Triple-Play Service Deployment

144
MPEG-2 TS
over RF
Understanding the IPTV Headend
Delivery of IPTV requires turning the telecom service provider into
a video network operator, not turning video into a telecom service.
Delivering real-time video services entails implementing a
significant amount of dedicated equipment and processes. Every
network operator, regardless of the nature of their distribution
network, has to have a location to house that equipment and
process.The headend has come to be recognized within the digital
video industry as the central video-processing facility, and in the
service provider network all aspects of video belong to the
broadcast IPTV headend. This is where programming is collected
from content providers; processed, reformatted, or repackaged for
the IPTV network; combined with middleware, Electronic Program
Guide (EPG) or other interactive services; encrypted; and
ultimately encapsulated into IP for deployment into the service
provider distribution network.
IRDs
Ingress
Content Acquisition,
Demodulation,
Descrambling,
Decoding
SDI
or
MPEG-2
TS
IPTV Headend
Encoders Multiplexers
Transcoders
Middleware,
National Ad
splicing, EPG,
Encryption,
Conditional
Access,
Mosaics, etc.
Video Processing
Re-encoding or Transcoding
to MPEG-4 or VC-1, MPEG-2
Transport Multiplex, Addition
of Enhanced Services
Chapter 6: Troubleshooting Video in the Headend
Core
Network
Egress
Ethernet
Encapsulation,
Core IP Transport
Figure 6.1 The IPTV Head-end takes in video from content providers, processes and repackages
it for use in the IPTV system, then sends the video services into the Core Network.