Secure | Enable | Interact NDS


Converge
     your services

The NDS Unified Gateway™ is a new solution for two-way network operators looking to stay competitive with a next generation platform. It enables operators to offer triple-play services using a single operator-managed gateway device.

The Unified Gateway brings together leading pay-TV technology from NDS and Jungo, an NDS subsidiary and market leader in residential gateway software solutions. The Unified Gateway provides home network connectivity to support a wide range of IP enabled entertainment and communication devices.

Manage the home-network from one device

As consumers look for more ways to get their entertainment, communications technology continues to advance and the competition is getting more intense. Service providers are looking for new ways to streamline their operation while delivering and managing their services on multiple devices.



But deploying operator-subsidised consumer premises equipment (CPE) can become prohibitively expensive. And offering single services to consumers on separate devices eliminates the benefits of shared back-end management and billing systems.

The Unified Gateway integrates residential gateway, home networking connectivity and optional DVR through a single home-based device. For today's operators offering triple- and quad-play services, including video, data and voice, the Unified Gateway significantly
reduces CAPEX hardware costs because subscribers can connect their own devices to receive operator services.

Now Cable, Telco, or even Hybrid Satellite operators can provide these converged services through a single Gateway platform to multiple IP-enabled devices provided by the operator or
owned by the subscriber.


One
   user experience

With the Unified Gateway, users can access voice, data and video services on a combination of IP devices; including IP STBs, connected TVs, PCs, tablets or smartphones.

Subscribers can access media supplied through
the operator's managed network or Over-The-
Top (OTT). And because their devices are connected to a single home network, the operator can provide a common branded user interface (UI) for a consistent user experience across all operator services.

Share content between devices

Devices connected to the Unified Gateway, or
accessing remotely outside the home, can be
used to benefit from a wide range of operator
services. These include linear TV, VOD, Switch Digital Video (SDV), and multi-room DVR (client or network based). Users can pause/resume, book and record events from any device.


 

 

 

 



 

 

 



Remote UI for a common look and feel on all devices


Play, resume or book content from any device

 

 

 

 

 

Convenient and secure

The NDS Unified Gateway connects to many diverse CE devices using a wide range of networking protocols. This requires a robust security solution to ensure that operator services and business rules cannot be bypassed. At the same time, it needs to protect the home from cyber attacks that could expose personal information to unauthorised access. Comprehensive headend management and VideoGuard Connect™ DRM control for multiclient services include:

  • Service and content protection
  • Domain management for subscribers and their devices
  • Identity management enabling access remotely
  • Common rights language for business management
  • Protect the home network with: data security, firewall, VPN, and wireless security

Streamline your
   business and reduce costs

The Unified Gateway opens up many other service opportunities that enhance the user experience, strengthen subscriber loyalty and generate additional revenues.

You no longer need separate management infrastructures for each new device you introduce. Besides reducing costs, this brings added operational benefits to your business and subscribers:

Common workflows: Processes that were previously performed "per device", such as registration, digital rights management (DRM), billing, emergency alerts and remote diagnostics, are all managed via network-based interfaces. This reduces customer support costs and helps to streamline your operation.


 Remotely monitor gateway and connected devices in the user's home-network

Simple connection: All end-user devices, whether operator-managed or off-the-shelf retail, can be easily connected to the Unified Gateway. This encourages users to connect their own devices, reducing their dependency on your platform's hardware to help keep your own CAPEX costs to a minimum.

Remote monitoring reduces service costs: You can remotely monitor the home network and gather information about all connected devices for diagnosing any problems and fixing them before they affect services. With all devices inter-connected via the gateway, you can even provide self-help, maintenance and upgrades remotely. This helps reduce customer call duration and call-out costs.



Unified content and metadata management: Using any connected device, your subscribers can access a wide range of metadata dependant services such as content searches, TV listings, VOD catalogs and recommendations. They can even access related Web-based information such as actor bios and director cuts. For sports events, channels can offer users catch-up services showing highlights from a game they may have missed.


Much more
   than just triple-play

Unlike the traditional service silos common in today's networks, the Unified Gateway lets you centrally manage all user devices connected to a single point in the home.

Personal and contextual widgets: Using the NDS Service Delivery Platform (SDP), operators and their development partners can create a range of personal and contextual interactive widgets as part of a managed widget store. Examples include:

  • Local info services, games, betting and more
  • Searching and linking to content on video sites such as YouTube
  • Social TV widgets for users to interact with each other and recommend content to other users in the home and beyond

Home Automation: Users can connect cameras and other home surveillance equipment to the Unified Gateway for an integrated home security service. They can also link up with eco-friendly energy management services to control and measure energy consumption from any device inside or outside the home.

 

Remote Home Management: With home widgets integrated into the operator's portal, users can securely access the home network to change settings, set service levels for home users and reset passwords. They can also search for content saved in the network or on
network attached storage (NAS) devices.

NationZone: Using the Unified Gateway's wireless access point, you can create a commercial wireless access network without compromising the functionality or privacy of your subscribers' own home networks.


 Monitor home energy consumption

 

Addressable advertising: Measure audience viewing habits and then push ads and promotions, based on their profile, to Unified Gateway storage. When users start watching, they will see ads that are more relevant to them and enhance the value of your advertising platform.

Connectivity: Leveraging the connectivity of communication devices within the home, users may use an audio or video conference application while watching their favorite movies on big screen and small screen alike. They can even pause temporarily to take a call based on Caller-ID application.


Integrate user widgets into the operator portal


Benefit from our
     resources and experience


When it comes to pay-TV, no one
can match NDS' reputation and
proven results.

  • 206 million cumulative NDS middleware
    deployments
  • Jungo software powers over 34 million devices, over a quarter of the world's gateways
  • UI designs in more than 20 languages and
    enjoyed by over 150 million users
  • The world's most popular DVR software used in more than 45 million devices
  • Industry leading CA and DRM technology deployed in 114 million pay-TV households.

NDS believes that by separating hardware from software, operators get best-of-breed solutions without being tied to any single vendor. That is why the Unified Gateway easily integrates with leading gateway hardware platforms.

To learn more about how the Unified Gateway can help your multi-device platform keep pace
with the dynamically changing marketplace, visit the Web page or contact us.





NDS Customers Worldwide