IPSoft iVision

IPSoft iVision IPTV Middleware is a carrier-class service delivery platform to enable interactive video (IPTV, VoD, PVR, etc.), communication (voice, video, instant messaging, etc.), and interactive multimedia services (games, ads, etc.) for IPTV fixed and mobile networks. This efficient, reliable and flexible platform is built with the use of open standards and can be easily integrated with any VoD servers, CAS/DRM, OSS/BSS systems or IP STBs. The platform is designed to provide a core service functionality of IPTV solution, i.e.:

• Access to all IPTV services;
• Subscriber portal generation;
• Service management and basic accounting;
• IPTV solution components interoperability.

IPSoft iVision Basic Services

• TV and video content broadcasting in SD or HD formats;
• Digital radio channels broadcasting;
• VoD services;
• PPV/nVoD services;
• Time-Shift TV or ReplayTV;
• Additional interactive services including Network PVR and flexible EPG;
• Subscriber self-service;
• Internet access through TV screen;
• Interactive games through TV screen;
• Instant Messaging service based on open standards (integration with GoogleTalk and other XMPP-based systems);
• Interactive voting service, news push, e-mail access through TV screen, and others.

IPSoft iVision Subscriber Services Overview

• Customized Channel List – The end users can browse TV channels through a default list or any possible list created by an operator (i.e. channel groups like news, sport, music, etc.), or the operator can allow the end users to create their own personal lists.
  
  
• Channel Navigation and Preview – The end users are able to browse through channels while keep watching a particular TV channel. It allows the user to smoothly preview other channels content descriptions and speed up channel navigation.
  
  
• Reminders – In order not to miss a particular TV program, the end customer can set a reminder in the EPG once, daily, weekly or monthly. A reminder will pop up on top of the TV screen when the program is about to begin.
  
  
• Replay TV – Operators can record any TV channels, and the end customer can watch TV shows and programs 'from the past' – usually 'this and last day' – by selecting desired content from the EPG. Viewing recorded TV program the end customer might use the same functionality as watching VoD content – pausing, forwarding, etc.
  
  
• Parental Control – The end customer can prevent other members of the family to watch any TV content which operator marks adult or ‘age restricted’, as well as perform transactions like VoD or any other service purchases.
  
  
• Habitual VOD Player Interface – The end user accesses VoD movies like using old good VCR player with easy-to-use pause, fast forward and rewind features. Users can stop watching and get back to VoD content lately returning to the last viewed position.
  
  
• Mosaic Channel View – The IPSoft iVision feature the end users really love is to preview several channels at one TV screen navigating between them and having access at EPG information on the bottom on the screen. It makes sense especially previewing groups of channels with a similar content, i.e. sport, music, news, etc.
  
  
• Instant Messaging on TV screen – With seamless integration of IPTV solution with XMPP-based instant messaging system, the end users can chat between each other as well as with other XMPP-based IM clients like GoogleTalk™ and others through TV screen using a wireless keyboard or even by SMS-like input through STB remote control. IM capability also allows service providers to deliver various notifications and announcements to their subscribers.
  
  
• TV Commerce – IPTV service providers have a clear visibility of subscriber’s habits or preferences, and even location. It allows to deliver personalized ads and marketing messages to the end users through the user portal notifying them about, say, similar content available or discounted offers in nearest shops or restaurants. Almost anything the end user is watching on might be offered to him through IPSoft iVision interface!
  
  
• Interface and content multilingual support – IPSoft iVision can generate a portal view in different languages and even allow the end users to switch languages ‘on the fly’. Another available language option is to deliver TV channels and VoD content with any available audio track.

IPSoft iVision Operator Core Services Overview

• Suboperator Model – Common IPTV service practice means that live or recorded content goes through several content aggregators or service providers while comes to end customer’s TV screen.

