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| Table of Contents |
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Video
Transport methods
...
Component / Service Name
...
Purpose and Definition
...
User/Implementor
...
Notes
...
DOCSIS - Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification
...
Protocol behind coaxial cable as a communications and content delivery method
...
Comcast, Liberty Global, etc – founded by CableLabs consortium
...
“Cable” operators transport method for both broadband & video. Today, this is mostly a hybrid of fiber within the core network and cable for “last mile”
...
PON – Passive Optical Network
...
Fiber-based communications technology for delivering ”last mile” broadband (and video) access to subscribers
...
Comcast, Sky, Liberty Global, NOS, Deutsche Telekom, etc
...
Several overlapping standards that generally define the delivery (to the home) of data over a physical fiber link – see ONU/ONT
...
DSL – Digital Subscriber line
...
The technology behind broadband service delivered over traditional telephone (copper) lines
...
Sky (broadband), Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, etc
...
More prevalent in Europe and overseas, and rapidly being replaced by PON technologies but still has a very large subscriber base despite a lack of new growth
...
DBS – Direct Broadcast Satellite
...
Primarily a video delivery method directly to end users via Satellite, but data can be sent as well
...
Sky (video), any Satellite provider
...
Typically 1-way communication from Satellite to end-user, but 2-way can be augmented using subscriber’s source of internet for additional features and services (such as OTT video)
...
Cellular based (4G/LTE, 5G)
...
Wireless transport method of delivering data (including OTT video) via existing cellular infrastructure for fixed residential use
...
T-Mobile, Verizon, many Cellular providers worldwide.
...
Different use-case than data being served on mobile phones. Intended to be primary data connection for that subscriber at their fixed resi location - Cellular networks are used between towers and user’s cellular modem(s), while fiber serves the towers themselves. This is similar to how DOCIS uses cable as last-mile, but fiber within its core
Hardware
...
Component / Service Name
...
Purpose and Definition
...
User/Implementor
...
Notes
...
SoC – “System on a Chip”
...
Embedded Hardware providing the basis for OEMs to build devices – RDK-V, B C
...
Broadcom, Intel, Amlogic, Realtek, Qualcomm, Quantenna
...
Chipset, memory and other components – lowest level of a device’s componentry/hardware
...
STB – Set Top Box
...
Typically provided by an MVPD to a subscriber, hardware/software device that allows playback of video and other content in a customer home
...
Any MVPD providing video to end users, plus the OEMs building them
...
It is possible to provide a video service 100% OTT, such as HuluTV or YouTubeTV, or use COAM video playback devices to serve the STB function (eg Roku or AppleTV)
...
...
Platform(s) to rapidly develop, test and Delivery with RDK
...
Manufactured by: Commscope, KAON, Humax and other OEMs
...
Provides a ”ready-made” platform to fast-track testing and development for efforts such as RDK4 and easy familiarization for new MVPDs
...
BLE – Bluetooth Low Energy
-
(Voice remote*)
...
Efficient standards-based wireless data transmission method, used primarily in RDK(-V) for 2-way remote controller communication with the STB
...
Tech4Home, Commscope, Humax, Kaon, RDK Management, RDK community
...
Used heavily within the Video accelerator program, in the process of being spec’ed for further use within the rest of the RDK community
Application and Software Framework
...
Component / Service Name
...
Purpose and Definition
...
User/Implementor
...
Notes
...
Compositor
...
Window and input manager
...
Necessary component of any multi-window, multi-app, multi-process software platform
...
The component that handles app window overlay, what is the active screen and minimizing/closing a resource based on available memory and user actions
...
Thunder
...
Lightweight C++ Application Framework
...
RDK community
...
Modular architecture
...
Lightning
...
Lightweight Javascript framework
...
RDK community
...
Lightning is am app development framework offering great portability and performance. Leverages WebGL to increase performance
...
HTML5
...
Web-based technology allowing for the playback of video/audio/apps without specific development for the platform used
...
