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By Greg Blumenthal, Principal Engineer, Communications Platforms
The following is an excerpt of the application note, Mobile TV and Video: Real-World Experiences .
Mobile phones are not just for talking anymore. Today’s tech-savvy consumers view their phones as an entertainment center, as well as a communication device.
As a result of the build-out of 3G networks, which is fueling mobile video use, IDC analysts expect that revenues from mobile TV and mobile video in Western Europe alone will reach nearly $2 billion by 20091. In fact, Yankee Group has found that as soon as consumers switch to a 3G phone, their usage of non-messaging mobile data applications, such as video, increases by 70 percent2. This growth presents mobile operators with a ripe opportunity to deliver live TV right into the hands of their waiting subscriber base.
3G-324M and Mobile TV
Widespread compliance with the 3G-324M standard is a key ingredient in the growth of the mobile TV market. The 3G-324M standard provides multiple benefits for mobile TV deployment, including:
- Ubiquity—Almost all W-CDMA-based 3G handsets on the market today support the 3G-324M protocol. There is no need to wait for more handset vendors to introduce this feature or to roll out the service on only a few handsets that can support mobile TV.
- Infrastructure Costs—The 3G-324M protocol uses the existing 3G network for all audio and video. There is no need to build a costly parallel network solely for transmitting mobile TV data.
- Interactivity—The 3G-324M protocol includes a specification for sending dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) style information from the handset. For mobile TV, these key presses can be used to change the channel; control pause, fast forward, and rewind; as well as to provide interactive services, such as televoting. Latencies over the TDM connection are kept to a minimum, so the reaction to a user’s input typically will be seen in about 0.5 seconds.
In a 3G mobile TV application, a mobile subscriber simply keys in a short access number and uses the video-calling feature of the handset to call in to the 3G mobile TV system. After the system answers the call, the user is presented with a choice of channels. Channels are selected using the telephone keypad, and the user can change the channel whenever desired. The number of channels offered by a 3G mobile TV system is limited only by the imagination of the system developer and the availability of video content.
Tools Needed to Deploy 3G Mobile TV
A mobile TV application should include the following components for a fully functional system:
- 3G-324M gateway function, which forms a bridge between 3G-324M video calls from the mobile handset to the IP network that hosts the media components. On the 3G network side, the interface will be E1 or T1, using either Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) or Signal System 7 (SS7) ISDN User Part (ISUP) signaling. On the IP side, there will be separate audio and video streams, using the Real-Time Transfer Protocol (RTP) for transport.
- Video-enabled IP media server, which plays stored video clips across the IP network. The output of the server is separate audio and video RTP streams, which are sent to the 3G-324M gateway to deliver video to the end user’s handset. The media server uses an IP interface to enable integration with stream servers (used for live video streams) and to allow for IP-based video in the future. If the IP media server has a high level command interpreter, it can interface to the application server using a high-level language such as Voice Extensible Markup Language (VoiceXML). Otherwise, the interface to the application server could be a low-level media control protocol or direct application programming interface (API) control.
- Application server, which implements the actual user experience of the system by controlling the IP media server component. The definitions of channels, how to react when the user presses a key, and any interactive applications are handled here.
- Content server, which stores the video clips to be played and offers an interface for the content owners to upload their video clips. The clips are sent to the IP media server as requested by the user. The content server and application server often will be combined into one physical system. In some architectures, the content server, application server, 3G-324M gateway, and IP media server all will be combined.
- Video transcoder, which converts a wide variety of possible video formats into one of the specific video formats that can be used for 3G-324M. This component is required when a video source is not in a format suitable for sending directly to a 3G-324M mobile handset.
- Video stream server, which is used to transmit a live video stream to each viewer of that stream via the 3G-324M gateway.
- Live video encoder, which takes audio and video signals from a locally connected microphone and camera, or from an external source, and encodes them into audio and video RTP streams. These RTP streams are then sent to the video stream server for further distribution to each user.
NMS Offerings
NMS Communications offers two product families that can be used to create a 3G mobile TV system.
Vision VoiceXML Server
Vision VoiceXML Server gives application providers the ability to rapidly develop and deploy new, innovative VoiceXML-controlled voice and video applications in IP, public switched telephone network (PSTN), and 3G- 324M networks.
