Linked iSuite HbbTV moves towards hybrid television

The Ligada testing tool from Digital TV Labs makes it easy to integrate with the Opera HbbTV browser.

Digital TV Labs has announced that it is working in collaboration with web browser provider Opera to provide CE-marked manufacturers with quick and easy integration of the company's new technology into compatible browsers for HbbTV.

As part of its offering, Opera has developed HbbTV compatibility with two other companies, working together to ensure that CE marked manufacturers can integrate the technology correctly. Now those CE marked manufacturers who have licensed Opera will be able to purchase Digital TV Labs' Ligada iSuite HbbTV testing tool to ensure a fast path to market by complying with HbbTV's interim logo policy.

Keith Potter, president of Digital TV Labs, noted that "the cooperation between the teams of the two companies has meant that now CE marked manufacturers of all types of products will be able to reach the market sooner. The Ligada tool can be used to resolve integration issues quickly, thus avoiding the interoperability problems that exist in the sector. Once again, the idea has been to be able to carry out a successful and seamless launch of the standard and thus achieve a positive experience for the consumer."

The Ligada iSuite HbbTV testing tool – a test harness consisting of test suites and a server for their operation – supports the preliminary HbbTV Test Suite, which will be ready for release in October this year. The latest version of Ligada automates many processes through integrated JavaScript API support, IR Blaster control, power cycle control and video screenshot interface. With its intuitive user interface and the integration of HbbTV test cases linked to HbbTV test assertions, Ligada significantly increases development productivity. Ligada fully supports DVB-T/C/S HbbTV receivers.

Digital TV Labs is a very active member of the HbbTV Consortium and is the largest contributor of test cases, having performed almost half of the official test suite to date.