INDEX No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Page No.

Introduction 6 Difference between traditional TV & IPTV system 6 Service architecture of IPTV 7 IPTV Home application and services 9 IPTV Home distribution technology 10 Advantages & Disadvantages of IPTV 11 Comparing IPTV and Internet TV 12 Conclusion 13 Title

LIST OF FIGURES Figure No. 2.1 3.1 4.1 5.1 Title

Traditional TV Vs. IPTV Service Architecture of IPTV IPTV services together on one screen Hybrid PLC/Cable/Ethernet Set-Top Box Concept

Page No. 6 8 10 11

LIST OF TABLES Table No. 1 2

3

Title
Access Technologies The Technologies & Applicable Standards Comparing IPTV and Internet TV

Page No. 9 11 12

1. INTRODUCTION:
IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) describes a system where a digital television service is delivered to subscribing consumers using the Internet Protocol over a broadband connection. IPTV, essentially, has two components: Part 1: Internet Protocol (IP): The protocol establishes a virtual connection between a destination and a source. IP allows you to address a package of information and drop it in the system, but theres no direct link between you and the recipient. Part 2: Television (TV): specifies the medium of communication that operates through the transmission of pictures and sounds. We all know TV, but here we are referring to the services that are offered for the TV, like linear and on demand programming. IPTV: specifies the medium of communication of pictures and sound that operates over an IP Network. IP/TV is a network-based application that delivers live or prerecorded on-demand or scheduled programs to an unlimited number of users over any IP-based local- or wide-area network. Synchronized presentations and screen captures are also supported, in addition to a wide range of video management functions. IPTV is a whole new interactive package that will allow customers to watch TV, browse the internet and make long distance calls using VoIP and all this on their broadband connection.

2. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL TV & IPTV SYSTEM:

Television networks have traditionally been a closed distribution system where the television network determined which program sources could reach viewers. Television networks such as cable television, satellite systems and VHF/UHF transmission systems had a limited number of channels (up to several hundred channels). IP television systems can be provided through broadband communication systems that can reach content providers and viewers in any part of the world. This allows IP television service providers to offer many new content programs that have not been available for standard television distribution systems. New types of content sources include personal media channels, global television channels, interactive media, public video sources and private video sources. Personal media channels allow viewers to create their own television channel upload their content such as pictures and videos and share their content with other IP television viewers. IP television systems provide access to television channels throughout the world. Some of the more popular global television channels that are available on IP television include news channels,

business channels and music television. IP televisions may provide access to interactive media such as games, chat rooms and e-commerce shopping. Figure shows some of the existing and new types of IP television content providers.

Figure: Traditional TV vs. IPTV

3. IPTVS IMPACT
The impact that IPTV will have on the industry can be categorized into three areas: Content IPTV technology promises to make more content available, make it easier to access and make it portable (while maintaining security). Convergence The utilization of an IP network will allow single applications to be run over multiple end-user devices, all over a single service delivery network. Interactivity The two-way nature of the IP network will enable unprecedented interaction among subscribers, content providers and service providers. Since IPTV is enabled by the availability of network technology, the network architecture used to deploy IPTV is important. Content delivery requires bandwidth and performance, not only in the last mile (the access network), but also in the edge and core of the network and in the customer premises. The IPTV service model, and its market advantages, is not a new concept. However, recent developments have enabled the delivery of IPTV service in an increasingly secure, scalable and cost-effective manner. These recent developments include: > The proliferation of Gigabit Ethernet > The ability of IP networks to offer higher security and QoS > the development of high performance IP routers and Ethernet switches designed for IPTV networks the creation of advanced middleware applications that manage the delivery of video over the network.

4. THE IPTV NETWORK ELEMENTS

An IPTV system is made up of four major elements; all are generic are common to any service providers infrastructure.