The Vision VoiceXML Server is fully compliant with W3 Consortium (W3C) VoiceXML 2.0 and 2.1 specifications. The Vision VoiceXML Server includes the 3G video gateway and video-enabled IP media server components in a single carrier-grade platform. It supports either ISDN or SS7 ISUP on the interface to the mobile network. The application server controls the Vision VoiceXML Server using industry-standard VoiceXML 2.1, which is extended to play video clips and make Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) connections to a stream server to play live video content. Figure 1 shows a typical architecture for a 3G mobile TV system using the Vision VoiceXML Server. (See the Product News section of this newsletter for information on the latest release of this product.)
Figure 1: 3G Mobile TV Using NMS Vision VoiceXML Server (click to view larger)
Video Access Toolkit and CG Series Boards
Video Access is the ideal development environment for meeting the demand for flexible, scalable, and cost-effective 3G mobile video solutions. Developers can rapidly implement new video solutions using the Video Access APIs in conjunction with NMS’s renowned Natural Access™ development environment and the CG Series of PCI and cPCI boards.
A developer creating a 3G mobile TV system uses the Video Access 3G-324M Gateway API to create the 3G-324M gateway component, and the Video Access Messaging API to create the video-enabled IP media server component. In most cases, these functions will share the same physical system and will use a single CG board. The same system may also be used as an application server and content server, if desired. The NMS Software Video Transcoder optionally may be added to the system to ensure that both video clips and live streaming video conform to the strict video encoding requirements of the 3G-324M protocol. (See the Product News section of this newsletter for information on the latest release of these products.)
Figure 2 shows a typical architecture for a 3G mobile TV system using Video Access software and CG Series hardware.
Figure 2: 3G Mobile TV Using Video Access (click to view larger)
A Growing Opportunity
The rising demand for mobile video services, such as mobile TV, has created major revenue opportunities for network operators and application developers. The advent of 3G networks worldwide provides an opportunity for mobile operators to open up new revenue streams and increase subscriber adoption rates by delivering unique and innovative applications and services. Mobile TV is not a simple medium, however, and developers face stringent performance requirements, multiple interoperability issues, and a variety of other technical challenges. Fortunately, they do not have to face these challenges on their own. Advanced platforms and toolkits available from industry leaders like NMS alleviate the technical complexities of mobile TV and give developers the resources they need to produce compelling and profitable applications.
1 IDC, “Western Europe Consumer Mobile Data Applications: Forecast and Analysis, 2004–2009,” November 2005.
2 Yankee Group, “European 3G Market Gains Momentum,” August 2005.
By Brough Turner, SVP & CTO
Brough Turner, recently interviewed by Rafael Junquera, editor at Tele-Semana , provides his outlook on IMS—where we are and its impact on fixed and mobile telecommunications. The following Q&A will be featured in Tele-Semana ’s August report on IMS ( www.tele-semana.com ).
1. How would you describe IMS in 300 words maximum?
As with any generational change, the term IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) has acquired a spectrum of meanings. The original definition of IMS comes from the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) — the organization developing standards for the 3G evolution of GSM mobile networks. IMS specifications first appeared in the 3GPP Release 5 (R5) as the way to support multimedia communications over IP. In this context, “multimedia” includes voice, so from the beginning, IMS has been positioned to replace traditional circuit-switched voice telephony as well as support new multimedia services.
The key technical feature of IMS is the use of SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) to set up individual IP sessions under control of a “Call Session Control Function” (CSCF), otherwise known as a softswitch. This allows IMS to guarantee IP quality of service, provide security and support billing on a per session basis.
Today the term IMS is used in many ways. Sometimes it’s used when an operator has added any kind of SIP infrastructure to their network and sometimes it refers to a network that has actually deployed equipment conforming to 3GPP R5 or Release 6 (R6) specifications.
Of course with any major technology change, the hype cycle gets out in front of actual deployments. Further, the IMS specifications themselves have been evolving as 3GPP R6 filled in gaps that made R5 difficult to actually deploy. Then, IMS attracted the attention of other standards groups including TISPAN which focuses on next generation fixed networks and CableLabs which focuses on cable operators and their telecom interests. 3GPP Release 7 (R7) represents the first IMS designed to include all kinds of mobile and fixed networks.
