Addressing the Triple Complexity of Triple-Play Networks

摘要

"Triple play" is a hot buzz phrase in the communications industry and is quickly becoming part of our common vocabulary. The triple play is a bundled offering of voice, data and video carried on a common infrastructure. Specifically, such systems carry voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), broadband data and video over IP or IP television (IPTV). Because IPTV, in particular, brings extra complexity to the mix, it is shaking up the communications industry in terms of both technology and economics. Triple-play services, including broadcast TV, video-on-demand (VoD), VoIP, gaming and data, represent serious challenges in the industry. As one example, IPTV is new to many people and the task of characterizing IPTV quality of service (QoS) is difficult and complex. It will become easier once a standard for measuring IPTV quality emerges from the numerous proposals currently under consideration.