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IPTV for Schools 21st Century Solutions

White Paper Created by Visionary Solutions, Inc. August, 2013

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IPTV for Schools – 21st Century Solutions

Executive Summary Many educational institutions need to upgrade the systems used to deliver video content to

classrooms, either to replace aging technologies or to support a greater range of content and viewing devices. IPTV networks, particularly those based on newly available technologies, offer significant video quality improvements and provide a unified user interface for live, pre-‐recorded, on-‐demand, and Internet-‐sourced video. IPTV systems can be installed incrementally as an overlay to an existing network, or can be deployed as complete replacements of an existing system. Recent cost reductions, particularly in key software and server components, have now made IPTV technology affordable for virtually any school system.

Introduction Today’s students live in a multimedia world. Innovative teachers

use video technology in the classroom to enhance course material and reach pupils who may have different learning styles. The challenge for many school systems is coming up with a technology platform that is flexible, scalable and affordable enough to delivery top-‐quality video content to students of all ages. Many forward-‐looking educators have recognized the limitations of traditional video delivery systems based on dedicated coaxial cable networks or videotape/DVD projectors. These schools are moving rapidly to deploy Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) throughout their facilities.

Modern IPTV systems are a far cry from the postage-‐stamp-‐

sized, low-‐frame-‐rate Internet video offerings of just a few years ago. Using technology that is built to take advantage of private networks, IPTV can deliver full-‐motion, HD video content at a quality level that meets or exceeds that of broadcast, satellite, Blu-‐ray and cable-‐TV systems. IPTV technology has been chosen by AT&T for their fast-‐growing U-‐verse® platform that competes directly with cable and satellite TV in serving hundreds of channels of HD content to consumers across the country. Comparable, affordable technology is available for the school district or site level ecosystem.

IPTV systems can deliver video directly to devices that are already in most schools, including

desktop/laptop PCs, tablets, smartphones, and specialized devices such as digital signage. This makes adopting IPTV technology less expensive and more attractive, as pieces of your network are already in place. In fact, it is not uncommon for new IPTV deployments to be done in stages, allowing applications to be moved onto new systems as they become ready for deployment.

“Innovative teachers use video technology in the classroom to enhance course material.”


IPTV System Architecture The job of an IPTV System is to efficiently transport video signals from a source to a display.

Between these two endpoints, there must be an IP network, as well as video/audio encoders to convert content into streams. Systems also include a variety of optional equipment such as servers to handle tasks such as playing scheduled video programs, acting as video on demand (VoD) suppliers, controlling viewer access, and publishing channel guides. To get a better understanding of a typical IPTV System, it is beneficial to look at each of the major system components.

Sources Video can originate from a wide variety of sources in an IPTV system. Video cameras with coax,

FireWire, USB or HDMI outputs can feed live signals into the system, or they can record video onto tape, disk, or flash memory cards for later editing and encoding. Real-‐time video feeds from satellite TV, over-‐the-‐air broadcasts, cable TV systems or Internet video sources can be encoded in real time for use in schools. Pre-‐recorded video on tapes, discs, flash memory cards, or computer files can be captured and converted into live video streams or loaded on servers for on-‐demand playback at the viewer’s request. Video from other devices such as smart phones or computers with built-‐in USB cameras can also be delivered via IPTV.

Video signals may have to be converted into formats that are compatible with the protocols used on

the IPTV network. This process, called encoding or transcoding, accepts many different forms of raw video as input and conditions them for use on the system. The most popular standard today for encoding IPTV video is known as Advanced Video Coding (AVC), also called H.264 in reference to the international standard number. This compression format can be decoded by virtually all types of PCs, smartphones, tablets, standalone video playback devices, and by any modern IPTV set top box (STB). AVC encoding can be done either offline or online. In offline encoding, which is used for pre-‐recorded content, a server runs a software package to encode a captured video file. On-‐line encoders, such as the AVN443 from Visionary Solutions, can take the output from virtually any video source and provide a compressed, packetized AVC stream that can be delivered real-‐time over an IPTV network.