• Content Distribution Model – When creating a VoD solution for large IPTV networks, service providers usually use a distributed VoD architecture. To optimize network resources and provide flexibility and redundancy of the solution, Netris created IPSoft Distributed Media Architect (DMA) option which allows redirection of intelligent subscriber queries to nearest available VoD server or, if it’s busy, unavailable or if it doesn’t have requested content, to next available server. The solution also allows to automatically move a popular content closer to its consumers.
  
  
• Easy Integration – Open-standard based IPSoft iVision provides cross-integration of all IPTV solution components including leading vendor solutions, operator's proprietary systems and software, and Netris telecommunication solutions like IPSoft OSS/BSS Platform, IPSoft Mediation Platform and others.
  
  
• JavaScript API – IPSoft iVision is Java-based, it’s customizable and easy adapted to customer needs as well as it might seamlessly integrated within service provider network.
  
  
• Core Service Functions -
• •      Subscriber interface presentation, management, and customization with unlimited list of IP STBs;
  •      Flexible service packaging and billing;
  •      User registration and management;
  •      User authorization, authentication, and basic accounting;
  •      Service and user statistics with third-party access view if necessary (i.e. content distributor reports).
    
    
    
• Reliability and performance – One of the key requirements of any IPTV solution for any service provider is its reliability and scalability. IPSoft iVision works in redundant configuration, and it allows to apply and immediately activate any configuration changes without system standby;
  
  
• Flexible Management – IPSoft iVision management runs by real-time web interface which allows:
• •      grant IPSoft iVision admin access;
  •      view and modify object configuration parameters;
  •      perform user, STBs, content, and service management;
  •      run reports, view and analyze statistic information.
    
    
• OSS/BSS Integration – There are few options to bill and/or integrate IPSoft iVision with operator’s OSS/BSS platform: IPSoft iVision can be used with already-integrated IPSoft Billing which is an ideal pair for seamless and flexible integration, or IPSoft iVision can be equipped with IPSoft Mediation option which provides online basic billing capabilities and has XML or OSS/J well-documented API for an integration with operator’s OSS/BSS platform. Third, IPSoft iVision can be directly connected to operator’s OSS/BSS platform.
  
  
• Select IPSoft iVision for your needs! – IPSoft iVision IPTV Middleware has few versions which are designed for several markets: 
  
  IPSoft iVision Core and Cluster Editions - designed for medium-to-large service providers who build regional, city or country-wide IPTV networks for end customers, or for service providers who want to aggregate TV and/or VoD content and deliver the content to regional service providers for distribution. Core and Cluster editions support various databases and operating systems as well as wide range of redundancy options both hardware and software. The redundant system truly delivers 99,999.
  
  IPSoft iVision Hosted Edition - an advanced version of IPSoft iVision IPTV Middleware specially developed to offer a new approach to operator business running in distributed environment.
  
  IPSoft iVision Mobile Edition - a special version of IPSoft iVision with mobile applications which allows to provide TV broadcasting and other IPTV services on smartphones or PDA screens within DVB-H, Wi-Max or Wi-Fi networks.

IPSoft iVision subscriber portal gives an access to available services and their descriptions. It has easy-to-use look and structure, and allows monitoring and filling up user accounts, creating personalized channel view, using EPG, etc. Latest version of IPSoft iVision – 2.0 – gives the end user an option to select a portal view from available ‘skins’ and even choose a portal language.

Standard IPSoft iVision package includes several already-defined interface designs in SD and HD formats, and they might be deeply customized. Moreover, using IPSoft iVision Portal SDK, even an operator itself can create unique user interfaces according to operator preferences and marketing or regional strategies.

During last several years, Netris integration team got a significant expertise in performing interoperability tests with all types of IPTV solution components. It allows designing smooth IPSoft iVision APIs for easy and simple integration as well as learning how to adopt new IPTV components effectively. In integration activities, Netris either continuously monitors the market and selects attractive components in terms of price/performance, flexibility and innovative services or follows operator’s preferences and recommendations.