scope:

This Recommendation defines functional requirements for the advanced cable set-top box to enable cable television operators to provide advanced services to their subscribers. The advanced cable set-top box is intended to apply to cable television operators' service provision, where many types of access network technologies have been recently introduced, e.g. HFC, PON, RFoG. Cable television operators have a capability of providing both broadcasting and interactivity over its own network originally intended to distribute broadcasting television programs, and the advanced cable set-top box is a core device for the delivery of attractive advanced services.

Functionalities to be implemented in the head-end systems of cable television operators are outside the scope of this Recommendation.

The advanced cable set-top box is primarily equipped with reception functionalities for broadcasting services and IP-based interactive services. In addition, the STB performs as an interface device between cable television access networks and in-home network devices by being equipped with wireless LAN and IP routing capabilities.

In this Recommendation, portal screen support and application software plug-ins capability are also required to the STB to allow cable television operators to provide various types of services to their subscribers not only from their own service delivery platforms but also from other 3rd parties' platforms interconnected to cable operators' platforms.