Networks With today’s technologies, virtually any data network can be used for IPTV services. A basic

complement of Ethernet switches and IP routers can usually be configured to provide at least limited services, reducing the need to upgrade major system components when launching a basic IPTV system. As traffic levels increase, network upgrades may be required, such as adding higher capacity switches and routers and increasing the bandwidth of interconnections.

One important network capability is multicasting. This technology permits one video source to

deliver real time streams to dozens (or thousands) of receivers simultaneously. While this capability is built into most recent-‐vintage enterprise-‐class networking equipment, multicasting is often not enabled in basic enterprise networks. Enabling multicast requires changing the configuration data inside the network routers and switches, and in some cases, a firmware upgrade may be required. (Only rarely will older equipment need to be completely replaced.) Multicasting permits much more efficient use of network bandwidth, and greatly reduces the workload of video sources such as encoders. Multicasting can even eliminate the need to install servers for replicating streams being delivered to multiple viewer devices.


Servers A number of functions are usually relegated to servers installed within an IPTV network. One

common function is to supply VoD services, where video content is stored inside servers and transmitted to viewers on request. A server is also typically employed to provide a channel guide function, allowing viewers to see and select programs that are currently playing or are available in the VoD content library. This server may also provide mechanisms to control which viewers are allowed to view each content element, by means of device IDs, passwords or other security protocols. The software to provide this control, called “middleware,” has recently been made affordable and easy to use by the release of cloud-‐based products like PackeTV Views™ from Visionary Solutions.

Servers may also be required for transcoding video, which involves converting content from one

compression format to another, or changing the bit rate of the content. Another use of servers is to format and supply video signals to mobile phones and tablets by way of HTTP streaming.

Viewing Devices A key advantage of IPTV systems is the wide range of devices that can be used to receive and display

video signals. This flexibility helps to dramatically reduce the initial deployment costs of the system, and avoids the disruption of converting large groups of users over to new equipment. Most recent-‐vintage desktop and laptop PCs are capable of real-‐time playout of IPTV streams, using a variety of different software packages. One popular package is the VLC player, which an open-‐source, free download in use on Windows, Apple and Linux devices. Media player software also comes bundled with every Windows PCs;, and Apple QuickTime® also works well with IPTV streams.

For standalone displays and projectors, IPTV systems support a variety of self-‐contained players and

set top boxes (STBs). Traditional STBs from vendors like Amino can support many different kinds of IP video streams, and frequently offer advanced configuration options that permit customization for many different display applications. Display connections can also vary significantly, ranging from composite and component analog video through VGA and DVI interfaces to HDMI ports. Other standalone devices, from vendors such as Roku, Apple, and Google, have a more limited range of features and functionality, but are inexpensive and widely available.

Two different kinds of wireless networks are commonly used to deliver IPTV services: Wi-‐Fi or 3G/4G

LTE. Wi-‐Fi based private IP networks that are owned and operated by the educational facility provide nearly the same set of configuration options as a wired network, and can support multicasting, advanced channel guides and other enhanced operations. Many tablets, laptops and other portable devices can be setup to use Wi-‐Fi connections. Smart phones and tablets that use 3G or 4G LTE services from commercial wireless operators have a much more limited set of capabilities for private IP video services, because they need to connect using a wireless data plan. These carrier-‐based systems are much more restricted in the range of permitted protocols. In most circumstances, video delivered through these networks is constrained to use HTTP streaming or similar Internet-‐compatible technologies.


Education Applications Services can be delivered over IPTV networks to support a broad array of educational methods and

objectives. Students of any age, from preschool to graduate students and adult learners, can benefit from well-‐designed video content. We’ll present a number of typical education applications here, however, there are many more that can be successfully accomplished with IPTV systems.

