 |
» |
|
|
|
|
|
Target market |
|
|
| IPTV and converged services over IP networks is a relatively new business field, attracting new players in addition to the large incumbent Telco operators. Service providers range from large content provider, broadcasters, broadband access providers and also local and regional Telcos, energy companies and local administrations. It’s a new industry as such characterized by small business-model trials and then gradual introduction of commercial service in growing geographical distribution. |
|
The challenge |
|
|
A simple video distribution implementation starts with a single video server that serves a few users and then quickly evolves to multiple servers clusters that service hundreds of thousands of users. Also thousands of video assets have to be efficiently and cost-effectively stored, replicated and distributed geographically to satisfy consumer’s demand.
As these video distribution infrastructures scale up, they become complex because both hardware AND content distribution has to be managed. Complexity comes from the need to relocate resources in order tom optimize content availability and network traffic. Constraints are on storage price and performance, network bandwidth, outage planning and video ever changing consumer demand. |
|
Solution overview |
|
|
Content Distribution Network solutions, or Content Distribution solutions, perform the real-time management and distribution of digital content across a delivery infrastructure. Distribution starts from Head-end or Central Office up to the regional Point Of Presence (POP) or Edge node or MSTV “Branch”. The Edge nodes are the ultimate IPTV building blocks located just before the last network delivery system such as DSLAMs.
Objectives of CDN solutions are dynamic management of On Demand Assets on a static deployed Video Server Reference Architecture (VSRA).
The CDN optimizes the VSRA usage (storage, processing, service availability), and the core Network usage by using automated and manual distribution rules. The distribution optimization is usually based on real-time consumption pattern.
|
|
Customer benefits |
|
|
- Optimized storage and network cost
- Real-time automated optimal content distribution
- Centralized asset and network management
- Easy scalability
- Reliability
- Smoother system operation and customer satisfaction
|
|
Key components of the solution |
|
|
The video servers
Also called video pumps, they actually stream out the video content down to the subscriber homes, through IP edge network (DSLAM, ADSL lines) and CPE equipment (home gateways, Set Top Boxes).
Clusters and topology management
In the CDN, video servers are grouped as clusters for better efficiency. The CDN topology management feature allows a centralized management of the clusters, through a management GUI.
The Library server
A video server serving as the main asset repository, it is also streaming out some ‘low usage content’ that doesn’t require to be pushed up to the edge video clusters.
The Distribution Controller server
It manages the video clusters and the distribution rules. Usually, a management workstation holds the management GUI of the Controller.
|
|
|
|
|
Printable version
