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April 18, 2023
TCS Home Infotainment Platform- A Case Study
Arpan PalPrincipal Consultant and Research Group ManagerInnovation Lab, Kolkata
Agenda
Conceptualization
Product Description
Deployment and RoadmapTechnology Challenges
Commercialization ChallengesInnovation @ TCS
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Inception and Ideation
In India, out of 204.9 million households only 4.2 million households have a computer, whereas 110 million households have a TV with cable connection (Source: CIA Factbook 2007 World Bank WMDS 2007)
Social Requirement
Information empowers education which can be enabled through the power of the web
Computer penetration is low in developing countries thereby restricting internet access
Need for addressing the entertainment and information needs across rural and semi-urban areas.
TV, an existing infrastructure in Indian homes caters to limited content
A price sensitive and tech aware market
Government focus on increasing internet penetration at low costs
Business Requirement
10% of the Indian population use internet
A mere 2% amongst the internet users subscribe to broadband connectivity
ISPs unable to sell their bandwidth. Hence ROI low on CAPEX
No mechanism in place to leverage the “idiot box” at home to push internet through it
Price sensitive market demands CPE devices to be bundled with service at subsidized rates
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Business Potential
WorldRegions
PopulationTV
HouseholdsInternet Users
InternetConnections
Potential Market
Asia 3,776,181,949 700,000,000 578,538,257 235,703,000464,297,000
Africa 955,206,348 100,000,000 51,065,630 25,075,00074,925,000
Europe 800,401,065 227,000,000 384,633,765 168,387,00058,613,000
NorthAmerica
337,167,248 114,500,000 248,241,969 80,000,000 34,500,000
http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm
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TCS HIP - Inception & Ideation
There exists a huge potential for an alternate low cost computing platformThere exists a huge potential for an alternate low cost computing platform
TCS HIP
Provides the benefits of a computer and mobile over
the TV at the cost of a mobile phone
• Highest penetration • Serves only communication purposes• Highly Interactive• Lowest cost
• Highest penetration • Serves only communication purposes• Highly Interactive• Lowest cost
• Highest penetration • Serves only Entertainment purpose• No Interactivity and intelligence• Moderate cost
• Highest penetration • Serves only Entertainment purpose• No Interactivity and intelligence• Moderate cost
• Lowest penetration• Serves information purpose• Extremely intelligent• High cost
• Lowest penetration• Serves information purpose• Extremely intelligent• High cost
Need for Convergence
TV
Mobile
PC
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Conceptualization
A leading Telecom service provider in India was finding it difficult to sell its bandwidth due to limited access points
TCS Innovation Labs stood up to the challenge to create a low cost interactive platform with both uplink and downlink
Need of the hour was to conceptualize a device which would leverage the readily available television at home to provide information and entertainment
TCS Home Infotainment Platform (HIP) was conceptualized
HIP, a device consisting of embedded components accepts analog video feed from any source and provides an uplink and downlink for interactivity and other value added interactive video based services via GSM, CDMA and 3G
How the ball started rolling?
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Value Proposition
Personalized Chat
Rural Education
Utilities
Car Infotainment
Surveillance
Corporate and SME
Telemedicine
Home Banking on TV
TCS HIPTCS HIP
Agenda
Conceptualization
Product Description
Deployment and RoadmapTechnology Challenges
Commercialization ChallengesInnovation @ TCS
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TCS HIP
Gen1 version of HIP was launched in India by a leading CDMA service provider in India and in Philippines by a leading incumbent service provider.
Overview
• File manager• Media Player Photo viewer Music player Video player• Internet Browser• PDF editor PDF viewer PDF creator• Calculator• Zip/ Unzip• Open office• E-Mail client• Chat client• Printer access• Games• Remote Upgrade• Provisioning• Authentication
• Viewing TV content• Blending of TV and Graphics• Web Browser• Audio Player• Video Player• Picture Viewer• Video Chat• SMS/ SMS on TV• Remote Upgrade• Provisioning• Authentication
GEN 1 Features GEN 2 Features
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HIP System Overview
Conventional Set Top Box
(Tata Sky, Cable, CAS)
TCS Value Add
Browser
Audio/Video Chat
Media Player
Ethernet & PPPoE Driver
USB Modem Driver
Storage Drivers
Keyboard / Mouse Drivers
CDMA/GSM/3GModem
USB Device Storage
Wired/Wireless Keyboard /
Mouse / Remote
Television ADSL ModemADSL Modem
DTH / Cable
Broadband
Other Apps
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Web Connectivity Options
CDMACDMA
GSMGSM
3G3G
Web Connectivity
PPPoEPPPoE LAN
(Static)
LAN(Static)
LAN(DHCP)
LAN(DHCP)
EVDOEVDO
HSDPAHSDPA HSUPA
USB ModemUSB Modem EthernetEthernet
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Browser
• Browser allows user to browse through internet, check mails, chat while watching TV shows• TV centric layout and design• Flash Support• Multiple Tab Support
Features
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Video Chat
• Video chat enables HIP users to engage in multimedia sessions with one another or with a PC client
• Content sharing and session storage • Proprietary adaptive rate control to suit the available
network bandwidth • Works with both analog camera and USB webcam• Phone no. based addressing
Features
• Mobility of consumers has reduced time at home and video chat enables families to interact and communicate with members residing far away or in transit
Positioning
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SMS
• Check and Send SMS on TV through the SIM• Send SMS while watching TV• Basic SIM based address book Support
Features
Features• Robust over-the-air (OTA) upgrade• Handles network and power failures during upgrade• Authentication ties box to specific service provider
network
Remote Upgrade and Authentication
Onscreen Keyboard for Messaging
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Platform Details
• Target Hardware:– TI Da-Vinci DM6446 / OMAP3 /
Intel ATOM
• Operating System– Embedded Linux 2.6.x
• Languages/tools– C / C++
– Javascript / HTML
• Browser– Opera for devices 9.6 / Firefox– Adobe Flash Support
• Multimedia Codecs–H.264–MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4–MP3–JPEG –AMR-NB –AAC–OGG–FLAC
Agenda
Conceptualization
Product Description
Deployment and RoadmapTechnology Challenges
Commercialization ChallengesInnovation @ TCS
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• In Philippines it is launched through Smart Communications under the brand name of “SmartBro SurfTV”.
