IMS based IPTV services: architecture and implementation

Abstract

This paper presents a novel architecture for providing converged IP-based TV (IPTV) services specified by ETSI TISPAN standardisation for IPTV in ongoing NGN release 2 specifications. The described IPTV architecture is based on utilisation of the IP Multimedia Subsystem concept used by NGN architectural framework and its adaptation to provide the IPTV specific functionalities and services. Using the foundation provided by the IMS based architecture, we propose a new functional architecture to enhance the functionalities and features needed for scalable converged networks, flexible media delivery and advanced IPTV service scenarios. The proposed architecture, leveraging on the FMC architecture that operators may deploy to provide IPTV service across different access networks in future deployments (mobile, wireless, fixed) has prototypically been implemented in the ScaleNet* demonstrator testbed. This paper analyses in detail the main principles for such a converged reference architecture. The paper also presents the IPTV service scenario prototype called Click-to-Multimedia which shows some basic features and advantages implemented on top of the presented architecture by prototyping demo applications as proof of concept reference.