RVU protocol
Encyclopedia
The RVU protocol is an Application Layer
protocol, that combines the pre-existing Digital Living Network Alliance
(DLNA) standards and a new Remote User Interface (RUI) protocol, which works similar to Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
. The RVU RUI protocol is intended to allow an RVU-enabled client, such as a TV, to receive a pixel-accurate display of the user interface
available on an RVU server.
RVU, combined with DLNA's ability to transmit media (video, photos and music) across a home network, allows for the entire user experience of a media server to be transmitted to an RVU client, makes the user interface available via the RUI protocol while all processing is being done by the server software and plug-ins happen at the host computer; only the user interface is streamed to the client devices. The protocol is primarily intended to operate over a home network
. The RVU protocol has been developed with a focus on passing broadcast video coming from a multichannel video programming distributor
through a residential gateway
or dedicated media server
to other consumer electronic devices in the home. However the protocol has a much broader applications that just this.
throughout the home, without requiring the use of a dedicated set-top box for each television. The RVU Protocol is a communications protocol which runs on a media server device and multiple client devices. RVU
uses open standards (including DLNA and UPnP) which are already in use in the consumer electronics field.
The clients can consist of various manufacturer-branded TVs, Blu-ray players or other client devices. The server generates the user guide and other data and sends this for the client to display. In this way the clients can be low complexity or "thin" client devices, while still providing a full user interface experience to the user. Once an RVU
compliant device is connected to an RVU
server, the TV viewer can watch the same or different content from any room of the home. Viewers can access the same prerecorded or live content from the server via the client device as if a set-top box were present, with the same user guide experience.
RVU supports networking on existing home infrastructure, but is agnostic to the transport mechanism and can work on wireless
technologies such as 802.11 or wired technologies such as Ethernet
or MoCA
.
RVU supports a Remote User Interface (RUI) that allows user interactions such as trick play (e.g., pause and rewind) and the running of interactive applications.
As such, the device can render the interface even though the media center specific software (or the plug-ins) might not be installed there. However, the media files are streamed over a different protocol
. To render the media, the Extender needs to have an implementation of the codec
used to package the media locally installed on the client which works as an extender
; having the codec on the host computer is not enough. Alternatively media can be trans-coded on the fly by the host computer to a codec that is supported by the client.
The specification is in large part dependent on the DLNA specification.
The specification uses DTCP/IP as "link protection" for copyright-protected commercial content between one device to another.
Devices will be subject to certification by the RVU Alliance
. Certification procedures are under development by the RVU Alliance
.
Application layer
The Internet protocol suite and the Open Systems Interconnection model of computer networking each specify a group of protocols and methods identified by the name application layer....
protocol, that combines the pre-existing Digital Living Network Alliance
Digital Living Network Alliance
The Digital Living Network Alliance is a non-profit collaborative trade organization established by Sony in June 2003, and has more than 250 member companies in the mobile, consumer electronics, PC, and service provider industries...
(DLNA) standards and a new Remote User Interface (RUI) protocol, which works similar to Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
Remote Desktop Protocol
Remote Desktop Protocol is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft, which provides a user with a graphical interface to another computer. The protocol is an extension of the ITU-T T.128 application sharing protocol. Clients exist for most versions of Microsoft Windows , Linux, Unix, Mac OS...
. The RVU RUI protocol is intended to allow an RVU-enabled client, such as a TV, to receive a pixel-accurate display of the user interface
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
available on an RVU server.
RVU, combined with DLNA's ability to transmit media (video, photos and music) across a home network, allows for the entire user experience of a media server to be transmitted to an RVU client, makes the user interface available via the RUI protocol while all processing is being done by the server software and plug-ins happen at the host computer; only the user interface is streamed to the client devices. The protocol is primarily intended to operate over a home network
Home network
A home network or home area network is a residential local area network . It is used for communication between digital devices typically deployed in the home, usually a small number of personal computers and accessories, such as printers and mobile computing devices...
. The RVU protocol has been developed with a focus on passing broadcast video coming from a multichannel video programming distributor
Multichannel Video Programming Distributor
A multichannel video programming distributor is a service provider delivering video programming services, usually for a subscription fee...
through a residential gateway
Residential gateway
A residential gateway is a home networking device, used as a gateway to connect devices in the home to the Internet or other WAN.It is an umbrella term, used to cover multi-function networking computer appliances used in homes, which may combine a DSL or cable modem, a firewall, a consumer-grade...
or dedicated media server
Media Server
A media server refers either to a dedicated computer appliance or to a specialized application software, ranging from an enterprise class machine providing video on demand, to, more commonly, a small personal computer or NAS for the home, dedicated for storing various digital media .-Purpose:By...
to other consumer electronic devices in the home. However the protocol has a much broader applications that just this.
