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R E F E R E N C E
D E S I G N |
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VIP6086N
Advanced digital VOD client based on VIA C3 667MHz |
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RG100
Residential Gateway for SOHO and home use |
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RouterLinux
1.1
based on 100% open source OS to full feature
router |
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Video On Demand White Paper
by Sofin Raskin |
Introduction
Watching preordered movie, while flipping between NBA playoffs and Wimbledon finals, discussing latest development of your social life with a friend from New
Zealand via ICQ and video conferencing with your boss regarding the latest deadline, ordering pizza from the pizza place around the corner, and once in a while moving the chess figures on your virtual chess
board during video chess game with your friend in Russia simultaneously (while sitting in the living room in front of the TV set) – sounds a little bit utopian ? No, it's the reality, when you have a
set-top box with Tivella's Video IP software in it. |
Background
Over the past couple of years the convergence of television and computers has taken a major step forward with the
proliferation of digital TV technologies. This new environment facilitates the broadcasting of data alongside video and audio content.
One of the more practical devices for accessing and using this new
media is the digital set-top box. Multiple Service Operators (MSOs) such as cable TV and Internet service providers (ISPs) are moving aggressively to capitalize on the opportunities that are emanating from
this new paradigm by installing millions of these types of appliances in homes across the globe.
The launch of digital television services is having a profound affect on the market for set-top boxes. In
many countries, service providers are retrofitting subscriber's analog set-top boxes with new digital set-top boxes. Additionally, some of the more technologically developed countries are beginning to push
second-generation set-top boxes to support a range of new services. The set-top box, once a relatively passive device, is now capable of handling traditional computing and multimedia applications.
Categories of Set-top Boxes
This huge installed base of set-top boxes can be broadly classified into the following categories:
n Entry-level digital set-top boxes n Mid-range digital set-top boxes n
Advanced digital set-top boxes n Advanced set-top boxes that include PVR functionality
Entry-level digital set-top boxes are capable of receiving broadcast digital television
that is complemented with a pay-per-view system and a very basic navigation tool. Characteristics of this type of box include low cost, limited quantities of memory, interface ports and processing power.
Mid-range set-top boxes include a return path or back channel, which provides communication with a server located at the head-end. These types of boxes have double the processing power and storage
capabilities of entry-level boxes. For example, while a basic set-top box needs approximately 1-2 MB of flash memory (mostly for code storage) in order to operate, mid range set-top boxes normally
include between 4MB and 8MB of flash memory for code and data storage.
Digital set-top boxes from the advanced category bear close resemblance to a multimedia desktop computer. They can contain more
than ten times the processing power of a low-level broadcast TV set-top box. Enhanced storage capabilities of between 16MB and 32 MB of flash memory (for code and data storage) in conjunction with a high
speed return path can be used to run a variety of advanced services such as video teleconferencing, home networking, IP telephony, video-on-demand (VOD) and high-speed Internet TV services. Additionally,
subscribers are able to use enhanced graphical capabilities within these types of boxes to receive high definition TV signals.
This paper focuses on the Tivella's solution for set-top boxes, which
belongs to the mid-range and advanced digital set-top box categories.
What is VIPbox
When you think of set-top box, you generally picture a TV set and a black box connected to the set with lots of wires. The true
picture of a digital set-top box is one of a complex electronics device comprised of many hardware and software components.
Tivella presents a highly robust and scalable solution for the mid-range and advanced digital set-top boxes, called VIPbox© (Video over IP Box).
VIP box specializes mostly in providing IP based Video on Demand (VOD) along with a wide variety of other services requested by our
clients. VIPbox is based on the Allwell's STBVOD3036 set-top box hardware. For more information on the Allwell's set-top hardware, please refer to http://www.allwell.tv/Products/Set_Top_Box/STBVOD3036N/VIP3036N/vip3036n.html
VIP box is an IP based product, which
has two main physical interfaces: Ethernet and RF. It is connected to your TV set, antenna and Ethernet connection on the wall. The main features of the VIPbox may be classified as follows:
n verifies access rights and security levels
n displays cinema-quality pictures on your TV set n processes and renders Internet and interactive TV services
VIPbox marries video on demand, interactive television and streaming video with data services over Ethernet (potentially also with xDSL and fiber). It employs IP network architectures and data
packets to distribute television content to the home.
By transmitting television and other video content via IP VIPbox solution allows both video and data network operators take full advantage of their
networks:
- The user will reach new levels of interactivity between Internet, voice and data by running different applications simultaneously on the VIPbox
- VIPbox frees up bandwidth and infrastructure resources by sending/receiving voice, video and data via IP (no separate
networks for voice, video and data)
- Services are then more easily delivered to the customers since there is a reverse path from every VIPbox
- It provides the viewer powerful control over the timing and
playback of both traditional TV and in-demand content
- While introducing request-and-send digital distribution for video on demand and other interactive services, VIPbox keeps a multicast television broadcast experience unchanged,
providing the same quality of service as it has always been.
VIPbox solution provides a very efficient and low-cost solution for hotels, apartment complexes, hospitals etc, since
Internet and cable TV infrastructure can be already seen in most hotels, hospitals and residential areas. Therefore Tivella's primary markets are multiple dwelling units (MDUs) and hospitality businesses.
