ROUTE/DASH IP Streaming-Based System for Delivery of Broadcast, Broadband, and Hybrid Services

Abstract

The delivery of digital television services over broadcast channels using the MPEG-2 transport stream (TS) is a well-established concept. Despite the success of this technology, the advances and success of Internet protocol (IP)-based delivery models with browser-centric media endpoints that combine broadband and broadcast technologies as well as new service requirements have resulted in alternatives to the MPEG-2 TS. These IP-based approaches are considered essential to maintaining the success of broadcast-centric television services. This paper discusses an IP centric approach which is respectful of clean layering and combines the over the top and the broadcast worlds. Central to this approach is a protocol named real-time object delivery over unidirectional transport (ROUTE), which is based IETF protocols such as layered coding transport over user datagram protocol. The dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP format is used for both broadband and broadcast delivery. HTTP is used as the broadband delivery protocol, and ROUTE is used as the broadcast delivery protocol. It is demonstrated that the ROUTE-based approach is a lean and powerful media delivery method optimized for streaming media and non-real time media delivery with available application layer forward error correction. Thanks to its merits, this approach has been incorporated into the advanced television systems committee 3.0 design.