The DVB consortium has released an updated version of the DVB-I service discovery specification, accompanied by a new set of implementation guidelines.
The latest release, BlueBook A177r5, introduces a new interoperability point that aligns technical and operational features with ongoing trial activities in Italy and Germany. The addition is crucial in preventing market fragmentation and facilitating the adoption of DVB-I in different regions.
Insight from the Italian and German trials have also contributed to bug fixes and clarifications incorporated into the specification.
Notable features in A177r5 include the capability to indicate the relative prominence of a service, allowing for differentiation of services of general interest, in compliance with the European Union’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). Additionally, the update introduces parameters to support direct satellite tuning without the need for scanning.
To address operational interoperability concerns raised regarding the DVB-I specification, a separate set of implementation guidelines has been created. Published as DVB BlueBook A184, these guidelines draw on inputs from activities in Italy and Germany, as well as contributions from the open DVB-I Forum.
The implementation guidelines cover various topics, including the interface between the DVB-I client and the DVB-DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) player, recommendations for managing multiple service lists, procedures for service installation, and interpretation of programme schedules.
