Multimedia Data Delivery
By Satellite and IP Multicasting
May, 1999
General Instrument Corporation
6450 Sequence Drive
San Diego, CA 92121
Copyright © 1999 General Instrument Corporation. All rights reserved. General Instrument and design and DigiCipher® are
registered trademarks of General Instrument Corporation. All information subject to change without notice.
Multimedia Data Delivery by Satellite and IP Multicasting
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................................3
2. INTERNET DELIVERY ...............................................................................................................................3
3. A NEW HOPE ..............................................................................................................................................6
3.1 IP MULTICASTING .....................................................................................................................................7
3.2 RELIABLE IP TRANSMISSION ......................................................................................................................9
4. IP MULTICASTING SERVICE .................................................................................................................. 10
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Multimedia Data Delivery by Satellite and IP Multicasting
1. Introduction
A dramatic change brought about with the advent of digital television is the conversion from an analog to
a digital representation of the television spectrum. In the new digital world, data is easily and efficiently
passed through from its source to destination in an unaltered fashion. As a result, datacasting is rapidly
achieving parity with video and audio services in digital television systems.
Sources of data are expanding (Internet, streaming video and audio services, digital archives) along with
the public's demand for more and varied information-based products. The wide and easily accessible
"data pipe" provided by digital television has placed data on a similar level of importance with video and
audio services to the home. As a result, datacasting has become the newest source of revenue-producing
services for digital television programmers and distributors. This paper explores the distribution and
delivery of Internet Protocol (IP) data services, and the role of digital satellite and digital cable systems in
the delivery of these services from the programmer to the viewer.
2. Internet Delivery
The high bandwidth available to homes over cable systems puts the cable operators in an especially good
position to deliver Internet services to their subscribers. The introduction of cable modems provides cable
subscribers with high speed Internet connections directly into the home. Subscribers can now experience
a rich variety of multimedia graphics delivered with a higher quality-of-service than available through
established terrestrial connections to the Internet. Additionally, the cable system offers a permanent
connection to the Internet, which bypasses traditional telephone connections, and can be conducted
simultaneously with IP telephony services offered by cable operators in the future. Immediate,
uninterrupted and multimedia rich Internet service then becomes as friendly and compelling to the cable
subscriber as the television services he currently enjoys from his cable operator.
Cable headends use Internet routers to provide a gateway for the cable system’s subscribers to reach
Internet web sites. The connection to the Internet is suitable for downloading files as downloads do not
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Multimedia Data Delivery by Satellite and IP Multicasting
have to occur in real time and can be routed to take advantage of the least congested paths through the
Internet. But the result is a very bursty and jittery flow of data into the client computer, which represents
a low quality of service for real-time data such as streaming audio and video. The client has to
compensate for this with a considerable amount of buffering, which ultimately limits the variety and
complexity of acceptable multimedia content.
Cable systems are in a position to overcome the Internet’s limitations by creating their own web site with
an attractive line up of downloadable and streaming data services for their subscribers. As the diagram
below shows, these IP services can be generated locally using video and audio playback equipment
feeding multi-media equipped PCs. These PCs could use software based computer applications for
performing compression and IP encapsulation of the streaming data. These data streams could be
delivered to subscriber's homes over cable systems equipped with Data Over Cable System Interface
Specification (DOCSIS) cable modems and advanced set top terminals. The IP services can be treated as
a separate service for PC users, or on equal parity with the other television and radio services in the
digital program lineup.
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Multimedia Data Delivery by Satellite and IP Multicasting
Figure 1 Internet Services at Cable Headends
Video and Multimedia
Audio Equipped Internet
Sources PCs
Streaming
Video
Hub
Streaming
Audio Head End Router
DOCSIS CMTS
- multicast enabled
Locally Generated IP Services
HFC Distribution
GI's DOCSIS Advanced Interactive
SB2100 Digital Terminal
RF-return Cable with RF-return
Modem Cable Modem
Consumer's Desktop Comp ut er Cons umer 's Des k t op Comput er
-multimedia enabled -multimedia enabled
media player media player
The capital investment and cost of producing local IP programming could be a burden to individual cable
operators. While premium services, such as interactive gaming, could well be worth the investment, it
would be much more economical if IP programming were centrally produced and distributed nationally to
cable systems. But limitations to the quality-of-service over the Internet remain an obstacle to this model.
