Triple play technology solution
Three-network integration refers to the integration of existing telecommunications networks, computer networks, and broadcast and television networks. A unified network system is gradually formed, and a fully digital network facility supports the communication of all services including data, voice, and video.
One, three network integration technology
1. An integrated business platform for triple play
The three-network communication network will be an information service network with global coverage, powerful functions, and complete services, that is, a globally integrated comprehensive broadband multimedia communication network. This network structure should be a unified and integrated system that provides comprehensive voice, digital, image and other services for users using any terminal at any location in the world. It will be based on the IP protocol, and all networks will be unified to the packet network with the IP as the basic protocol. The wide range of Internet services, such as e-mail, file transfer, remote login, and global WWW browsing, have made the Internet a widely used network technology, and the future network is a comprehensive network that integrates voice, data, text, images, and video. The Internet is the basis for the integration of this network and the integrated service platform for the integration of the three networks. How to form an IP backbone network for high-speed data transmission links has become the focus of today's information transmission field.
2. Access network technology of triple play
In recent years, the maturity of high-speed and large-capacity synchronous digital series (SDH) optical fiber communication system and wavelength division multiplexing dense technology has been able to meet the current high-speed broadband communication requirements, and the gradually mature ATM switching technology has laid the foundation for broadband integrated service switching. A good foundation. The broadband access network has adopted a fiber / coax hybrid (HFC) topology network, which has achieved great technological development. It can provide users with integrated telephone, data and video images through an HFC access network. business. At present, HFC access network technology has gradually matured. In addition to telephone and analog broadcast TV services, it can also provide narrowband ISDN services, high-speed data communication services, digital video on demand (NVoD) and other various high-speed information service services. With sufficient bandwidth, the transmission bottleneck problem is better solved. Even in the digital TV era, the HFC broadband multimedia access network can still further reduce the number of users covered by each optical node, increase business flexibility, good adaptability, rich bandwidth resources, and develop high-speed data services and digital TV services at low prices. High quality and great competitiveness.
At the same time, HFC not only replaces coaxial cables with optical fibers, but also introduces a new topology—node structure, which makes it easy for the network to provide switching services to various cells. The integration of the three networks is not a simple extension of the original, but will open up a new generation of telecommunications networks based on IP, providing applications such as IP telephony, video on demand, interactive games, distance education, e-commerce, and telemedicine.
Second, the application of IPTV
1. IPTV system architecture
At present, IPTV system technology has been gradually adopted and deployed by major telecom operators in the world. Abroad, VERIZON, SBC and QUEST telephone companies in the United States, Bell Company in Canada, MANITOBA telephone companies and SASKTEL telephone companies, European France Telecom, Telecom Italia, SWISSCOM and TELEFONICA have all carried out commercial and technical trials of IP TV or Commercial Operation. France Telecom, MANITOBA Telephone Company and SASKTEL Telephone Company have 100,000, 20,000 and 17,500 IP TV users respectively. Domestically, China Telecom has conducted IPTV operation trials based on broadband ADSL access networks in Guangdong and Shanghai, and China Netcom in Beijing and Northeast respectively.
Figure 1 shows the IPTV end-to-end system network architecture. The IPTV front end generally has two functions: program collection, storage and service. Program collection includes program reception (such as from satellites, CATV networks, terrestrial wireless and IP / ATM networks, etc.), program compression coding or transcoding (transcoding) and formatting, encryption and DRM packaging, and program generation. Program storage and services complete the large-scale storage or broadcasting service of programs generated after processing by the program collection program. The broadcast service here not only broadcasts the encrypted video and audio streaming media programs from the video server in the form of IP unicast or multicast, but also authenticates the user or user terminal equipment (authenTIcaTIon) and authorizes from DRM / Key server (DRMlicenseserver), transmits DRM authorization / key to the authenticated user or user terminal device, so that the user can decrypt and play the received encrypted video and audio streaming media programs. Compared with the traditional conditional access technology, the DRM technology used by IPTV has two basic differences. First, the former is to encrypt the video and audio streaming media content itself, while the latter is to encrypt the connection / transport layer such as MPEG-2 system multiplexing layer / stream; second, the former's DRM authorization / key is generally not related to the The encrypted video and audio streaming media program stream is transmitted together, and the latter key such as ECM must be transmitted together with the encrypted video and audio streaming media program stream.
