CableHome® — FAQs
Why has CableLabs launched the CableHome project?In the future, home networking equipment and services have the potential to emerge as perhaps the most strategic market of interest for cable operators. Home networking equipment and services provide a means for cable operators and consumers to manage the delivery of multi-media, Internet-based services in the home. Success for cable operators in this market will require a cooperative, yet competitive, environment between content producers, service providers, and device manufacturers so that consumers can obtain low cost one-stop shopping and customer care solutions. Indeed, consumers will strongly equate convenience with consumption. In this view, the technology that can best provide a secure, high-quality home networking system that is easy to deploy and use will likely win a large share of this emerging home networking market.
It follows that the cable industry and consumers would benefit by the following proposition: If you choose to use home networking equipment approved by your cable operator, the operator will guarantee it will work seamlessly with your broadband cable services delivered over cable. Today's off-the-shelf products fall short of being an end-to-end solution. Through the CableHome project, the cable industry will establish the technical infrastructure for home networking equipment that will allow individual cable operators to fulfill this promise. Products developed to the CableHome specification will provide the basis for consumers to have a guarantee that service quality for their IP telephony, streaming media, or other packet-based services would be maintained over their CableHome specification compliant home networks, and that cable operators would assist them in diagnosing and formulating a response if they encounter problems.
To execute this strategy requires the industry to specify how home networking equipment will interact with the cable operator's “IP cloud.” This requires creating specifications that define the minimum set of industry requirements for network management, quality of service, service provisioning, and security functions. Other benefits to cable operators and consumers from these specifications should be: 1) lower installation costs through simplifying the home networking installation process; 2) lower equipment costs to consumers through the multiple suppliers enabled by the common platform created in CableHome's open specifications; and 3) lower operating costs by providing cable operators with tools that facilitate remote troubleshooting of consumer problems.
It follows that the cable industry and consumers would benefit by the following proposition: If you choose to use home networking equipment approved by your cable operator, the operator will guarantee it will work seamlessly with your broadband cable services delivered over cable. Today's off-the-shelf products fall short of being an end-to-end solution. Through the CableHome project, the cable industry will establish the technical infrastructure for home networking equipment that will allow individual cable operators to fulfill this promise. Products developed to the CableHome specification will provide the basis for consumers to have a guarantee that service quality for their IP telephony, streaming media, or other packet-based services would be maintained over their CableHome specification compliant home networks, and that cable operators would assist them in diagnosing and formulating a response if they encounter problems.
To execute this strategy requires the industry to specify how home networking equipment will interact with the cable operator's “IP cloud.” This requires creating specifications that define the minimum set of industry requirements for network management, quality of service, service provisioning, and security functions. Other benefits to cable operators and consumers from these specifications should be: 1) lower installation costs through simplifying the home networking installation process; 2) lower equipment costs to consumers through the multiple suppliers enabled by the common platform created in CableHome's open specifications; and 3) lower operating costs by providing cable operators with tools that facilitate remote troubleshooting of consumer problems.
My company wants to participate in the CableHome Project. How do we get started and what are some of the benefits?The first step is for the vendor company to sign the CableHome Access Agreement. This agreement provides vendor access to ongoing project information. It is available on the CableHome Web site under "How to Become a Participant." Once the signed CableHome Access Agreement is received by CableLabs, you will need to fill out and submit the DocZone Registration Form. Your login and password will be e-mailed to you shortly thereafter. This will enable you to access the restricted Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) section of the CableHome CableHome DocZone Web site. Joining the CableHome community as an NDA vendor provides many benefits and privileges.
As a participant, you will be able to:
As a participant, you will be able to:
- Access the NDA section of the restricted CableHome DocZone Web site.
- Receive e-mail announcements concerning CableHome project activities and events.
- Participate in the CableHome certification testing program.
- Participate in quarterly project update meetings.
- Participate in the specification change process.
How do I get a login/password for the CableHome DocZone Web site?In order to receive login information for the CableHome CableHome DocZone Web site, your company must sign the CableHome Access Agreement or CableHome IPR Agreement. If your company has signed one of these agreements, please ask the CableHome primary contact at your company for this information.
If your company has not signed the CableHome Access Agreement or CableHome IPR Agreement, these documents can be found on the CableHome Web page (see "My company wants to participate in the CableHome Project. How do we get started?" FAQ). Once the signed agreement has been received by CableLabs, you will need to fill out and submit the DocZone Registration Form. Your login and password will be e-mailed to you shortly thereafter. This will enable you to access the restricted portion of the CableHome CableHome DocZone Web site.
If your company has not signed the CableHome Access Agreement or CableHome IPR Agreement, these documents can be found on the CableHome Web page (see "My company wants to participate in the CableHome Project. How do we get started?" FAQ). Once the signed agreement has been received by CableLabs, you will need to fill out and submit the DocZone Registration Form. Your login and password will be e-mailed to you shortly thereafter. This will enable you to access the restricted portion of the CableHome CableHome DocZone Web site.
How do the CableHome Specification Focus Teams operate?Currently, there are no CableHome specification focus teams.
I'm interested in helping to develop CableHome specifications. How do I get involved?Currently, there are no CableHome specification or test plan development activities.
What is the general CableHome schedule?CableHome 1.1, which adds functionality on top of CableHome 1.0, has posted its specification and ATP. Certification testing for the program continues. Currently, no new CableHome specification or test plan development activities are planned.
The CableHome 1.0 project has posted issued specifications and ATPs, and has certified several products. Certification testing for the program continues.
The certification testing program schedule is available here.
The CableHome 1.0 project has posted issued specifications and ATPs, and has certified several products. Certification testing for the program continues.
The certification testing program schedule is available here.
How do the CableHome Acceptance Test Plan (ATP) Focus Teams operate?Currently, there are no CableHome ATP focus teams.
I'm interested in helping to develop CableHome Acceptance Test Plans (ATPs). How can I become involved?Currently, there are no CableHome test plan development activities.
I would like to become a CableHome visiting engineer and be able to work at CableLabs on the CableHome specifications and Acceptance Test Plans. How do I get more information?Currently, there are no CableHome specification or test plan development activities.
Can I still submit product for CableHome certification even though the specifications are closed?Yes. CableLabs still supports certification testing of CableHome 1.0 and 1.1 products.