Open Web + RDK community
...
Web-based technology for rendering graphics and playing video/audio in a browser.
...
Abstraction (Architecture concept)
...
Well-defined, idealized interface, intended to reduce complexity of layered software systems
...
Software development community (not RDK specific)
...
Implementation is up the individual operator + component being engineered
...
HAL - Hardware Abstraction Layer
...
Software layer allowing application and component interaction with a hardware device at a general or abstract level rather than at a detailed more specific level
...
RDK Community, OEMs
...
Eases both development and porting efforts, increases device reliability and can also assist support efforts on lower resource devices
For Video
| Office Powerpoint | ||
|---|---|---|
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For Broadband
| Office Powerpoint | ||
|---|---|---|
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Development, Testing and Telemetry
...
Component / Service Name
...
Purpose and Definition
...
User/Implementor
...
Notes
...
Raspberry Pi
...
Commercial off the shelf - Open-source, Linux-based single board micro-computer with a low price point
...
RDK community
...
Standardized hardware configuration and adequate processing power, its used by the RDK community as a reference platform for most initial testing and development of all things RDK
...
...
protocol messaging system for communication between cloud server and client devices
...
Comcast, other ISPs
...
Developed originally by Comcast and later open-sourced. Secure and web-based, not specific to RDK
...
...
protocol messaging system for communication between cloud server and IP-connected devices
...
RDK Community, other ISPs
...
Messaging protocol that can co-exist with others such as WebPA depending on the requirements of the MVPD/ISP
...
...
Device data model used by protocols such as TR-069 and WebPA to communicate telemetry
...
RDK Community, other ISPs
...
Among other features, this is the list of codes, states, device issues that correspond to the remote management of devices in a customer’s home
Graphics and Window Management (RDK-V)
...
Component / Service Name
...
Purpose and Definition
...
Implementor
...
Notes
...
RDK Shell
...
Window manager
...
Comcast
...
Controls the management of composition, layout, Z order, and key handling
...
Essos
...
Abstraction that allows for easy implementation of a compositor
...
RDK community
...
API + abstraction that allows implementation of Westeros
...
Weston
...
Compositor based on Wayland
...
Linaro
...
Lightweight implementation of Wayland
...
Westeros
...
Compositor based on Wayland
...
Comcast
...
Feature-rich implementation of Wayland
...
Wayland
...
Specification protocol used by the compositor
...
Open Source community*
...
protocol for a compositor to talk to its clients as well as a C library implementation of that protocol.
Applications
...
Component / Service Name
...
Purpose and Definition
...
User/Implementor
...
Notes
...
App Store (concept within RDK)
...
A pre-integrated platform of apps available for Operators using the RDK-V platform
...
Metrological, Comcast, RDK-Management, RDK-Community (+ Metro customers)
...
Metrological created, later fully integrated with RDK-V to dramatically ease the development, maintenance and reliability of applications within the RDK-V community
...
Premium apps
...
RDK-V implemented user-apps that allow for the playback of content from said subscription and free services
...
MVPD provided, subscriber used
...
Typically “OTT” apps that have their own subscriptions or access from the account level, RDK simply provides access to that resource for user consumption
...
Native (entertainment) apps
...
Apps integrated into RDK-V by default by an operator
...
RDK community, Metrological, Comcast
...
Eg Weather app, Sports, Games, Music streaming – simple apps often utilizing C-language as opposed to interpreted language (e.g. HTML5 or Lightning)
...
Other user-apps
...
Smarthome, Network apps, Account management apps
...
RDK Community, Comcast
...
Apps that could control other home services (Smarthome, internet management and/or home security) created for use via the RDK-V platform.
...
Voice-search and navigation
...
Voice-based interface for interacting with compatible STBs
...
RDK Community, Comcast, Sky, Liberty Global, etc
...
Usually a cloud-based voice search and command translation + action engine for compatible STBs. There are concurrent similar components within the RDK community and outside that are being considered for integration
Rights Management and Content Delivery
...
