Jump to a Book:

•	Next Generation IPTV Services and Technologies
•	IPTV Basics, Technology, Operation and Services
•	IPTV Crash Course
•	Video Over IP
•	H.264 and MPEG-4 Video Compression
•	IPTV - Broadband Meets Broadcast: The Network Television Revolution
•	Introduction to IPTV Billing, Event Recording, Usage Rating, Content License Fees and Advertising Revenues
•	Scalable Video on Demand
•	Digital TV Over Broadband: Harvesting Bandwidth
•	Introduction to IP Television

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Next Generation IPTV Services and Technologies

by Gerard O'Driscoll

Book Description


With a focus on changing job tasks and knowledge requirements for professionals, this book enables readers to meet the demands of designing, implementing, and supporting end-to-end IPTV systems. Additionally, it examines IPTV technical subjects that are not included in any other single reference to date: Quality of Experience (QoE), techniques for speeding up IPTV channel changing times, IPTV CD software architecture, Whole Home Media Networking (WHMN), IP-based high-definition TV, interactive IPTV applications, and the daily management of IPTV networks.

The television entertainment industry is currently experiencing a major transformation as broadband subscribers and improvements in compression techniques for digital video content continue to grow. This growth is fueling the demand for a new generation of technology professionals who will be responsible for implementing IP-based video services and digital home services around the world. Next Generation IPTV Services and Technologies explores key challenges associated with successfully managing the technical operation of an IPTV networking infrastructure and provides networking and IT specialists entering the IPTV sector with sound coverage of state-of-the-art technologies used to build end-to-end IPTV systems. Coverage includes:

• IPTV network distribution technologies
• IPTV real-time encoding and transportation
• Broadcasting linear programming over IPTV
• IPTV consumer devices
• IPTV conditional access and DRM systems
• Moving IPTV around the house
• Video-on-demand over IP delivery networks

Additionally, this book examines IPTV technical subjects that are not included in any other single reference to date: Quality of Experience (QoE), techniques for speeding up IPTV channel changing times, IPTV CD software architecture, Whole Home Media Networking (WHMN), IP-based high-definition TV, interactive IPTV applications, and managing an IPTV network on a daily basis.

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IPTV Basics, Technology, Operation and Services

by Lawrence Harte

Book Description


This IPTV book explains why and how companies are using IPTV equipment and to provide television services over IP data networks. You will discover what IPTV is, why companies and people are converting systems and selecting IPTV services. The different types of IPTV systems including managed and unmanaged IPTV systems are explained. Discover why companies are choosing to use IPTV systems to deliver television services over traditional television broadcast system.

You will learn how IPTV can allow users to access to a million TV programs virtually anywhere in the world. Discover how IPTV systems can offer new types of content including community created content, personal media channels and unique sponsored programming where content owners pay the IPTV operator to make their content available to viewers.

IPTV video technology is explained including video compression (MPEG, VC-1) and how IP video transmission is different than broadcast video. IP audio technology is described including audio compression (MP3, AAC) and how IP audio is transmitted along with IP video. Find out how and why IPTV systems use MPEG. You will learn about the different types of MPEG compression (MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264/AVC) and how MPEG uses profiles to adapt the media to the many types of user devices that can display IPTV media.

The functional parts of IPTV systems are described along with their operation and the key protocols that are used to manage IPTV networks. Learn about the different types of premises distribution networks (e.g. home networks) and how they are used to distributed IPTV signals within the home.

Described are the different types of end user devices including IP set top boxes, IP televisions, mobile video telephones and portable media players. You will learn about media content rights and how IPTV systems use digital rights management to control access and protect content. Some of the most important topics featured are:

• The different types of IPTV systems
• How IP television systems work
• New services are possible through the use of IPTV
• IP Video compression, formats and transmission
• IP Audio compression, formats and transmission
• MPEG technology, options and profiles
• IPTV network components and protocols
• Distributing IPTV in the Home using Home Networks
• IPTV Viewing Devices
• DRM for IPTV

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IPTV Crash Course

by Joseph W. Weber
Book Description

Get up to speed on this billion-dollar technology
IPTV Crash Course offers an accessible overview of this rapidly evolving technology that is radically impacting the landscape of television distribution and broadcasting services. This practical resource offers straightforward, easy-to-follow explanations of the fundamentals of digital television as well as basic and advanced IPTV technology. You'll also find in-depth coverage of IP network client devices including hardware and software, allowing for an enriched entertainment experience.

