What Is IPTV?

IPTV brings together two worlds: IP technology and television. A revolutionary symbiosis between two very different specializations.

At a time when there was only analog television, the concepts of IP and TV never met. Traditional television used a coaxial network for the transfer of analog TV signals. The limited resolution of analog television has motivated the search for a better alternative.

In the early 1990s, digital television entered the market. This digitization has led to the broadcast of TV signals over an Internet network, like any other digital data. The convergence of these two universes has set in motion unlimited interactivity and opened up possibilities that were inconceivable with analog television.

IPTV can be seen as a set of multimedia services, such as television, video, audio, data, … managed in order to meet the highest requirements in terms of service, interactivity, security and reliability .

IPTV abonnement also offers a range of other possibilities with additional software to make them happen.

This software is also called “middleware”. Middleware is a user interface based on a browser. This middleware provides access to IPTV services via a PC or a set-top box with web browser. This software is fully customizable.

This middleware provides access to various multimedia applications and interactive services such as live HD television, radio, camera / DVD, messaging, EPG (Electronic Program Guide), VOD / MOD (Video On Demand / Music On Demand), RSS,. ..

IPTV In Summary

IPTV is therefore a system that allows video content to be sent to several receivers through IP (ethernet) networks and through ADSL networks.

The advantage of this technology is that we can reuse the cabling in place to use IPTV and that we can therefore pool services on a single cable (office, internet, video and TV, surveillance, video, communication in companies and telephone).

Its principle diagram on the right gives you a general overview:

1- The video SOURCE enters the network in the form of: TNT, Satellite, Cable, video camera or Magneto / DVD.

2- From the input of the SOURCE the video is automatically converted to IP and directed to an RJ45 network SWITCH.

3- The SWITCH sends the IP video to the various reception stations listed; IP television, IP reception box set top + Television and computer. At this stage we are in an IPTV broadcast.

4- For a better comfort of use one can integrate in the network a software server “middleware” which from the center of the system where it is placed, will manage the passage of the video and information flows and will manage the authorizations of receptions. Middleware provides information management on Video on Demand.

5- (VOD), digital video recorder whose content is managed remotely and not on the receiving station.

As well as controlling the billing of VOD video content when requested.

The most frequent contents for the IPTV system are: TV, VOD, courses and education, communication of information, digital signage.

Distriac International is mainly aimed at the (hospitality ’segment (hotels, hospitals, banks, companies, …). Communication systems for sectors like these require a tailor-made solution.

For some time now, there has been a clear rapprochement between TV and PC technologies.

Watching TV on your PC has not been new for a long time.

The provision of advanced multimedia and communication services on TV and PC, on the other hand, is a new trend. This technological symbiosis requires a new approach!

In order to manage this evolution, we need large interactive communication systems.

The implementation of such a system requires high-level expertise and extensive know-how.