IPTV Architecture Research Articles

Software-Defined Time-Shifted IPTV architecture for locality-awareness TWDM-PON

IPTV brought great potential to give network providers the capacity to expand their market value and revenue generated by increasing the number of users. Time-shifted IPTV (TS-IPTV) is one way of accomplishment through IP multicasting. Amongst the access network solutions, Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) is regarded as one of the best solutions due to its high bandwidth provision, low operation and maintenance cost. Software-Defined Networking (SDN) separates the network control plane from the data-forwarding plane with the promise to dramatically improve the network resource utilization. Time and wavelength division multiplexed access passive optical network (TWDM-PON) is the ultimate solution for the next generation PON (NG-PON2), in which each wavelength is shared between multiple optical network units (ONUs) by employing the time division and multiplexing access mechanism. Local-awareness based TWDM-PON allows for the higher bandwidth and optimal flexibility, fiber management, service convergence and resources sharing. In this paper, the SDN is integrated into the TWDM-PON architecture to facilitate an orchestrated multicasting time shifted IPTV through the SDN controller to control and manage the traffic. The simulation results show that the proposed architecture and mechanism improves the quality of service (QoS) requirements in terms of the mean packet delay, jitter, throughput and packet loss.

Optimizing Cloud Resources for Delivering IPTV Services Through Virtualization

Virtualized cloud-based services can take advantage of statistical multiplexing across applications to yield significant cost savings. However, achieving similar savings with real-time services can be a challenge. In this paper, we seek to lower a provider's costs for real-time IPTV services through a virtualized IPTV architecture and through intelligent time-shifting of selected services. Using Live TV and Video-on-Demand (VoD) as examples, we show that we can take advantage of the different deadlines associated with each service to effectively multiplex these services. We provide a generalized framework for computing the amount of resources needed to support multiple services, without missing the deadline for any service. We construct the problem as an optimization formulation that uses a generic cost function. We consider multiple forms for the cost function (e.g., maximum, convex and concave functions) reflecting the cost of providing the service. The solution to this formulation gives the number of servers needed at different time instants to support these services. We implement a simple mechanism for time-shifting scheduled jobs in a simulator and study the reduction in server load using real traces from an operational IPTV network. Our results show that we are able to reduce the load by ~24%(compared to a possible ~31.3% as predicted by the optimization framework).

Calidad de servicio en proveedores de servicios IPTV

La posibilidades de interactividad propias de la IPTV (e.g., video bajo demanda, pago por ver, E-Learning), hacen prever, a corto plazo, el fortalecimiento de su presencia en el país. Esa masificación, sumada al hecho de ser un servicio que se presta en tiempo real y a su reconocida sensibilidad a la latencia, los retardos y la pérdida de paquetes, constituyen un reto para proveer un servicio que reúna las expectativas de calidad de sus usuarios. En esa tarea, administrar la prioridad en el tráfico puede ser fundamental. Los mecanismos de QoS (Quality of Service) pueden ser un gran aliado, al permitir el manejo rápido de aplicaciones de misión crítica. El artículo inicia con una visión general de la IPTV, sus servicios y arquitectura; la presentación de algunos conceptos aplicados al tema (e.g. QoS, QoE, IPTV sobre ADSL) y cierra con la presentación de mecanismos de calidad de servicio aplicados a IPTV y una valoración de la situación de dos proveedores de este servicio en Colombia.

Standard-Compliant Content Adaptation in IPTV Systems

IPTV, which is based on the universal IP infrastructure, has the inherent nature of heterogeneity in terms of content, networks, terminals, and users. An important solution to cope with such heterogeneity is content adaptation. This paper reviews the standardization issues related to content adaptation in IPTV standards. We first describe the basic architecture of content adaptation and its integration into the ITU-T IPTV architecture. Then typical methods of content adaptation in practical IPTV systems are discussed in detail. Especially, we highlight the standard metadata tools that are potential to support adaptation methods within ITU-T IPTV architecture. Some recent developments in other standard bodies are also discussed.

An end-to-end QoS and security joint management for IPTV service delivery

Today, the IPTV technology is emerging as a new concept for delivering and accessing audiovisual services over IP networks. To allow the transmission of IPTV services on wired and wireless networks, different issues should be overcome regarding scalability, quality of service (QoS) provisioning, security guaranty and terminals heterogeneity. In the IPTV architecture, QoS and security constitute two needs that have to be tightly managed. In this paper, we propose a complete end-to-end architecture for providing IPTV services. This architecture enables managing end-to-end QoS and security, while addressing other issues like the terminal heterogeneity. At first, we describe the architecture which is composed of two segments: the core network and the access network. Then, we detail the different mechanisms which allow managing simultaneously QoS and security for the IPTV streams delivered to heterogeneous mobile terminals. Performances evaluation demonstrates the importance of the joint management of security and QoS.