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Multimedia Data Delivery by Satellite and IP Multicasting
3. A New Hope
An alternative comes from the same programmers that already provide, via satellite, the vast majority of
programming carried over cable systems today. Satellite delivery of IP data can bypass the router
bottlenecks in the terrestrial Internet and deliver data directly to cable systems with a very high quality-
of-service. The programmers could provide program related IP services to augment the viewing
experience of their existing programs, or use data to offer an expanded range of programming options to
properly equipped cable subscribers. This would allow the cable operator to further differentiate his
broadband services from those of the narrowband Internet, and be a further incentive for his subscribers to
upgrade their set top terminals and be able to participate in more premium services.
Figure 2 Satellite data delivery
CHE
Cable
CHE Programmer
Internet
CHE
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Multimedia Data Delivery by Satellite and IP Multicasting
3.1 IP Multicasting
Satellite data delivery is capable of both high speed file transfer and streaming video and audio feeds.
Digital cable systems may even offer the streaming feeds as another program listed in the subscribers'
program guide. Therefore, it is likely that these feeds would be simultaneously accessed by multiple
subscribers. Traditional IP networks establish an unicast connection between the headend router and each
subscriber. Such simultaneous connections could rapidly consume even the great bandwidth available
through cable modem systems. IP multicasting protocols are now available to overcome this problem.
IP multicasting differs from IP unicast in that a multicast enabled router can feed multiple clients with a
single IP data stream. This avoids the multiplication of data streams that occurs with traditional IP
unicast and allows the cable operator to deliver only one IP data stream per service to its subscribers. This
means that the cable operators can concentrate their resources on delivering more data based services and
less upon supporting duplication of those services.
Although IP multicasting can potentially be conducted over the Internet, there are still a number of
technical issues involving the lack of multicast capable routers and conflicting IP multicast protocols that
hamper the launch of multicast groups through the Internet. Smaller self-managed networks such as
digital cable systems are in a better position to establish IP multicast routing and multicast groups, and
satellite distribution is now emerging as an excellent way of delivering both television and IP data to
those cable systems.
The diagram below shows how a multiplex of real time streaming video and audio programs can be
delivered to cable subscribers over a combination of satellite distribution and cable modems. Video and
audio sources can be compressed into a stream of IP data. This data stream can be carried via satellite to
cable headend routers around the continent. This router is enabled to support distribution of each
streaming video and audio service to its cable modem subscribers as separate IP multicast sessions.
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Multimedia Data Delivery by Satellite and IP Multicasting
Figure 3 Satellite distribution of IP services
Video and Multimedia
Audio Equipped
Sources PCs
Streaming
Video
DigiCipher(r) II Encoder
Hub
Streaming
Audio
Satellite
Link
Ethernet
DSR-5200V
GI DSR-5200V
Satellite Receiver
Head End Router
DOCSIS CMTS
- multicast enabled
HFC Distribution
GI's DOCSIS Advanced Interactive
SB2100 Digital Terminal
RF-return Cable with RF-return
Modem Cable Modem
Consumer's Desktop Computer Cons umer 's Des k t op Comput er
-multimedia enabled -multimedia enabled
media player media player
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3.2 Reliable IP Transmission
Multimedia Data Delivery by Satellite and IP Multicasting
Data file transfers are considered to be reliable when the receive site can detect erroneous blocks of data
and request retransmissions of the erroneous blocks. This allows the receive site to build up a completely
accurate file. This level of accuracy is not used in streaming video or audio as uncorrectable errors in
transmission are simply concealed when they are presented to the viewer. But file transfers need to be
reliable.
Reliability is supported over the satellite link by adding a Client and Server computer at each end of the
satellite link. This allows the Clients to request retransmission of any erroneous data blocks from the
Server as shown in the figure below. Reliable transmission is sustained by a combination of forward
error correction in the satellite encoders and receivers, and further error checking by the Client computers
at the end of the link. The satellite link utilizes channel coding techniques such as convolutional coding,
randomization and interleaving to maintain a very high level of accuracy in the transmission of the data.
The Server adds further error checking codes to the data files to allow the Client computer to detect any
errors in the file transfer.
Reports of blocks received in error are stored in a log file by the Client. The Server periodically polls
each of its Clients to determine which blocks need to be retransmitted, and if any of its Clients fail to
respond to the poll. Only the data blocks that were not successfully received during the preceding
transmission intervals are re-transmitted until the Clients receive all the blocks they need to complete
error free files.