The Latest Innovations
This book delves into new advancements in the field, examining both the technological layers of digital television and Internet service offerings, and how they are converging to create new business models. Soon, the integration of television entertainment into daily life will change, and IPTV Crash Course is an essential read for anyone interested in this groundbreaking technology.

Full coverage of IPTV including:

• Overview of the Television Services Business
• IPTV System Architecture
• Digital Compression Process
• Digital Television Technology
• Digital Home Networking
• IP Client Device Architectures
• Copy Protection and Digital Rights Management
• IPTV Standardization Efforts

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Video Over IP: A Practical Guide to Technology and Applications

by Wes D. Simpson

Book Description

"Video Over IP" gives you everything you need to know to choose from among the many ways of transferring your video over a network. The information is presented in an easy to read format, with comparison charts provided to help you understand the benefits and drawbacks of different technologies for a variety of practical applications.

Readers who have a background in either video or networking will benefit from tutorials in both areas and the breadth of coverage that this book provides. Real-life application examples give readers successful examples of a variety of Video over IP networks that are up and running today.

After reading this book, you will be able to:

• Understand the basics of video today
• Understand the basics of IP networking technology
• Differentiate between technologies such as streaming, download and play, and file transfer
• Understand the benefits and drawbacks of a variety of video transport techniques
• Know what information you need to gather about their application before selecting a Video over IP technology and before beginning an implementation

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H.264 and MPEG-4 Video Compression: Video Coding for Next Generation Multimedia

by Iain E. G. Richardson

Book Description

Following on from the successful MPEG-2 standard, MPEG-4 Visual is enabling a new wave of multimedia applications from Internet video streaming to mobile video conferencing. The new H.264 ‘Advanced Video Coding’ standard promises impressive compression performance and is gaining support from developers and manufacturers. The first book to cover H.264 in technical detail, this unique resource takes an application-based approach to the two standards and the coding concepts that underpin them. Presents a practical, step-by-step, guide to the MPEG-4 Visual and H.264 standards for video compression. Introduces the basic concepts of digital video and covers essential background material required for an understanding of both standards. Provides side-by-side performance comparisons of MPEG-4 Visual and H.264 and advice on how to approach and interpret them to ensure conformance. Examines the way that the standards have been shaped and developed, discussing the composition and procedures of the VCEG and MPEG standardisation groups. Focussing on compression tools and profiles for practical multimedia applications, this book 'decodes' the standards, enabling developers, researchers, engineers and students to rapidly get to grips with both H.264 and MPEG-4 Visual.

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IPTV - Broadband Meets Broadcast: The Network Television Revolution

by William James Cooper, Graham Lovelace

Book Description

This report by William Cooper and Graham Lovelace, published by informitv in association with Lovelace Consulting Limited, is recommended reading for anyone that needs to know about the future of television.

IPTV - the delivery of digital television and other audio and video services over broadband data networks using internet protocols - will transform the television landscape.

This exclusive executive briefing provides a unique insight into the next revolution in digital television.

Synopsis
This influential independent report presents the key issues that every senior executive and decision maker involved in media and communications needs to know and understand about the future of television. Drawing on decades of combined experience, extensive interviews and the latest available industry research, this concise executive report provides an authoritative overview of the emerging market for delivering audio and video services over data networks. The network television revolution will change channels of distribution and fundamentally affect the way television is viewed in the future. Billions are being bet on the outcome that could radically transform the media landscape forever. In response to recent unprecedented global interest, informitv and Lovelace Consulting have produced this exclusive executive briefing that explains the key issues in simple terms that cut through the hyperbole and jargon to provide a clear picture of the next revolution in communications. With an independent perspective, based on practical professional experience, this report places these developments in context to empower decision makers to formulate their own strategy in response to the significant threats and opportunities presented. Dr William Cooper is the founder and principal consultant at independent interactive television consultancy informitv. At the BBC, William was operationally responsible for the delivery of online and interactive output, including the launch of interactive services on satellite, terrestrial and cable television. William started his career as a broadcast journalist, following a PhD in Communications from the University of Leeds. Graham Lovelace is the founder of Lovelace Consulting Limited, which specialises in convergent media. A former head of strategy and marketing at The Press Association, Graham was the founder of Lovelacemedia and founding editorial director at Teletext Limited. Graham is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program and is a regular commentator on media developments.

