A 'GEM' of a solution for interactive TV

The DVB-GEM specification, standardised by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (TS 102 819), is set to become the first ever common worldwide standard for interactive television.
GEM (Globally Executable MHP) defines the APIs, protocols and content formats that can be relied upon in all interactive television standards and specifications that support globally interoperable Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) applications.
GEM provides a means of ensuring that MHP applications can be carried over networks other than Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB). Where DVB has not been adopted, and therefore where the original MHP standard cannot be implemented, application interoperability is assured by combining MHP based GEM with the appropriate specifications from another body to produce a GEM receiver.
"The aim of GEM is to provide true 'write once, run anywhere' capabilities for MHP applications," Peter MacAvock, Executive Director, DVB Project Office said.
"DVB has been pleasantly surprised by the positive industry reception of the GEM specification."
The significance of GEM has been underlined by the marked interest shown from bodies working on open API systems such as the ATSC in the US and Japan's ARIB. Recent announcements of the harmonisation of standards between the ATSC and CableLabs are largely based on the GEM specification, thus enabling the execution of MHP applications and services in the US. Several US cable companies are already working to implement OCAP 1.0, which is based on the GEM specification. The ITU is also working on the harmonisation of API systems, again largely based on the GEM specification.
Theo Peek, DVB Chairman remarked "There are still many issues to resolve, but DVB is anxious to ensure that the spirit of cooperation between CableLabs and DVB can be extended to other standardisation bodies interested in adopting GEM."
DVB is an industry-led consortium of over 270 broadcasters, manufacturers, network operators, software developers, regulatory bodies and others in over 35 countries worldwide, committed to designing global standards for the delivery of digital television and data services.
DVB Standards cover all aspects of digital television from transmission through interfacing, conditional access and interactivity for digital video, audio and data. The consortium came together in 1993 to create unity in the march towards global standardisation, interoperability and future proofing.
(AMcE)