Figure 1 IPTV Network Elements This is a high-level overview and, in reality, many IPTV subsystems and vendorspecific architectures are required to make each incarnation of IPTV unique and of varying complexity. Figure 2 also illustrates the two-way nature of an IPTV network, which contributes to many of the advantages IPTV has over traditional television service delivery models. It should be noted that the IPTV network elements combine to form an architecture known as switched digital video (SDV): Switched digital video (SDV) Referencing the network architecture of a television distribution system in which only the selected channel(s) are distributed to the individual connected household. This enables the service provider to have no theoretical maximum linear channel count. IPTV service providers will have different variants of the SDV architecture. This is another advantage to using IP multicast for the broadcast television streams. The most common protocol used for switching channels in a SDV environment is IGMP (IP Group Membership Protocol).
1. The Service Provider Core/Edge Network

The grouping of encoded video streams, representing the channel line up, is transported over the service providers IP network. Each of these networks is unique to the service provider and usually includes equipment from multiple vendors. These networks can be a mix of well-engineered existing IP networks and purpose-built IP networks for video transport. At the network edge, the IP network connects to the access network.

4.2 The Access Network

The access network is the link from the service provider to the individual household. Sometimes referred to as the last mile, the broadband connection between the service provider and the household can be accomplished using a variety of technologies. Telecom service providers are using DSL (digital subscriber line) technology to serve individual households. They also are beginning to use fiber technology like PON (passive optical networking) to reach homes. IPTV networks will use variants of asymmetrical DSL (ADSL) and very-high-speed DSL (VDSL) to provide the required bandwidth to run an IPTV service to the household. The service provider will place a device (like a DSL modem) at the customer premises to deliver an Ethernet connection to the home network.

4.3 The Home Network

The home network distributes the IPTV service throughout the home. There are many different types of home networks, but IPTV requires a very robust high bandwidth home network that can only be accomplished today using wire line technology. The end point in the home network, to which the television set is connected, is the set-top box (STB).

4.4 Middleware: The IPTV Enabler

The term IPTV middleware is used to describe the software packages associated with delivering an IPTV service. There are a variety of vendors in this space, each with their own unique approach to IPTV. The middleware selection by a service provider can impact the IPTV network architecture. The middleware is typically a client/server architecture where the client resides on the STB. The middleware controls the user experience and, because of this, it defines how the consumer interacts with the service. For example, the user interface and services available to a consumer (such as the electronic program guide (EPG), VOD or pay per view service), are all made available and controlled through the middleware. The ease of managing multiple services is a function of the two-way IP network. This IP architecture provides a standard for applications and services to be integrated into the network, and IPTV becomes just one of these applications. The differentiating factor in an IP service model is convergence. Because of the common structure for applications and services, convergence can be realized for network elements, applications and operations/business support

systems (OSS/BSS). Therefore, managing multiple services becomes a matter of managing the same services through the network and distributing them to multiple end-user environments.

4.5 IPTV Video on Demand (VoD)

Video on demand (VoD) services operate in a different manner than linear television service as the IPTV system provides the subscriber with a unicast stream of programming with VCR-like controls including pause, fast forward and rewind. The IPTV middleware controls the user interface and commercial experience/details of VOD and can also be extended to include services like subscription VOD and network based personal video recorder (PVR). 5. SERVICE ARCHITECTURE OF IPTV
The IP/TV network topology is based on three levels of network hierarchy including a head end, backbone, and access or distribution network. Refer to Figure 3.1 for a generalized diagram of an IP/TV end-to-end network. Note that it is not uncommon for equipment to be inter-mixed in locations. For example a head-end site may also contain components of the distribution network. 3.1.1 Head-End Video content of the IP/TV network originates from the top-level of the hierarchy called a "headend". As shown in Figure3.1, typically the content enters the network using satellite receivers. Content may also be purchased from another provider with a head-end and be received via an IP or network connection. To provide for redundancy of content, a service provider may engineer the network with multiple content sources to multiple head-ends. Implementing redundancy will limit downtime due to planned and unplanned service interruptions and reduce potential revenue loss. The digital video content signal received by the satellite must be processed through several devices into a multicast channel. First the content signal is aggregated to a single focal point by a large dish to increase the signal strength enough to be detected by receivers. The signal frequencies are then converted from the high satellite frequencies to a standard set of lower frequencies by a device called a "down converter. The signal is then passed to several Integrated Receiver Transcoders (IRT). Each IRT demodulates a single channel signal, unscrambles the signal, and re-modulates the signal as output. Finally, a "video processor" processes the signals from the IRTs, uncompressed video, stored digital video, "off-air" channels, and other sources into MPEG encoded multicast channels to be delivered over an IP network. If the encoded format is the MPEG-2 standard, the channel is encapsulated into 188 byte envelopes. The first 4 bytes are MPEG-2 transport overhead and the last 184 bytes Contain the video/ audio content. The method used to represent video and audio content signal was originally described as MPEG-2 but many other standards are evolving such as MPEG-4, MPEG-7, MPEG-21, etc.

