Converged Tv

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Telecom operators commonly

provide TV as a part of their

multiservice offerings. The

market is segmented into xed

IPTV and mobile TV offerings,

which are based on techni-

cally different solutions. Todays

operators, especially on the

xed side, have started to show

strong interest in extending

their TV service over multiple

kinds of access and devices

in order to retain and expand

their market position, grow new

sources of income, and lower

operating costs. Ericssons con-

verged TV vision supports those

goals by providing TV services

anywhere, to any device, and atany time.

Telecom operators commonly pro-vide TV as a part of their multi-service offerings. The market iscurrently segmented into xedIPTV and mobile TV offerings thatare deployed as separate solutionsin the network and service layer(Figure 1). This means there isduplication of user and content

management functions, and verti-cal integration of the TV servicewith specic accesses and devices.

The systems are based on differ-ent sets of standards and are main-

ly proprietary implementations notintended for interoperability. This sit-uation creates lock-in effects betweendevices and networks, vendors, andoperators, and limits service evo-lution and mass-market adoption.

Todays operators, especially on thexed side, want to extend their TV ser-vice over multiple kinds of access and

devices, and are thus looking for three-screen or converged TV solutions inorder to retain and expand their market

position, grow new sources of income,and lower operating costs.

Tends and dives

The ambition to leave proprietarysolutions behind is shown by theindustry-wide engagement in stan-dardization initiatives for next-

generation networks. These include theETSI TISPAN and IPTV solutions in theOpen IPTV Forum (OIPF), wherein net-work operators, the consumer electron-ics (CE) industry, and network equip-ment vendors are jointly dening tech-

nical specications for multi-access,multidevice IPTV solutions.

There has been a sharp rise in recentyears in the consumption of video con-tent on numerous kinds of devices. In

mature markets, the average house-hold now owns about six video-enableddevices, and user demand for xed andmobile broadband subscriptions contin-

ues to grow. A recent consumer surveyindicated that 6 out of 10 participantswant to bring their TV subscriptions totheir vacation place, and many of themappreciate the ability to control their TV

service remotely, such as by program-ming a personal video recorder. Thesetrends point to growing user demand toaccess services from any location, by any

device, and on the users terms.

By 2014, it is anticipated that morethan 100 million households will havetelevision services based on IPTV tech-nology. DSL technology will be wide-spread in xed access for the foreseeable

future, but ber is increasingly beingdeployed in key IPTV markets. Withinve years, it is anticipated that a largemajority of TV sessions will be delivered

via dedicated user streams rather thanvia broadcast. This is important to con-sider for future xed network dimen-sioning. During the same period, mobile

broadband subscriptions are expected

to outnumber xed subscriptions, andnearly 60 percent of the mobile trafc

will carry video content. The mobilebroadband networks in use today are

widely based on WCDMA and will becomplemented by 3GPP Long TermEvolution (LTE).

Operators are increasingly bundlingvoice, broadband data, and TV servic-es into triple- and quadruple-play pack-ages to create attractive offerings. TVdrives service in this competition, andby adding mobility, operators can dif-

ferentiate themselves from compet-

Conveged TVEricsson has developed a prototype that showcases TV services delivered overfxed and mobile access. The company has also demonstrated advanced use-cases,such as transferring video sessions and blending TV with communication services.

daliBor turina, ola andersson, Berndt Wallin,

miguel BlocKstrand and torBJrn cagenius

BOX A Tems and abbeviations

AS application server

CE consumer electronics

CMS content management system

CTV converged TV

EPC evolved packet core

EPG electronic program guide

ETSI European Telecommunications

Standards Institute

FSAN Full Service Access Network

GGSN gateway GPRS support node

GPON gigabit passive optical network

GPRS general packet radio service

HSPA high-speed packet access

IMS IP Multimedia Subsystem

IPTV Internet Protocol TV

LTE 3GPP Long Term Evolution

MAE multi-access edge

OIPF Open IPTV Forum

OTT over the top

PGM presence and group data management

PON passive optical network

SGSN serving GPRS support node

VoD video on demand

WCDMA wideband code-division multiple access

17

TV services anywhere, to any device, at any time


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markets, and at an early stage it recog-nized the drivers, trends, and emerg-ing need for a combined xed IPTV and

mobile TV solution.1Figure 2 showsEricssons converged TV strategy andtarget architecture.