Overview
The RVU Protocol was defined to solve the problem of how to provide a consistent television user interfaceUser interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
throughout the home, without requiring the use of a dedicated set-top box for each television. The RVU Protocol is a communications protocol which runs on a media server device and multiple client devices. RVU
RVU
RVU may refer to:* Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine* RVU Alliance* RVU protocol* Relative Value Units in healthcare management systems, specifically Medicare* Radio Volks Universiteit, now merged into Omroep NTR...
uses open standards (including DLNA and UPnP) which are already in use in the consumer electronics field.
The clients can consist of various manufacturer-branded TVs, Blu-ray players or other client devices. The server generates the user guide and other data and sends this for the client to display. In this way the clients can be low complexity or "thin" client devices, while still providing a full user interface experience to the user. Once an RVU
RVU
RVU may refer to:* Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine* RVU Alliance* RVU protocol* Relative Value Units in healthcare management systems, specifically Medicare* Radio Volks Universiteit, now merged into Omroep NTR...
compliant device is connected to an RVU
RVU
RVU may refer to:* Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine* RVU Alliance* RVU protocol* Relative Value Units in healthcare management systems, specifically Medicare* Radio Volks Universiteit, now merged into Omroep NTR...
server, the TV viewer can watch the same or different content from any room of the home. Viewers can access the same prerecorded or live content from the server via the client device as if a set-top box were present, with the same user guide experience.
RVU supports networking on existing home infrastructure, but is agnostic to the transport mechanism and can work on wireless
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
technologies such as 802.11 or wired technologies such as Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
or MoCA
MOCA
-Museums:* Museum of Chinese in America, a museum in New York City which exhibits Chinese American history* Museum of Contemporary Art , any of several museums with this title...
.
RVU supports a Remote User Interface (RUI) that allows user interactions such as trick play (e.g., pause and rewind) and the running of interactive applications.
As such, the device can render the interface even though the media center specific software (or the plug-ins) might not be installed there. However, the media files are streamed over a different protocol
Communications protocol
A communications protocol is a system of digital message formats and rules for exchanging those messages in or between computing systems and in telecommunications...
. To render the media, the Extender needs to have an implementation of the codec
Codec
A codec is a device or computer program capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream or signal. The word codec is a portmanteau of "compressor-decompressor" or, more commonly, "coder-decoder"...
used to package the media locally installed on the client which works as an extender
Windows Media Center Extender
Windows Media Center Extenders are devices that are configured to connect via a Network link to a computer running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium/Ultimate or Windows 7 Home Premium or higher to stream the computer's media center functions to the Extender device...
; having the codec on the host computer is not enough. Alternatively media can be trans-coded on the fly by the host computer to a codec that is supported by the client.
Specification
The RVU Protocol specification V1.0 is currently ratified by the board and available to members for implementation.The specification is in large part dependent on the DLNA specification.
The specification uses DTCP/IP as "link protection" for copyright-protected commercial content between one device to another.
Certification
RVU certificationDevices will be subject to certification by the RVU Alliance
RVU Alliance
The RVU Alliance is a standards body created to manage the RVU protocol standard as used by manufacturers of consumer electronics to allow entertainment devices within the home to share their content with each other across a home network.-Overview:...
. Certification procedures are under development by the RVU Alliance
RVU Alliance
The RVU Alliance is a standards body created to manage the RVU protocol standard as used by manufacturers of consumer electronics to allow entertainment devices within the home to share their content with each other across a home network.-Overview:...
.
See also
- AllVidAllVidAllVid is a CableCARD replacement proposed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission . The AllVid hardware would act as a universal adapter for all types of pay TV content, delivered through a wide variety of means, including cable TV, satellite TV, VDSL, IPTV, and Internet TV.-Design:The FCC...
- FCCFederal Communications CommissionThe Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
effort to create an industry wide mandated standard similar to RVU - Media Center Extenders (MCX)Windows Media Center ExtenderWindows Media Center Extenders are devices that are configured to connect via a Network link to a computer running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium/Ultimate or Windows 7 Home Premium or higher to stream the computer's media center functions to the Extender device...
software makes the user interface available via the RDP protocol, all processing done by the MCE software and plug-ins happen at the host computer; only the user interface is streamed to the MCX devices (officially "Extender for Windows Media Center")