viper product overview 9-final

For$Internal$Comcast$Distribution$Only$ $ $$ $ $ $ $ $ VIPER$Overview$Document$

Copyright*©*2015*Comcast,*Inc.*All*Rights*Reserved$ $ $$ of 53*

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VIPER&Product&Overview&&$$

For$Distribution$to:$Comcast$and$external$parties$under$NDA.$$

Target$Audience:$Comcast$Retailer,$Product,$Technology,$Operations,$and$Infrastructure$Leads&$$$

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Author:$ Reviewed$By:$ Review$Date:$ Version:$Laura$Clemons$ Ashish,$Amruta,$Erica$ 10.30.14$ Outline$$Laura$Clemons$ Erica$Robinson,$Ashish$Patel$ 12N11N14$ V$5$Laura$Clemons$ Erica$Robinson$provided$review$for$updates$ 12N15/16N14$ V$6$$Laura$Clemons$ Erica,$David$Helfreg,$Neill$Kipp$ 1/7$ V$7$Laura$Clemons$ Neill$Kipp$provided$review$for$updates$ Jan$9N12,$29/15$ V$8$Laura$Clemons$ Paul$Egenhofer$ 2/5/15$ V8Na$Laura$Clemons$ For$David$Helfrick$ 3/10/15$ V8Nb$Laura$Clemons$ Added$Abstract,$added$to$competitors$list,$updates$from$Neill$Kipp$ 4/9/15$ 9$FINAL$



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Table&of&Contents&$

Abstract&.............................................................................................................................................&4*

About&Comcast&...................................................................................................................................&5*Comcast*Products*&*Technology*Services*......................................................................................................................................*5*Comcast*Wholesale*&*VIPER*.................................................................................................................................................................*5*IPTV,&OTT,&IP&Video&and&TVE&...............................................................................................................&5*

VIPER&Empowering&Devices&Today&......................................................................................................&7*

Services&Overview:&IP&Linear,&IP&VOD,&cDVR&........................................................................................&7*VIPER*VOD*....................................................................................................................................................................................................*8*VIPER*Linear*................................................................................................................................................................................................*8*VIPER*cDVR*..................................................................................................................................................................................................*8*TV*Everywhere*...........................................................................................................................................................................................*9*Title*VI*............................................................................................................................................................................................................*9*Key&Features&....................................................................................................................................&10*

VIPER&Architecture&Illustrated&..........................................................................................................&13*

History&.............................................................................................................................................&19*

Technology&&&Architecture&...............................................................................................................&19*Technology*Summary*...........................................................................................................................................................................*19*Architecture*..............................................................................................................................................................................................*21*Slide&1:&High,level&View&of&VIPER&Components&Architecture&...............................................................................................&21*Slide&2:&Comcast&IPTV&Reference&Architecture&(2013&Plan)&.................................................................................................&22*Slide&3:&Converged&Video&Services&Layout:&Linear,&VOD,&cDVR&and&Multicast&Architecture&...................................&23*

Linear*Architecture*Overview*...........................................................................................................................................................*24*VOD*Architecture*Overview*...............................................................................................................................................................*25*CDVR*Architecture*Overview*............................................................................................................................................................*26*VIPER&Functional&Areas&and&Components&.........................................................................................&27*VIPER*Functional*Areas*.......................................................................................................................................................................*27*1.&&Content&Origination&..........................................................................................................................................................................&27*2.&&Big&Data&,&Analytics&..........................................................................................................................................................................&28*3.&&cDVR&Recorder&....................................................................................................................................................................................&29*4.&&Dynamic&Ad&Insertion&(DAI)&and&Blackouts&...........................................................................................................................&29*5.&&Emergency&Alert&System&and&Emergency&Action&Notifications&(EAS&&&EAN)&.........................................................&30*6.&&Multicast&................................................................................................................................................................................................&30*7.&Player&and&Digital&Rights&Management&(DRM)&.....................................................................................................................&30*

VIPER*Developed*Components*.........................................................................................................................................................*32*VIPER&Service&Delivery&Engineering&Team&.........................................................................................&37*