In this solution, the service layerparts, such as the application serversand management systems, support con-tent delivery to all devices and accesses.This approach enables unied subscriber

handling and advanced offerings whilelowering operating costs. The convergedcore network is based on IP transport con-

trolled by the IP Multimedia Subsystem(IMS), which provides several featuresrequired by the converged TV solution;

for instance, common user identity han-dling across accesses and the ability toblend the TV service with communica-tion services. The common core networkcomponents further reduce both OPEXand CAPEX. The solution reuses the

media-delivery protocols for IPTV andmobile TV in order to accommodate thedifferent characteristics of their accessnetworks. Therefore, any portable device

that uses both types of accesses will needto support both transport methods.

Operators who deploy a converged TV

solution can provide TV services across

multiple accesses and devices, introduceinnovative blended services, and bundle

them into attractive offerings. The com-

mon content management system andmultiple delivery channels also enableoperators to extend their distributioncapabilities while protecting contentand offering QoS to broadcasters andproviders of over-the-top content. Thissatises the need to defend and expandtheir market position while reducingoperating costs. Compliance to a stan-dard solution also allows operators toselect and combine products from mul-

tiple vendors as well as to drive mass-market availability.

From the end-user perspective, con-verged TV provides one TV service for all

devices regardless of location. Further,the subscription and the service can bemanaged from any device. End users can

thus program video recording equip-ment from one device and watch thecontent on another.

realization o conveged TV

a pototype

Market players have discussed the vision

itors. Therefore, as the transforma-tion from single-service to multiservicebroadband networks gains momentum,

operators are emphasizing the need fornew, suitable network architectures.

The value chain for TV content deliv-ery is also changing as the content and

CE industries extend their businesses by

establishing a direct relationship withend users. They often bypass networkowners by delivering internet servic-

es over the top of access networks. Togain a share of this value chain, somenetwork operators have begun offeringproper added value, such as quality-of-service (QoS) mechanisms for content

distribution, to providers of over-the-top (OTT) content.

Conveged TV vision sevice

defnition and value poposition

Ericsson is well positioned in the TV

Mobileaccess network

Mobilecore network

Mobile TVservice layer

IPTVservice layer

Fixedcore network

Fixedaccess network

Homenetwork

AN

BS

FIGUrE 1 Cuent fxed IPTV and mobile TV achitectue.

BOX B Standadization

Ericssons choice to base the CTV prototype on rele-

vant existing and emerging standards underscores

the importance of open-standards-based solutions

for interoperability and future-proong operator

investments. The following standards were refer-

enced for the CTV prototype:

Open IPTV Forum 1.0, Functional architecture

Open IPTV Forum 2.0, Service requirements

3GPP SA4, IMS-based PSS and MBMS User

Service

3GPP R8 SAE/LTE, Evolved Packet System

including xed mobile convergence

Mobileaccess network

Convergedcore and

IMS network

Converged TVservice layer

Fixedaccessnetwork

Homenetwork

AN

BS

MAE

FIGUrE 2 Conveged TV taget achitectue.

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Eric ss on rEviEw 2 200 9



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of converged TV services and supporting

architectures for some time. To move the

discussion forward, Ericsson has devel-

oped a converged TV (CTV) prototype toshowcase how the services can be real-ized and to establish a platform for eval-uating use cases, network implications,and solutions to technical challenges.The CTV prototype is based, as much aspossible, on existing and emerging stan-

dards and commercial products.The architecture for the prototype

(Figure 3) is based on the OIPF R1 archi-tecture and extended to cover the pro-totypes mobile accesses.2 The devicesused are a mobile phone connected viaWCDMA, a laptop computer connected

via WCDMA or LTE, and a TV set con-nected via 10Gbps GPON access.3 Thekey enablers for converging servicebetween different access and devicetypes are the common IMS core and theconverged application server.

