Downloadable Conditional Access System: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:40, 3 November 2007

Revision as of 18:43, 3 November 2007

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{{future product}}

'''Downloadable Conditional Access System''' or '''DCAS''' is a proposal advanced by [[CableLabs]] for secure software download of a specific Conditional Access client (computer program) which controls [[Digital Rights Management]] (DRM) into a [[OpenCable Application Platform|OCAP]]-compliant host consumer media device. The [[National Cable & Telecommunications Association]] (NCTA) proposes that DCAS be used as a substitute for physical [[CableCARD]]s, a standard also created by CableLabs for which products began appearing in August, 2004 as part of industry compliance to the [[#FCC Mandate]], which in responseturn is pursuant to the [[Telecommunications Act of 1996]]. DCAS is a controversial proposal for a variety of reasons: it currently does not exist, has no set deadlines for support on all Cable systems, the specification even in draft form is not currently public, may not satisfy FCC requirements that security modules be separable, and requires an operating system (OCAP) that a majority of [[consumer electronics]] (CE) manufacturers do not wish to implement.

[[Image:DCAS system diagram.jpg|thumb|400px|DCAS System Diagram]]