Real Time Video and Audio Content Delivery over IP Packet Networks - TrueCircuit® Implementations after One Year

Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) and packet switching have long been the underlying technology for computer networks and the Internet. They are starting now to be used for voice and video communications as new and improved network technologies, such as DiffServ, MPLS, and VPNs become widely available. Utilizing those new technologies, the former unreliable and unpredictable nature of IP networks, will now offer highest Quality of Service (QoS). These new services, in combination with highly developed IP gateway technology allow for the exchange of high quality real-time and latency sensitive applications over IP networks as an alternative to existing distribution methods, such as satellite, leased lines, and ATM. From a business perspective, IP networks are becoming economically more attractive to distribute high quality video and audio content. At last year's SMPTE Conference and Exhibition in Pasadena, we introduced TrueCircuit® technology which insures deterministic, real- time data delivery over Ethernet LAN. This technology has since been extended to address critical QoS issues over legacy backbone MAN and WAN networks. A number of successful field trials over the last year give credit to this technology's importance and value. This paper provides an update on the evolutionary development process that has moved realtime content distribution over IP Wide Area Networks closer to reality. It addresses the trial results and deployment issues faced as we incorporated this technology into real customer driven applications. A detailed cost analysis, which compares other real-time data protocols such as satellite, leased lines, and ATM, is provided for comparison. In addition, the paper covers standardization, interoperability, process considerations, and an industry future outlook as IP networks are adopted for real-time data delivery.

Published

2001-11

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/M00997

ISBN

978-1-61482-935-5