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Introduction to IPTV Billing, Event Recording, Usage Rating, Content License Fees and Advertising Revenues

by Lawrence Harte, Avi Ofrane, Tom Pazderka

Book Description

This book explains how companies bill for IPTV video, telephone, data, and information services. Billing and customer care for IPTV systems convert the measured amounts of services (bytes of digital information transmitted or information services provided) within an Internet Protocol (IP) data network into the money that will be received by the service provider. The billing systems used in IPTV systems can vary from modified television billing systems to custom integrated systems that allow real-time (near instant) activation and prepayment of services. The authors have interviewed and worked with hundreds of service provider companies and billing system developers to discover the ways IPTV billing systems operate. You will learn the language and terms used in the setup and operation of IPTV billing systems along with the format and important information parts of event detail billing records. The popular billing industry standards used to track IPTV services include IPDR, AMA, CIBER, TAP and XML are covered. Discussed are the ways that charges can be settled between service providers who allow visitors to use their systems. Included is a basic introduction to how services can be instantly provided and how billing is performed for access to information services. You will learn how mediation systems adapt usage events into billing records that can be gathered and managed by billing systems, how IPTV systems identify specific users and how to guide billing records to the appropriate customer account. The rating processes used for different services provided by IPTV are explained. You will discover what a typical usage transaction looks like, what elements are needed to create a usage record, how to deal with un-ratable records and rating usage from service partners. The process of invoicing is covered including billing cycles, invoice creation and posting to customer accounts. You will learn how it is possible to manage multiple user accounts on the same IPTV set top box (STB). Taxation issues are discussed including jurisdiction and other regulations along with universal service funds. Service rates and discounts are described including volume discounting, multi-tier discounting, bundled rate plans and service adjustments. You will learn how IPTV systems permit customers to self provision services and the common payment options that may be available to the customer.

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Scalable Video on Demand: Adaptive Internet-based Distribution

by Michael Zink

Book Description

In recent years, the proliferation of available video content and the popularity of the Internet have encouraged service providers to develop new ways of distributing content to clients. Increasing video scaling ratios and advanced digital signal processing techniques have led to Internet Video-on-Demand applications, but these currently lack efficiency and quality.

Scalable Video on Demand: Adaptive Internet-based Distribution examines how current video compression and streaming can be used to deliver high-quality applications over the Internet. In addition to analysing the problems of client heterogeneity and the absence of Quality of Service in the Internet, this book:

• assesses existing products and encoding formats;
• presents new algorithms and protocols for optimised on-line video streaming architectures;
• includes real-world application examples and experiments;
• sets out a practical 'toolkit' for Dynamically Reconfigurable Multimedia Distribution Systems.

Written by an expert in the field of video distribution, Scalable Video on Demand: Adaptive Internet-based Distribution provides a novel approach to the design and implementation of Video-on-Demand systems for Software Engineers and researchers. It will also be useful for graduate students following Electronic Engineering and Computer Science courses.

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Digital TV Over Broadband: Harvesting Bandwidth

by Joan Van Tassel

Book Description

Digital TV Over Broadband: Harvesting Bandwith offers a clear overview of how technological developments are revolutionizing television. It details the recent shift in focus from HDTV to a more broadly defined DTV and to the increasing importance of webcasting for interactive television. Digital Television examines the recent industry toward a combination of digital services, including the use of the new bandwidth for additional channels of programming, as well as some high definition television. The book discusses the increasingly rapid convergence of telecommunications, television and computers and the important role of the web in the future of interactive programming. This new edition not only covers the new technology, but also demonstrates practical uses of the technology in business models.

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Introduction to IP Television; Why and How Companies are Providing Television Through Data Networks

by Lawrence Harte

Book Description

This book explains how and why people and companies are using IP television and Internet television services. You will discover how global television services are already available through the Internet and how you can use standard television to watch global television channels using analog television adapter boxes. The fundamentals of how IP Television works is provided. You will discover how IP television can be watched on different types of viewing devices such as standard televisions with adapters, dedicated IP televisions, multimedia computers and mobile telephones. IP television service allows viewers to have more control of Internet television services. This control ranges from instant service activation to real time television on demand controls. Some of the advanced Internet television features such as personal media channels, anywhere television extensions, global television channels and multimedia programs are described. In addition to the traditional ways of television channel selection, you will learn about new ways television channels can be search and selected using interactive electronic programming guides (EPGs). The different types of media formats that are used for IP television services are explained along with their control protocols. Not all IP Television systems and services are the same. There are cost and quality tradeoffs along with common problem areas and risks. You will discover how the audio and video service quality can range from poor to above the quality that is already delivered to standard TV. Because each IP television viewer has a unique address, this allows advertising messages to be sent to specific viewers (addressable advertising). The ability to direct advertising messages to specific target audiences (addressable advertising) is more valuable to companies than traditional broadcast advertising and this may result in reduced viewing costs.