To manage stream descriptions, billing, and stream access, middleware is needed. Middleware is software that helps a service provider to create, deliver, and manage digital services including broadcast IP/TV, VOD, pay-per-view (PPV), high quality music, and more. Figure 3.1 a server is used to aggregate all of these functions but the functions can also be distributed over multiple components. Middleware components may be centrally located or distributed throughout the content network system. IP/TV traffic usually does not flow through the middleware components but instead the middleware coordinates the distribution of the streams. A DHCP server provides dynamically allocated IP addresses to customer premises located STBs.

Figure: 3.1(Service Architecture of IPTV)

The DHCP server enables ease of IP address configuration plus provides the STB with needed startup information to allow for proper boot-up. The DHCP server for STB addressing should be kept separate from other services requiring dynamic addressing in order to ease trouble-shooting and coordination of maintenance outages.

A video server(s) provides video content for VOD, NVOD, and NRTVOD applications. A service provider may distribute video servers throughout the content network in order to enhance traffic engineering efficiencies of the network. Traffic engineering costs of system and network capacity should be accounted for when planning for a VOD service. A router may be installed at the head-end location to segregate some components from the multicast distribution network for security purposes. Access control lists (ACLs) can be put in place to avoid security breaches. The router will also serve as the Internet Group Management Protocol version 2 (IGMPv2) querier for the network. Although provisioned with Multicast routing to enable IGMPv2 querying, the router will not be actually 'routing' IP multicast streams. IGMPv2 is the protocol used by content servers as a method of reporting the membership of a multicast stream and by clients as a method to acquire multicast streams. Refer to RFC 2236 for more information about IGMPv2. The switch at the head-end location is a layer-2 IP switch that can be used as an aggregation point of all content streams serves as a connection to the backbone to distribution network. 3.1.2 Backbone The backbone of the IP/TV network system transports video content from the head-end location to the distribution networks. Depending on the implementation, several transport technologies may be used throughout the backbone. A larger deployment may use SONET/SDH rings to carry content streams from the aggregation layer-2 switch at the head end location to layer-2 switches located at the remote distribution networks. The streams are then switched to the appropriate requesting Fiber Drive system. An alternate implementation may use a combination of SONET/SDH rings with ATM to carry the streams. A backbone that distributes video must be built differently than a normal data delivery network. Most data systems are built with a statistical approach to capacity planning. Statistically not all subscribers are using the network at one time therefore losses, retransmissions, and random delay variances of packets are acceptable. Video content traffic is a perishable commodity and the network must be engineered to avoid packet discard due to capacity insufficiencies.

3.1.3 Distribution Network The distribution network transports the multicast content streams from the backbone to the customer premises location. A layer-2 switch with IGMP snooping enabled located at the edge of the distribution network receives the multicast streams from the backbone network. When IGMP snooping is enabled, the switch 'listens' to the IGMP conversation between the requesting hosts (STBs) and querier (router) to learn when to and when not to forward multicast streams. If snooping is not enabled the switch treats multicast traffic just like broadcast traffic and forwards traffic out all ports. This is an efficient use of bandwidth. The role of the Fiber Drive system is to coordinate the acquisition of streams requested by the customer premises and distributes them over the PON to devices attached to the associated Fiber Point Ethernet interface at the customer premises. The switch forwards multicast streams requested by the attached Fiber Drive Optical Line Terminal (OLT) blade. The OLT blade then forwards the stream down the requesting PON. The Fiber Point connected to STBs requesting the stream then completes the stream delivery by forwarding the stream out the Fiber Point Ethernet interface.

