IPTV system consists of typical parts, although the name and the details per part can be different between one provider and other but usually to deliver its content IPTV system will have these :

1. SHE (Super Head End)
2. VSO (Video Serving Office)
3. CO (Central Officer) or RT (Remote Terminal) that can serve as (Local End Office)

Super Head End
Super Head End is primary source of programming for IPTV systems. it is responsible for gathering content from programming supplier, converting it into appropriate form for delivery in IPTV network, and transmit it to Video Serving Office (VSO’s).
Super Head End (SHE) performs :
1. Content Aggregation
2. Conversion
3. Transport
4. Formatting

Video Serving Office
Video Serving Office is responsible for video processing and delivery services for geographic region, such as city. It is also responsible for distributing the content from SHE into every CO/RT in the region. VSO function aslo include
1. Localization
2. Compression
3. Stream Creation
4. Storage
5. Local ads
6. Interactivity
7. STB authorization
8. Fiber delivery

Central Office/ Remote Terminal
Central Office contains telephone call switching equipment. Remote terminal which is usually located underground contain system that connect subscriber lines and digital or fiber optic links to nearest CO.
CO/RT functions also include :
1. DSLAM function
2. Multicasting Technology
3. Connectivity
4. Combining services

Customer Premises
Is the parts/equipment that located in each home for example
1. DSL Modem
2. DSL filter
3. The Home Gateway
4. The STB

The use of words IPTV and internet TV are usually used interchangeably while in fact there  are some differences between those words. In my previous post about internet technology for ip tv, i have mention a little about IPTV, now in this post i will write the definition and differences between IPTV, IPVOD, Internet TV and Internet Video.

the table below describe the differences between IPTV, IPVOD, Internet TV, and Internet Video. The first table will display colom for IPTV and IPVOD, the next table displays colom for Internet TV and Internet Video

And these are the differences between Internet TV and Internet video. (I write this separately because i can’t display the table in full view)

from table above we can see that the difference between each term is that IPTV and IPVOD use STB or Set-Top Box while Internet TV and Internet Video only use PC or mobile device (smartphone), its just the same with browsing activity. While the difference between term “TV” and “Video” (including Video in “‘Video’ on Demand”) lies in the fact that one provides live content, while the other only provides prerecorded content.

*Set-Top Box is device that receives video packets, decompress them, and display images in realtime. It is crucial component of any IPTV network.

The reason why IPTV exploding?

Video is precisely timed, continuous stream of constant bit rate information which actually needs its own channel that is purposely-built for video. In contrast IP carry many different kinds of data from different recourse on a common channel. IP is actually deliver information in broken packet. IP technologies by default doesn’t meed the requirement for video service but why IPTV is exploding?

from IPTV and internet Video book, the reason are these five basic arguments :

1. Broadband IP networks reach so many households, Video service providers don’t need to create their own network
2. IP can simplify task to launch new video services, such as Video On Demand, and targetted advertisement.
3. The cost of IP networking is declining due to massive production of infrastructures and equipments.
4. IP network is available in every country and the user of highspeed data connection is growing continuously.
5. IP covers and provides services for many technologies such as web, data transfer, money transaction, dll, it means that people will need and use IP technology in their life