CableLabs (News - Alert) and Canoe Ventures have successfully completed and issued the latest Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format, or “EBIF,” specification. This EBIF is developed in order to cater to the emerging requirements that are tiptoeing into the interactive television markets.

 

The new version of this EBIF specification is marked as IO6 and is stated to bring enhancements in areas like EBIF-enhanced programming, advertising and applications.

 

EBIF is a multimedia content format defined by a specification developed under the OpenCable project of CableLabs. The primary purpose of the EBIF content format is to represent an optimized collection of widget and byte code specifications that define one or more multimedia pages, similar to web pages, but specialized for use within an enhanced television or interactive television system.

 

According to officials, cable operators can use digital set-top boxes to implement the latest EBIF IO6 version. The EBIF IO6 supports applications like TV widgets enabled with Caller ID on TV, sports/news tickers, new customer service and Guide extension applications. It supports time-shifted applications running using MSO Guide and allows Ads programs to be set to vary based on the customer privacy. On top of all EBIF exhibits support for animation features, new audio resources, selector widget enhancements, application permissions and resource management for well-behaved applications.

 

Officials with both CableLabs and Canoe Ventures are pleased to see this latest version of EBIF specification and have acknowledged that the EBIF IO6 is a significant passage in the evolution of enhanced television technology.

 

CTO of Comcast (News - Alert) Cable, Tony Werner, has said that this new EBIF IO6 is critical to ensuring a continuously expanding and valuable range of interactive television offerings across Comcast’s systems. 

 

And, CTO of Time Warner (News - Alert) Cable, Mike LaJoie, said that they support the EBIF standard, and have been awaiting the creation of EBIF IO6, which was developed to meet the market needs of Time Warner Cable and other MSOs. 

 

Recently CableLabs announced DOCSIS 3.0 certification and expanded support for development of 3D TV technology.