Improved Iptv Channel Change Times Through Multicast Caching of Pre-Selected Channels
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IMPROVED IPTV CHANNEL CHANGE TIMES THROUGH MULTICAST CACHING OF PRE-SELECTED CHANNELS By THOMAS R. RAY Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas 1991 Master of Science in Electrical Engineering University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas 1994 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY December 2014 IMPROVED IPTV CHANNEL CHANGE TIMES THROUGH MULTICAST CACHING OF PRE-SELECTED CHANNELS Dissertation Approved: Dr. George Scheets Dissertation Adviser Dr. Charles Bunting Dr. Carl Latino Dr. Mark Weiser ii Name: RAY, THOMAS Date of Degree: DECEMBER, 2014 Title of Study: IMPROVED IPTV CHANNEL CHANGE TIMES THROUGH MULTICAST CACHING OF PRE-SELECTED CHANNELS Major Field: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Abstract: IPTV has grown in recent years to an estimated 100 million users worldwide. IPTV uses IGMP processes to stream an individual channel to a user until the next channel change when the current channel is stopped and the new selection begins streaming. One of the critical factors determining customer satisfaction is the requirement to have reasonably rapid channel change times of 2 seconds or less, but current channel change times are frequently above that threshold. Numerous research efforts have been ongoing to reduce these times including edge servers, I-frame management, buffering improvements, dynamic video coding, and pre-selecting channels. Channel pre-selection involves sending additional channels in hopes that the user’s next selection will already be present at the user’s set top box to reduce the channel change time. While this pre- selection technique has previously been proposed, the proposals have been limited in scope, typically based on set top box replacement, and lack specific details regarding the expected channel change reductions attained. This research addressed all of these shortcomings beginning with laboratory testing to verify that the channel change time reduction for successful pre-selection is two times the network delay plus the IGMP processing time which equates to an average of 320 millisecond reduction per channel change. Several pre-selection models were developed and evaluated using theoretical calculations, functional testing, and performance simulations. Sample data was generated to reflect a wide range of user IPTV viewing behavior for use in the performance simulations. The top two models resulted in an average of well over 70% success rates in accurately pre-streaming the user’s next selection in the multicast cache output. This approach also has the benefit of being implemented on IPTV provider equipment and would typically only require firmware upgrades without the need for expensive new equipment or changes to existing standards. Operational considerations were also discussed to reduce problems and delays during the implementation phase of the system. Additional applications and future improvements were also presented. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................1 1.1 Rise of IPTV ......................................................................................................2 1.2 Popular Video Formats ......................................................................................6 1.3 IGMP Multicasting Protocol ..............................................................................9 1.4 Need for Short Channel Change Times ...........................................................16 1.5 Sources of Delay ..............................................................................................18 1.6 Objectives of Multicast Caching ......................................................................25 1.7 Additive Properties of Multiple Methods ........................................................27 1.8 Wasted Bandwidth Fallacy ..............................................................................28 1.9 Contributions of this Research ........................................................................33 II. REVIEW OF EXISTING LITERATURE ..............................................................35 2.1 Edge Servers ...................................................................................................35 2.2 I-Frame Management ......................................................................................37 2.3 Buffering Techniques.......................................................................................39 2.4 Dynamic Video Coding ..................................................................................41 2.5 Use of RTP Video Streaming ..........................................................................43 2.6 Reversing IGMP Leave and Join Messaging Order ........................................44 2.7 Adjacent Groups Methods ...............................................................................45 2.8 Client-Based Statistical Models .......................................................................47 III. LABORATORY TESTING TO DEMONSTRATE EFFECTS ............................52 3.1 Rationale for the Laboratory Testing ..............................................................52 3.2 Laboratory Configurations ..............................................................................54 3.3 Laboratory Testing Methodology ....................................................................64 3.4 Results of Laboratory Testing ..........................................................................82 IV. NEW CHANNEL CHANGE PREDICTION MODELS FOR ANALYSIS .........92 4.1 Tracking the Channel History ..........................................................................94 4.2 Time-Weighting the Channel History for Ranking .........................................95 4.3 Shared Routines ...............................................................................................99 4.4 Probability-Only Model .................................................................................101 4.5 High Definition Model ...................................................................................103 iv 4.6 Maximum Channels Model............................................................................104 4.7 Exhaustive Search Model .............................................................................104 4.8 Probability Divided by Bandwidth Model ....................................................107 4.9 Sample Moment Model .................................................................................108 4.10 Mixed Model Approach and Feedback Loops ............................................111 V. SAMPLE DATA SETS DEVELOPED FOR THE PROJECT ...........................116 5.1 Variables to be Managed ..............................................................................116 5.2 Notes on Independence of Samples ...............................................................123 5.3 Exponential Distributions .............................................................................126 5.4 Creation of the Sample Data Sets ..................................................................130 5.5 Time-Weighting of the Sample Data Sets .....................................................133 5.6 Summary .......................................................................................................135 VI. SIMULATIONS ..................................................................................................137 6.1 Functionality Testing .....................................................................................137 6.2 Performance Simulation Methodology ..........................................................143 6.3 Predicted Performance Simulation Results ....................................................146 6.4 Performance Simulation Results ....................................................................160 VII. IMPLEMENTATION OF MULTICAST CACHING .......................................166 7.1 Operational Considerations ............................................................................166 7.2 Processing and Memory Implications ............................................................170 7.3 Limitations .....................................................................................................175 7.4 Potential Improvements .................................................................................176 VIII. ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS ....................................................................181 8.1 Downstream Video in the Network Backbone .............................................181 8.2 Upstream Video Broadcasting .......................................................................183 8.3 Remote Sensing and Other High Bandwidth Applications............................184 IX. CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................186 REFERENCES ..........................................................................................................190 APPENDICES ...........................................................................................................200 Appendix A.1 List of Acronyms .........................................................................200 Appendix A.2 Primary Standards Related to IPTV .............................................202 Appendix