Implementation Team 3 – ATSC 3.0 Conformance

Background

Conformance testing is a key factor in enabling the market introduction of systems and devices that are compliant to a new standard. This testing facilitates the introduction of high quality systems and devices meeting the specification which drives the adoption and conformance of the standard. It is based on the existence of common and unique test procedures, covering technology  specifications and corresponding test materials in the form of a test suite. It is used to certify that implementations are conformant to the standard. As well as being utilized throughout development, it is performed on fully integrated devices that implement the standard. Conformance testing is a key component to ensure interoperability among devices of different vendors.

Purpose

The ATSC Conformance Implementation Team (CIT) provides a venue to scope and plan for a formal conformance test program for both emission and reception. The ATSC 3.0 CIT may address business, regulatory and technical requirements for the successful roll-out of a Conformance Test Program. The ATSC 3.0 CIT will not develop Standards or Recommended Practices. However, it may make recommendations to THE ATSC and other organizations to develop such documents.

• Note that the implementation team is not expected to perform device or system testing. The actual ownership, operation and execution of a conformance test program is out of scope and may be undertaken by other industry organizations or forums.

Participation

Participation in the ATSC CIT is open to all organizations offering or planning to offer services, products or other efforts relating or supporting implementation of ATSC 3.0. Participating organizations must agree to abide by policies established by the ATSC Board of Directors.

Fees

The base annual fee for participation in the ATSC CIT is $1,000 for ATSC members and $3,000 for organizations that are not ATSC members. Additional fees may be charged for specific activities as determined by the I-Team. These fees will be used to offset incurred costs.

Participation Agreement

Participation in the ATSC CIT will require organizations to sign a Participation Agreement.

Decision-making

It is expected that most decisions will be made by consensus. Where necessary a voting process with one vote per participating organization, on a simple majority basis, will be used to achieve group agreements.

Activities

Determination of specific ATSC CIT activities shall be made by the team participants. Activities may include but are not limited to:

• Review documentation created by Conformance Ad-Hoc group, including benchmarks, presentations and contributions from participating members.
• Review broadcaster use cases and service configurations to establish a base level of requirements
  • map use cases and services to 3.0 standards documentation in order to identify gaps
  • Identify all features, specifications or use cases that are unique to ATSC 3.0
• Assess how to best leverage existing industry test regimes applicable to ATSC 3.0 (W3C and others)
• Develop a framework for testing
  • Review HBBTV and PTCRB and other specifications – in the context of our ATSC 3.0 use cases
• Create sample test plans to highlight the key elements within the test framework
• Refine the priorities for test plan development
• Develop a phased or iterative approach to implementing a Conformance Test Program in order to keep the scope manageable

ATSC Conformance Implementation Team Participation Agreement