Live and Pre-‐Recorded Programming – This form of video, often called “linear TV,” offers the type

of programming provided by broadcasters and television networks. These one-‐way services deliver entertainment, educational and news content on a predetermined schedule by way of a number of pre-‐designated channels setup in an IPTV system. Viewers select the channel they want to see using some type of channel guide, which can be printed or delivered electronically. These channels can be directly converted from commercial or public television broadcasts, or they can be created by an administrator from live or pre-‐recorded video content.

Morning Announcements – Schools everywhere have been

pleasantly surprised by the increased levels of students’ attention to announcements provided using video technology. Whether the content features an administrator, other students or animations, these short video broadcasts can measurably increase awareness and message retention. With an IPTV system, an inexpensive camera, a real-‐time video encoder, and a wired or wireless network connection, announcements can originate virtually anywhere on school property. Multicasting can be used to distribute the source stream to dozens or even hundreds of destinations simultaneously.

Staff Meetings and Training – IPTV networks can be used to reduce

the cost and simplify logistics of many staff-‐related events. Live streams can be created from almost anywhere with a simple portable systems consisting of a camera, an encoder, and a network connection. If two-‐way (or multi-‐way) communications are required, multiple encoder sites can be used. Or, if only audio communications are required, telephone conferencing systems can be used. Pre-‐recorded or live training content can be streamed in real-‐time to multiple buildings, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for staff travel between facilities.

Student/Sports/Cultural Events – Community, alumni and parental involvement is an important goal

for many educators. One way to improve outreach to these valuable constituencies is to provide engaging video content, using both live and on-‐demand methods. Real-‐time multicast transmission can be used within the school’s private network, and HTTP streaming or other formats can be used for Internet delivery.

Home-‐Bound/Off-‐Campus Students – Providing lessons and live communications can provide

valuable continuity for students who are affected by illness, live in remote or rural locations, or are unable to travel to campus. IPTV infrastructure can provide live links from classrooms to a shared bank

“Students of any age, from preschool to adult learners, can benefit from well-‐designed video content.”


of streaming encoders, which are used to deliver video to the remote pupils over the Internet. As the out-‐of-‐school population changes, these encoders can easily be connected to different classrooms.

Student-‐Produced Content – A great way to stimulate creativity and engagement for students is to

include video workshops and assignments into the curriculum. Using IPTV to share the results with other classes can provide benefits to other students. Some schools have gone so far as to have student-‐run television programming on a regular basis, including morning announcements and even extending to student television “stations.”

Digital Signage – Clear, effective communications to a diverse student population can be provided

using modern digital signage technology. In place of expensive, special purpose signage devices deployed at each display location, IPTV systems can be configured to use a single centralized signage signal generator. The video output from this unit can be used to feed into an encoder to create a multicast IPTV stream, which that can be distributed throughout the school to displays that are equipped with low cost standalone decoders or STBs. The signage signal can also be distributed as an IPTV channel, allowing any connected display or computer to be used for digital signage.

Why Replace COAX/CATV?

When deciding whether to replace an existing in-‐school video distribution system, many factors

come into play. Here are some potential benefits of converting to an IPTV system: Flexibility /Scalability – Additions, changes and upgrades can be expensive and difficult on

traditional coax-‐based video systems. IP networks can be easily reconfigured by datacom technicians using standard hardware and software tools. IP infrastructure upgrades can be performed incrementally as traffic loads grow, and system improvements can be phased in gradually. New encoders and display devices can be added whenever new applications arise.

Unified Solution for Live and On-‐Demand Content – In many installations, coax systems are only

used for live or real-‐time video distribution. For on-‐demand content, a parallel system of tapes, discs and portable players is often used. With an IPTV system, live and on-‐demand streams can be easily share the same network and use the same viewing devices, significantly simplifying the management of valuable video assets and network resources.

Single Network – Using a converged IP backbone for many types of services in the classroom can

drive significant cost savings. By consolidating traditional intercom, telephone, datacom and video services into a single IP network, the job of maintaining and managing the system becomes greatly simplified.

Multi-‐Location Content Sharing – School districts with multiple buildings frequently need to make

programming available in several locations simultaneously. On an IPTV system, existing data connections between facilities can be used to cost effectively transport video streams and files. This practice can reduce the number of encoders and servers required, and help economize on content license payments.


