Press Release | ATIS Creates Solution to Securely Authenticate Devices and Subscribers Across IPTV Networks

	ATIS 1200 G Street, NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005 www.atis.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 25, 2011	Contact: Marcella Wolfe Manager, Public Relations & Marketing Communications Phone: 202-434-8851 Email: mwolfe@atis.org

ATIS Creates Solution to Securely Authenticate Devices and
Subscribers Across IPTV Networks

WASHINGTON — ATIS today released a solution to securely identify and authenticate computers, TVs and other devices for connection into IPTV networks to enable video and other multimedia content to flow freely to users wherever they want it on the device of their choice.

“This solution enables IPTV services to reach across multiple networks and expand to wireless devices,” said Susan Miller, ATIS President and CEO. “Identifying and authenticating individual devices is an important evolutionary step toward delivering high-quality video and other multimedia products to consumers at home, at work or on the go.”

The new specification provides the format and syntax to create a globally unique device identifier, as well as a device and subscriber authentication mechanism for each device to enable it to connect securely to different parts of IPTV networks. As the business paradigm shifts from single-device static users to multi-device mobile users, this capability is essential as it helps to more accurately define the roles and rights associated with each device.

Developed by ATIS’ IPTV Interoperability Forum (IIF), the specification utilizes Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) Subscriber-Bound Transport Layer Security, a new authentication architecture that binds subscribers to devices using strong cryptography. The authentication process between the receiving device/subscriber and the IPTV’s authorizing servers is explained in IPTV Device Identity and Device and Subscriber Authentication Interoperability Specification (ATIS-0800037). This document is available through the ATIS Document Center at: http://www.atis.org/docstore/product.aspx?id=26040.

The IIF also has released several new reports for the interoperability of key components of IPTV architecture, including:

Scenarios for ATIS IIF IPTV Interoperability Testing (ATIS-0800047)
Test Cases for Network Attachment, Service Provider Discovery and Attachment, and Services Discovery (ATIS-0800048)
Test Cases for Linear TV Service Selection, Attachment, and Usage (ATIS-0800049)
Test Cases for Content on Demand Service Attachment and Service Use (ATIS-0800050)
Test Cases for Remote Management of Consumer Domain Devices and QoS Metric Reporting (ATIS-0800051)

In addition to this test case suite, the IIF recently published a standard to specify the data structures (metadata) and transaction protocols to support the IIF’s Content on Demand (CoD) architecture as defined in IPTV Content on Demand Service (ATIS-0800042). Content on Demand Metadata Schema and Metadata Transactions (ATIS-0800042) defines the metadata for use on interfaces related to the delivery of CoD.

About ATIS
ATIS is the leading technical planning and standards development organization committed to the rapid development of global, market-driven standards for the information, entertainment and communications industry. More than 200 companies actively formulate standards in ATIS’ Committees, covering issues including: Cloud Services, IPTV, Energy Efficiency, IP-Based and Wireless Technologies, Quality of Service, Billing and Operational Support, Emergency Services, Architectural Platforms and Emerging Networks. In addition, numerous Incubators, Focus and Exploratory Groups address evolving industry priorities including Smart Grid, Machine-to-Machine, Networked Car, IP Downloadable Security, Policy Management and Network Optimization.

ATIS is a founding partner for the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a member and major U.S. contributor to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio and Telecommunications’ Sectors, and a member of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL). ATIS is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). For more information, please visit www.atis.org.

About IPTV Interoperability Forum
Recognized globally, ATIS’ IIF is the leading developer of requirements, standards and specifications for IPTV. The forum defines industry requirements, the overall industry reference architecture and critical standards to support various aspects of IPTV delivery, including digital rights management and quality of service.