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MHP-CONFIDENCE will
strengthen the DVB Multimedia Home Platform Standard (MHP) by strengthening
its conformance-testing regime. The goal of the project is to develop new
conformance tests as an enabling technology for the successful deployment of
MHP components in the market. This will foster the integration of networked
audiovisual systems and home platforms as well as the development of
innovative services on the basis of interoperable applications. The project
centres on the official formal conformance testing. It does not address the
more informal inter-operability testing and is absolutely not intended to
replace that. The project builds on the recent success of the European MHP
Standard (published by EC in OJ 2002/C 331/04 of 31st Dec. 2002), but
recognises some visible weaknesses of the very first MHP Test Suite launched
by DVB which are critical for the competitiveness of both, the European
standard as a whole, and the individual products of European manufacturers.
Continued below .......
The project addresses the development of
conformance tests for the current version, but also for new versions of the
MHP standard and thus maintains and reinforces European strength in an area
where Europe has established a substantial industrial and technological
leadership. With such an approach the project also responds to the emerging
needs resulting from the current adoption or application of DVB-MHP (and its
existing conformance tests) by other standardisation bodies like SCTE-OCAP
in the USA or ARIB in Japan, whilst opening new opportunities for European
technology. Strict and unified conformance testing - even across "standards
dialects" will ensure a smooth co-evolution of platforms and applications
and will allow maximum exploitation of the technology by manufacturers,
network operators, broadcasters and consumers for horizontal market
solutions, in line with Directive 2002/21/EC for the benefit of content
providers and end-users alike.
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