SoftAtHome debuts RDK-based UI

The company has enhanced the solution for broadcast, broadband and OTT operators with what it believes are critical new features. These include multicast; DVB; live DASH streaming; enhanced navigation on the TV screen using the voice assistant; secured-data user profiling leveraging artificial intelligence; universal search aggregation with metadata; and integration of new premium video streaming apps.

SoftAtHome notes that as subscribers expect to have access to more and more services from different video platforms, operators must find solutions to manage this increasing complexity. RDK is a shared software platform that provides software building blocks and standardised components to manage complex video and management functions such as content rendering and security, device management and networking, the company explains. RDK’s open source approach enhances quality and encourages cooperation between operators. With the majority of the codebase handling common functionalities, SoftAtHome says operators can focus their resources on developing unique selling propositions for their market.

At the latest RDK America summit that took place virtually, SoftAtHome presented its RDK video-based product in a fully working implementation. SoftAtHome’s ImpressioTV UI works with RDK for what the company describes as an advanced and user-friendly TV experience. The white-labelled system includes multi-user profiling for better recommendations and is built with data privacy by design. It is said to fit operators’ needs to optimise user experience, and proposes personalised content while keeping data private with a mix of several technologies and AI algorithms.

To increase user-friendly navigation on TV screens, SoftAtHome has also integrated its AI-based voice control assets into the RDK solution.

Steve Heeb, president of RDK Management, said: “Thanks to SoftAtHome’s long experience in the telecommunications industry plus video and broadband software expertise, they provide the means for service providers to take the lead in video content distribution. We are proud to have SoftAtHome embracing RDK.”

David Viret-Lange, CEO of SoftAtHome, said: “Thanks to our universal search and recommendation engine to simplify content discovery, we enable operators to become super video aggregators, exploiting the sweet spot at the juncture of on-demand and live content. Adding new premium video streaming apps, will require only the decision to activate the feature within an RDK based deployment.

“SoftAtHome exists to help operators through an open, flexible software platform,” Viret-Lange continued. “Our motto has always been by operators for operators. We support RDK’s initiative enabling service providers to benefit from a standardised software video platform while keeping the agility of differentiation. We see ourselves as the industrial arm of service provider ambition, and as such, we see our association with RDK Management as essential.”