Seminar Report11

IPTV

INTRODUCTION
The Internet is changing the field of television broadcasting in much the same way it has changed and is changing other fields. Operating environments are opening up, access to the field is becoming easier, new business models are being born and old ones disappearing, services are becoming more globalised, and the customers position and freedom of action are improving. On the other hand, for the customer this signifies an increase in the data security risks related to television and a sense of uncontrollability and chaos creating a counterpoint to the shared media experiences that used to bring the nation together.

The transfer of moving images in IP protocol-based networks has gradually become more common. Nowadays, video material of differing quality is available on the Internet and that materials quality and usability in consumers terminal devices is dependent on the load placed on the transmission equipment and network, consumers connection speeds and the used terminal devices capacity.

IPTV is basically a fusion of voice, video, and data service. It is not a new idea or, rather, development, but it is a result of high bandwidth and high speed Internet access. In earlier days, the speed of the Internet did not suit the concept and, as a result, it affected the voice and video services. In recent times, the speed of Inter and net bandwidth has increased considerably, making IPTV prevail and become reasonably successful.

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IPTV

IPTV- AN OVER VIEW

Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is a rapidly maturing technology for the delivery of broadcast TV and other media-rich services over a secure, end-to-end operator managed broadband IP data network. It offers end-users total control and high entertainment value. IPTV broadly encompasses a rich functionality that ranges from the acquisition, encoding and decoding, access control and management of video content, to the delivery of digital TV, movies on demand, viewing of stored programming, personalized program guides, and a host of interactive and multimedia services.

IPTV delivers television programming to households via a broad band connection, using Internet protocols. Since it is in digital format, all analogue TVs require an IPTV set-top box (STB). IPTV is clubbed with other services like video-ondemand (VoD) , voice-over IP (VOIP) or digital phone and Web access, collectively referred as triple play. Triple play implies high-speed Internet and television / telephone service over a single broad band connection. With wireless, it is called quadruple play and grouped services (triple and quadruple) are called multi-play. Accordingly, IPTV comprises TV services provided over network, controlled by service operators such as telecome, cable or Internet service providers.

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IPTV VS INTERNET TV
Consider the difference between IPTV and Internet Television different. To differentiate these two models is in general quite challenging. Several important differences exist between the two types of delivery, and understanding these differences will help those involved decide which best suits their needs.

The primary difference is the way in which the content is delivered. While Internet TV travels over the open, public, global Internet, IPTV uses a private, managed network. Carrying video over a proprietary network allows protection of content and control of video quality without worrying about the privacy and quality issues. Besteffort Internet video can be subject to delays due to lower bandwidth, high traffic or poor connection quality. The end result of IPTV delivery is a higher quality, more reliable and more consistent viewing experience.

Both Internet video and IPTV offer interactivity, but IPTV brings these capabilities to the TV screen. This includes features such as caller ID and SMS (short messaging service) along with more targeted advertising. IPTV uses standard networking protocols, it promises lower costs for operators and lower prices for users. Using set-top boxes with broadband Internet connections, video can be streamed to households more efficiently than current coaxial cable.

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IPTV

IPTV ARCHITECTURE
Telephone companies will most likely be the first ones to offer IPTV service. Later on, this facility will be extended to other current television carriers. IPTV is not a costly affair, and it is even both operator and consumer friendly. Because it uses the Internet and sends less information compared to standard analog or digital television, IPTV promises both lower costs for operators and lower prices for consumers. The use of set-top boxes through broadband or DSL Internet is very helpful to transfer video signals. Therefore, video can be streamed to households more efficiently compared to signaling by coaxial cable. In addition to its higher speed, it can record multiple programs at once by use of digital video recorders (DVR). In ROI terms, the copper was already paid for by the phone service and the fiber/DSL by the broadband service. Therefore, IPTV only has incremental costs. The blocks that constitute IPTV are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Content sources. Service nodes. Wide area distribution networks Customer access links Customer premises equipment IPTV client

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Figure 1: IPTV System Architecture

Figure illustrates a generic IPTV system architecture to support applications such as digital (broadcast) television and Video on Demand (VoD).

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Seminar Report11 1. Content Sources

IPTV

Content Sources represents a functionality that receives video content from producers, and other sources, encodes the content and, for VoD, stores content in an acquisition database.

2. Service Nodes
The Service Nodes represents a functionality that receives video streams in various formats, then reformats and encapsulates them for transmission with appropriate Quality of Service (QoS) indications to the wide-area network for delivery to customers. Service Nodes communicate with the Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) for service management and with the IPTV service for the subscriber, session and digital rights management.

3. Wide Area Distribution Networks

This provides the distribution capability, capacity, quality of service and other capabilities, such as multicast, necessary for the reliable and timely distribution of IPTV data streams from the Service Nodes to the Customer Premises.

