CableCARD™ Interface

PODstack is BitRouter’s implementation of the CableCARD™ interface as specified by ANSI/SCTE 28 2004 and SCTE 41 2004. PODstack provides a robust and portable solution for implementing the CableCARD™ software stack needed by a Digital Cable Ready receiver. The implementation meets the following high level goals:

  • PODstack uses BitRouter’s kernel abstraction layer which contains 53 OS calls and can be ported to a new OS with minimal effort. A hardware abstraction layer is used to port to any target silicon. PODstack works with Linux and most major real-time operating systems.
  • OEM Specific functionality is isolated in a TV System Interface for easy adaptability to individual models.
  • The CableCARD™ interface implementation is backed by our years of experience designing software for commercial DTV sets.
  • The implementation supports uni-directional, bi-directional and multi-stream CableCARD™ (M-CARD) interface as per the CableLabs’ multi-stream CableCARD™ Interface 2.0 Specifications OC-SP-CCIF2.0-I07-060803 and OC-SP-CCCP2.0-I04-060803.

FEATURES

The CableCARD™ interface implementation implements the following resources:

BLOCK FUNCTIONS
Resource Manager Manages all resources on the Host
Extended Channel Support Manages flows for OOB data
Man Machine Interface Allows POD to open MMI dialog
Application Information Allows the POD to expose its applications and deliver HTML pages to the Host. And the Host to expose its display characteristics to the POD.
Conditional Access Supports CA applications in the POD
Copy Protection Implements copy protection per SCTE 41
Host Control Allows the POD to control the Host’s RF tuners
Low Speed Communication Allows POD to send limited upstream data via the Host
Impulse PPV Allows the host to receive information on and purchase IPPV events.
Specific Application Supportion Allows a vendor specific application in the Host or POD to communicate private objects.
Generic Feature Control Allows the POD to control generic Host features.
Firmware Upgrade Allows the POD to upgrade its firmware.
Homing Allows the POD to request services, especially firmware upgrade, when the Host is in standby mode.
Generic Diagnostic Allows the POD to request the Host to perform a diagnostic and report the result.
System Time Allows the POD to access system time.

PODstack provides a host API that allows it and the host receiver to access each other’s functionality. The following protocol layers are provided:

LAYER FUNCTIONS
Session layer Allows applications on a POD to use a single transport layer connection to access several different resources on the Host.
Transport layer A command-response protocol that allows creation, maintenance and teardown of connections between the Host and the POD.
Data channel link layer Provides fragmentation and reassembly services on the command interface
Application Information Allows the POD to expose its applications and deliver HTML pages to the Host. And the Host to expose its display characteristics to the POD.
Ext. channel link layer Provides fragmentation and reassembly services for OOB data
PC card dummy device driver This dummy driver provides sample source code to build a driver for a specific PC card controller.

Resources colored with a light green background below are optional and are not included.

BitRouter PODstack Architect

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