• Order committed for 100K units and current production is 25K
Deployment Status
• Tata Teleservices Ltd. launched HIP under the brand name of “Dialog” in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
• Order Received for 100K units and current production is 5K
TCS’ Home Infotainment Platform launched successfully in India and Philippines.
Good Traction received in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia
6 patents filed, more than 15 publications in leading conferences / journals
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Smart TV – the next generation HIPTCS’ Smart TV offers a widget based interactive television viewing experience by providing personalized web content even as you watch your favorite program – introducing the concept of context aware interactivity on live TV.
Widget based applications
Universal connectivity support
Internet Radio Support (SHOUTcast)
Robust Over-the-air (OTA) upgrade
Online video streaming support(YouTube,Metacaffe,vuclip,bollywoodmp4)
Content mash up
Live TV Streaming Support (YuppTV.com)
Streaming Music Support (Raaga.com)
Live chat support (yahoo, meebo)
PVR Support
Place-shifting TV on mobile
Features
Agenda
Conceptualization
Product Description
Deployment and RoadmapTechnology Challenges
Commercialization ChallengesInnovation @ TCS
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Technology Challenges
–TV-centric UI• TV as a display medium• Remote based Navigation
– Unreliable Network Condition• Real-time QoS sensing and adaptation
– Ease of Application Development• Generic media Framework
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Anti-flicker Algorithm for Flicker Reduction
– Application of Blur Filters in Vertical Direction
– Blur Filter a function of upper pixel, current pixel and lower pixel
– real-time implementation in DSP of DaVInci
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Up Left Up Right
Down RightDown Left
Down OK
Left Right
Up
The Up, Down, Left and Right keys in the remote-control is used to move across the key-blocks in vertical and horizontal direction. As these 4 keys are used to navigate across key-blocks they are called Navigational keys.
The Up left , Up right , Down left and Down right keys are used to select the characters a, b ,g, h respectively in the key block and are called Selection keys.
The on-screen keyboard is operated by remote control.
Along with the selection keys ,Ok key is used for selection in key-blocks like space-barwww. , .com , caps and symbol.
Novel on-screen Keyboard
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Rate Adaptive Video ChatVideo Conferencing Application
Middleware Framework
Encode Control Decode Control
Video Encode
Audio Encode
Audio Decode
Video Decode
Probe Packet
Packetization and Transmission
Reception and de-packetization
RTT(P1, ti)
RTT(P2, ti)
P1(ti) P2 (ti)
Transmitter End
Receiver End
Grandma @ 30kbpsAkiyo @ 25kbps
PS
N R
(in
dB )
PS
N R
(in
dB )
Agenda
Conceptualization
Product Description
Deployment and RoadmapTechnology Challenges
Commercialization ChallengesInnovation @ TCS
April 18, 2023 28Confidential
Commercialization Aspects
Agreement with Customer
Certification
Quality Assurance
IPR – Protection
IPR – Freedom
to Operate (FTO)
Open Source
Compliance
Contract –GTM Partner
Contracts – Software
Component Vendors
Contract – Hardware
Manufacturer
Commercial-ization
April 18, 2023 29Confidential
IPR – Freedom-to-Operate (FTO)
Freedom-to-Operate (FTO)• IPR analysis is conducted for all proposed features to find out that any patent is not being infringed by any proposed feature.
• In case of potential infringement possible options:
– Change design to work-around
– Check if a patent-family member rejected/withdrawn in any country
– License-in ( agreement with patent /application holder)
– Oppose/Challenge a patent ( This option has not been used yet )
Protection • All inventions resulting from R &D Work are protected by patent applications in India.• Patent protection is territorial .• PCT applications are made to get 30 months total time to decide on protection need in foreign countries while still analyzing the commercial prospect in different countries.• Important GUI artifacts protected by copyright registration.• Trademark registered to establish a brand around the product and protect it.
