Consult Red contributes Lifecycle Management and Downloadable Application Container functionality for RDK-B Operators

Enabling technology for Smart Routers, providing a secure, fast and flexible way for operators to dynamically deploy and manage services on their router stack

Consult Red, a leading technology consultancy for clients wanting to design and deploy connected devices and systems, announces the contribution of Lifecycle Management (LCM) and Downloadable Application Container (DAC) functionality for RDK-B. These new components, building upon technology from RDK-V, are now available for deployment as part of the RDK-B software stack for broadband gateways and routers.

LCM and DAC provide a secure, fast and flexible solution to remotely deploy and manage native applications and services on a router stack. Containerized Applications and Services can either run independently or communicate to other RDK-B components at runtime via direct integration to the RDK-B message bus (RBUS), leveraging RDK messaging and eventing.

This enables operators to remotely deploy and manage the life cycle of individual containerized applications and services, while also reducing the need for the monolithic system image updates that are required on equivalent devices today. This functionality also leverages the equivalent, field-proven capability from the RDK video solution, enabling a common device management layer for both video and broadband applications.

Broadband operators expect to be able to tailor their solutions according to deployment and subscriber needs. LCM and DAC allows operators to customize their offering in the field, allowing for a variety of deployed services across the subscriber base that can evolve over time. As an example, the device user interface can be managed as a modular software component with localized or customized versions deployed and initialized via DAC. These devices could then further evolve to add a UI for a Matter gateway once that service is ready and without the need to deploy a new system image. Because the use of LCM and DAC allows for these changes to be rolled out in the field without the need to build and roll out a new device system image, the overall development effort and time to market for adding new features is considerably reduced.

The development and the contribution of LCM and DAC for RDK-B by Consult Red enables operators to get to market quicker with a platform for agility and growth. It positions the smart router as a flexible and future-proof device at the heart of the smart home.

RDK is an open source software solution, deployed on more than 100 million devices worldwide, that standardizes core functions and telemetry used in broadband, video, and IoT connected devices. For broadband devices, RDK-B provides common support across broadband access technologies including DOCSIS, GPON, and DSL, with functionality such as routing, Wi-Fi, device management, diagnostics, DNS, and IoT interfaces, such as Bluetooth, Thread and Zigbee.

RDK-B LCM and DAC is available to download and test from RDK Central today.

Jason Briggs, President and General Manager of RDK, said:

“Consult Red continue to play a leading role in the ongoing development of RDK. The recent development of Downloadable Application Containers for RDK-B is already available for the entire community to build upon.

As a member of RTAB, the Consult Red team can continue to bring their expertise across RDK profiles – video (RDK-V), broadband (RDK-B), and camera (RDK-C). Their contributions will continue to help operators and the wider RDK community develop smart, immersive and engaging products for their customers.”

Rahul Mehra, Chief Technology Officer, Consult Red, added:

“We’re proud to have made another significant contribution to the development of the RDK for broadband applications (RDK-B). The market opportunity for Downloadable Application Containers is clear to see and directly correlates with our previous experience of bringing similar functionality to RDK-V for deployed video applications.

The LCM solution that Consult Red developed for RDK-B, including reference integration, and supporting documentation, has been made available as open source to the RDK community. Our work in this area is ongoing. We continue to develop data model compatibility and extensions, feature set enhancements, and integrations.”

Consult Red’s relationship with RDK spans over a decade since its early adoption in 2012. Since then, Consult Red has built one of Europe’s largest RDK R&D teams. Consult Red has also chaired the RDK Downloadable Application Containerization (DAC) Special Interest Group (SIG).

In its work with leading Pay-TV, media and OTT (over-the-top) brands, Consult Red contributes to RDK software, leads key RDK technology initiatives and helps operators deploy RDK and launch RDK-based applications. See what leading media brands say about Consult Red’s experience in RDK.