2. Why is IMS important for mobile operators?
Pre-IMS mobile networks are voice-centric—even 3G video telephony (3G-324M) operates over circuit-switched data paths. But mobile radio technology is beginning to approach broadband data rates. If the operators don’t move to support IP-based services, others will provide such services, as best they can, using bulk Internet access.
3. Why is IMS important for fixed operators?
Fixed operators are being squeezed by mobile and by VoIP arbitrage. At a minimum, they need to support fixed-mobile convergence, but ideally they need a way to deliver new services. IMS has the potential to support new services, with quality of service guarantees that voice over the public Internet cannot offer.
4. Is IMS more critical for carriers that have both fixed and mobile arms?
IMS is a good way to support fixed-mobile convergence (FMC). There are other approaches (like UMA), but they are service specific whereas IMS is a general platform for multiple services.
5. What are the major challenges faced by IMS?
First is complexity. There are many, many IMS specifications, they come in multiple versions which continue to evolve, and interoperability testing hasn’t kept up with product introduction and deployment.
Second is services. IMS is a platform that can support new services, but the operator doesn’t make money until services are launched and succeed. Today, there are a relatively small number of new services available with IMS and, compared with the Internet, a small developer ecosystem.
6. Is there an alternative to IMS?
The major competition is services implemented directly over IP and/or over the open Internet. Such services can’t rely on IMS’s quality of service, but the pool of developers is vast, and IP quality of service guarantees are not always needed.
7. How would you describe the current status of IMS?
The majority of today’s “IMS” deployments are a mixture of SIP elements (IMS-compliant or otherwise) and legacy networks. Since IMS for fixed networks only begins with R7, today’s fixed “IMS” networks are typically softswitch controlled voice circuits plus some kind of SIP infrastructure for new applications like instant messaging (IM) and presence or fixed-mobile convergence.
To the extent true IMS networks are deployed—they are being used for new applications like IM, FMC and video sharing, but not yet for basic voice telephony.
8. Which operators around the globe are starting to implement IMS? Are the big players the first ones to implement IMS?
IMS capabilities are showing up in major networks around the world and in green fields networks, for example in the Middle East.
9. What is the state of standardization?
The R7 specifications have been functionally frozen but are still not released, and some items, like IMS enhancement in support of cable telephony, have slipped into Release 8. Typically it has taken at least two years from a stable specification to equipment that can undergo interoperability testing.
10. Do you think standardization is the major obstacle faced by IMS or is the lack of compelling applications?
Compelling applications, i.e. applications that make money, are the biggest issue. Standardization and interoperability increases an operator’s options when it comes to equipment purchases, but in the end it’s only new applications that generate incremental revenues.
11. Why is Release 7 so important? Are carriers waiting for it to fully deploy IMS?
IMS R7 is the first release that integrates mobile and fixed network support. Also, with hindsight, R5 is considered incomplete, and several major changes took place between R6 and R7 (for example in the policy infrastructure) that mean any R6 deployment would require major rework to reach R7.
12. IMS implementation is an evolution, how long will it take for operators to completely migrate to it?
The IMS transition is likely to take a decade or more, just as the “Intelligent Network” (IN) did in the last generation. The complexity of IMS and IN are similar and the industry structure (vendors, operators and standard organizations) remains the same, so it’s hard to see IMS happening any more rapidly than IN.
13. How will IMS affect users? Will they have more services at lower prices?
The extent to which IMS results in many new services depends upon how open operators are to 3rd party developers. If operators continue current patterns, then IMS will do as well as IN did, i.e. a decade later IMS will have fostered the extremely wide deployment of a few new services (perhaps less than ten).
14. How critical are IMS capable mobile devices? When do you expect them to be available?
IMS capable handsets are critical for some applications, for example IMS implementations of instant messaging and presence. Other applications don’t need, or can work around the lack of, IMS capable handsets.
