INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION

FOCUS GROUP ON IPTV

TELECOMMUNICATION
STANDARDIZATION SECTOR

FG IPTV-C-0112
English only

STUDY PERIOD 2005-2008

WG(s):WG 5

2nd FG IPTV meeting:

Busan, 16-20 October 2006
CONTRIBUTION

Source: China Telecom

Title:

Proposal on IPTV terminal architecture

1 Introduction
This document describes IPTV terminal architecture including functional architecture, basic
hardware architecture and layered software architecture. We give a brief annex to enrich the existing
working document of WG5 for further study on IPTV terminal field. This document is expected to
be part of working document of WG5 in this meeting.
2 Proposal
It is proposed to renew the table of content of WG5s working document according to Annex 1 and
add the content of these three architectures to Chapter 7 of WG5s working document.
2.1 IPTV terminal general functional architecture
IPTV terminal general functional architecture reflects the services that the terminal should support
in a technical view. The most important functions that IPTV terminal should support including
management function, protocol function, application function and service function.
7.1.1 General functional architecture block diagram
Figure 7-1-1 IPTV terminal general functional architecture block diagram
7.1.2 Management function
Management function module is responsible for basic management for IPTV terminal including but
not limited to application management, security management, system management, power
management and event management.
7.1.3 Protocol function
Protocol function module is responsible for basic network communication and supports most of
network protocols that IPTV services need including but not limited to access protocols, streaming
protocols, transmit protocols and management protocols.
7.1.4 Application function
Application function module is responsible for basic elements supporting services including but not
limited to DRM application, plug-in application, browser application, media player application and
GUI application.
Contact:

Jianting Meng
China Telecom
China

Tel:
Fax:
Email

+86 21 58755057
+86 21 58750001
mengjt@sttri.com.cn

Attention: This is a document submitted to the work of ITU-T and is intended for use by the participants to the activities of ITU-T's
Focus Group on IPTV, and their respective staff and collaborators in their ITU-related work. It is made publicly available for
information purposes but shall not be redistributed without the prior written consent of ITU. Copyright on this document is owned by
the author, unless otherwise mentioned. This document is not an ITU-T Recommendation, an ITU publication, or part thereof.

-2FG IPTV-C-0112

7.1.5 Service function

Service function module is directly responsible for IPTV services, which should be refined
according to WG1s output.
2.2 IPTV terminal basic hardware architecture
In order to support various IPTV services, IPTV terminal basic hardware architecture should at least
include following modules. They are core processor unit, codec unit, network communication unit,
control unit, media interface unit, peripheral equipment unit and as well as display unit optional.
7.3.1 IPTV terminal basic hardware architecture block diagram
Figure 7-3-1 IPTV terminal basic hardware architecture block diagram
7.3.2 Core processor unit
Core processor unit is main computing resource for IPTV terminal. It is responsible for network
data processing, resource management, data computing, interface control and etc.
Core processor unit is a logical hardware unit, which may be integrated with other units.
7.3.3 Codec unit
Codec unit is responsible for media data processing including audio codec and video codec.
Codec unit is a logical hardware unit, which may be integrated with other units.
7.3.4 Network communication unit
Network communication unit is responsible for sending and receiving network data like network
adapter.
Network communication unit is a logical hardware unit, which may be integrated with other units.
7.3.5 Control unit
Control unit is responsible for remote control signal such as IrDA.
Control unit is a logical hardware unit, which may be integrated with other units.
7.3.6 Media interface unit
Media interface unit is responsible for translating media signal to display devices, which may
include RCA, LVDS, HDMI, YPbPr, YCbCr, VGA, S-Video and etc.
Media interface unit is a logical hardware unit, which may be integrated with other units.
7.3.7 Peripheral equipment unit
Peripheral equipment unit is responsible for other devices to connect to IPTV terminal such as
WiFi, USB, BT and etc.
7.3.8 Display unit
Display unit is responsible for service presentation including but not limited to CRT, LCD, LED
and etc.
2.3 IPTV terminal layered software architecture
In order to clearly describe IPTV terminals software architecture, it is good to divide the whole
architecture into several layers, which have their own independent functions and have call

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relationship between them. Software architecture should at least include operation system/driver
layer, protocol/control layer, middleware layer which is optional, application layer and service layer.
7.2.1 IPTV terminal software architecture
Figure 7-2-1 IPTV terminal layered software architecture
7.2.2 OS/Driver layer
OS/Driver layer includes the lowest level in terminals software architecture, such as operation
system, hardware driver, boot loader, lib API and etc.
7.2.3 Protocol/Control layer
Protocol/Control layer provides basic software function for network protocol stack, application
lifecycle control, file control and management, event control and etc.
7.2.4 Middleware layer (optional)
Middleware layer, which should be discussed in working group 6, is an optional layer in terminals
software architecture. Terminals, which do not have this layer, should support IPTV services.
7.2.5 Application layer
Application layer provides basic software application supporting IPTV services including but not
limited to GUI, browser, media player, alpha blending and etc.
7.2.6 Service layer
Service layer calls the element supported by application layer to fulfill IPTV services. So in this
layer we can say service is some special application.

Annex 1 enriched WG5s working documents table of contents (bold part from 7.1)
1.

Scope
End Terminal Devices and Home Network should be Independent of access network
technology. It is desirable that services and applications from the IPTV service
provider run on all compliant IPTV End Systems.

2.

Reference

3.

Definitions

3.1

Residential Gateway: Logical element that acts as a bridge between the access network
and the home network, providing in premise and aggregated security management,
provisioning and addressing services for logical elements within a compliant IPTV
Network.

3.2

Terminal Device: On the home network, these may include personal computers, computer
peripherals, set-top boxes, network appliances, mobile devices and specialized service
termination devices (e.g. a VoIP Terminal, or audio-visual equipment such as an MP3
player).

3.3

IPTV Terminal Device: Terminal device which can support IPTV services, such as settop
box.

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3.4

3.5

Home Network: Short-range communications system designed for the residential

environment, in which two or more devices exchange information under some sort of
standard control.
IPTV End System: Components from Residential Gateway to the display. A single device,
or set of devices for the consumer, that support IPTV Service (everything from Gateway to
Display).

4.

Abbreviations

5.

Conventions

6.

Implementation Scenarios & Applications

6.1 Service supported by the End System

7.

Terminals

7.1

Functional Architecture
7.1.1 General functional architecture block diagram
7.1.2 Management function
7.1.3 Protocol function
7.1.4 Application function
7.1.5 Service function

7.2

Software Architecture
7.2.1 IPTV terminal software architecture
7.2.2 OS/Driver layer
7.2.3 Protocol/Control layer
7.2.4 Middleware layer (optional)
7.2.5 Application layer
7.2.6 Service layer

7.3

Hardware Architecture
7.3.1 IPTV terminal basic hardware architecture block diagram
7.3.2 Core processor unit
7.3.3 Codec unit
7.3.4 Network communication unit
7.3.5 Control unit
7.3.6 Media interface unit
7.3.7 Peripheral equipment unit
7.3.8 Display unit

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7.4

Protocols

7.5

Codec

7.6

Terminal management

7.7

Security

8.

Home Network (Consumer domain)

8.1. IP domain
8.2. Proprietary domain
8.3. QoS

8.4.

Security

9.

Remote management

10.

Interoperability

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