The bit rates of the media streams are200Kbps to the mobile phone, 800Kbpsto the laptop, and 2.5Mbps to the TV.

Moderate bit rates were used because themain idea is to prove the feasibility of thearchitecture and use cases rather than todemonstrate high media quality.

The CTV prototype realizes a select

set of use cases from the OIPF R2requirements. These are demonstratedon all three devices. The use cases fallinto three different categories: single-

device features, multidevice-dependent

features, and blended services.

Single-device features

In a converged solution, the single-device features use case implies newtechnical challenges for content man-agement and may create new usage pat-terns.

Live TV users access traditional broad-

casted content via an electronic pro-

gram guide (EPG). The same channels

are available and have the same look and

feel on all devices.

Video on demand (VoD) users can

order and view movies on demand. All

titles are available on all devices.

Bookmarks users can bookmark a

position while watching TV; for example,

setting a bookmark while watching a

VoD title on a mobile device and later

viewing the rest of the video on a TV set.

Network personal video recorder users

may choose to record a program in the

network; for example, while watching a

TV channel on the PC, a user might

decide to record a program and watch it

later on a TV set.

Multidevice-dependent features

The multidevice-dependent features usecase relies on multiple devices to adduser value.

Session push a user transfers an ongo-

ing broadcasted program or VoD title to

another device. The user lists all avail-

able devices (on the original device) and

pushes the ongoing session to one of

them. When the target device receives

the pushed information, it automatically

plays the content without any user inter-

action. Depending on the users prefer-

ence, the original session either contin-

ues or is terminated.

Session pull when a user turns on the

TV application, the device in use displays

a notication if a session is already ongo-

ing on another device. The user may then

choose to access that same session on

the current device.

Blended services

The blended services use case runs TVservice simultaneously with anothercommunication service, possibly inter-connected, on the same device.

TV and presence while watching TV, a

user displays a buddy list to see who is

available to communicate with.

TV and messaging a user chats with

friends while watching a TV program or

movie.

These services are integrated on the cli-ent side to give a good user experience

but are otherwise separate.

Detailed CTV

pototype achitectue

Figure 4 shows a detailed view of theCTV prototype architecture, with com-ponents grouped into architectureareas. As can be seen, the CTV prototype

realizes the envisioned architecture.1

Service layer nodes

The CTV application server (AS) isbased on the application server foundin Ericssons commercial IPTV offer-

ing. The mobile TV and IPTV media-delivery and ingestion components arealso reused from commercial solutions.With respect to interfaces and the func-tionality of an IMS AS, the CTV AS com-plies with the general IMS architec-ture. One function of the CTV AS is toensure that all content and service alter-

natives are presented with the samelook and feel and can be selected on allclient devices. The devices announcetheir capabilities during the service-discovery procedure to enable necessary

adaptations. Further, when a user

CTV application server

Common IMS core

Multi-access edge

WCDMA LTE 10 Gbps GPON

Content streams

live TV and VoD

TV with set-top boxPC laptopMobile phone

Signaling Media + signaling

FIGUrE 3 Oveview o the conveged TV pototype.

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IP edge and associated network attach-ment functions, such as IP address con-trol and distribution, as well as policy

control and resource management. TheMAE area also manages mobility within

and among different accesses.In the CTV prototype, the MAE area is

realized with the gateway GPRS support

node (GGSN) products and related nodes

for the WCDMA access. An evolved pack-

et core (EPC) prototype was incorporat-ed for the GPON and LTE accesses. Itcontains

LTE-specic core network elements (the

serving gateway and mobile mobility

entity node);

a gateway element for xed access (the

IP edge node);

a common anchor point for session con-

tinuity for mobility (the packet data net-

work gateway); and

a common policy control node.