Competitors&&&Current&Install&Base&...................................................................................................&39*Competitive*IPTV*&*IP*Video*Landscape*......................................................................................................................................*39*Current*Infrastructure*Install*Base*.................................................................................................................................................*42*Deployed*Market*Summary*................................................................................................................................................................*42*Product&Roadmap&.............................................................................................................................&43*



Design&and&Sizing&..............................................................................................................................&44*VOD*Sizing*..................................................................................................................................................................................................*44*Linear*and*cDVR*Sizing*........................................................................................................................................................................*45*List&of&Acronyms&...............................................................................................................................&47*&&

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VIPER&Product&Overview&*

Abstract&&The$purpose$of$the$VIPER$Product$Overview$and$corresponding$VIPER$Component$Technical$Documents$is$to$provide$documentation$around$the$endNtoNend$VIPER$infrastructure,$as$requested$by$Allen$Broome,$Vice$President$of$Product$Engineering,$for$Comcast$VIPER.$$$$This$Product$Overview$serves$to$fulfill$most$areas$of$a$Product$Marketing$document,$while$the$seven$technical$component$area$documents$drill$down$to$more$detail$for:$Content$Origination,$cDVR$Recorder,$Big$Data$and$Analytics,$DAI/Blackouts,$EAS/EAN,$Multicast,$and$Player/DRM.$$In$these$documents,$the$information$includes$an$overview,$functional$capabilities,$architecture,$components,$software$and$hardware$systems,$systems$integration$and$sequence$diagrams.$$The$documented$information$helps$Comcast$VIPER$business$areas$in$that$it:$

• Justifies$the$history,$technology$and$business$value$of$VIPER$• Describes$how$features$work$and$the$features$are$needed$• Defines$a$set$of$current$competitors$Nwhere$the$market$is$$• Becomes$a$valuable$resource$for$Product$Leads$who$are$building$out$resource$teams$and$requirements$ $

$These$documents$serve$a$variety$of$delivery$audiences$including:$$

• Comcast$Wholesale$team$Nmay$use$the$information$for$product$marketing,$sales,$strategy,$and$Retailer$onboarding$

• VIPER$teams$Nmay$utilize$the$information$for$onboarding$new$vendors,$employees$and$resources$• Product$Owners$Nfor$use$as$requirements$documentation$reviews$and$approvals$with$Comcast$and/or$

Retailer$customer$business$or$legal$teams$• Engineering$–incorporating$back$into$internal$VIPER$engineering$wiki$documentation$given$the$detailed$

input$from$product$area$key$leads$and$SME’s$$Source$technical$information$for$these$documents$comes$from:$VIPER$engineering$team$members;$VIPER$Confluence$wiki;$IBB$Consulting$resources;$and$were$reviewed$and$approved$by$Product$Owner$leads$for$each$component$area,$as$described$in$the$front$table$of$each$document.$$$$ $



About&Comcast&$Comcast$technology$is$reinventing$the$way$viewers$consume$TV.$Working$to$shape$the$future$of$media$and$technology,$Comcast$provides$more$people$than$ever$with$the$latest$and$best$in$video$experiences.$Comcast$invents$new$technologies$and$drives$innovation$to$transform$the$customer$experience.$Bringing$the$fastest$and$most$technologically$advanced$services$to$more$people$on$multiple$devices.$Comcast$has$the$largest$broadband$subscriber$base$in$North$America.$Providing$the$largest$platform$for$advertisers,$Comcast$reaches$more$people$in$new$ways.$$$

Comcast&Products&&&Technology&Services&$Comcast's$video$delivery$and$technology$services$encompasses$products$including$Xfinity,$Xfinity$TV$Go,$X1,$X2,$HITS$(Headend$in$the$Sky);$and$services$including$Comcast$Wholesale,$the$Comcast$Media$Center,$the$Comcast$Interactive$Media/Comcast$Labs$and$Comcast’s$advanced$technology$IPTV$services$infrastructure,$VIPER™$Nwhich$stands$for:$Video$over$Internet$Protocol$Engineering$and$Research.$$$$

