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 TV. The implementation meets the following high level goals:
| 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 Support |
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 TV system API that allows it and the TV system 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 a sample source code to start from in order to build a driver for a specific PC card controller. |
Resources colored with a light green background below are optional and are not included. PODstack is a component of BitRouter’s TVrefpak. Information about TVrefpak and its other components can be found at www.bitrouter.com/
TVrefpak.pdf. PODstack and all other stacks included in TVrefpak are standalone individual products.