The EPC prototype was designed in linewith 3GPP R8, which includes supportfor xed mobile convergence.6

Access technologies

The WCDMA access is HSPA-capable and

was realized using commercially avail-able products.

The LTE access uses a precommercial

has selected a service, the CTV ASestablishes the viewing session between

the client and the media-delivery serv-

er. It also keeps track of all ongoing ses-sions and plays a key role when sessionsare transferred between devices. The AS

stores user bookmarks and recording

requests and enables them to be appliedon all devices.

The CTV AS contains the metadata cat-alog of VoD titles, and the EPG server holds

the metadata of broadcasted channels.

Both types of metadata are adapted to for-mats suited to the different devices.

Different transport protocols are used

for mobile and xed access. Therefore,there are two node pairs for the inges-

tion and media-delivery functions.For live TV content, the same originalstream is provided to both the IPTV andmobile TV node pairs. However, themobile TV ingestion component musttranscode the stream in order to meetthe lower bit rate requirements set bythe mobile accesses. Also, depending onnetwork characteristics, the mobile TVmedia-delivery function might perform

adaptation, called adaptive streaming.

Live IPTV multicast streams are directly

fed into the network.Because the resolution of mobile TV

and IPTV content is different, the con-tent management system (CMS) mustgenerate multiple versions of the VoDcontent les. These are stored on theirrespective media-delivery componentsand streamed to devices on dedicatedunicast channels.

Devices and clients

All three clients conform to the generalIMS requirements for registration andservice discovery.

The IPTV device is a commerciallyavailable set-top box (STB) and TV setup

with a browser-based client executingin the STB environment. The client com-

plies with the signaling sequences stipu-

lated by OIPF R1 for IMS-based IPTV.The client for the STB/TV is also used

on the laptop. In this case, it executesin the laptops browser environment.Support has been added for the mobileTV transport protocols.

The mobile TV client is Java-basedand deployed on a commercial mobilefeature phone. Since mobile devices arenot included in the OIPF R1, the client isaligned with the new 3GPP SA4 speci-

cation, IMS-based PSS and MBMS UserService.5

Standard services and IMSAll three accesses in the CTV proto-type use a common IMS core based oncommercial products. Users of the CTVprototype must have a service prolecongured in IMS, which handles userauthentication, authorization, IMS reg-istration, and session management.

Consumers are registered in IMS with

the same identity regardless of deviceand service. This is what makes the CTV

use cases possible.The prototype uses two different

edge nodes. Therefore, two different

policy-control interfaces are used from the

IMS core to the multi-access edge (MAE).However, policy control was only imple-mented in the converged evolved packetcore (EPC) gateway for GPON and LTE.

A presence and group data manage-ment (PGM) node supports presence and

chat services. Again, the IMS user identi-

ty, which is employed both for presenceand TV services, enables the serviceblending use case as described above.

Multi-access edge

The MAE functional area contains the

ManagementService layer

Standard Service and IMS

Transport and aggregation

Devices and premises NW

WCDMAaccess

LTE access

GPON access

Multi access Edge

Laptopclient

Subscriber

management

Content

management

QoSmonitoring

andcontrol

IPTVclient

MobileTVclient

Converged TVapplication server

EPGserver

MobileTV mediadelivery

IPTV mediadelivery

IPTVingestion

liveTV & VoD

Mobile TVingestion

liveTV & VoD

PGM

IMS core

Accessnode

Policycontrol

eNodeB

GGSN/SGSN

ConvergedEPC GW

RAN

FIGUrE 4 Illustation o the main components o the CTV pototype.

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prototype of LTE that delivers a peak bitrate of 160Mbps.

The xed access is a prototype of a

10Gbps GPON system. It is designed asa proof-of-concept candidate that tar-gets the next-generation access beingdened in the Full Service AccessNetwork (FSAN).3, 4

Conclusion

The CTV prototype demonstrates liveTV and VoD services provided to multi-ple devices connected to the same appli-cation platform. In addition, it demon-strates multidevice use cases, such asthe bookmarking and transfer of vid-eo sessions as well as presence and chat

capabilities integrated with TV service.The prototype proves the feasibility of

building an open-standards-based con-verged TV solution on existing networkand service layer products.

