Cablevision, the fifth largest Cable MSO in North America, is a recognized technology innovator. It was one of the first to deploy the digital technologies that have benefited the entire cable industry—including pioneering work on VOD session-based encryption, switched digital video (SDV), remote-storage DVR (RS-DVR) and most recently Open Media Security (OMS) based set-top boxes that support downloadable conditional access solutions.
VideoGuard® Conditional Access
NDS has been supplying pay television technology security solutions to Cablevision since 1998. Cablevision originally selected a DVB SimulCrypt-based VideoGuard Conditional Access solution from NDS. The VideoGuard smart card and Verifier software were first integrated into Sony digital set-top boxes and then subsequently integrated into Scientific-Atlanta (now Cisco) SD, HD set-top boxes and DVRs. Based on CableLab’s OpenCable specifications, these VideoGuard components were also embedded in Single and Multi-Stream CableCARDs from multiple vendors. VideoGuard provides unparalleled protection for an operator’s content and their branded service.
Cablevision is the only North American cable operator to have selected a DVB SimulCrypt-based open conditional access solution, enabling them to benefit from an unparalleled choice of set-top boxes as well as headend equipment vendors as partners.
The Projects
- Downloadable security that is more cost-efficient than CableCARDs
- Synchronize conditional access systems with other major systems
- Session based-encryption for VOD and RS-DVR
- System integration and standards
The NDS Contribution
NDS and Cablevision have collaborated on a wide variety of projects. Some examples are described below:
OMS Downloadable Security
Cablevision and NDS worked together on the development of OMS, an open standard for downloadable conditional access. NDS designed an OMS compliant version of VideoGuard which is called VideoGuard Server (VGS). In 2009 the FCC approved the deployment of an OMS based downloadable conditional access solution (to replace CableCARDs), and Cablevision has subsequently deployed VGS certified set-top boxes into their network.
StreamServer
NDS has provided the StreamServer broadcast control system which is used to synchronize conditional access with other system information such as channel maps and guide data. StreamServer has been used to generate DVB-SI metadata for the Sony set-top boxes as well as SCTE-65 metadata for OpenCable and tru2way devices. It also functions as an Event Information System (EIS) to coordinate the activities of 3rd party SimulCrypt compliant multiplexers and scramblers.
Session-based Encryption
NDS VideoGuard has been integrated with Cablevision’s own asset management and VOD systems to provide service and content protection for Cablevision on demand services. The NDS team designed and integrated a highly-scalable and very efficient solution for deploying session-based encryption on many types of services including VOD, SDV and RS-DVR. The system permits pre-verification of entitlement before session setup as well as constant real-time verification of device entitlement during streaming, without any of the preliminary key distribution complexity and latency that is required by other conditional access vendors.
Systems Integration and standards
Cablevision has relied upon NDS to resolve a number of complex system integration problems. Cablevision has been able to leverage NDS’s extensive US and Global experience and resources for a variety of projects ranging from STB and headend integrations to partner certification, testing and support. Cablevision and NDS have also collaborated on cable industry initiatives in coordination with other industry partners and standards bodies that have succeeded in the introduction of new industry standards and practices.