Network operators will need additional elements for a complete IPTV system that fits with specific network type and business operations.
In the ViP-TV transport only system, EchoStar does not supply the ancillary components but will assist customers in their evaluation and selection of additional components and vendors.
The following is a list and brief description of system components that will help complete an IPTV system.
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(CAS), some times referred to as digital rights management (DRM), is a system that provides security for the television and movie content so that only authorized subscribers gain
access to it. CAS systems are one of the more expensive additional must have systems for IPTV. Good conditional access systems act as overall system management tools that all of the other systems are
tied to. From a physical standpoint, a CAS system is typically a few servers mounted with software which requires subsystem integration with the other systems listed below.
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(SMS) keeps track of all subscribers on the IPTV system and what content products and rights they are signed up to receive. The SMS has integrated connections to the network
operators billing system, customer service practice, and CAS. Functional example: when a subscriber signs up with IPTV Network provider XYZ, the customer service representatives enter the customer data and billing
information into the SMS system which is integrated with the CAS system, which in turn authorizes the subscriber’s set top box (STB) to receive programming.
(EAS) is connected to the overall IPTVS to manage any disaster or other alerts that need to be broadcast to subscribers in the event of a local emergency. The ViP-TV locals will already have
emergency alert messages included, but STBs need to be alerted when non local channels are being viewed at the time of an emergency.
(AIS) is optionally integrated to allow network operators the opportunity to earn revenue by inserting ads into national programming on a local basis.
(EPG) information is supplied to viewers via software in the STBs. The Electronic program information is inserted into the IPTVS by integrating with Tribune Media or other sources of the information.
(boxware) is often termed middleware because it is delivered by servers in the IPTVS to STBs. The look and feel of the viewer experience is a function of the boxware, which provides
program mapping and other transaction or web portal type applications.
(VOD) systems allow network operators to earn revenue by supplying movie or other recorded and protected content to subscribers via their STB.
(STB) is the decoding device that is connected to the IPTVS and decodes the MPEG-4 signals and outputs television audio and video signals in a variety of formats. STBs, due to cost multiplied by subscriber
count, are the most expensive capital portion of the overall IPTVS. Care should be taken to choose and integrate the STB selections with the application software to create as robust a system as possible.
Low quality STBs with mismatched software create extensive technical and customer service operation costs. |