VOD Servers and Back Offices are separate features, which will be discussed in different documents. |
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How Does VIPbox Work
VIPbox and the rest of the network work closely as a unit, where video-on-demand is a case in point:
1. VIPbox forwards the viewer's request to select VOD from available network applications. The request goes to the Back Office, which makes the registration and performs other administrative
activities. 2. Back Office provides the VIPbox configuration data, as well as application data. It makes the network look like a virtual disk drive to both the server and the set-top. 3. The
subscriber makes a VOD selection from the set-top box. The network uses various protocols to set up and allocate resources (servers, network bandwidth, etc.), and then control true video-on-demand
sessions. The protocols provide for the set up of client/server data sessions between the VOD Server, Back Office and the set-top to deliver software to the VIPbox.
4. The network delivers the VOD selection to the VIPbox from the Video Server and the Back Office. 5. The subscriber controls the VOD session with pause, rewind, and fast forward features using
VIPbox. The requests go directly to the VOD Server. 6. VIPbox alerts Video Server when the VOD session is completed, and the network frees up the resources allocated for this event.
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Functionality
The following are the main functional features of the VIPbox software:
Browser
VIPbox features a
built-in browser, which has almost the same robust functionality found in desktops. The browser supports HTML, standard text and GIF, JPEG and PNG types of images. More detailed Browser's overview can be
found in the "Browser" section of the document. Video On Demand (VOD)
VOD enables an individual customer to demand a program or movie when and where they want it.
RF Video Content Delivery
VOD and different Internet services present important part of the set-top box functionality. However, flipping between different TV channels is still the main
feature of every set-top box. VIPbox enables TV channels navigation and enhances the service with HTML control over TV channels, picture in picture, close captions etc. Parental Control / Conditional Access
This VIPbox service allows subscribers to control which programs and what TV channels are watched in their homes by using a secret PIN number. Multicast Delivery of the Video Content VIPbox system is IP based, which means that every VIPbox set-top box has its own IP address. By subscribing to specific services, a user can receive various
multicast transmissions of the video data. For example, there is a group of users that can receive the latest updates from runway shows of the famous European designers. By subscribing to this group, the
user will automatically receive all the shows that will be sent to the group's subscribers.
Proprietary Email System
Email is by far the most popular of all the Internet applications, boasting a user base of approximately
50 million people worldwide. With the advent of digital TV, this figure is expected to increase to 1 billion users by the year 2003. VIPbox has its own Web based proprietary POP3/SMTP Web based email
system. It's small, fast, complete, featuring extensive and user-friendly GUI. Instant Messaging Service
This service allows
subscribers to use their TV sets to send instant messages to one or many remote users. VIPbox supports Yahoo, MSN, ICQ, AOL and IRC instant messengers. Our developers are currently working on our own
instant messaging service, which will offer one-to-one or one-to-many communication channels.
EPG Support
Electronic Program Guide (EPG) is an onscreen navigation tool that gives
the viewer easy access to TV programming information. An EPG's primary function is to provide the viewer with an overview of the programming currently available, as well the ability to browse upcoming
television programs. VIPbox supports every EPG that can be integrated within current RF video content delivery.
Video Streaming
Streaming technology, also known as streaming media,
lets a consumer view and hear digitized content – video, sound and animation – as it is being downloaded. VIPbox supports RealAudio, RealVideo, MP3, Flash etc.
Software Overview
VIPbox is based on Tivella's proprietary version of embedded Linux, X windows (customized version from kernel 2.4.8), proprietary
TV oriented Windows Manager and customized embedded Mozilla (release 0.9.3). VIPbox's software architecture is based mainly on open source products, which makes VIPbox highly reliable, easily maintainable
and upgraded, and the most cutting-edge technology as it can be.
The following is structural diagram of the VIPbox's software components: |
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Browser
As has been mentioned, VIPbox's browser is a customized embedded version of
Mozilla (based on release 0.9.3). In addition to GTK 1.2 widgets, VIPbox's browser has the following customized options:
n VIPbox's unique look and feel n Various adaptations for TV sake: n
No headers for windows n TV status panel n Proprietary scrolling mechanism n Proprietary progress bar n Customized fonts n Fonts' zooming, controlled by external commands that might come from keypad, remote control or external applications n Cash management n Cookies management – cookies can be expired and flushed as in ordinary browser n
Font management n Management of number of windows n Browser can be fully controlled from remote control
Plug-ins
A plug-in is a software module that adds specific feature or service to the set-top box browser. VIPbox supports around 17 plug-ins available for
Linux's Netscape, including RealPlayer, Acrobat, Flash, JRE 1.3.1. In addition to the standard ones, VIPbox has a very powerful VOD plug-in. It is a very important feature, since content developer would have
use only HTML and JavaScript in order to create different applications with video content in it. Mozilla and X Applications
We support the following standard and proprietary applications:
n Proprietary email system n Proprietary remote utility for configuring IP address, mask and gateway (alternative for ifconfig
utility in Linux) n Proprietary network manager which
enables remote viewing and setting of system, networking, video card and content information, as well as resetting the set-top box for up to 30 set-top boxes simultaneously n Proprietary utility for running diagnostics of the video card
Supported Video Servers
Supported Protocols
o HTTP o
RTSP o RTP o UDP
o IP multicast
o SSL v2 and v3 o RC4 cipher, 128-bit key
Supported Hardware Formats
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Reference Design: VIP6086N
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