October 14, 2011

Monsoon's Policy Management Handles Viewing Rights

Monsoon Multimedia is touting its multi-screen policy management solution (MPMS) to MSOs to manage viewing rights for content. The Monsoon solution can be licensed separately or bundled with its Vulkano devices.



The new MPMS addresses licensing issues around whether consumers can stream or record specific channels or shows on tablets and mobile phones. Monsoon’s Vulkano line of companion devices, when connected to any set-top box, can be programmed to control the streaming, recording or transfer of content by an MSO. Monsoon’s solution also allows MSO’s to decide whether to stream in home or out of home viewing and recordings.



The Monsoon solution allows MSOs to roll out TV Everywhere services immediately, without any new infrastructure. Current content rights can be enforced now, while new ones can be negotiated and rolled out as MSOs and content owners decide how to react to consumer demand.



The MPMS keeps a table of each show and channel and the rights that are to be offered to the subscriber. When a subscriber makes a request to view or record a channel, Monsoon’s MPMS checks to see if the viewing or recording is authorized. If it is, the request is honored. If the Policy Management does not allow it, the request is disallowed and the subscriber is told that the feature is not supported for that channel.



Monsoon can enable or disable each of the following features on a show-by-show or channel-by-channel basis: live TV, recording, local placeshifting, remote placeshifting, local sideloading and remote sideloading. The rights are downloaded to the Vulkano unit much like electronic program guide information is downloaded. As new rights are negotiated, they can be rolled out to the field.