IPTV Challenges and Solutions in Metro Networks

Abstract

The Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV) uses digital TV technology and transmits TV and video contents over IP-based networks, where customers can have more choices in watching TV programs and interacting with it. In this chapter, different challenges and solutions proposed for IPTV are studied. We present an introduction to IPTV, its features, its applications, network factors for deploying IPTV, and an overview to IPTV networking infrastructure. Moreover, we study different factors in video coding that have an effect on optimizing the bandwidth and are robust against impairments. In addition, different challenges in IPTV over optical and wireless networks are reviewed. Besides, we study different solutions to improve VoD services. These methods use NVoD and TVoD to improve unicast services. We also study the methods that use features of networks and videos to improve multicasting services in IPTV. Finally, we discuss the methods to improve QoS in DSL and wireless networks.