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Commercialization Challenges
• Technology– High-Performance at given cost limit is of primary importance, features need to
tuned accordingly• Managing Cost vs. Feature vs. Performance
– Choosing the right hardware platform
• Market– Voice of customer’s customer (end-user) is more important than voice of
customer (Telco)– Understanding the Market Requirement and Positioning
• Engineering– Product discipline needs to be strictly adhered to with requirement freeze– No compromise on Product performance and Usability– Ensuring Consumer-grade Quality and Stability
Agenda
Conceptualization
Product Description
Deployment and RoadmapTechnology Challenges
Commercialization ChallengesInnovation @ TCS
32
Innovation Labs
Bangalore, India1
1
TCS Innovation Labs - Bangalore
Chennai, India2
2
TCS Innovation Labs - ChennaiTCS Innovation Labs - RetailTCS Innovation Labs - Travel & HospitalityTCS Innovation Labs - InsuranceTCS Innovation Labs - Web 2.0TCS Innovation Labs - Telecom
Cincinnati, USA3
3
TCS Innovation Labs - Cincinnati
Delhi, India4
4
TCS Innovation Labs - Delhi
Hyderabad, India5
5
TCS Innovation Labs - HyderabadTCS Innovation Labs - CMC
Kolkata, India6
6
TCS Innovation Labs - Kolkata
Mumbai, India7
7
TCS Innovation Labs - MumbaiTCS Innovation Labs - Performance Engineering
Peterborough, UK8
8
TCS Innovation Labs - Peterborough
Pune, India9
9
TCS Innovation Labs - TRDDC - Process EngineeringTCS Innovation Labs - TRDDC - Software EngineeringTCS Innovation Labs - TRDDC - Systems ResearchTCS Innovation Labs - Engineering & Industrial Services
11
22
33
44
559
97
76
6
88
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Co-Innovation Network
The TCS Co-Innovation Network builds collaborative frameworks to enable innovation across the TCS Ecosystem
34
Technology Market Map
The Technology-Market Map enables systematic planning and execution of three distinct innovation categories
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“IT” Concerns“IT” Concerns
Innovation/R&D Themes
• Improve Operational Efficiency and Productivity
• Enable Business Agility • Simplify and Transform• Manage Enterprise Risk and
Compliance• Improve Enterprise Knowledge
• Improve Operational Efficiency and Productivity
• Enable Business Agility • Simplify and Transform• Manage Enterprise Risk and
Compliance• Improve Enterprise Knowledge
“Business” Concerns“Business” Concerns
• Enable Understanding of Markets and Customers
• Improve User Experience • Enable Information Ubiquity• Improve Healthcare• Improve the Environment
• Enable Understanding of Markets and Customers
• Improve User Experience • Enable Information Ubiquity• Improve Healthcare• Improve the Environment
The TCS Innovation Themes give direction and purpose to the innovation processes and are anchored in the value proposition
to the customer
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Ubiquitous Computing
“Ubiquitous computing enhances computer use by making many computers available throughout the physical environment, but making them effectively invisible to the user”
4A’s of Ubiquity - Anytime, Anywhere, Anybody, Always Connected
The most powerful technologies are invisible: they get out of the way to let human be effective• Electricity
Electric motors hidden everywhere (20-30 per car)Electric sockets in every wall and portably available through batteriesIntegrated, invisible infrastructure
•Literary technologyContinuously surrounding us at many scales: books, newspapers, street signs, candy wrappersUsed trivially and profoundlyLiterally visible, effectively invisible
Mark Weiser, Xerox PARC 1988
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Architecture
Sensor cluster
Sensor cluster
Sensor cluster
Sensor cluster
LAN/Cellular// NGN
Internet
Aggregator
Back-end Processing
Phone
ApplicationsApplications
MiddlewareMiddleware
Access NetworkAccess Network
Sensor Nodes & Edge Devices
Sensor Nodes & Edge Devices
Context ExtractionContext Extraction
Technology Stack
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Automation & Control, Smart Grids, Smart Retail,Consumer Entertainment, Home automation, Healthcare
Technology Stack
ApplicationsApplications
MiddlewareMiddleware
Access NetworkAccess Network
Wireless Sensor Nodes, motes, NFC/RFID devicesMobile devices
Sensor Nodes & Edge Devices
Sensor Nodes & Edge Devices
Context ExtractionContext Extraction
Adaptive Networks, Interoperability,WSN, Zigbee, NFC, Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G / NGN,ADSL, PLC,
Data aggregators, filtering, pre-processing, Correlation, Soft Sensors
Data storage, management and miningAnalytics, Complex Event Detection & Processing,Machine Vision
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Solution Focus
Devices • Home Infotainment Platform• Smart TV• Home Gateway• Connected Car
Back-end Systems• Low-cost Storage• Grid Fault Intelligence• Capital Market Surveillance• TV Viewership Analytics
44
Research Focus
• Frugal Engineering• User Experience• Universal Connectivity• Interoperability• Security and Privacy• Context Awareness• Reliability