Internet
Protocol television (IPTV)
is a system through which Internet
television services
are delivered using the architecture and networking methods of the Internet
Protocol Suite over a
packet-switched network infrastructure (such as the Internet or other access network), instead
of being delivered through traditional radio frequency broadcast, satellite signal, and cable
television (CATV)
formats.
IPTV services may be
classified into three main groups:
§ time-shifted television: catch-up TV (replays a TV show
that was broadcast hours or days ago), start-over TV (replays the current TV
show from its beginning);
IPTV is distinguished from
general Internet-based or web-based multimedia services by its on-going
standardization process (e.g., European Telecommunications Standards Institute) and preferential deployment scenarios in
subscriber-based telecommunications networks with high-speed access channels
into end-user premises via set-top boxes or other customer-premises
equipment.
IPTV ARCHITECTURE
Elements
§ TV
Head-end: where live TV channels are encoded, encrypted and delivered in the
form of IP multicast streams.
§ VOD
platform: where on-demand video assets are stored and served when a user makes
a request in the form of IP unicast stream.
§ Interactive
portal: allows the user to navigate within the different IPTV services, such as
the VOD catalog.
§ delivery
network: the packet switched network that carries IP packets (unicast and
multicast).
§ home
gateway: the piece of equipment at the user's home that terminates the access
link from the delivery network.
ADVANTAGES
The IP(Internet Protocol)-based platform offers
significant advantages, including the ability to integrate television with
other IP-based services like high speed Internet access and VoIP.
A switched IP network also allows for the
delivery of significantly more content and functionality. In a typical TV or
satellite network, using broadcast video technology, all the content constantly
flows downstream to each customer, and the customer switches the content at the
set-top box. The customer can select from as many choices as the telecomms,
cable or satellite company can stuff into the “pipe” flowing into the home. A switched IP network works
differently.
Content remains in the network, and only the
content the customer selects is sent into the customer’s home. That frees up
bandwidth, and the customer’s choice is less restricted by the size of the
“pipe” into the home. This also implies that the customer's privacy could be
compromised to a greater extent than is
possible with traditional TV or satellite networks. It may also provide a means
to hack into, or at least disrupt the
private network
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