4. Customer Access Links

Customer delivery of IPTV is provided over the existing loop plant and the phone lines to homes using the higher-speed DSL technologies such as ADSL2+ and VDSL

5. Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)

In the IPTV context, the CPE device located at the customer premise provides the broadband network termination (B-NT) functionality at a minimum, and may include other integrated functions such as routing gateway, set-top box and home networking capabilities.

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6. IPTV Client
The IPTV Client is the functional unit, which terminates the IPTV traffic at the customer premises. This is a device, such as a set-top box, that performs the functional processing, which includes setting up the connection and QoS with the Service Node, decoding the video streams, channel change functionality, user display control, and connections to user appliances such as a standard-definition TV or HDTV monitors

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IPTV

IPTV PROTOCOLS
IPTV covers both live TV (multicasting) as well as stored video (Video on Demand VOD). The playback of IPTV requires either a personal computer or a settop box connected to a TV. Video content is typically compressed using either a MPEG-2 or a MPEG-4 codec and then sent in an MPEG transport stream delivered via IP Multicast in case of live TV or via IP Unicast in case of Video on Demand. IP Multicast is a method in which information can be sent to multiple computers at the same time. In standards-based IPTV systems, the primary underlying protocols used are:
y

Live TV uses IGMP version 2 or IGMP version 3 for IPv4 for connecting to a

multicast stream (TV channel) and for changing from one multicast stream to another (TV channel change).
y y

VOD is using the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP). N-PVR (Network-based Personal Video Recorder) is also using the Real Time

Streaming Protocol (RTSP). Network Personal Video Recording is a consumer service where real-time broadcast television is captured in the network on a server allowing the end user to access the recorded programs on the schedule of their choice, rather than being tied to the broadcast schedule. Subscribers can choose from the programmes available in the network-based library, when they want, without needing yet another device or remote control. However, many people would still prefer to have their own PVR device, as it would allow them to choose exactly what they want to record. This bypasses the strict copyright and licensing regulations, as well as other limitations, that often prevent the network itself

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IPTV SERVICE ARCHITECTURE

IPTV is still young with regard to its extensive commercial utilization. Figure 2 illustrates the components required for implementing IPTV services; the main components are

1. Reception 2. Transmission centre 3. Background systems 4. Broadband networks 5. IP STB in the customers home.

IPTV operators receive digital satellite channels by satellite antenna and digital terrestrial services by UHF antenna. The channels are routed to the transmission centers signal converter equipment, which converts the television content to an IP network-compatible format and transmits it into homes via operators broadband backbone and access networks. In homes, IPTV services are received by an IP STB whose software and updates are managed by a configuration server located in the transmission centre.

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Figure 2: IPTV service architecture

The IPTV systems most crucial component is the software that enables service and customer management in the transmission centre (middleware) and which integrates the different elements of the IPTV system into a single entity. The software directs the traffic between the transmission centre and IP STB, and serves as the customers television user interface, providing the TV program guide and a subscription system for additional services. It also manages the opening and closing of services and channels for customers.

IPTVs additional services are provided from separate distribution servers, which are distributed over the operators broadband networks in the case of geographically large implementations and as the number of customers grows. These

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of use.

IPTV

also require an encryption solution for securing content and creating customers rights

The IPTV system communicates with the background systems through middleware. Background systems enable invoicing, among other things. Operators can enable their IPTV subscribers to access the Internet through broadband networks by way of routers, and the VoIP service to access the landline telephone network through gateways.

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IPTV FROM THE CONSUMERS PERSPECTIVE

Figure 3:

IPTV customer equipment

In order to use an IPTV service, consumers need a broadband connection and modem. An IPTV service that is implemented using modern technology requires a connection with a data speed of 5 to 6 Mbps at least. However, 8 Mbps has become the standard minimum requirement, because it enables consumers to use the Internet simultaneously to watching television.

The broadband modem is connected by an Ethernet cable or by a wireless connection to the IP STB, which is only suitable for receiving a digital television service that is compressed to the IP network. The IP STB is connected by a cable to the television and includes a connection to which it is possible to connect stereo equipment. The IPTV service does not place special requirements on consumers television sets. Consumers can connect their computers and VoIP service equipment to a broadband modem.

Consumers can use the television service by remote control or wireless keyboard, which the IPTV provider may have included in the customer equipment. IPTVs pay television content is encrypted so that only those customers who have paid 12 12

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for it can receive it. In Finland, digital pay channels are encrypted using the Conax system, which can also be utilized in IPTV. For Conax decryption, customers must acquire a pay television card from the service provider. IPTV services also utilize software-based DRM encryption, in which case a pay television card is not required.

APPLICATIONS AND SERVICES

The applications for IPTV deployment are to provide the delivery of digital broadcast television and also the selected VoD. Such application enables service providers to offer the so-called "triple play," which is video, voice and data. The major applications and services enabled by IPTV.

