ADB Signs CableLabs'® Licenses
for Downloadable Security

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Advanced Digital Broadcast (ADB) has signed the Downloadable Conditional Access System (DCAS™) licensing agreements with CableLabs®, the international technology development consortium of cable television system operators.

The licenses allow ADB to build retail consumer electronics devices employing revolutionary DCAS security technology for advanced digital content.

“We view DCAS™ as an important step in bringing new, secure, and innovative set-top technologies to the North American cable market. Using a secure microprocessor and a downloadable solution offers a more secure environment for high value content,” said Michael Hawkey, Regional President, ADB Americas. ADB has a long history with CableLabs and was the first manufacturer to introduce an OCAP-based box in the United States. “Over the years, ADB has developed a considerable technology portfolio for our European and Asian customers. Combining OCAP and DCAS will allow ADB to quickly bring new and previously unimaginable products to North American cable operators,” he added.

“ADB has been an active participant under the Cablelabs Visiting Engineer program for over three years,” said Dr. Richard R. Green, President and CEO of CableLabs. “They offer some of the most talented engineers to help us work collaboratively on innovative solutions for cable. We really appreciate their efforts.”

DCAS offers a cost-effective, cable company agnostic, conditional access system (CAS)-agnostic, security solution for both retail and MSO-leased devices. DCAS allows the cable operator to download its own particular conditional access system of choice to devices connected to the cable network. DCAS also allows for more flexible business models for the delivery of content to cable subscribers. It is designed to operate with cable set-top boxes as well as integrated retail DTVs, and other devices that include a secure DCAS microprocessor chip. The DCAS Agreement is available to any consumer electronics manufacturer on a non-discriminatory basis.

DCAS products are capable of receiving and displaying advanced cable services such as program guides and video-on-demand (VOD). DCAS products also include the OpenCable Application Platform or OCAP™ middleware. The largest companies in North America recently announced deployment plans this year for OCAP to roll out advanced interactive services on a nationwide common platform. They were joined in these announcements by major consumer electronics manufacturers LG Electronics, Panasonic and Samsung.

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