Comcast&Wholesale&&&VIPER&&&$Comcast$Wholesale™$offers$media,$communications,$advertising$and$technology$businesses$access$to$the$latest$services$and$technologies$in$networking,$content$delivery,$advertising$delivery,$IP$services,$subscriber$experience$and$digital$asset$management,$proven$by$an$industry$leader.$As$the$forefront$goal$is$to$bring$quality$content$to$customers$anywhere,$Comcast$is$also$shaping$the$future$of$advertising,$inventing$new$tools$to$measure$success.$$$As$the$movement$of$information$across$the$web$is$transforming$video,$voice$and$content$delivery,$Multichannel$Video$Programming$Distributors$(MVPDs)$are$challenged$to$improve$their$connectivity,$delivery$and$competitive$advantage.$Now$available$through$Comcast$Wholesale,$Comcast$VIPER$offers$IP$video$infrastructure,$delivery$and$player$compatibility$services$helping$businesses$deliver$content$and$dynamic$advertising,$launch$new$products,$and$remain$competitive$through$lower$upNfront$investment,$improved$efficiency$and$faster$time$to$market.$Video$shipped$over$VIPER$to$the$STB$or$other$devices,$is$a$managed$IP$video$stream$utilizing$secure$and$standardized$services$available$from$Comcast.$$$

IPTV,&OTT,&IP&Video&and&TVE&$Media$operators$today$are$deciding$their$strategy$for$delivering$premium$video$services$to$their$multiscreen$user$subscriber$base.$IPTV$and$IP$Video$technologies$can$securely$deliver$premium$video$over$Internet$networks$to$end$user$devices,$bypassing$terrestrial,$satellite$signal$and$cable$television$platforms$for$delivery.$$IPTV,$IP$Video$and$OTT$end$user$devices$can$include$all$or$a$subset$of:$Internet$connected$gaming$consoles,$computers$and$set$top$boxes$(PlayStation$4,$WiiU,$and$Xbox$One,$Roku),$smartphones$(including$Android$phones,$iPhones,$and$Windows$phones),$Smart$TVs$(such$as$Google$TV),$and$tablets.$$$$But$while$IPTV,$OTT$and$IP$Video$seem$very$similar,$each$use$different$technologies$in$the$infrastructure$for$delivery$of$content$to$the$end$user.$$$$IPTV$is$nextNgeneration$television$delivered$over$a$managed$service$provider’s$network$(or$even$a$LAN),$typically$provisioned$by$Network$or$Telco$operators$over$a$manage$and$closed$network.$Video$streams$are$traditionally$