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Multimedia Data Delivery by Satellite and IP Multicasting
Figure 4 Reliable IP satellite transmission
Satellite Server
Video and Multimedia IP
Audio Equipped Data DigiCipher II Encoder
Sources PCs
Streaming
Video
Hub
Streaming
Audio Satellite
Link
Centrally Generated IP Services
DSR-5200V
GI DSR-5200V
Satellite Client Satellite Receiver
Head End Router
DOCSIS CMTS
- multicast enabled
Once the files have been reliably received, they can be made available to the local multicast router. This
provides the router with a reliable data source that it can call on if re-transmissions are required by any of
its Clients. Clients may request IP connection with the router. The reliability of these connections is the
responsibility of the headend router and its network. Reliable unicast connections are common using
TCP/IP, and reliable multicast protocols are also becoming available.
4. IP Multicasting Service
Satellite delivery of real time video, audio and data is supported by General Instrument's MPEG-2
encoder systems. Each encoder system provides up to eight MPEG-2 television channel encoders in a
single chassis, with multiplexers, encryption, modulators and redundancy. Each MPEG-2 encoder
channel includes a data channel suitable for transmitting synchronous data up to 9 Mbps with a constant
delay through the satellite link. This is referred to as isochronous data transmission. The high bit rate and
constant delay provide the high quality of service desired for streaming data or large file downloads.
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One or more IP streams can be carried in the isochronous data channel. As the figure below shows, the IP
streams are first combined as Ethernet packets at a hub. Ethernet protocols already support interleaving
multiple streams of Ethernet traffic. The resulting stream of Ethernet packets is converted to synchronous
data at the input to the GI encoder. The synchronous data steam is encapsulated as an isochronous data
service in the encoder's MPEG-2 transport stream, either as an element of a broader television service, or
as a standalone data service with its own entry in the Program Association Table and its own Program
Clock Reference.
Figure 5 DigiCipher® II Satellite Transmission System
Streaming
Video
Multiplexer
Video
Streaming QPSK
Audio Modulator
Audio
MPEG-2
IP Data
Sync Data Encoder
C or Ku-
Hub Band
IF Output
Entitlement Control Messages
Other
MPEG-2
Encoders
Entitlement Management Messages
Satellite
Link
DigiCipher II Encoder
System
10BaseT Ethernet L-Band
DSR-5200V
GI DSR-5200V
Satellite Receiver
Head End Router
DOCSIS CMTS
- multicast enabled
Satellite transmission is managed under DigiCipher® II conditional access and encryption. This assures
that only authorized receivers will be able to receive and decrypt the data. The encoder typically encrypts
each elementary stream, including the isochronous data. The encoder also includes similarly encrypted
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Multimedia Data Delivery by Satellite and IP Multicasting
Entitlement Control Messages (ECMs) to provide properly authorized receivers with the keys that they
will need to decrypt the data. The receiver then gets its authorizations from Entitlement Management
Messages (EMMs). A separate EMM is generated, encrypted and transmitted to each of the receivers in
the authorization list. Only the target receiver is capable of decrypting the EMM intended for it, so the
EMM cannot be intercepted and used by unauthorized receivers. Once it is properly authorized, the
receiver will be able to decrypt the ECM messages and then use the keys to decrypt the isochronous data
stream.
The entire MPEG-2 transport stream including the encrypted video, audio and data streams is multiplexed
with transport streams from the other MPEG-2 encoders in the same chassis, and the resulting MPEG-2
transport multiplex undergoes channel coding and QPSK modulation to prepare it for satellite
transmission.
Reception of the desired isochronous data service can be performed by a number of General Instrument
Integrated Receiver/Decoders (IRDs). Each of them feature conditional access and encryption, but the
model DSR5200V has been developed with a 10BaseT Ethernet output for the isochronous data channel.
Because most high speed modem systems support 10BaseT protocol (cable modems, etc.), it is possible to
hand off such data at the high speed modem router as if it were locally generated.
For the consumer, media rich content can now be streamed to the home without concern of latency
exceeding buffering capabilities. Equally important, by avoiding the Internet backbone, video resolution,
audio fidelity and the number of simultaneous users can be significantly increased.
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