HeliosTv : Using GStreamer In A Distributed DVB Stack

HeliosTv is a project whose aim is to allow the implementation of a distributed DVB stack. Distribued in this context means that the different components of a DVB stack can be implemented in different processes and in different devices. The project is composed of a deamon and a client library. The daemon manages the reception of DVB services, and forwards the TS streams or DVB sections to clients via an IPC or network link.

The client library is used by client applications to communicate with the server. A GStreamer source element based on this library was developed.

This project allows to implement DVB components that are independent from each other and that do not have to manage the frontends : EPG database, live player, live recorder, DSMCC downloader, AIT monitoring can all be implemented independently, and can be executed on different devices in the LAN.

HeliosTv is inspired from the TvHeadend and Sat2Ip projects, and is based on GStreamer, Boost, and MsgPack.

The project is at an early stage where only services are streamed by the daemon. The next step is to add DVB section support.

Romain Picard is software architect at SoftAtHome where he designs and develops software for set-top-box devices. During the last years he was especially involved in GStreamer based software and adaptive streaming technologies.