The main roles of the STB are to request streams for viewing, display program guides, and associate channel maps with streams requested by users. The STB requests a stream via the IGMPv2 protocol, receives the associated multicast stream, and then puts the stream into a signal format the attached television expects. Program guides are displayed by the STB to help the user navigate through program scheduling. The channel map is used by the STB to associate streams with channels viewed by the end-user. If more than a single STB or a data service is also provided by the Fiber Point, a small, unmanaged switch should be located at the customer premises. The purpose of the switch is to receive the multicast streams from the Fiber Point and forward them to multiple STBs within the customer premises.

3.3 Some Key IPTV Technologies

Access Technologies: Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) & Very-High- DataRate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) Access technologies which are capable of delivering higher Broadband data rates to the customer premises using the existing phone lines.

6. IPTV HOME APPLICATIONS AND SERVICES

Some key applications for initial IPTV deployment are the delivery of digital broadcast television and user selected Video on Demand (VoD). These applications enable service providers to begin offering the triple play video, voice and data. Additional video

applications, which can be enabled after the IPTV infrastructure is in place, are also mentioned below. Some key applications and services enabled by IPTV are discussed below and illustrated in Figure.

4.1 Digital Broadcast TV

Conventional digital television has been delivered to subscribers via an upgraded cable TV plant or satellite systems. The advent of higher-speed DSL technology such as ADSL2, ADSL2+ and VDSL, enables IPTV as a compelling and competitive alternative. IPTV is currently in testing, or planning, stages with a number of telecom service providers in North America, Europe and Asia (see listing below). IPTV has the potential to offer services that go beyond what traditional broadcast, cable, and satellite. TV providers have offered to subscribers in the past. IPTV enables more content variety with a larger number of channels. This makes possible the availability of very diverse content to serve the interests of mass markets, specialized groups and demographic communities. Unlike conventional broadcast, cable and satellite TV, where all channels are simultaneously delivered (i.e. Broadcast) to the subscriber home, IPTV only delivers those channels which are being viewed by the subscriber and has a potential to offer practically an unlimited number of channels. Combined with a two-way interactive capability, which is inherent in IPTV because of its association with IP, consumers will be able to control what they want to watch and when. With a robust internal network, subscribers will have the ability to extend the experience throughout the home or business.

4.2 Video on Demand (VoD)

The video-on-demand application provides individual subscribers the ability to select a video content and view it at their convenience. This enables the service provider to offer additional revenue-generating services, such as: Movies on demand, which the user would select from a movie library available at the Service. Node Stored programming content, such as sports events, television shows and newscasts, which can be viewed at a later time. Unlike traditional cable/satellite pay-per-view services where a limited number of movies are broadcast and on fixed time-slots, IPTV/VoD service would give users more choices and the flexibility to watch movies anytime at their convenience. IPTVDISTRIBUTIONINHOMENETWO Other compelling IPTV applications and potential revenue-generating services, which can be enabled once the initial IPTV infra-structure is in place, are: Video telephony and Video conferencing Remote Education, and Home Security/Monitoring Cameras Figure

Figure 4.1 IPTV services together on one screen Figure 5.1 shows that IPTV brings digital TV, VoD, internet access, media serving and many other services together for easy access throughout the home.

