IEEE 802.16-based Wireless MAN（WiMAX）架構下IPTVMulticasting系統之設計與研究

Abstract

WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) provides wireless broadband access for metropolitan area networks. Substituting DSL and Cable for last mile access will be the projected goal of the WiMAX. Although new standards are still undergoing by the IEEE, many commercial products like base station and subscriber/mobile stations are already booming. IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) is considered a killer application in wireless networks. It uses versatile multimedia technologies and supports users-interaction and streaming services. Combining both the new technology and new application, that is, providing the IPTV services over a WiMAX network will definitely be an interesting challenge. This idea is the motivation behind the research. The research realized an IPTV system overlay a experimental WiMAX network. The WiMAX network is composed of one base and two subscriber stations. The IPTV server is installed outside the base station. IPTV Client nodes are installed hierarchically under the SSs and connected to SSs via WLAN access points. The server provides three multimedia sources: the cable TV channels captured from a TV card via DirectShow (for regular TV programs reception), the live video from a PC camera (for surveillance and e-learning services), and the stored media recorded in files (for Video-on-Demand service). To maximize the bandwidth utilization, the design combines the IP multicast, Virtual LAN, and WiMAX PMP (point-to-multipoint) architecture to construct the whole system. In addition to the implementation, the maximum capability of the underlying architecture was examined as well.