IMS capable mobile devices are showing up right now. Among other things, NMS is a supplier of IMS handset software to companies like Samsung. Handsets with our IMS software began arriving on the market earlier this year.
15. How will IMS impact HSPA?
HSDPA and HSUPA are radio capabilities that bring “broadband” access speeds to UMTS networks, so technically, HSPA is relatively decoupled from IMS. However, in competitive markets, the availability of HSPA increases the likelihood that one or more operators will offer flat-rate broadband Internet access, which in turn increases the likelihood that 3rd parties will implement Internet-based (non-IMS) services over mobile networks.
Product News
Video Access 3.0 and Software Video Transcoder (SVT) 2.1 are now available for download from the NMS web site. Video Access, which is part of the Open Access™ framework, is the ideal development environment for meeting the demand for flexible, scalable, and cost-effective IP and mobile video solutions. The Software Video Transcoder provides scalable, cost-effective, dynamic MPEG-4 and H.263 transcoding services. These licensed software packages can form the foundation for a wide range of powerful video applications, including 3G-324M-to-SIP video gateways, video media servers, and wireless video messaging and streaming servers.
Key new capabilities in Video Access 3.0 include:
|
Feature
|
Benefit
|
|
Fast call set-up (WNSRP and MONA)
|
WNSRP (Windowed Numbered Simple Retransmission Protocol) will reduce call set-up time for real-time 3G-324M multimedia services from ~10sec to ~5 sec.
With MONA (Media-Oriented. Negotiation Acceleration), the call set up time is ~1sec (tested at IMTC).
|
|
Improved audio and video synchronization capabilities
|
Adjusts the audio stream to match the video stream. Uses RTCP sender and receiver reports to keep audio and video synchronized.
|
|
H.264 support
|
Allows the playing and recording of 3GP files.
|
Table 1: New Features in Video Access 3.0
SVT 2.1 offers the following new capabilities:
|
Feature
|
Benefit
|
|
Text and image overlay
|
Allows blending of images and text messages with the transcoded video stream for applications such as content branding and visual menu generation.
|
|
RTCP support (Real-Time Control Protocol)
|
Provides improved QoS and diagnostics of streamed video.
|
|
Remote management for configuration, status, and statistics
|
Adds an API for general management of the SVT application.
|
Table 2: New Features in Software Video Transcoder 2.1
NMS customers with CG boards may test drive Video Access 3.0 by downloading the 4-port, 30-day evaluation license included in the Video Access package on the NMS web site. Alternatively, Video Access Starter Kit that includes a CG Series board, a 30-port license, and two incidents of technical support, is available for purchase now. We also offer specially priced 120-port developer licenses.
Interested customers and prospects may also test drive SVT 2.1 by downloading the 4-port, 30-day evaluation license included in the SVT package on the NMS web site.
Contact your NMS sales representative for additional information on any of these programs. If you are unsure who to call, you may fill out a short inquiry form to have a NMS sales representative contact you.
Details on these products are also available on the following pages of the NMS web site:
Data Sheets
White Papers
Application Note
The Vision VoiceXML Server Release 3.0 began shipping on July 12, 2007. The Vision VoiceXML Server allows network equipment providers and application developers to rapidly develop and deploy new, innovative VoiceXML-controlled voice and video applications, such as interactive voice and video response (IVVR), speech-enabled IVR, voice and video messaging, and interactive entertainment in IP, PSTN, and 3G networks. The Vision VoiceXML Server features support for video and audio media, VoiceXML 2.1 language, speech recognition using MRCP, and management interfaces, including SNMP.
New features added in Vision VXML Server Release 3.0, and their benefits to the developer, are shown in Table 3 on the next page.
|
New Feature |
Benefit |
|
CCXML support |
Conditionally answer calls without needing to engage an expensive VoiceXML port.
