Bit velocity is not enough: content and service issues for broadband residential information services

This paper addresses the design issues for creation and management of content and services, which arose from our work at Hewlett Packard Laboratories in broadband residential information systems. Particular attention is given to the issues engendered by an emphasis on community-based content and services. Hewlett Packard has introduced the HP Broadband Interactive Data Solution (BIDS) product family. BIDS provides data communication services to residential customers over a variety midband and broadband access networks (e.g. HFC, ADSL). The applications use standard data communications technologies, based upon TCP/TP. Subscribers are provided with a LAN-like connection-less environment at their homes, enabling community network access without connection setup delays and time-based connection charges. Services include email, news, a World Wide Web (WWW) browser, and access to commercial online services and the Internet. Content is HTML-based. The HP cable modems connect subscribers' PCs to HP head-end modems, broadband Internet servers, and content servers. HP network management systems run the entire network.