Multi-User Interactive TV: the Next Step in Personalization

In the past few years there has been an increasing trend towards personalization in the TV world. IMS-based IPTV is a good example of a highly personalized IPTV architecture, featuring an advanced identity management subsystem. This article studies a next step in the personalization of the television experience: concurrent use of TV services that are supported by the IMSbased IPTV system. That is, multiple users using the same television set at the same or at different times, where each user as personalized interaction with the service and content. Our analysis of IMS-based IPTV use cases shows that current architectures were not designed with concurrent use in mind. However, we demonstrate that the combination of concurrent use and personalized TV services can yield interesting and viable use cases in the areas of interactive game shows, personalized electronic program guides and channel lists, and other. Finally, an analysis of the IMS-based IPTV system and architecture shows that it has all the ingredients to implement these new concurrent TV use cases, and that the main challenges will be in the area of usability. The article concludes that personalization and concurrency are not contradictory for television services, neither from a use case perspective, nor technologically. In particular, the IMS-based IPTV system is able to facilitate an enhanced and personalized experience to concurrent TV users

COSNET-a coherent optical subscriber network

A complete coherent multichannel system, designed for application in the local loop, is presented. The concept of a uni- and bidirectional system and its technical realization in a laboratory demonstrator are described. The network control, including frequency management of the bidirectional channels, and network security are discussed. Attention is paid to the scenario for evolution from a narrowband to a complete broadband system. All aspects are integrated in a demonstrator, which is capable of supporting a large number of narrowband and broadband distributive and communicative services. Novel technical solutions for frequency management, data induced polarization switching (DIPS), high-speed encryption, and network signaling are presented

Towards personalized TV for concurrent use; challenges and opportunities for IMS-based IPTV

As TV is becoming increasingly personalized, its\ud focus has become more and more on single individual users. In this article we propose a new form of personalized TV services; personalized TV services for multiple concurrent users of the same television. We will present a number of novel use cases that fall in this category. IMS-based IPTV seems a good architecture to implement these new services on since it is based around an established service oriented infrastructure called IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) which features an advanced identity management framework. We will demonstrate that up until now, concurrent use has not been taken into account in IMS-based IPTV. This results in a number of challenges, particularly in the areas of identification and authentication. With a new authentication method we will present in this article, called RFID Digest, we introduce a possible solution to these issues. This new authentication method is integrated in a multi-user TV prototype that allows multiple users to simultaneously enjoy personalized services together on the same TV. The article concludes that the area of personalization for concurrent use offers possibilities for\ud new TV services to distinguish themselves

Towards European standards for quantum technologies

The Second Quantum Revolution facilitates the engineering of new classes of sensors, communication technologies, and computers with unprecedented capabilities. Supply chains for quantum technologies are emerging, some focused on commercially available components for enabling technologies and/or quantum-technologies research infrastructures, others with already higher technology-readiness levels, near to the market.In 2018, the European Commission has launched its large-scale and long-term Quantum Flagship research initiative to support and foster the creation and development of a competitive European quantum technologies industry, as well as the consolidation and expansion of leadership and excellence in European quantum technology research. One of the measures to achieve an accelerated development and uptake has been identified by the Quantum Flagship in its Strategic Research Agenda: The promotion of coordinated, dedicated standardisation and certification efforts.Standardisation is indeed of paramount importance to facilitate the growth of new technologies, and the development of efficient and effective supply chains. The harmonisation of technologies, methodologies, and interfaces enables interoperable products, innovation, and competition, all leading to structuring and hence growth of markets. As quantum technologies mature, the time has come to start thinking about further standardisation needs.This article presents insights on standardisation for quantum technologies from the perspective of the CEN-CENELEC Focus Group on Quantum Technologies (FGQT), which was established in June 2020 to coordinate and support the development of standards relevant for European industry and research