Next-gen EPGs for new and old STBs
While multichannel video providers have had tremendous success in enhancing their video packages, helping consumers to find desired content remains a work in progress. Resource limitations and fragmentation within deployed digital set-top box footprints have prevented next-generation electronic programming guides from moving from concept to implementation.
By moving processing out of the set-top box and into the network cloud, CloudTV enables cable operators and other service providers to deliver an entirely new EPG experience to every digital set-top box in the home. Rather than creating different guides for different device capabilities – or a simple guide that can run on every device – operators can deliver rich, graphics-intensive guide experience that are equally compelling on legacy, state-of-the-art and next-generation CPE gear.
CloudTV streams a fully-formed user experience to the user’s device via MPEG2 or MPEG4/H.264. Subscribers control the experience by using their existing remote controls to send key presses to the remote server, controlling the application. The latency (delay) between a customer key press and the UI response is so minimal that users do not perceive that the UI is coming from miles away.
Using CloudTV, multichannel video providers can replace standard grid guides with intuitive interfaces that allow viewers quickly to find content of interest. Service providers can create branded, customized guides that enable search by genre, by title or by actor, or that allow viewers to watch multiple channels of video at one time.