DSM-CC

Digital storage media command and control (DSM-CC) is a toolkit for the development of open application service control protocols for MPEG-2 Transport Streams, as used in the delivery of multimedia services. It is defined in Part 6 of the MPEG-2 Standard, (ISO-13818-6: Extensions for DSM-CC), and uses a client/server model connected via an underlying network (carried via the MPEG-2 multiplex or independently if needed).

Having open protocols for multimedia broadband services is paramount towards providing universal interoperability between the systems used by service providers and those used in the home by consumers -- without such, each delivered service would require its own interface for reception purposes; whereas with such, different types of appliances (set top boxes, PCs or other networked informational equipment) can access multiple services from multiple service providers. Consequently, a set of open protocols is also an essential factor towards the widespread adoption and deployment of multimedia braodband services to the home.

As there are many different aspects of broadband service delivery, the DSM-CC standard/toolkit actually defines or extends five distinct protocols:

• User-User
• User-Network
• MPEG transport profiles
• Download - within which contains several varitaions, including the Object Carousel Protocol
• Switched Digital Broadcast-Channel Change Protocol

External Links

• Wikipedia's DSM-CC article