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AllVid

{{Short description|Proposed television technology}}

AllVid was a proposal to develop technology enabling smart broadband-connected video devices to access the content on the managed networks of cable operators, telcos, and satellite-TV operators. It was initially proposed in the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) National Broadband Plan in 2010."[https://transition.fcc.gov/national-broadband-plan/national-broadband-plan.pdf National Broadband Plan.]"{{Cite news | url=https://www.wired.com/2011/02/allvid-tech-alliance/ | title=AllVid Battle Lines: Google, Best Buy, Sony Ally Against Big Cable | first=Matthew | last=Lasar | work=Wired | date=February 19, 2011}} The AllVid hardware would act as a universal adapter for all types of pay TV content such as video-on-demand and pay-per-view, as well as interactive programming guides, delivered through a wide variety of means, including cable TV, satellite TV, VDSL, IPTV, and Internet TV.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/04/fcc-goodbye-cablecard-hello-allvid.ars|title=Goodbye CableCARD, hello "AllVid"|publisher=Ars Technica|author=Matthew Lasar|date=April 2010|access-date=2010-07-22| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100722043401/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/04/fcc-goodbye-cablecard-hello-allvid.ars| archive-date= 22 July 2010 | url-status= live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=190907&site=lr_cable|title=All About the FCC's AllVid |publisher=Light Reading|author=Jeff Baumgartner|date=April 23, 2010|access-date=2010-07-22}}

AllVid was intended to replace CableCARD. Unlike CableCARD rules which only applied to cable operators, AllVid would apply to all Multichannel Video Programming Distributor’s (MVPDs) including satellite and telco companies.

As of January 2017, AllVid was never adopted or developed.

Design

The FCC has proposed several design aspects to AllVid while soliciting feedback from interested parties on a final specification before going forward for rulemaking. Major elements of the FCC's AllVid proposal include:

  • Gateway device capable of decoding six video streams and feeding through a home network to various devices.[https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-10-60A1.pdf AllVid Notice of Inquiry], p.10, 25 FCC Rcd [https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc28495/m1/801/ 4284]
  • Adapter device capable of decoding two video streams and feeding directly to a television or consumer electronics device.
  • Physical connection using 100BASE-TX Ethernet.
  • Internet Protocol as a communications protocol between the AllVid gateway and end devices.
  • Encryption and authentication using the DTCP-IP standard used by the Digital Living Network Alliance.[https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-10-60A1.pdf AllVid Notice of Inquiry], p.11, 25 FCC Rcd [https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc28495/m1/802/ 4285]
  • Content ordering and billing for VOD and PPV services may be handled via gateway generated screens but additional options are requested.
  • Service discovery may use Universal Plug and Play, as suggested by TiVo, but other proposals are invited.
  • Content encoding is proposed to support multiple codecs to allow devices flexibility in choice of video formats without requiring transcoding by the gateway.[https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-10-60A1.pdf AllVid Notice of Inquiry], p.12, 25 FCC Rcd [https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc28495/m1/803/ 4286]

Responses

Google has supported the AllVid proposal,{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/07/google-to-government-help-us-rule-tvs-vast-wasteland.ars|title=Google to government: help us rule TV's vast wasteland|author=Matthew Lasar|date=July 2010|publisher=Ars Technica|access-date=2010-07-22| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100722095924/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/07/google-to-government-help-us-rule-tvs-vast-wasteland.ars| archive-date= 22 July 2010 | url-status= live}} stating that "Google supports an all-video (“AllVid”) solution like the one put forth in the NOI.

Consumers would be well-served by having such an inexpensive universal adapter available at retail, which would feature an easy-to-use, common interface, and employ nationwide interoperability standards to connect to televisions, digital video recording devices (“DVRs”), and other smart video devices. These navigation devices effectively would separate the network interface from the device functionality, making video more “portable” across platforms and devices."{{cite web|url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7020523855 |title=Comments of Google Inc. |publisher=Google|date=July 13, 2010|access-date=2010-07-22}}

The AllVid proposal has been criticized by the Motion Picture Association of America for providing insufficient protection against copyright infringement by unauthorized multichannel video programming distributors{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/07/hollywood-google-tv-would-put-us-in-same-ship-as-pirates.ars|title=Hollywood: Google TV would put us in same ship as pirates!|author=Matthew Lasar|date=2010-07-22|publisher=Ars Technica|access-date=2010-07-22| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100722233757/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/07/hollywood-google-tv-would-put-us-in-same-ship-as-pirates.ars| archive-date= 22 July 2010 | url-status= live}} and by AT&T for preempting market forces already underway.In the Matter of Video Device Competition, Implementation of Section 304 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Commercial Availability of Navigation Devices, Compatibility Between Cable Systems and Consumer Electronics Equipment, MB Docket No. 10-91, CS Docket No. 97-80, PP Docket No. 00-67, Comments of AT&T Inc. to Notice of Inquiry (Jul. 13, 2010).

Industry alliance

On February 16, 2011 several companies announced the creation of the AllVid Tech Company Alliance.{{cite web | url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=6016168952 | title=AllVid Tech Company Alliance | publisher=FCC | date=February 16, 2011 | access-date=2011-02-18}} This group works to support implementation of the AllVid standard and specifically addresses issues raised by the National Cable Television Association (NCTA). Alliance members include:

Successor proposals

=Unlock The Box=

In January 2016, FCC chairman Tom Wheeler proposed rulemaking to "unlock the set-top box"{{cite web|title=FCC Proposal to Unlock the Set-Top Box|url=https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-proposal-unlock-set-top-box|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=27 January 2017|date=27 January 2016}} and the FCC voted to move forward with the proposal in February 2016. Critics claimed that this proposal was essentially AllVid which Wheeler refuted.{{cite web|title=Tom Wheeler fires back at cable lobby, says cable box fees are too high|url=https://arstechnica.com/business/2016/01/tom-wheeler-fires-back-at-cable-lobby-says-cable-box-fees-are-too-high/|website=Ars Technica|access-date=27 January 2017|date=28 January 2016}} The FCC never had a vote to adopt the proposal because Wheeler could not get a majority of commissioners to support it.{{cite web|title=FCC Cancels "Unlock the Box" Vote|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/21560-fcc-cancels-unlock-box-vote|website=Inverse|access-date=27 January 2017|date=29 September 2016}} In September 2020 the FCC closed the navigation device proceeding and eliminates CableCARD support and reporting requirements.{{cite web|title=FCC Closes Navigation Device Proceeding|url=https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-closes-navigation-device-proceeding|date=4 September 2020|access-date=26 December 2021}}{{Federal Register|85|78237}}, 4 December 2020

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?name=10-91 In the Matter of Video Device Competition] (Proceeding 10-91) on the Electronic Comment Filing System from the FCC

{{Federal Communications Commission}}

{{North American DTV}}

Category:Digital rights management standards

Category:Federal Communications Commission

Category:Cable television technology

Category:Set-top box