Wider Content Variety – IPTV systems can deliver content from many different sources, including live broadcast, cable and satellite channels as well as on-‐demand servers with large video libraries. In addition, educators can easily display all types of Internet based content, such as YouTube and Vimeo clips, using the same IP infrastructure. Video from devices such as smart phones and still cameras can also be easily uploaded and distributed over IPTV networks.

Uses Existing Classroom Equipment – PCs, laptops, projectors and other equipment that is already

present in many classrooms can easily be connected to IPTV networks. These devices typically require only software upgrades or downloadable app installations. This can represent a major cost savings as compared to technologies that require hardware interfaces or adapters for every viewing device. As a bonus, installation costs are typically reduced, since the viewing devices are already connected to an IP network in most cases.

Supports More Device Types – Portable devices such as laptops and tablets can be difficult or

impossible to use with non-‐IPTV systems. With IPTV, these devices can use existing Wi-‐Fi infrastructure and employ the same viewer interface as hardwired devices.

Higher Quality – IPTV systems are purely digital transmission systems which do not suffer the

degradations of analog, cable-‐based systems. Signals can easily be sent to hundreds of displays over networks, crossing many miles between sites. Standard-‐definition, enhanced-‐definition and high definition signals can all be delivered over the same network. Signal quality on an IPTV system can be equal to or better than DVDs and Blu-‐ray discs.

Financial Considerations

Once the decision has been made to implement an IPTV solution, two different deployment scenarios are typically used. The first approach uses gradual rollout, with new services added incrementally. The second is a complete replacement of an existing system. Both approaches have benefits, and provide the opportunity for a customized implementation plan appropriate for your school or business.

Option 1: Start Small and Grow – This deployment scenario takes advantage of an IPTV system’s

ability to use existing equipment on an IP network that is already in place. Service can be launched with a single encoder and delivered to a selected population of classrooms. As new services are added, additional encoders can be used to feed new channels to an expanding set of classrooms. As traffic levels increase, the IP network infrastructure can be augmented to remove any bottlenecks.

All of this can be done with zero impact on in-‐service, legacy, cable-‐based systems, until the point in

time when those older systems are no longer worth maintaining, when the remaining services can be moved to the IPTV network. This approach helps to minimize upfront cash outlays, and spreads the overall cost through multiple budget cycles, without impacting the quality of the resulting installation.


Option 2: System Replacement – Existing, cable-‐based systems can be removed and replaced channel-‐for-‐channel and user-‐for-‐user with an IPTV system. This scenario provides the quickest path to delivering all the benefits to viewers. This approach helps simplify user training, and avoids any confusion for viewers having to operate two different video distribution networks simultaneously. Through the use of existing classroom equipment, and the installation of low-‐cost, high quality encoders, the upfront costs of a complete IPTV system can be surprisingly modest.

Conclusion All of the major building blocks of IPTV delivery systems are based on mature, stable, standardized

technologies. This provides a solid foundation for building networks, and supports interoperability between equipment from different suppliers. System upgrades can be performed on a gradual or a complete replacement basis, allowing deployments to work within a variety of budget structures. The resulting installations support a wide variety of viewing devices which can access an unlimited range of content. Educators who choose to deploy high-‐quality, all-‐digital IPTV networks throughout their facilities will be well-‐positioned for future growth as new content sources appear and as educational technologies continue to evolve in the 21st Century.

Visionary Solutions, Inc. has established a strong record over the past decade for delivering reliable, high-‐performance IPTV encoding solutions for professional applications. Every Visionary Solutions product is easy to configure and install, and fully supported by a responsive and experienced customer service team. For more information about any Visionary Solutions product, or to schedule a live demonstration, please contact our sales department at 1+ 805-‐845-‐8900, email us at [email protected], or visit our website www.vsicam.com to locate a nearby dealer.

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Download - IPTV for Schools - 21st Century Solutions

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