7. IPTV HOME DISTRIBUTION TECHNOLOGIES

Once the IPTV pipe (i.e. xDSL modem) is installed in the customers home, the Service provider has to consider how best to link the devices in the home to this broadband connection. Various home networking technologies which utilize existing wiring power lines, phone lines, coax cables - and wireless technologies are available alternatives for IPTV distribution. The technologies and applicable standards are summarized in Table 2: Table 2: The Technologies & Applicable Standards

Figure 5.1 Hybrid PLC/Cable/Ethernet Set-Top Box Concept

8. Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages There are many advantages of IPTV over current digital or over the air broadcast TV signals; here are a few of them. Integration Integration can be a great way for many companies to offer several services in one integrated package. For instance, IPTV can also be packaged with normal broadband Internet as well as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol ). All these services can be over one line sent directly to the consumer. This means that costs can be reduced and the consumer only has to deal with one provider instead of possibly three, making it more convenient. Switched IP Most home owners don't realize that cable TV broadcasters and Satellite TV broadcasters generally send all television signals at one time and then the consumer chooses which signal to show on the television set. This means that lots of bandwidth is used unnecessarily. With switched IP (IPTV uses switched IP technology), the entire process is more efficient. All the TV data is held in a center location and only the channel that the consumer at home chooses is piped in. This means much more bandwidth for either better quality broadcasts or the ability to add much more data choices due to the fact that bandwidth is no longer such a big issue. Interactivity Interactivity is much easier to perform with IPTV than a normal cable, satellite or broadcast TV system. Because IPTV is delivered over the Internet where the consumer already has a modem in

place, it is extremely easy for data to move from the TV company to the house, as well as data moving easily from the house back to the TV company. There will surely be many innovations on how to best interact between the consumer and TV company via television. Some ways interactive TV is already used is to purchase products directly from your TV set, such as buying items seen on a commercial or even ordering pizza. Another way that interactive TV can be used is by people requesting more information from their TV set on a program that they watched such as statistics while watching a baseball game. In addition, there are many ways that people can vote or take surveys while watching their favorite TV program. Home Network Not only is your TV set hooked up to the Internet, but all other computers in your home are hooked up to the same network, allowing you to use your TV to play media files that are stored on other computers. This may include digital photos, videos, surf the web or play music. In addition, many monitors have TV tuners built in or can accommodate TV tuners making your computer monitor an additional TV set in the home. Video on Demand (VOD) Video on Demand (VOD) is an interactive feature that allows you to request programs such as movies, TV shows, etc at your convenience. For instance, you might want to watch an HBO special that has already took place. A few years ago, you would have had to check the listings and made time to watch it or recorded it on your VCR or DVR. Today, you can easily turn on your TV set, scroll through a menu and request the programming that you wish to watch. IPTV makes this interactivity extremely efficient and convenient. Better Compression IPTV produces a great picture and plenty of programming options such as interactivity, networking, integration, etc; however it can also deliver better images due to its compression. IPTV uses an improved standard of compression than the current digital television standard (FTA). This means that not only are file sizes being sent to your TV set smaller in size, the quality of the TV image is higher. Disadvantages While the advantages of IPTV greatly outweigh the disadvantages, there are a couple of disadvantages that you should be aware of. Packet Loss IPTV uses the same technology that other types of data use to send and receive information (Internet Protocol). Due to this fact, your TV may experience from time to time a pack loss or delays. Your experience can be significantly worse if your IPTV connection is not up to par or not quick enough.

Currently No Support for HDTV Most of the IPTV systems currently do not support HDTV broadcasts. However, technology is improving and since this is an important issue most analysis state that this will be corrected in the near future.

9. Comparing IPTV and Internet TV

8. Conclusion
IPTV technology promises to make more content available because of the limitless nature of the switched digital video architecture theoretically giving access to niche content that has not previously been available on TV. An IPTV service model offers a complete broadcaster and Cable programmer channel lineup, including live programming delivered in real time. Additionally, it can offer a video on demand (VOD) service and enables the broadband service provider to develop new and unique services to differentiate their offering from competitors. The IPTV solution is designed to combine industry and Microsoft innovations to better support the services that pay-TV operators offer today, including standard- and high-definition channels, ondemand programming and interactive program guides, with enhanced features such as instant channel changing. Finally, IPTV will offer increased control of what is being watched, when, by whom and how much. & this is increasingly important.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPTV http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_IPTV_works http://www.indianofficer.com/forums/science-technology-wiki/190-what-iptv-how-doeswork.html http://myhsc.pbworks.com/IPTV