A Robust Client Architecture on Android to Cater End-2-End Real-Time Content Management and Personalized IPTV Services to Mobile Internet Devices

Digital Video Content is now pervasive and services like IPTV are gaining traction on hand held devices too. Android, a software platform from Google, pioneering middleware and applications for handheld devices does not offer support for content management services by design. Motivated by these observations, we propose an aggregate model software platform to offer content management and value added services (VAS) like IPTV on android. The outline of paper is as follows: First, we discuss few related works to investigate and analyze industry-wide content management and delivery practices. Second, we discuss few characteristics of android architecture and detail the constraints associated with middleware to offer such VAS. Consequently, we describe the proposed software platform which addresses key inherent challenges like Efficiency, Extendibility and Security while achieving efficient content delivery. The Module Interconnection Architecture can be visualized to be constituted by three basic building blocks, namely: VAS Content Management framework, IPTV framework and Application Services framework. The architecture employs a different perspective of classifying content based on applications. We point out the need and rationale behind such a classification to correlate in an end-2-end IPTV architecture. We show the benefits of using the Application Services framework to ensure smooth and swift portability onto various flavors of android. Finally, we conclude by detailing some use-cases indicating content management services like Electronic Service Guide (ESG) on Android..

IPTV architecture for an IMS environment with dynamic QoS adaptation

This paper describes the development, implementation and evaluation of a SIP based IPTV architecture with a new dynamic QoS adaptation method and signaling structure. The implemented QoS adaptation method allows dynamic updates of session parameters, maximizing the QoE and turning the solution suitable for live multimedia streaming, independently of the cast mode (unicast or multicast). The new SIP signaling structure, for session and media control, was developed following an All-SIP approach and a hybrid SIP+RTSP approach, both suited for an IMS environment, in order to compare the system behavior and performance using either approach. The details of both the IPTV Application Server and the IPTV Client prototypical implementations are described, as well as the results of field tests carried out across different Fixed and Mobile access networks for each of the signaling structures. The proposed IPTV architecture revealed to be suitable for scalable converged networks, due to its flexible multimedia delivery of personalized streams over a variety of network infrastructures, namely, Mobile radio networks.

Enabling layered video coding for IMS-based IPTV home services

Nowadays IPTV services are gaining attention from both providers and end users. There is a large effort toward the integration of these services into emerging next-generation network architectures. In particular, one of the most relevant solutions is being proposed by ETSI-TISPAN and is based on the IP multimedia subsystem. This article focuses on introducing layered video coding into TISPAN IMS-based IPTV architecture, allowing cost-effective efficient solutions both for residential users and providers (e.g., flexible support of heterogeneous devices, live mosaics, adaptive video quality based on device and/or network capabilities). The advantages of using layered video coding in the TISPAN IPTV solution are analyzed and illustrated with a set of use cases. Furthermore, this solution has been integrated into a multimedia testbed in order to validate the presented proposal.

Functional Architecture for NGN-Based Personalized IPTV Services

IPTV is one of the most highly visible services to emerge as part of the development of next generation network (NGN). IPTV services over manageable broadband link from a provider will be one of the ultimate goals of the broadband revolution using NGN. In this paper, we analyze IPTV architecture developed by ITU-T and provide functional architecture for NGN-based IPTV services according to functional mapping between IPTV and NGN. For this, we provide the detailed functional architecture and relevant operations with other functional blocks and present the harmonized architecture between IPTV and NGN for NGN-based IPTV services with the alignment with existing NGN architecture. As challenging architectural issues, we also introduce personalized IPTV services based on Web-based open platform in NGN environment and illustrate functional architecture and service examples for Web-based personalized IPTV services.

Concept for Mobility and Interconnections Aspects in Converged NGN-Based IPTV Architecture

The progress and evolution trends in the area of ICT and ICT infrastructure based on convergence processes create new opportunities. Service providers and network operators can provide a wide spectrum of multimedia services and applications to end users. The IPTV services represent a specific group of multimedia services which are in the sphere of interest of the telecommunication technical community but also subscribers. Standardization bodies like ETSI TISPAN or ITU-T have defined standards for NGN-based IPTV architecture and services (IMS and non-IMS). The paper evaluates possibilities and potential architecture for concept of converged NGN IPTV. New vision of the converged NGN IPTV architecture is presented together with proposed enhancements compared to IMS-based IPTV where single converged platform can serve fixed, mobile, or wireless terminals. The concept for IPTV service roaming with mobility support and different interconnection scenarios are discussed with intention to show potential user benefits.

IPTV Systems, Standards and Architectures: Part II - IPTV Architectures for Cable Systems: An Evolutionary Approach

IPTV systems are beginning to be deployed by telcos, to compete with cable and other television service providers. While cable network spectral bandwidths are larger than their wireline equivalents, bandwidth-consuming services such as HDTV are quickly filling this spectrum, prompting cable operators to consider video switching options as a means to increase programming capacity. This article examines the cable video network architecture, and in particular new emerging technologies that can provide cable networks with the means to transition to an IPTV architecture.