Samsung Shows Tru2way Technologies

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 5/19/2008

New Orleans — Samsung said today it is now offering its high-definition DVR equipped with a Tru2way bi-directional CableCARD slot.

The SMT-3090 DVR, which is being demonstrated at the National Cable & Telecommunication’s Association show CableNET, held here through May 19, will work with cable systems, whose operators are supporting the technology. The Tru2way platform, which was based on the OpenCable initiative, will bring interactive bi-directionality to equipment in consumer’s homes enabling communication back to the cable operator to perform such functions as ordering and authorizing pay-per-view and video-on-demand services with a remote control, or engaging in such future applications as direct shopping from TV programs or engaging in live opinion polls.

Samsung estimates that services supporting Tru2way will pass more than 90 million U.S. homes by the end of 2008.

The SMT-3090 includes two HD tuners capable of decoding MPEG-2, H.264, VC-1 and AC-3 content, and a 160GB hard drive that can store up to 20 hours of HD content. A Multistream CableCARD, capable of decrypting and decoding two simultaneous cable streams, is supported by a built-in DSG modem for DOCSIS support.

Samsung is also showing a Tru2way set-top box with Downloadable Conditional Access Security (DCAS) functionality with the capability to download secure client software from a DCAS cable head end and store it to the secure microchip embedded in the set-top box, Samsung said. The box can decrypt an encrypted video stream with a matched CAS key.

Other technology demos include a Tru2way set-top box with DPI functionality — in communication with the head end, the decision engine and switch engine direct targeted ads based on viewing patterns; a Tru2way client with Web extension allowing support of blended services including broadcast and Web content; and a Tru2way LCD TV with built-in Multistream CableCARD support.