CES: SeaChange Fuels Up Hybrid Gateways Software

SeaChange International is unveiling the Nucleus Hybrid Gateway software, which the vendor is pitching as an engine for cable operators to power up next-generation multiscreen, whole-home DVR and Web-based content services.

Last month, SeaChange announced a "significant home gateway software licensing transaction" with a large U.S. operator. That came after the vendor confirmed last fall that it was working with Charter Communications to test "next-generation home gateway software."

Nucleus connects SeaChange's Adrenalin back-office with the Nitro user interface, and enables DLNA connectivity to consumer-electronics devices such as PCs, tablets, smartphones and smart TVs. The software also let MSOs build apps for using smartphones as remote controls.

"Nucleus is the pulse of our next-gen software at SeaChange," Shiva Patibanda, general manager of SeaChange's in-home business unit, said in a statement.

The Nucleus home device software is based on SeaChange's tru2way-enabled platform. Its two main components are the Nucleus Engine, which provides control over set-top box functionality including channel changes, VOD/DVR playback and trick mode, and enables media sharing throughout home via DLNA; and the Presentation Manager, which handles the graphical components of the interface including HTML5/JavaScript rendering.

According to SeaChange, Nucleus is supports multiple hardware configurations including hybrid gateways with multiple video tuners, DOCSIS 3.0 and over-the-top content, in addition to Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA), Ethernet and Wi-Fi interfaces. The gateway devices can also connect to wireless routers via Ethernet.