Objective The objective of the SETBIS project has been the provision of tools in order to assess the user acceptance of interactive services on demand and broadband communication by application-driven pilot projects.The results of such acceptance tests are crucial to the success of the introduction of the interactive services on demand, the selection of the technology, giving the user access to the services, and for the decision of product development.To provide such acceptance test tools, a high-performance set top box for interactive services on demand and broadband communication has been specified and realised. It provides access to multiplexed, encoded digital audio/video signals and data, handles user input by the remote control unit and user output via text and graphics on the TV screen for navigation purposes. Security aspects are supported as well as fast response times.The result of this project represents a major advance in relation to the current state of the art in terminal development. Considering the broad consumer market for entertainment and education, major players in industry will be involved in this field, having already indicated their future engagement.The tools to evaluate the user acceptance for interactive services on demand and broadband communication are measurable objectives in terms of full availability of parameters required for acceptance tests and of the performance-to-cost ratio at low absolute costs.The set top box, as high-performance tool for user acceptance tests, puts the user and his/her interest at the focal point of telecommunication developments.The set top box has been integrated into the corresponding test environment, which is a comprehensive lab test system for interactive services on demand.The Set Top Box for interactive services on demand, is one part of a common multimedia services pilot system. The complementary parts which are delivered by the ACTS project OPARISoD, constitute an associated media server, a media switching centre and a user access network. The multimedia services pilot system aims at initiating the usage of interactive multimedia services, such as interactive video on demand, telelearning, teleshopping, teleinformation on demand or telecooperation.Expected ImpactThe vision of broadband communication and interactive services in all areas of private and business applications is spreading more and more. Considering a world-wide market for telecommunication equipment of ECU 82 bn and of ECU 26 bn at the level of the European Community with an estimated annual increase of 4 %, the sector of terminals will contribute with a significant share. Thus, development of the entire multimedia market bears a great potential for new employment, also contributing to improve the living standard in all European countries. This has to be considered when assessing the relevance of providing tools for the acceptance of user equipment and services.Appropriately designed communication services and equipment are essential to improve social coherence in contrast to supporting isolation. The ultimate goal is not only to make the user a promoter of advanced technology, but certainly the improvement of the way of living in European countries. To test all these effects, acceptance tests for such new services and the necessary tools are mandatory.Technical ApproachThe technical approach consists of two major phases, an analytic and a constructive phase.In the launching phase of the project, the research environment of concurrent activities has been investigated. Requirements to the set top box for interactive services are carefully specified. The following issues are of special interest.Analysis of the prospected and already achieved results of related activities in current European R&D projectsHarmonisation of project objectives and activities with related R&D projects.Analysis of relevant available and emerging standards related to the provision of the set top box as tool for acceptance tests on interactive services on demandAnalysis of the requirements to the set top box according to functionality of growing complexity, i.e. ranging from TV distribution to full interactivelyDefinition of key hardware and software modules of the set top boxAnalysis of the most efficient distribution of computation power and memory capacities among server and set top boxAnalysis of the requirements to hardware/software interfaces, communication links (protocols, signalling), electronic program guide and user interfaceAnalysis of the gradual extension of the requirements to hardware/software interfaces along with the evolution of standards, network capabilities and demonstration platform availability, e.g. with the migration from DVB to broadband communication and the evolution of the DAVIC specification.Update of specifications in terms of evolution of the return channelAnalysis of key parameters for acceptance tests as recorded via the set top boxThe following topics are relevant for the technical approach during the realisation phase.Construction of set top box prototype with special emphasis on low-cost hardware for acceptance tests of servicesOptimisation of set top box functionality according to the results of acceptance testsProposal for an economically viable set top box solutionFinally, the tools listed below will be created to evaluate the results gained in this project.Tool to evaluate results of acceptance tests, thereby validating the chosen technical approachCatalogue of criteria for signal processing and service presentation quality as well as for realtime requirementsKey Issuesrealisation of a Set Top Box for fully interactive servicesto profit from the results of the acceptance tests for future product developmentto test the compliance with corresponding equipment and related services in other European trials on interactive services on demand. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwareengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsignal processingsocial scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementemployment Programme(s) FP4-ACTS - Specific programme of research, technological development and demonstration in the area of advanced communications technologies and services, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 1 - Multimedia services Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator ALCATEL SEL AG EU contribution No data Address LORENZSTRASSE 10 70435 STUTTGART Germany See on map Total cost No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Kaufhof Holding AG Germany EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data Sony United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data Teletel Greece EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data
