Specifications
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Working in cooperation with cable companies and cable equipment manufacturers, CableLabs has developed sets of publicly available interface specifications to facilitate interoperability of cable devices, including cable modems, set-top boxes, digital televisions, and various telephony devices.
Interoperable devices based on common specifications facilitate consumer choice, widespread deployment of new technologies, and lower costs to both cable operators and consumers.
PROJECT CATEGORIES
Coherent Optics
Coherent Optics Subcategories
DOCSIS
Cable television operators have transitioned from a traditional core business of entertainment programming to a position as full-service providers of video, voice, and data telecommunications services. Cable modems based on Data-over-Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS®) are among the fundamental devices making this transition possible.
DOCSIS Subcategories
DPoE
Specifications create an architecture and serve as necessary specifications for enabling Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) equipment to be provisioned using existing DOCSIS-based provisioning systems and policies, and to provide network services over EPON access networks to business customers.
The DPoE Specifications have three primary goals to:
- Facilitate multi-vendor interoperability—the DPoE specifications will provide a common foundation for vendors to build products that will not only interoperate with the DOCSIS back office servers, but with other vendor’s equipment. As a result, DPoE Optical Network Unit (ONU) vendors can expect their product to interoperate with others who provide DPoE Systems.
- Allow for use of DOCSIS provisioning—DOCSIS provisioning systems provide configuration information for millions of DOCSIS devices. The DPoE specifications provide requirements for EPON equipment to be provisioned using the same DOCSIS servers.
- Provide Metro Ethernet services as defined by the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF)—the DPoE specifications provide an architecture and requirements to support the Ethernet Private Line (EPL) service.
DPoG
Specifications create an architecture and serve as necessary specifications for enabling provisioning of Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) equipment using existing DOCSIS-based systems and policies. DPoG supports both GPON per ITU-T G.984 and XG-PON per ITU-T G.987 specification suites. The DPoG Specifications have three primary goals to:
- Facilitate multi-vendor interoperability—the DPoG specifications will provide a common foundation for vendors to build products that will not only interoperate with the DOCSIS back office servers, but with other vendor’s equipment. As a result, DPoG Optical Network Unit (ONU) vendors can expect their product to interoperate with others who provide DPoG Systems.
- Allow for use of existing DOCSIS BSS/OSS systems—DOCSIS provisioning systems provide scalable configuration tools and methods for provisioning millions of DOCSIS devices.
- Expand Cable Industry access network technologies—GPON and EPON fiber-based offerings for residential services providing customers with up to 10 gigabit transmission rates.
DPoG Subcategory
MetaData
Metadata is descriptive data associated with a content asset package. It may vary in depth from merely identifying the content package title or information to populate an Electronic Programming Guide, to providing a complete index of different scenes in a movie or establishing business rules detailing how the content package may be displayed, copied, or sold.
MetaData Subcategories
PacketCable
Video
Wireless
The CableLabs Wi-Fi specifications are designed to help bring cable operator broadband services to mobile data subscribers. Subscribers are able to enjoy broadband services on cable operator and partner operator Wi-Fi networks. The specifications identify essential requirements to support Wi-Fi roaming, and define vendor requirements for the provisioning and management of Wi-Fi Gateways on cable networks.
Wireless Subcategories
Security
CableLabs’ security documents can include requirements, best practices, guidelines and other similar documents covering a wide spectrum of domains – such as Customer Premises Equipment, Service Delivery Network, Cybersecurity, Identity Management and Internet of Things. Note that Security documents in this category do not include security requirements related to other project-specific specifications (e.g., DOCSIS). Please use the links to the project categories on the left side of this page for such documents.
Security Subcategories
CableLabs
These technical specifications are not specific to any one particular CableLabs project but can provide information on multiple CableLabs’ projects/technologies. They are provided in PDF format only and available for reference.
CableLabs Subcategories
Virtualization and Network Evolution
Cloud-based technologies Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) have been maturing and are now finding application outside the data centers. Cable operators are beginning to leverage SDN and NFV to provide a more personalized customer experience, accelerate time-to-market of new services and optimize cost controls. NFV & SDN are the catalysts towards less compute-intensive network elements (particularly CPE), virtualization of features and services deeper into the network, and more software programmability in the device and network configuration. These evolutions in technology accelerate innovation in subscriber services and dramatic improvements in the delivery of these services across the cable operator’s networks.
CableLabs is engaged with key industry-wide Standardization and Open Source efforts to align the evolving architecture with our Members’ needs. Through these engagements the goal is to enable our industry to advance SDN and NFV related technology, their applications and promote broad adoption. At CableLabs, we have brought all this together in a comprehensive Virtualization and Network Evolution (VNE) program spanning multiple projects addressing different areas. These projects are in direct collaboration with our Members and their technology supplier partners.
Virtualization and Network Evolution Subcategories
Neither CableLabs nor any CableLabs member company is responsible to any party for any liability of any nature whatsoever resulting from or arising out of use or reliance upon these documents, or any documents referenced herein. Documents are furnished on an “AS IS” basis and neither CableLabs nor its members provides any representation or warranty, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, non-infringement, or fitness for a particular purpose of any documents, or any documents referenced herein.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Engineering Change Notices
To submit an Engineering Change Request (ECR) against a CableLabs specification, complete and submit the appropriate CableLabs Engineering Change Request Form found in your CableLabs account portal. If you do not have a CableLabs account, please create an account. Note: you must be employed by a CableLabs Member or Vendor to create an account.
Engineering Change Process
Issued specifications undergo changes through an open Engineering Change Process. When an Engineering Change has been approved as an Engineering Change Notice (ECN), it is publicly posted on the webpage of the specific specification version against which it was written. Once ECNs are incorporated into the specification and the next version of the specification has been published, those incorporated ECNs will remain on the specification public webpage and also archived in the account portal. If there are no ECNs against a specification, then the “Attached Documents” will be marked “No”.
Guidelines and Usage
By downloading, copying, distributing, and/or referencing the documents contained herein, you hereby agree as a condition of being permitted to do any of the foregoing acts to use the documents only for the purposes of developing products or services in accordance with such documents and educational activities. Except as permitted by CableLabs in its sole discretion in a separate written agreement, no permission is granted to modify the documents herein (except via the Engineering Change process), or to download, use, copy, modify and/or distribute any of the documents contained herein for any other purpose, including any litigation purpose.
Technical specifications publicly available for vendors to reference are provided in PDF format only.
Specification Drafting Process
The details for each project may differ slightly and are subject to change, but the general process is similar for all projects including initiating a project, developing corresponding Specifications, as well as associated Test Plans. The process includes defining a set of high level business requirements, drafting the specification, and IPR review and test plan development. Interoperability events may then be scheduled to help verify the interoperability goals of specifications and related test plans.
Working Groups
CableLabs working groups are collaborative groups focused on addressing key challenges and designing solutions to advance network technology. Groups consist of CableLabs members, vendors and industry stakeholders who work together on specifications.
Certify/Qualify your Equipment for Specification Compliance
CableLabs’ goal for the certification and qualification program is to enable any interested vendor to develop equipment that complies with the relevant specification. The program is designed to be pro-competitive and vendor-neutral.