The "BBTSolution™" For Cable Television Distribution

The primary objective in developing the BBTSolution was to create a cost-effective, forward-looking design that would allow the cable industry, from the smallest to the largest operator, to secure video product transmitted into customer's homes and at the same time be flexible enough to deal both with anticipated security challenges and be capable of accommodating new technical advances. The BBTSolution accomplishes this through several alternative options offered to the cable operator.

The core of the BBTSolution is a secure microchip incorporated into cable set-top boxes. This microchip works in tandem with an "SOC".. a set top on a chip.. allowing the cable operator, from the individual headend, if so desired, to have total control over self-selected conditional access systems that are fully downloadable to the secure microchip. As noted in our Technical White Paper, one of the key, patent pending aspects of the downloadable security system is that it does not rely on a "trusted authority." Thus, security is totally in the control of the user. This, in turn, guarantees that any potential for a security breach can be quickly circumvented by downloading new CA codes at any time. The BBTSolution security design is platform agnostic. It works in a QAM, QPSK, IP or any other distribution mode. It can also be incorporated into a television set, computer, DVR, portable USB device or any other connectivity medium as well as a set top box.
Cable set top boxes incorporating the BBTSolution secure microchip are already in manufacture and are commercially available Contact Us. A fully functioning cable headend using the BBTSolution and feeding live programming is operational at the cable industry's research and development consortium, CableLabs. The currently available boxes can function in MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 transport mode, as well as using both QAM and IP.
Associated headend equipment to provide fully secure video product received via satellite designed to work with the BBTSolution is in commercial production.
BBT, in partnership with satellite transport provider Avail/TVN has arranged for pre-coded, secure satellite delivery availability of over 150 of the most popular channels of cable programming. This partnership and delivery mechanism allows for full control and security from a cable headend without the need for extensive signal processing at the headend, thus eliminating significant cost factors for cable operators. A fully functioning cable headend using this transport can cost less than one-tenth that of current traditional headends. Again, this fully functional system/transport combination is already operational, and on display at CableLabs.
BBT has committed to the FCC that its open standard downloadable security (OSDS™) system will be available to any manufacturer on a non-discriminatory basis. The Commission has stated in a Public Notice (see FCC Public Notice) that set top boxes incorporating this system comply with its "separable security" rules. Multiple set top box manufacturers are currently working with BBT to develop competitive set top box offerings.i