Platform {Interactive TV} - (Sometimes known as Interactive TV client. Associated with Interactive Television Application.) - In computing, a platform describes some sort of framework, either in hardware or software, which allows software to run." (Wikipedia.) The term "platform" might be used interchangeably with the term "standard" or "specification," sometimes even "middleware". Platforms may be offered by individual entities (such as businesses or organizations) or agreed upon by many related entities. A platform may be proprietary, (a design or technique owned by an entity,) or an open system, which is the opposite.


(1) The underlying system, standards, protocols, specifications and operating environment for a specific device, mechanism, transmission method, type of content etc. Also see Informitv's definition at: http://informitv.com/resources/glossary.

(2) As "platform" might be used generically, it might include related interactive TV technologies such as software, middleware and/or hardware. These might be known as technical platforms for interactive TV (versus delivery platforms (which is #3 below). Interactive TV platforms are often associated with interactive TV Middleware.

Technical platforms for Interactive TV include:  MHP & DVB-MHP. See Interactive television Standards & Specifications.

(3) It might be used to refer to major content provider's or communications transmission systems such as digital terrestrial (MMDS), cable, telco, satellite, and the Internet. Thus these would be referred to as "cable platform," "satellite platform" etc.