According to Barry Falvo, principle member of technical staff at Motorola Mobility, the proliferation of devices for multi-screen viewing has led to technology fragmentation. Speaking during the multi-screen engineering session Monday, Falvo proposed a centralized approach that provides entitlement enforcement, one platform for billing and policy rights, and a transparent user experience.

Yaron Raz, director of digital video solutions at Harmonic, said cable operators need to consider what types of devices and digital rights management systems they will support – both inside the home and on mobile devices.

“It’s the challenge of really trying to minimize the operational headache around authorizing these different devices and different content across subscribers,” he said. “As far as the transcoding, one of the main things to determine is the specific profile and specific bit rates that you want to transcode the content to.”

While the immediate challenge is providing video to tablets and mobile devices, Raz said that will change over the coming year.

“There are a lot of considerations to determine how many profiles and what profiles to use,” Raz said. “What we see today with operators is usually four to five profiles for an HD channel. That goes up to 720p30, and in the future a lot of the operators are looking to get to a full HD, which would be a 720p60 or 1080p, and that would be one or two additional profiles.

“Today, the real focus is on those second or third screens – the iPads, the tablets, the PCs – but definitely 12 months from now, we’ll begin to see this technology driving connected TVs and game consoles, really going to that 52-inch screen, which also means you need high quality.”

While there’s no right or wrong answer, Raz said cable operators also need to consider whether they separate their mobile Web transcoding from their traditional encoding resources or consolidate them. There are operational efficiencies with consolidation, as well as simplified troubleshooting and operational processes.

Cable operators also need to consider whether it’s more beneficial for them to own a content delivery network or use “some sort of CDN in the cloud or managed service in order to distribute the content.”

Steve Tranter, vice president of broadband and interactive at NDS, said cable operators should consider a centralized headend with metadata that provides poster art for video content. The centralized headend saves memory on a set-top box, while the DOCSIS capabilities allow the box to go back to the headend for richer data on-demand.

Cable operators can also create templates – which would dictate when certain content is available on any given device, such as a PC – to aggregate Web-based and VOD content onto screens for viewers.

Neustar’s Peter Davis, senior director and distinguished member of the technical staff, said that cable operators should focus on the end users, and not just the various screens. Video providers need to develop an ID management strategy, but they also have to be aware of legislative obligations, such as the Child Online Protection Act (COPA).

“Customers are customers, and not a screen,” Davis said. “Focus on the users first, then the display.”

You Might Also Like


Filed Under: Cables + cable management, Industry regulations + certifications

 

LEARNING CENTER

Design World Learning Center
“dw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Design Engineering Professionals.
Motor University

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Sustainability, Innovation and Safety, Central to Our Approach
  • Why off-highway is the sweet spot for AC electrification technology
  • Looking to 2025: Past Success Guides Future Achievements
  • North American Companies Seek Stronger Ties with Italian OEMs
  • Adapt and Evolve
  • Sustainable Practices for a Sustainable World
View More >>
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Control Engineering
  • Consulting-Specifying Engineer
  • Plant Engineering
  • Engineering White Papers
  • Leap Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. We share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners who may combine it with other information you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.OkNoRead more