Component / Service Name
...
Purpose and Definition
...
User/Implementor
...
Notes
...
CDN
...
Content Delivery Network - network of geographically distributed data centers and proxy servers run by an MVPD for their subscribers
...
Any video provider/broadcaster/aggragator (Comcast, AT&T, Sky)
...
The system that houses and delivers video, securely, to the end user when requested (VOD) or linear (Title 6, etc)
...
CAS
...
Conditional Access System – mode of securely transmitting video content from CDN to STB
...
Any video provider/broadcaster/aggragator (Comcast, AT&T, Sky)
...
The mechanism that authenticates and allows (or blocks) video asset access based on the customer subscription level, location and/or device state for broadcast content
...
DRM
...
Digital Rights Management – digital components or services tasked with controlling access to copyrighted material such as video
...
Any content provider/retailer/broadcaster (Comcast, Apple, HBO, etc)
...
In short, copyright protection applied to files and digital assets before they’re transmitted to the end user for OnDemand content
...
OpenCDN
...
A multi-site CDN implementation utilizing cache servers in strategic locations
...
RDK Community, Many Video content delivery services
...
Intended to create conditions to “lower the distance between content and its users”, to increase speed, reliability, redundancy and quality when delivering video
...
OpenCDM
...
Open Content Decryption Module
...
RDK Community
...
Component intended to perform secure decryption of content with support for PlayReady and Widevine, etc
Broadband
Transport Methods
...
Component / Service Name
...
Purpose and Definition
...
User/Implementor
...
Notes
...
DOCSIS / Cable - Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification
...
Protocol behind coaxial cable as a data (and video) delivery method
...
Comcast, Liberty Global, etc – founded by CableLabs consortium
...
“Cable” operators transport method for both broadband & video. Today, this is mostly a hybrid of fiber within the core network and cable for “last mile”
...
PON – Passive Optical Network
...
Fiber-based communications technology for delivering ”last mile” broadband (and video) access to subscribers
...
Comcast, Sky, Liberty Global, NOS, Deutsche Telekom, etc
...
Several overlapping standards that generally define the delivery (to the home) of data over a physical fiber link – see ONU/ONT
...
DSL – Digital Subscriber line
...
The technology behind video and broadband service delivered over traditional telephone (copper) lines
...
Sky (broadband), Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, etc
...
More prevalent in Europe and overseas, and rapidly being replaced by PON technologies but still has a very large subscriber base despite a lack of new growth
...
DBS – Direct Broadcast Satellite
...
Primarily a video delivery method directly to end users via Satellite, but data can be sent as well
...
Sky (video), any Satellite provider
...
Typically 1-way communication from Satellite to end-user, but 2-way can be augmented using subscriber’s source of internet for additional features and services (such as OTT video)
...
Cellular based (4G/LTE, 5G)
...
Wireless transport method of delivering data (including OTT video) via existing cellular infrastructure for fixed residential use
...
T-Mobile, Verizon, many Cellular providers worldwide.
...
Different use-case than data being served on mobile phones. Intended to be primary data connection for that subscriber at their fixed resi location - Cellular networks are used between towers and user’s cellular modem(s), while fiber serves the towers themselves. This is similar to how DOCIS uses cable as last-mile, but fiber within its core
Hardware
...
Company / Platform Name
...
Purpose and Definition
...
User/Implementor
...
Notes
...
SoC – “System on a Chip”
...
Embedded Hardware providing the basis for OEMs to build devices – RDK-V, B C
...
Broadcom, Intel, Amlogic, Realtek, Qualcomm, Quantenna, Raspberry Pi
...
Chipset, memory and other components – lowest level of a device’s
...
IoT – Internet of Things
...
Catch-all term for every day devices that can now be internet-connected
...
Any manufacturer building or supporting devices typically labeled “smart”
...
Basis behind the smart-home, activity trackers and anything whose initial use was not web-based
...