To control how phone calls are placed, answered, transferred, or conferenced (conference support planned for R3.1). |
|
Video calls support for automatic speech recognition (ASR) and text-to-speech(TTS) servers through MRCP API |
Provides more flexibility for voice responses; example: mobile TV user verbally requests a channel change versus a DTMF tone to select channel. |
|
Separation of audio stream supported from video stream |
Allows for alternate audio streams to play during a video stream, equipping the application for personalization, such as dubbing local translation over the embedded audio clip. |
|
VCR controls over RTSP |
Stop, rewind, and play controls now supported—very useful for managing streaming video. |
Table 3: New Features in Vision VoiceXML Server Release 3.0
Want to know more? Visit the following pages on the NMS web site:
Data Sheet (PDF)
White Papers
Application Briefs (PDF)
Application Notes
For sales information, contact your NMS sales representative. If you are unsure who to call, you may fill out a short inquiry form to have a NMS sales representative contact you.
Articles and Publications
The white paper, Mobile Video—A New Opportunity, explores how the advent of 3G networks worldwide is enabling an opportunity for mobile operators to open up new revenue streams and increase subscriber adoption rates by delivering unique and innovative applications and services. But mobile video is not a simple medium. Developers face stringent performance requirements, multiple interoperability issues, and a variety of other technical challenges. Fortunately, they do not have to face these challenges on their own. Advanced platforms and toolkits from industry leaders like NMS Communications shield developers from the technical complexities of mobile video and offer them the leverage they need to produce compelling and profitable applications.
Read the abstract and get your copy of this white paper here.
Spotlight Events
This year, NMS’s Connect 2007 Americas Conference is taking place at The Colonnade Hotel on October 2–3 in Boston, MA. The mission of Connect is to provide a forum for the industry to come together and discuss how to accelerate change in the world of mobile communications while delivering successful services with rapid time to market. This year, we have selected four conference topics that we believe are vital issues our entire industry needs to contend with: the user experience, the importance of mobile communities, the growing practice of Mashups, and the role IMS plays in achieving service velocity.
This event is unlike any other vendor sponsored event, one that is committed to understanding the opportunities and challenges the industry faces. Each event will have 20 or more guest speakers who come from innovative companies and are key players in the ecosystem.
Event Overview:
- Day One features a full day of Industry Panel sessions and concludes with a special evening event
- Day Two focuses on the technology behind the innovation and includes two Super Sessions devoted to AdvancedTCA and Accelerated Application Development
Both days provide demonstrations in the Solutions Showcase area and plenty of time for networking.
NMS is pleased to provide this forum that is free and open to all who wish to participate. Our hope is that the event creates educational and networking benefits that will ultimately turn into business and development success for everyone.
For more information on our Connect series of events, speaker biographies, and to register, please visit our web site at: www.nmscommunications.com/connect2007.
 
Find out more about the Connect Americas event by reading the Conference Brochure (PDF). |
The AdvancedTCA Summit program is designed to provide attendees with practical information on the current state of the Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (AdvancedTCA), the emerging standard platform for telecommunications equipment. Summit themes will include: creating standard-based telecom equipment, reducing equipment cost and development time, and making equipment more flexible and more maintainable.
Exhibiting
NMS will be exhibiting in booth number 31, where we will be featuring our high-availability solution, the MG 7000A AdvancedTCA media processing blade.
Speaking
Brough Turner, Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, will be speaking on September 18 during the afternoon half-day tutorial about “AdvancedTCA/MicroTCA in Next-Generation IMS Networks.”
Meeting request
If you are interested in arranging a meeting with an NMS representative at the show, please email sue_young@nmss.com, indicating your preferred meeting date and area of interest.
On September 18, 2007,
NMS will present the web seminar
“Enabling Call Control for IVR Applications”
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) defines Call Control eXtensible Markup language (CCXML) as a developing standard for managing and supporting telephony call control with a VoiceXML-based application. While it is designed to be used with any media capable dialog application, CCXML’s key benefit is the ability to complement and integrate with VoiceXML to setup, monitor, and tear down phone calls. The benefits of using CCXML for IVR call control include:
- Support for multi-party conferencing, with more advanced conference and audio control.
- Sophisticated multiple-call handling and control, including the ability to place outgoing calls at any time, initiated outside of the VoiceXML platform.
- Handling for richer and more asynchronous events.
Who should attend:
Product managers, systems architects and developers developing and deploying CCXML-based IVR applications for fixed telecom and mobile environments.
Register now for this web seminar on September 18 at 11:00 am Eastern / 8:00 am Pacific.