The key enablers of a converged TVsolution are the OIPF standards, the con-

verged applications server, the common

CMS, and IMS technology. The solutionwill allow operators to provide innova-tive services and to take advantage ofmass-market availability.

The implemented cases also provethat using multiple types of devices in a

TV solution adds user value. This is trueboth in terms of

exibility and freedom to consume ser-

vices regardless of location; and

having additional, personal devices to

complement the traditional living room

TV set.

Dalibo Tuina

joined Ericsson Radio

Systems AB in 1993 towork with the design and

standardization of the

GPRS radio interface. In 1997, he be-

came manager of the Air Interface Ar-

chitecture unit at the Access Networks

department of Ericsson Research. Be-

tween 2000 and 2006, he worked with

strategic system management issues

regarding the radio access network.

Currently Dalibor is Director, Systems

Management at Business Unit Multi-

media and works with TV and media

evolution strategies. He holds an M.Sc.

in telecommunications from the Uni-versity of Zagreb, Croatia.

Personalized and interactive TV enabled by IMS.1.

Ericsson whitepaper 2008. http://www.ericsson.

com/technology/whitepapers/IMS_TV_4.pdf

Open IPTV Forum 1.0, Functional Architecture 2.

v1.2

Trojer, E. Dahlfort, S., Hood, D. and Mickelsson,3.

H.: Current and next-generation PONs: A techni-

cal overview of present and future PON technolo-

gy. Ericsson Review, Vol. 85(2008)2, pp. 64-69

Full Service Access Network (FSAN),4.

www.fsanweb.org

3GPP TS 26.237, IMS-based PSS and MBMS User5.

Service

3GPP R8 SAE/LTE6.

Open IPTV Forum 2.0, Service and Platform7.

Requirements v2.0

reeences

Tobjn Cagenius,

who joined Ericsson in

1990, is an Expert in ap-

plied broadband services.

He holds an M.Sc. in elec-

trical engineering from the Royal Insti-

tute of Technology, Sweden. During the

1990s he worked with the develop-

ment, product management, and mar-

keting of ber optic components and

subsystems. From 1999 through 2006he focused on research in ber optics

in RBS applications, multi-access ar-

chitectures from a xed-broadband

network perspective, and IMS-based

services relating to residential net-

works. Torbjrn currently serves as

Technical Coordinator of IPTV at Busi-

ness Unit Networks.

Bendt Wallin,

who joined Ericsson

1986, holds an Expert po-sition in media-handling

architectures. Apart from

a two-year period of mobile phone de-

velopment at RTP in North Carolina,

USA, he has worked with speech- and

media-processing products, such as

transcoders, echo cancellers, media

gateways, messaging, and streaming

systems. Berndt holds an M.Sc. in elec-

trical engineering from the Royal Insti-

tute of Technology, Sweden.

Ola Andesson,

joined Ericsson in 2008

and is a Senior System

Manager for IPTV. He has

extensive experience of

web technologies, client-side graphics

and application framework technolo-

gies, and authoring tool solutions. He

also has several years experience of

working with different standardization

forums, including W3C, OMA, and

3GPP. Ola holds an M.Sc. in engineer-

ing physics from Uppsala University,

Sweden.

Miguel Blockstand

joined Ericsson in 1989

to work in integration and

verication. He was in-

volved in the rst release

and deployment of GSM, the rst im-

plementation of the PDC system, and

the rst introduction of WCDMA,

where he was responsible for the im-

plementation of a demonstration ser-

vice layer for 3G applications. Since

2007, Miguel has worked with mobile

TV and IPTV technologies. He is cur-

rently Senior Product Manger for IPTV

and mobile TV network technologies

within Business Unit Networks.

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