IPTV is the process of delivering content to an Internet-based network that uses the Internet. This content is usually visualized although such networks may be used to send other information such as system guides. For the IPTV service to work, the provider must first configure, encode, and distribute content over the network.
There are four main steps that an IPTV service must follow in order to deliver content to its customers. In most television programs this will involve the provider getting rights to anyone who owns the programs, in terms of movies this can be a studio and if there is a sports event this can be a legal sports organization. The available rights will give the best IPTV service provider permission to redistribute the programs.
With this content found the provider will need to enter a code to ensure that only those customers who are allowed to watch you do so. This coding phase is usually performed after the provider has acquired the content of the satellite feed; often this process will also change the format of the system to make it suitable for distribution throughout the IP-based network.
The IPTV service provider uses existing broadband-based telephone communications. For this process to be effective there must be enough bandwidth to deliver content in the top box of the customer set, otherwise users may have problems streaming content. Bandwidth problems are becoming more prevalent in countries with telephone systems that can handle so much data, in such cases using fiber optics to allow faster data acceleration.
The next item of service is usually called “middleware”. This is actually the user interface that the user uses and after that we should provide a simple and easy way to access the desired content. This is usually structured as an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) but can also be highly interactive with an image in a photo or search function based on program titles, characters or categories.
The last piece in the IPTV service jigsaw is the top box set. Ultimately this is a device that brings content to television, runs middleware and decides data. In the end it needs to do well, not be expensive and be strong enough to withstand a house collapse. Alternatively, there are other services that allow IPTV to be viewed over other devices.
This is a simple idea of how the IPTV service works and naturally, there will be variations in the different ways of the IPTV service provider but he hopes to identify the basics of IPTV and streamline the student process.