[manikr]

By Robert Briel
September 9, 2009 06.49 UK

The Open IPTV Forum (OIPF) has announced the publication of the Architecture Specification for IPTV infrastructure elements and services to be included in Release 2 of the OIPF Specifications. The Architecture Specification is freely available for download from the Publications section of the


Release 1 of the OIPF technical specifications was published early in 2009, and the Forum technical workgroups are now actively engaged in developing Release 2. The Release 1 profiling specification, which will finalise the first release, is expected at the end of September. The newly published Release 2 Architecture Specification provides the additional functional components and technologies needed to support the Release 2 requirements published earlier.

The Release 2 architecture specification addresses a number of new services and features by introducing or extending functionality in a number of key areas: broadening of the service domain to include mobile networks, allowing OIPF-specified features such as remote access, notifications, and session transfer & replication to extend to mobile devices; enhanced content access for consumers including more sophisticated local & network PVR, timeshift, PPV and personalized channels; remote access and remote management functions for more flexible control of the TV experience; functions to increase consumer convenience, such as notifications, TV bookmarking, parental controls and session controls across multiple devices; features which assist the service provider in the provision and measuring of the service, including forced playout controls and audience research.

The OIPF was established in 2007 to develop and publish end-to-end specifications for standardised IPTV solutions, helping eliminate many of the interoperability and portability issues which have historically hampered IPTV service providers as they build their solutions. The specifications are being developed in a phased manner, to provide interested parties with timely and increasingly comprehensive coverage of the many infrastructure and functional areas involved in an end-to-end IPTV solution.

According to Yun Chao Hu, chair of the OIPF, “the Forum was established to develop specifications to satisfy a recognisable and urgent market need, and we have consistently set ourselves aggressive targets for our development work. This latest milestone maintains our momentum and reinforces the credibility of the organisation as it continues to grow and thrive, and I wish to congratulate all those who have contributed to the successful development of the Architecture Specification for Release 2. Reaching agreement among a large and diverse membership is not without its challenges, and it is to the credit of all involved that by maintaining an appropriate focus we continue to make effective progress towards the practical benefits the Forum was set up to deliver.”

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