1. Digital Broadcast TV
IPTV has the full potential to offer various high-quality services and much more than what traditional broadcast, cable, and satellite TV providers have offered subscribers in the past. Another utility with IPTV is that it has more content variety with a larger number of channels to choose depending on the customers' preferences. This makes a promising start especially as customers can choose from its diversified content. It will reach its target group no matter whether the subscribers are in the mass markets, in specialized groups, or spread out in demographic communities. The function of conventional broadcast, cable, and satellite TV is to provide all channels simultaneously (i.e., broadcast) to the subscriber home. However, IPTV is unique and different from all conventional groups. IPTV only delivers those channels which are being viewed by the subscriber and has the potential to offer practically an 'unlimited' number of channels. The IPTV consumers will get the freedom to control what they want to watch and also when they want to watch. This is possible because it has a combination of two-way interactive capability. This is inherent in IPTV because of its association with IP. This association is built-in and tied to a robust internal network. Therefore, subscribers are enjoying the facility to broaden the unique experience at home or in their business. 13 13

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2. Video on Demand (VoD)

VoD is a service which provides television programs per the demands of the subscribers. The users interactively request and can receive television channels. These television services are beamed from previously stored media consisting of entertainment movies or education videos. It has a live access through live connection, such as news events in real time. The VoD application provides freedom to the individual subscribers to select a video content and view it at their convenience. When the initial IPTV infrastructure is in its place, IPTV applications and potential revenue-generating services, such as video telephony and video conferencing, remote education, and home security/monitoring cameras, will be available.

3. Multicast
By using the IP multicast feature in providing an IPTV service, a service provider can conserve bandwidth in their core and access networks. When more than one user is viewing the same channel in a home network, the service provider may only deliver a single video stream. But, at the same time, the home network technology must be competent to distribute this towards multiple users on the home network.

4. On-demand advertising
This technology multiplies opportunities for advertisers as unlike other applications, wherein a viewer sees an advertisement and then goes to the store to find out more about the item or purchase it, through IPTV, a viewer has get the facility to check out detailed information about the product instantly and , to large extend, can also make the purchase there and then. This platform will therefore increase the rate of impulse buying. IPTV has the technology to track the real viewership of an advertisement. Video calling too, can be facilitated on an IPTV connection. Viewers can watch callers on their TV screens and also watch TV programs at the same time.

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Seminar Report11 5. Privacy and Security

IPTV

Let us look at the important aspect of privacy and security of the subscribers. In this regard, the home network must be a closed one. Where is the user's security in this regard? It should be a secure network where access is limited only to users and concerned devices within the home. This is an important factor for the home networks as it uses wireless technologies or shared media technologies such as power line networking. Further, the user data on the home network is protected and no outsiders or intruders have the power to intercept. Unauthorized users do not have the capacity to view it.

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IPTV

ADVANTAGES OF IPTV
It has already been established that IPTV system conserves bandwidth. But there are many more advantages beyond this. In IPTV, a new level of interactivity among Internet, voice, and video can be established. This enables new types of services which were previously unavailable over stacked networks. For example, in traditional cable TV networks, video transmission is beamed over MPEG streams on an explicit portion of the bandwidth. On the other hand, high-speed data products, such as cable- and modem-based Internet service, are delivered over an IP based network. It is separate from the broadcast TV network that uses MPEG transmission. In this case, both services were delivered via an IP network then, in such a situation, overlapping products are possible. Interactive TV is a good example which often relies on data-centric applications. Today, the delivery of such applications is quite complex due to the separation of IP packets from MPEG streams. These would be missing if such IP packets delivered all video and data. The point to remember is that video broadcasts made through IPTV is automatically archived in Real Media format, which is stored on a real server. This facility allows the students, who could not view the broadcast or watch the same video, to view it later, either on or off campus. However, Real Media is not a multicast system and therefore has a limited bandwidth capacity.

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CONCLUSION
Among the diverse areas within an IPTV solution, which are to be addressed, it is obvious that the standardization process related to it is in its early stages. In the different parts of the whole system, many entities are working. However, so far, the observation is that there is little coordination among them. After issuing a standard offer, it can be observed that one component of a system is a good step forward, but too little. Now for IPTV the need of the hour is to gain mass acceptance and to reach to the optimum technical and commercial success as per everyone's expectation. In order to achieve this, the IPTV market must make itself free from closed solutions, which may hamper the following three goals: innovation, development, and competition.

In regards to the future of IPTV, it can only follow one path, which is close to what the market has witnessed in the traditional broadcast world. Moreover, it is important to note that this market has built an open system, which is well defined and relies on open standards. To make IPTV successful and perfect as per expectations, it has to guarantee the interoperability between all the building blocks. But, the conformance program related to it is critical.

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REFERENCES
y www.itpapers.com y www.wikipedia.org y www.netinsight.com y www.electronicsforu.com y www.selectaseminar.blogspot.com y www.bestneo.com

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