CATV Roadmap

J. C. Point
JCP-Consult
jcp-consult@wanadoo.fr
agenda
• HFC intro/capacity
• Cable situation (standard, economy and trends)
• Short/medium term potential R&D topics
Physical HFC architecture
 Cooperating network

network client
Broadcast / multicast services
Network 1: broadcast

singlecast services

Network 2: telecom

•HFC (like BWA) is a cooperating network by itself;

includes network 1 and 2
•HFC compares with (terrestrial+DSL) or (satellite+DSL) for
example
 Upstream/downstream Band allocation

Evolution
Evolution from
from broadcast
broadcast to
to multicast
multicast dedicated
dedicated to
to aa cell
cell
Ultimate plant capacity
Current standard situation
• Physical layer: DVB / CENELEC
• DTV: DVB (transport, signalling and middleware)
• Layer 2 protocols: EuroDOCSIS variant dominate for
data;
• QoS aware MAC layer
• Layer 2 security (anti-cloning, authentication,..)
• Set of primitives to upper layers
• VOIP architecture: defined by PacketCable:
• Based on thin client model (MGCP)
• Makes use of RSVP in the access
• Relies on E-DOCSIS MAC for security and QoS
• Defines complete back office, and interface to PSTN
Packet cable architecture
Embedded MTA MGCP
Call
Management
Cable Server
S
COP
MTA
Modem

CMTS Announcement Servers

DOCS
IS Media
Conference Mixing Bridges
DOCSIS access MAC Servers ...
network

Embedded MTA
Media Gateway
Cable Managed IP Backbone
MTA
Modem
Media Gateway PSTN
DVB MAC (QoS Features)
INA (Headend, Local, Regional) Controller

Signaling
Call Gateway
Management
DVB access Server
network
MGCP
(Cable,
OSS Billing
LMDS, Backoffice Provisioning
Terrestrial) Problem Resolution
Embedded MTA DHCP Servers
TFTP Servers
MTA Cable ...
Modem
HFC access
network CMTS
(DOCSIS)
Home extensions
• Cablehome:
• Extension of QoS paradigms to the home network
European cable situation
• Weak standardisation position (proeminence of
US standards); which has led to some local
vendors bankrupcy; few projects
• Pro-active association (ECCA), grouping main
operators; TComLabs for interoperability
• Tendency to recomposition towards a few main
players (Pan-European operators)
• Weak economical situation but good potential
(broadband access, voice, DTV); 50% of
broadband access market
HFC networks SWOT
• Strength:
• Flexible capacity; also evolution to wireless / FTTH
• Cooperative network: allows broadcast+multicast+ singlecast
services
• Weakness:
• Upgrade cost and delay
• MSOs financial situation / legacy situation
• Opportunities:
• Integration of video and multicast
• Added value services with combination of bidirectional/local
storage
• Threads:
• ADSL with H264 / new coding techiques / Satellite with PVR
• Cooperating networks
Trends
• Fast bidirectional upgrade
• No strong push for DTV
• Strong deployment of broadband data access; may
drive to global IP infrastructure
• VOIP systems deployment (slower then expected as
linked with operator size)
• Video (VOD) related services expected to deploy
rapidly (with competitive operators threat)
• Home network extensions: interface with HN, SLA /
security in the home
Potential R&D topics
• Physical layer upstream:
• Disturbance analysis and modelling (5-25Mhz)
– Impulse and Ingress noise statistical analysis
– Smart spectrum management:
• Plant pre-measurement and qualification
• Dynamic intelligent system linked with SLA
• New Physical layer analysis:
– Ex. : Multitone for very high bandwidth services
• Physical layer downstream:
• New physical layer / FEC studies for introduction of very high
bandwidth services (VOD, singlecast services related to video)
• Optical transport downstream:
• Modelling and optimisation of long distance analog links
• Optical transport upstream
• Studies of RF aspects of home network
Potential R&D topics (2)
• Layer 2:
• Study of MAC layer behavior with introduction of
video services:
– QoS definition
– Upstream and downstream MAC modelling and behavior
– Linkage with upper layers
• Definition of MAC layers associated with new
physical layers
Potential R&D topics (3)
• IP infrastructure
• Definition of IP infrastructure for integrated services
including video (started with Cassic in FP5):
– Service discovery
– Provisionning
– Signalling /session establishment (SIP)
– QoS
– Home network segment
• Link with middleware
• Interoperability:
• Interoperability in the access network
• Interconnection with other network (e2e interop.)
Potential R&D topics (4)
• Architecture aspects
• Thin vs. Thick client paradigms, Distributed storage architecture
• Integration of video services
• Multicast / broadcast signalling
• Relation with standards
• CENELEC: Physical layer aspects
• DVB (all layers including IP infrastructure)
• TComLabs; EuroDOCSIS (layer2) and interoperability
• Packet Cable (IP infrastructure and extensions to video)
• CableHome (extension to home network)
• TV anytime (Home storage)
• ETSI: TIPHON and Packet Cable
MORE GENERALLY; ENFORCEMENT OF EUROPEAN CABLE
ACTIVITY FOR STANDARDISATION ON LAYER 1 TO 4.
Thick vs
vs.. thin client
• Client-server architecture vs. peer to peer
architecture:
• Driven by requirement for low cost terminal
• Natural extension to current packet cable
architecture
• Strong implication on middleware (light MHP =
evolution path to full MHP)
• Extension: distributed storage architecture
Conclusion
• A whole EEC supported framework can be defined
specifically for CATV as a broadband access medium,
including physical layer, MAC layer, IP infrastructuree
evolution, middleware, home network, interoperability,
and standardisation
• Task force are being initiated to build this framework:
• Current phase: areas definition, discussion with potential
partners (operators, vendors)
• Commonality on some aspects with BWA networks
Conclusion
If you are interested in the CATV area, contact
me!

Jean – Charles Point

jcp-consult@wanadoo.fr

Tel: + 33 (0)2 23271246

Cell: + 33 (0)608072473