IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) usually refers to systems where a digital television service is delivered using internet protocol over a managed network infrastructure. In addition to a media device, the television screen also becomes a means of communication with IPTV, allowing the viewer to interact with the service as well as with other people. IPTV enables numerous applications besides linear TV, such as advanced service and program guides, time-shift TV, video-on-demand, games, betting, voting in television shows, voice call handling, chatting and presence.
Web TV, or over-the-top TV (OTT TV), is media distributed to the consumer’s device over an unmanaged IP network, that is, over the open internet. OTT TV and IPTV will coexist and complement each other. Because IPTV is delivered over a managed network, the quality of service (QoS) can be controlled at all times while OTT TV is a best-effort service dependent on the actual bandwidth available on the open internet. The standardization forum, the Open IPTV Forum, is addressing both models. For reasons of simplicity, the term IPTV will refer to both IPTV and OTT TV hereon in this document.
The Open IPTV Forum (OIPF) was established in March 2007 with the aim of accelerating the deployment of easy-to-use IPTV services to the consumer. To achieve this, it was judged necessary to address the requirements of every part of the IPTV ecosystem, such as content/service providers, network operators, network infrastructure vendors, consumer electronics manufacturers and technology suppliers.
The OIPF published its Release One solution in January 2009. Existing technologies and open standards are used whenever possible.
Key features and requirements
The Open IPTV standard supports ordinary IPTV functionality, such as broadcasting and video-on-demand. It also supports video recording functionality in the network and in consumer devices. Furthermore, a special guide will help consumers find the content that interests them. Content can be protected by means of service access, digital rights management (DRM), and parental control.
Apart from these standard functionalities, the OIPF has identified other areas of strategic importance for the evolution of IPTV, as described below.
Home networking
The OIPF has formulated requirements to access IPTV content not only from TV sets but also from other home devices, such as portable multimedia players and laptops. This will include the ability to transfer an ongoing IPTV session from one home device to another.
User identities
At present, IPTV subscriptions are typically associated with a device or smartcard that can be shared by an entire household. The OIPF, by contrast, stipulates the support of individual users.
Service portability
Service portability refers to the ability of various devices to access a service over a variety of access networks, including fixed and mobile access networks.
Session continuity
Session continuity is the ability to start a session on one device and to continue it on another. For instance, users who start a video-on-demand session on a mobile or portable device should be able to transfer the session to their home TV.
Integration with communication services
In the future, many people will want to manage their services (such as instant messaging, telephony, and e-mail) from the same device they use to consume IPTV services. Additionally, viewers will be engaged in the programs they watch through voting, chat, etc.
User-generated content
User-generated content is growing in popularity and becoming an additional source of entertainment. As a consequence, the OIPF is addressing the capabilities required to enable individuals to add and consume user-generated content.
New advertising formats
The OIPF has formulated requirements that address new advertising formats along with regionalized and personalized advertisements, enabled by IPTV.
IPTV and IMS
Because IPTV will be part of the multimedia services offered over IMS networks, the OIPF considers IMS technologies as candidate elements of its specification, especially in the area of managed networks.
IMS already offers solutions for key enablers in the OIPF’s scope, such as the blending of communication and entertainment services, QoS, a common transport control layer which enables TV & video services over hybrid access networks and a converged platform for mobile and fixed services to interact.
Ericsson IPTV solution
Ericsson’s IPTV solution consists of a combination of products and services to support operators with all aspects of the rollout of a complete end-to-end IPTV solution, including network infrastructure capable of delivering IPTV services.
A vital part of the Ericsson IPTV solution is its IPTV multimedia solution, to be deployed on top of an IPTV-enabled network infrastructure. The solution is pre-integrated and consists of key components from Ericsson and market-leading partner products for conditional access/digital rights management, QoS monitoring, interactive IPTV applications and set-top boxes.
Ericsson’s IPTV solution can be deployed in a traditional environment and in an IMS-based environment, as well as in combinations of these. If deployed in an IMS environment, a set of additional differentiating features becomes available, for example messaging, presence and remote parental control from mobile phones.
The Ericsson IPTV solution supports both the managed network and open internet business models.
It also includes open IPTV middleware, where APIs, hiding complexity in set-top boxes and IPTV middleware, allow for TV portal customization and the smooth integration of TV applications and back-office systems.
See also:
Open IPTV Forum
Ericsson Televisionary Portal
Ericsson shows innovative TV solutions at IBC in Amsterdam
Ericsson IPTV Network Infrastructure
Ericsson IPTV
Ericsson White Paper – IPTV enabled by IMS
IPTV – Ericsson video
Ericsson offers an open, flexible IPTV solution with an ecosystem
IPTV: so far so good
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