IPTV Basics and IPTV Architecture
Sunday, September 5th, 2010 |
IPTV Basics and IPTV Architecture
Basics: IPTV is a system used to deliver digital television services to the consumers by using Internet Protocol over a broadband connection, usually in a managed network rather than the public Internet to preserve quality of service together with Video on demand facility. In addition to this, there is provision to include Internet services such as web access and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and is called as Triple Play Services. So, it is a fusion of voice,video and data services.It is a broadband connection and a system to deliver various programs of television using the Internet protocol over computer networks.
IPTV technology is incorporated with the higher speed digital subscriber line (DSL) access technologies, such as asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL2), ADSL2+ and very-high-data-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL).
The IPTV architecture consists of the following components:
Content Sources : The ‘Content Source’ is defined as a functionality which receives video content from producers and other sources. Then, these contents are encoded and stored in a database for video-on-demand (VoD) services.
Service Nodes : The ‘Service Node’ is defined as a functionality which receives video streams in different formats. These video streams in different formats then reformat and encapsulate it for transmission with appropriate quality of service (QoS) indications to the wide-area network. This makes it ready for delivery to customers. In regards to service management, the Service Nodes communicate with the customer premises equipment (CPE); for the subscriber, session and digital rights management, service nodes communicate with the IPTV service.
Wide Area Distribution Networks : The Wide Area Distribution Network is made up of distribution capability, capacity, and quality of service. It also consists of other capabilities, such as multicast, which is necessary for the reliable and timely distribution of IPTV data streams from the service nodes to the customer premises. Moreover, the core and access network cover the optical distribution backbone network and the various digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs). This is located at the central office or remote distribution points.
Customer Access Links : In the customer access links, high-speed DSL technologies such as ADSL2+ and VDSL are required; with the help of such technology, customer delivery can be provided over the existing loop plant and through phone lines to homes. There are some other options available. Service providers may use a combination of fiber-to-the curb (FTTC) and DSL technologies for delivery to customers. They can also implement direct fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) access. However, good results depend on the richness of their IPTV service offerings.
Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) : In context of IPTV, the CPE device is located at the customer premises. This provides the broadband network termination (B-NT) functionality. At a minimum, it may also include other integrated functions which can be routing gateway, set-top box, or home networking capabilities.
IPTV Client : The IPTV client is basically a set box which terminates the IPTV traffic at the customer premises. Its function incluses setting up the connection , decoding the video streams, channel change functionality, user display control and connections to user appliances such as SDTV or a HDTV.
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