The program transmission function of the IPTV system is completed by the IP backbone network, the IP metropolitan area network, the cable TV front end or the telecom central station and the corresponding broadband access network. It is the basic function that IP backbone network and IP metropolitan area network should play in the IPTV system network to route and exchange the video and audio streaming media program stream sent by IP unicast or multicast. Generally speaking, the existing routers in the IP backbone network and the IP metropolitan area network can easily support various IP unicast routing protocols, but many of them must be upgraded to support IP multicast routing exchange. Currently, the IP multicast protocol generally supported by equipment manufacturers is IGMPv2. In order to ensure the quality and real-time viewing of the IPTV program stream transmitted, IP backbone networks and IP metropolitan area networks usually adopt various IPQoS technologies, such as Diffserv and MPLS.
In addition, in order to improve the response and real-time transmission of IPTV program streaming on-demand, and to solve or slow down the impact and fluctuation of IPTV on-demand requests on IPTV front-end design capacity, IP backbone networks and IP metro networks have generally adopted Content distribution network technology. IP backbone network and IP metropolitan area network can also use different low-level physical networks, such as IP over SDH / SONET (ie Packet over SDH / SONET), IP over ATM or IP over DWDM OpTIcal (such as Gigabit / 10 Gigabit optical Ethernet) ) Way to provide transmission services. According to the corresponding broadband access network, such as Cable Modem network or DSL network, the cable TV front end or telecom central station will stream the IP video and audio streaming media program through IP over DOCSIS or IP over DSL through the CMTS placed on the cable front end Identify or send the DSLAM equipment of the telecom central station to the user. The cable TV front end or telecom central station is also often equipped with video and audio streaming media streaming content server and DRM authorization / key server, with program storage and service functions.
Figure 1 End-to-end system network architecture of IPTV service
IPTV user terminal equipment is used to receive, store and play and forward IP video and audio streaming media programs. The hardware of the basic IPTV user terminal equipment does not have a built-in CableModem or DSLModem, it only provides an Ethernet interface to connect with an external CableModem, DSL Modem or Ethernet HUB. The integrated IPTV user terminal equipment has a built-in Cable Modem or DSL Modem, which can be directly connected to the Cable Modem or DSL broadband network. The high-end IPTV user terminal equipment also has a built-in hard disk, which can provide IPTV DVR function and even support IEEE802.11 wireless networking function, which can wirelessly transmit IP video and audio streaming media programs protected by DRM to other devices, such as PCs. An IPTV user terminal device must have client software for the DRM technology used by the IPTV system. In order to make the IPTV system an open business platform, IPTV user terminal devices usually also use middleware software. EPG, user management, media asset management, charging and related software for various application services are also essential components of the IPTV system.
2. The main business model of IPTV
At present, the application of IPTV technology has two main business models.
One business model is that network operators use the IPTV system to provide a full set of TV services. They provide both IPTVVoD services and channelized IPTV programs. The IPTV service they provide can cover the current cable TV service broadcast program channel service and VoD program service. Not only that, they also bundle IPTV services with the voice and broadband data services they provide, and use existing voice and broadband data services to provide price subsidies and support for new IPTV services. They generally charge IPTV services on a monthly basis for "broadcast" program channel services, and charge for IPTVVoD services based on film and viewing time or number of times. These network operators are mainly large telephone companies. Most of them are based on the existing DSL network, and use the combination of IP unicast and IP multicast to provide these IPTV services. In addition, some large telephone companies and emerging network operators are also laying and using passive gigabit optical networks and IPTV system technology to provide users with video, broadband data, and VoIP phone three-in-one services, such as the US VERIZON telephone company and FTTHCommunicaTIons provides IPTV services in this way in Keller City in TEXAS and Minneapolis City in MIN-NESOTA respectively.
