Virgin Media Middleware

[JohnnieW]

Does anyone know what middleware Virgin Media use on their set top boxes?

I know Sky use OpenTV, but can't find any info for Virgin.

Thanks in advance!
J

[nn012]

I think it's Liberate cr3 or code release 3, Liberate is owned by SeaChange International who also provide VM their VOD servers.

Liberate Technologies provides server software and middleware for interactive television services and was a pioneering proponent of the use of HTML and Java in this context.
Liberate TV Navigator Standard middleware has been adopted by cable operators ntl and Telewest in the UK. This essentially provides a client-server system based on internet standards, enabling developers to produce applications and content using a limited version of HTML together with Javascript including custom extensions to support interactive television.
Authoring applications for this platform employs similar skills to web development. A key potential advantage of the cable platform is the ability to request content on-demand out-of band using standard internet protocols, enabling access to comprehensive information services. It is also possible to broadcast applications and data in-band as part of the broadcast signal to produce enhanced and multistream services comparable to other platforms.
The Liberate software platform consists of server software to transcode XML or HTML content and a Mediacast server to carousel broadcast data. Client browser software in the set-top box renders applications to the screen and manages user interaction.
Liberate has also developed software compatible with MHP and OCAP to provide an incremental migration path to these standards. This upwardly compatible approach will enable content created in HTML or using Java to run on both low-end set-top boxes and more sophisticated MHP and OCAP devices.

I wish VM would change to OpenTV though.

[Horizon]

Ten year old crappy Liberate software. I wish they'd change it too...One can only hope.

[sammyjayuk]

I proudly present to you... (give it a minute) the slow... (it's always like this) the ancient... (no Mavis, you need two sticks, remember?) and generally craptastic Liberate TV Navigator! [pause for applause...]

Who said you couldn't build a 21st century, next generation TV platform on HTML 3.2? You want it to be fast, you say? What were you smoking when you wanted CSS? And what species of toad were you licking to make stability seem like a good idea?!

No, no, no - you want the very best that Liberate Technologies have to offer! Our platform may be crap, but we're not telling *you* that, and we're certainly not telling anyone that were going to go bankrupt in a few years!

C'mon! Vendor lock-in isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be, it's actually rather cosy here in our own little world...

Sam

---------- Post added at 19:08 ---------- Previous post was at 19:00 ----------

Liberate has also developed software compatible with MHP and OCAP to provide an incremental migration path to these standards. This upwardly compatible approach will enable content created in HTML or using Java to run on both low-end set-top boxes and more sophisticated MHP and OCAP devices.

That's immensely interesting - where did you find it, nn012? If I'm understanding it correctly, it would allow VM to transition to MHP while still allowing the old Liberate HTML apps to run.

Oh wait, this is VM we're talking about here, so...

Sam

[JohnnieW]

Thanks for the info!

[jaycee]

Yep it's Liberate running on the VxWorks kernel
The old Pace boxes had Hitachi SH4 processors, the newer Samsungs etc have ARM based ones.