Modem – portmanteau of “Modulator/Demodulator”
...
Device located at the customer premise to connect local LAN to RF modulated access network.
Provides the actual connection to the outside internet.
...
End user, all ISP’s
...
Device can be either COAM (customer owned and managed) or provided by an ISP usually with a lease fee. Different versions exist for use with different transport methods (Cable, DSL, Cellular etc)
...
ONU / ONT – Optical Network Unit (or Terminator)
...
Small hardware device installed at a PON subscriber’s home to convert the physical fiber’s signal into Ethernet or Coax for use within the customer’s LAN
...
Any Fiber MSO, located in End user’s home
...
Similar to a modem, this converts the fiber outside connection to use to more common technologies within the home such as Ethernet. It can then be connected to a router or gateway for even more functionality
...
Router
-
See Gateway below
...
Routes data between the modem’s outside connection (WAN), within the home (LAN)
...
End user (when used alongside of a separate modem)
...
Downstream from a modem as it allows multiple devices (on premises) to share a single internet connection via that modem, often includes WiFi
...
Gateway
...
Combines the functions of a Modem/Router/WiFi access point into a single unit
...
End user, Many ISP’s
...
Greatly simplifies the configuration, telemetry and operations for both MSO and end customer in most resi use cases by using 1, easily setup box
Development, Testing and Telemetry
...
Component / Service Name
...
Purpose and Definition
...
User/Implementor
...
Notes
...
Raspberry Pi
...
Commercial off the shelf - Open-source, Linux-based single board micro-computer with a low price point
...
RDK community
...
Standardized hardware configuration and adequate processing power, its used by the RDK community as a reference platform for most initial testing and development of all things RDK
...
Abstraction (Architecture concept)
...
Well-defined, idealized interface, intended to reduce complexity of layered software systems
...
Software development community (not RDK specific)
...
Implementation is up the individual operator + component being engineered
...
HAL - Hardware Abstraction Layer (Implementation)
...
Software layer allowing application and component interaction with a hardware device at a general or abstract level rather than at a detailed more specific level
...
RDK Community, OEMs
...
Eases both development and porting efforts, increases device reliability and can also assist support efforts on lower resource devices
...
...
protocol messaging system for communication between cloud server and RDK devices
...
Comcast, Other ISPs
...
Developed originally by Comcast and later open-sourced. Secure and web-based, not specific to RDK
...
...
protocol messaging system for communication between cloud server and IP-connected devices
...
RDK Community, other ISPs
...
Can have more costs when compared to similar WebPA, can co-exist with WebPA as well depending on the requirements of the MVPD/ISP
...
...
Device data model used by protocols such as TR-069 and WebPA to communicate telemetry
...
RDK Community, other ISPs
...
Among other features, this is the list of codes, states, device issues that correspond to the remote management of devices in a customer’s home
Framework and Application layer software
...
Component / Service Name
...
Purpose and Definition
...
User/Implementor
...
Notes
...
...
Carrier-grade open-source software acting as the connection between in-home hardware devices and the cloud managing them.
...
Plume,
RDK Community
...
Originally developed by Plume, then later open-sourced. Assists in the management of a subscriber’s home network by the MVPD. Provides telemetry and visibility to detect and prevent connection issues, automatically, from the cloud
...
...
Effort with the goal of a standardization spec intended to allow broadband devices to interoperate within a single mesh network from different manufacturers
...
EasyMesh member community, RDK community (future)
...
Spec that aims to support adaptive consumer mesh networks with an emphasis of easy setup and flexible configuration, paired with robust automatic network intelligence, scalability & load balancing without user interaction
...
Cujo
...
Proprietary artificial intelligence agent, being deeply integrated into RDK-B allowing additional security features for end users
...
RDK Community, Comcast
...
Automatic, evolving security and telemetry solution intended to block known bad actors, blacklists, DDoS attacks, malicious tracking software, etc for the entire household using the RDK-B device
...
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