MHP-CONFIDENCE (MHP Conformance Testing Improvement by Development of New Conformance Tests in Europe) is an EU funded FP 6 project specifically targeted at strengthening the conformance testing regime of the DVB Multimedia Home Platform Standard (MHP). The goal of the project is to develop new conformance tests as an enabling technology for the successful deployment of MHP components in the market and thus to foster the integration of networked audio-visual systems and home platforms as well as the development of innovative services on the basis of interoperable applications. The project centres on the official formal conformance testing. It does not address the more informal inter-operability testing - as e.g. one of the activities of the the IST FP6 MHP-KDB project -  and is absolutely not intended to replace that.

The project builds on the recent success of the European MHP Standard (published by EC in OJ 2002/C 331/04 of 31st Dec. 2002), but recognises some visible weaknesses of the very first MHP Test Suite 1.0.2.b launched by DVB/ETSI which are critical for the competitiveness of both, the European standard as a whole, and the individual products of European manufacturers. With such an approach it also responds to the emerging needs resulting from the current adoption or application of DVB-MHP (and its existing conformance tests) by other standardisation bodies like SCTE-OCAP in the USA or ARIB in Japan, whilst opening new opportunities for European technology. By concentrating their efforts on a European level, the partners achieve the necessary impact on European standards, which is a prerequisite for being referred to by administrations and legislation in the support of open standards that ensure, in line with Directive 2002/21/EC, horizontal market solutions for the benefit of content providers and end-user alike.

Four main priorities have been identified by the MHP-CONFIDENCE consortium during start of the project:

• To provide advanced, even more thorough tests to enhance the existing DVB/ETSI Test Suite and thus verifying the standard involved even in more depth 
• Aiding the DVB to release a Test Suite 1.0.3 based on the published MHP specification 1.0.3 
• To gain, by continuous research and effort, even more professional experience in successfully matching Test Suites with future MHP specifications released by continuous research and effort
• Longer term support of conformance testing for MHP by investigations and development of suitable business models

Two more activities have been identified and recommended during the course of the project:

• To work on initial set of tests for the next generation MHP version 1.1.2 
• To work on initial set of tests for the next generation MHP extensions for PVR/PDR

The project has impact by direct dissemination to standardisation bodies DVB and ETSI. This target has been achieved already (see Publications: Influence on the DVB MHP Test Suite).

The partners make use of their own experience, knowledge and assets, but also assemble a state-of-the-art view through collecting information from all partners in the value creation chain for interactive TV services: manufacturers, network operators, software developers. This survey forms the basis on identifying the areas of the MHP specification that need closer coverage by future tests.

These tests will then be created in a multi-level process. So-called test assertions (i.e. units of functionality) need to be identified that can be individually verified. For each assertion, a test strategy description will be developed to describe in detail how a test can be implemented. During the course of this process errors and ambiguities of the MHP specification may become evident and will be filed to the DVB for correction. Based on the test strategies tests can directly be implemented in software.

The consortium will provide an interactive process for quality assurance between its members. Tests will have to pass this process in order to be delivered to standards bodies.

A permanent task will be the participation of the members of the consortium in relevant DVB groups. The consortium will be one of the key players of the MEG Test Suite maintenance process (formerly called appeals procedure) and will install structures to efficiently play its role in order to maintain the official DVB MHP Test Suite and communicate with other parties requesting that maintenance through ETSI.