Another business model is the use of IPTV system technology by third parties to provide IPTVVoD services to broadband users in an "over-the-top" manner. The so-called "over-the-top" method is that a third party provides IPTV services to broadband users on different broadband access networks, such as CableModem network or DSL network or optical Ethernet. Such third parties must generally establish their own IPTV front-ends and connect their IPTV front-ends to the Internet or to the network of the corresponding network operator. Users can use the PC or IPSTB to order and download IPTV programs to the IPTV front-end through the broadband access network they use, and then watch the ordered IPTV programs on the PC or TV. The IP STB with hard disk DVR function can also automatically request to download IPTV programs according to the user's preferences for users to watch on demand. In addition, the IPTV front-end can also actively push IPTV programs to users' DVR-enabled IP STBs according to user preferences. Such a third party may be one of two different types of companies. One is a program producer or a company associated with it, such as Movielink or CinemaNOW in the United States. The IPTV charging method of such companies is generally charged on a film or monthly basis. The other is an emerging high-tech company that owns IP STB technology and provides IP STB boxes, such as Akimbo in the United States. Although the IPTV charging methods of these companies are also charged by film or month, they mostly rely on selling IP STB. For this reason, in addition to charging users for IP STB, they also provide users with one-time paid programs. You can watch IPTV programs unlimitedly during the lifetime of the system. For example, after Akimbo users buy an IP STB for $ 230, they can watch Akimbo ’s IPTV programs without any restrictions by paying a one-time payment of $ 199.
3. The main operation mode and analysis of IPTV
There are currently three modes of IPTV business operation: one is the self-operated mode, the operator purchases the rights to broadcast TV programs, integrates some TV programs or purchases programs from other content providers, and uses its own transmission line to transmit to customers; the second is the rental mode. Operators can lease their own IPTV lines to different customers, such as content providers, advertisers, traders, or highly personalized suppliers. The third is an integrated model, in which operators can operate TV programs and lease lines at the same time. Operators and various content service providers have established a cooperative model of risk sharing and profit sharing to jointly expand the IPTV service market. According to market research, video on demand, information services, communication services and interactive games are the most interesting businesses for users. Among them, video on demand is mainly based on movies and TV series, information services are mainly based on society, sports, finance and lottery, and interactive games are based on Casual games, puzzle games and confrontation games are the main ones, while distance education is mainly fashion, cooking and vocational education.
The IPTV service is not only an expansion of the operator's broadband streaming media application system, but also a future broadband operation platform based on IP bearer network digital TV. From the analysis of the current situation of the IP broadband bearer network and the application system, the technical difficulties mainly lie in: how the existing IP broadband network carries the IPTV service; how the existing streaming media, CDN, and VNET systems are integrated with the new IPTV service platform. At the same time, the IPTV service has largely subverted the traditional TV users' consumption and usage habits of TV entertainment, so the operation is more difficult, and the following implementation suggestions can be considered:
Design a business model that is conducive to business growth. IPTV is different from the Internet model. Telecom operators are the gateway to IPTV services and the core of the IPTV service industry chain. However, the development of IPTV services requires personalized channels and rich business content to attract users. This requires enterprises in the industry chain to reasonably position their business, establish a reasonable value distribution system and a reasonable business model. Comparing the broadband portal and ICP portal of telecom operators, we found that operators are not as good as professional ICP in brand packaging, website operation, information processing, and content integration. If telecom operators outsource some channels to professional ICPs or establish IPTV content operating companies, and at the same time reach a win-win profit distribution model with service providers, maintain relative stability in cooperation policies, establish scientific incentives and punishment mechanisms, etc. , Will be able to more effectively promote the development of IPTV services.
Reduce the purchase cost of set-top boxes. Specifically, user needs under different price systems should be fully studied, IPTV user development goals should be clarified, and the unit cost of set-top boxes should be reduced through large-scale procurement based on the target demand. Reduce or transfer the user's one-time input cost. For the competition between telecommunications and broadcasting, whoever has the user first will be in a competitive advantage. Lowering the threshold for users to use IPTV services can quickly expand the access rate of IPTV services, cultivate users 'usage habits, and ultimately increase users' use of IPTV services. As a new application across the telecommunications industry and the radio and television industry, IPTV has a very broad market prospect. On the one hand, China's telecommunications industry has quickly entered the broadband era, and IPTV is the best technology to integrate video media into telecommunications services on the existing telecommunications broadband network. The large-scale application of IPTV can greatly promote the regional economy. On the other hand, the richness of media content and applications directly reflects the quality of regional social life to a certain extent, and IPTV is a technology that can transform traditional media into a brand-new interactive personalized demand experience. In short, the integration of the telecommunications industry and the media industry based on the IPTV system is bound to produce a huge network TV industry.
Nantong Boxin Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.ntbosen.com