Digital TV Application Software Interface (DASE)

Conformance Testing Project at NIST

This page describes the collaboration efforts of

the Standards and Conformance Testing Group (SCTG) of the Software and Systems Division, which is part of the Information Technology Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

and

the Digital TV Application Software Environment (DASE) subgroup of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC)

to develop effective conformance tests for the emerging DASE standard. DASE provides specifications for software modules that decode and execute application programs that deliver interactive and data broadcast services, within the context of digital TV. The DASE group is a broad-based industry consortium with members from the broadcast, consumer electronics, software, and other sectors.

To support this effort, NIST is chairing the DASE Conformance Testing Team, which has as its goals identifying and resolving issues that impact conformance, such as:

-developing conformance clauses for the DASE specifications (as a whole and for each component)

-examining the specifications for testability, and providing recommendations to other DASE working teams

-making the conformance test assertions available for public review

-developing a conformance testing document

-supporting ATSC committee S11 in determining test service issues

for the purpose of enabling the testability of the standard.

NIST is working closely with UniSoft, Inc., the developer of the DASE conformance test suite, to:

-help develop and review test assertions

-help develop and review test cases

-review the completed test suite and evaluate its coverage.

SCTG is supporting the effort of the Convergent Infomation Systems Division of ITL/NIST to develop a reference implementation for the DASE Application Program Interface. SCTG has participated in the coding effort, and will provide the interface between the conformance tests and the reference implementation.

Disclaimer: Any links on this page to web sites outside NIST are provided because they have information that may be of interest. NIST does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on these sites, nor endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on these sites. Also, please see http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/disclaim.htm.

Contact Information: Alan Goldfine, 301-975-3252, goldfine@nist.gov

Digital TV Application Software Interface (DASE)

Conformance Testing Project at NIST

Last Updated: July 16, 2001