Section: E

CIMM DEFINITION: The process of extracting data from various outside sources, transforming the data into more useable forms and then loading it onto a platform.

CIMM DEFINITION: A general term that refers to interactive services and applications provided in conjunction with video programming. ETV is used in particular in reference to Two-Screen Solutions TV + PC services. Generally users of these ETV services have their TV and computer in the same room, and navigate their web browser to a particular program-specific Web site that is synchronized to the live program by the broadcast TV network. Alternatively, some computers have TV tuner cards, or some TVs offer web browsers.

2: A specification by CableLabs which allows deployment of interactive content on “thin-clients” such as the Motorola DCT 2000 (with over 15M platforms deployed) and Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2000 as well as OpenCable (OCAP) host devices.  (Source: Unisoft)

3: A type of interactive television technology which allows content producers to send data and graphical “enhancements” through a small part of the regular analog broadcast signal called the Vertical Blanking Interval. These enhancements appear as overlays on the video and allow viewers to click on them if they are watching TV via special set-top box/software services. (Source: IAB)

CIMM DEFINITION: Client software that interprets and presents ETV applications. An ETV User Agent processes ETV EISS application signaling and consumes ETV EBIF content. ETV User agents are typically implemented as native applications on legacy cable set-top boxes and as Java applications on Tru2way® receivers. Wikipedia provides a definition of the general term ‘User Agent’. (Source: Definition currently under review by CableLabs)

CIMM DEFINITION: The collection, tracking and storing of user activity events.

2: Logging actions on TIVO based on events taken by the STB. (Source: TIVO)

3: The events do not have to be viewer initiated.  An ad insertion can be an event.

(Source: Invidi)

See also: Latency

CIMM DEFINITION: The time offset between the actual occurrence of an event on a Set-Top Box (e.g., channel change, Remote Control key press, etc.,) and the reception of that event signal by the collection engine. For example, consider channel change Latency. Not only is this affected by Set-Top Box type, resident application type and version, and other factors, but the exact moment in that Latency period when the event is reported to the Collection Engine varies based on these same factors. One STB may have a three second channel change Latency, and the channel change event is signaled at the start of those three seconds. Another STB may have a two second channel change Latency, but the channel change is signaled at the end of the Latency period. Collection engines must measure and account for such discrepancies on a STB by STB basis (e.g., via Clock Sychronization). (Source: FourthWall Media)

CIMM DEFINITION: Events are asynchronous communication between applications and the OpenCable system on which they are being executed. They provide communication between solution elements. An event may also refer to a unit of programming, such as a movie, an episode of a television show, a newscast or a sports game. (Source: CableLabs)

CIMM DEFINITION: A rating based on the audience to a national commercial based on viewing from reported exact second start of the commercial to the exact end of the commercial. Able to be reported in Rentrak’s TV Essentials Service due to the stability generated by its millions of reporting homes. (Source: Rentrak)

CIMM DEFINITION: A banner ad which can expand to as large as 468 x 240 after a user clicks on it or after a user moves his/her cursor over the banner. (Source: IAB)

CIMM DEFINITION: Data provided voluntarily by viewers while interacting with (EBIF) applications running on the Set-Top Box. For example: product keywords entered into “Ebay on TV,” service keywords entered into “Yellow Pages on TV,” portfolio stock symbols entered into “Stock Tracker Widgets,” favorite NFL teams / players entered into “Fantasy Football Tracker.” (Source: FourthWall Media)

CIMM DEFINITION: Additional (typically free) material used to promote content (free, subscription or pay).  E.g., alternate endings, “Behind the Scenes” footage, “The Making Of…” programming.