Seminar Report’10 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 material’s 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 device’s 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 Internet and
bandwidth has increased considerably, making IPTV prevail and become reasonably
successful.

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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-on-
demand (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. Best-
effort 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 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. Content sources.

2. Service nodes.

3. Wide area distribution networks

4. Customer access links

5. Customer premises equipment

6. 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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1. Content Sources
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 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 set-
top 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:

• 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).
• 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 customer’s home.

IPTV operators receive digital satellite channels by satellite antenna and digital
terrestrial services by UHF antenna. The channels are routed to the transmission
center’s 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 system’s 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
customer’s 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.

IPTV’s additional services are provided from separate distribution servers,

which are distributed over the operator’s broadband networks in the case of
geographically large implementations and as the number of customers grows. These

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also require an encryption solution for securing content and creating customers’ rights
of use.

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 CONSUMER’S 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.
IPTV’s pay television content is encrypted so that only those customers who have paid

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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.

APPLICATION 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.

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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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5. Privacy and Security

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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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

• www.itpapers.com
• www.wikipedia.org
• www.netinsight.com
• www.electronicsforu.com
• www.selectaseminar.blogspot.com
• www.bestneo.com

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ABSTRACT
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.

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