Next Generation Graphical User Interface for IPTV

Abstract: It is common practice to use web technologies when creating graphical user interfaces for IPTV set-top boxes. The graphical user interface in TeliaSonera’s IPTV service is built with HTML, CSS and Javascript. Lately focus has shifted from just showing video to also provide richer user experiences – coming from requirements of new services and the ongoing shift in resolution from standard definition to high definition. However, the set-top box is a device with very limited resources and it is important to assure good performance while allowing richer user interfaces. Against that background the thesis asks “how can a web-based graphical user interface for IPTV set-top boxes, such as that of TeliaSonera, be improved and prepared for future IPTV services and richer user experiences?” To provide an answer two studies were made; one of web technologies and one of future IPTV services. The technologies were evaluated in a Pugh matrix against a set of criteria (the most important being performance, platform independence, and resolution independence) as well as against the results of the IPTV services study. SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) scored best in the evaluation. The SVG renderer performed significantly better on the set-top box than the Mozilla web browser that TeliaSonera currently used. To put the technology to test the HTML based user interface was ported to SVG with expectations of a more responsive and graphically rich user interface. The result was satisfying. Loading times had been halved, the user interface works in both SD and HD resolution and richer graphics were added in form of gradients and a skinning system that allow easy change of appearance. The thesis recommends SVG when building a rich graphical user interface for a settop box.