On Implementing IPTV Platform with IPv4 and IPv6 Devices

Abstract

The end of IPv4 addresses is now a reality. Providers not updated to IPv6 will have to hurry up the IPv6 start in its own network. Introduction of IPv6 means not only change of main routers but also change of mentality in operators, applications’ programmers besides end users. Even when for the last years the core network is prepared for transferring IPv6 traffic, other built-in parts of the Internet limit the IPv6 start. Examples of these limitations we find in not IPv6-awareness of many applications and services. For instance, voice over IP service, which uses session initiation protocol (SIP) needs to implement IPv6 aware SIP proxies and IPv6 aware AAA (authentication, authorization and accounting) servers as well as adapting application programming interfaces to IPv6. Internet protocol television (IPTV) system includes many different hardware devices, which not always are IPv6 compatible. In this paper, we propose a global solution for integrating all the devices, these one working on IPv4 and these one working on IPv6, under the same IPTV platform. This solution allows end users to receive IPTV stream irrespective of IP protocol used. The proposed solution is particularly relevant for small IPTV systems, which, step by step, are adapting into IPv6.