delivered$within$the$private$network,$and$are$accessible$only$from$devices$issued$by$the$operator$such$as$set$top$boxes.$IPTV$service$operators$include$Verizon$FiOS$or$AT&T$Uverse.$$$Integral$to$IPTV$infrastructure$is$Adaptive$Bit$Rate$(ABR)$video$streams,$enabling$more$devices$and$thus$more$customers$greatly$increasing$market$footprint;$and$Multicasting,$providing$a$single$stream$to$multiple$clients$simultaneously$for$network$resource$efficiency.$$IPTV$may$also$utilize$unicast$delivery$for$providing$services$to$a$single$client$(receiver)$for$applications$such$as$Video$On$Demand$(VOD)$and$Cloud$DVR.$$A$typical$IPTV$infrastructure$is$a$system$that$transmits,$delivers,$receives$and$displays$a$video$stream$encoded$as$a$series$of$Internet$Protocol$packets.$The$video$content$is$compressed$using$an$MPEGN4$(H.264)$codec$and$then$sent$in$an$MPEG$DASH$transport$stream.$In$IPTV,$the$"Last$Mile"$ie:$bandwidth,$to$the$consumer's$premises$in$reaching$the$targeted$devices$is$often$the$challenge$unless$on$a$dedicated$network.$$$$Over$the$Top$(OTT)$delivery$uses$the$Public$Internet,$delivering$content$to$assorted$endNuser$devices,$leaving$the$Internet$Service$Provider$as$the$transporter$of$the$IP$packets.$$Traditional$OTT$service$operators$and$platforms$include$DivX,$Amazon$Instant$Video,$HBO,$Hulu$and$Netflix.$$Comcast$TV$Everywhere$(TVE)$is$an$OTT$service$and$is$viewed$as$a$supplementary$service$to$traditional$television$viewing.$TVE$is$subject$to$separate$rights$management$between$service$operators$and$content$owners,$and$by$regulations$as$defined$by$the$FCC.$$$$Now$with$Comcast$VIPER,$customers$can$have$the$best$of$IP$video$services$with$the$secure$delivery$of$premium$and$high$quality$content$via$both$IPTV$managed$networks$and$OTT$Nover$the$top.$$Offering$the$IP$Video$services$of$VOD,$Linear$and$cDVR$with$Title$IV,$while$delivering$OTT$with$TV$Everywhere$as$a$complete$multiscreen$service,$Comcast$offers$the$first$large$scale$solution$to$content$providers$and$Multichannel$Video$Programming$Distributors$(MVPDs).$$With$services$in$over$fifteen$dedicated$Internet$Exchange$Points,$using$Comcast’s$national$IP$backbone,$content$providers$have$direct$connectivity$to$the$largest$subscriber$networks$in$the$world.$Comcast’s$VIPER$infrastructure$is$highly$scalable$to$meet$the$varied$needs$of$Multichannel$Video$Programming$Distributors,$providing$highNend$broadband$content$delivery$via$IPTV$and$OTT,$with$low$latency$and$superior$Service$Level$Agreements.$$With$the$continued$demand$for$content$anywhere$on$any$device,$Multiscreen$IPTV$and$TV$Everywhere$are$on$a$huge$international$growth$track.$$While$IPTV$competes$successfully$against$payNTV$providers$it$also$expands$the$overall$payNTV$market$for$Multichannel$Video$Programming$Distributors.$Comcast's$reliable$network$with$access$to$the$largest$broadband$subscriber$base$in$North$America,$is$now$integrating$the$scalable$and$comprehensive$services$of$Comcast's$VIPER$IP$video$infrastructure,$delivery$and$player$compatibility$services.$$$

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VIPER&Empowering&Devices&Today&$

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VIPER&Powered&Devices&and&Services&$If$you’ve$watched$Xfinity$TV,$Cloud$TV$or$Title$6$VOD$on$an$iOS$or$Android$device,$PC$browser,$Microsoft$Xbox,$Samsung$Connected$TV$or$Cisco$XI3$STB,$then$you$watched$a$video$that$delivered$by$Comcast$VIPER.$Today,$Comcast$VIPER$currently$powers$multiple$multiscreen$services$to$deliver$premium$content$including$Title$VI$Linear,$VOD$and$cDVR$and,$TV$Everywhere$Linear$and$VOD.$$VIPER‘s$advanced$infrastructure$provides$content$origination$and$all$device$playback$with$secure$digital$rights$management,$dynamic$advertising,$big$data$and$realNtime$analytics,$while$supporting$broadcast$emergency$alerts$and$blackouts.$$$$$Comcast$VIPER$serves$the$onNgoing$technology$delivery$needs$of$leading$MVPD’s$and$Telcos,$as$television$transitions$from$a$singleNscreen$service$to$a$multiscreen,$TV$Everywhere$service.$$Secure,$managed$video$content$is$available$to$consumers$via$Comcast$VIPER$infrastructure$N$sourced,$packaged,$and$delivered.$$$

Services&Overview:&IP&Linear,&IP&VOD,&cDVR&$For$Comcast,$the$VIPER$platform$is$not$just$another$system,$but$is$THE$future$platform$for$All$Video$Services$to$the$home$including$Linear,$Video$On$Demand$and$Cloud$Digital$Video$Recording.$$$$As$described$by$Sree$Kotay,$Executive$Vice$President$and$Chief$Software$Architect$at$Comcast,$VIPER’s$customNengineered$packaging$and$delivery$platform$“streamlines$the$delivery$of$all$professional$content$through$the$same$broadcastNgrade,$programmable$pipeline,”$which$“translates$to$a$more$consistent,$cost$effective,$and$highNquality$viewing$experience$no$matter$where$our$customers$watch$–$on$TV,$online,$on$mobile$devices,$on$gaming$consoles.”$



$$$Comcast$VIPER$delivers$three$major$premium$video$services:$Linear$Channels,$Video$on$Demand$(VOD)$and$Cloud$Digital$Video$Recording$(cDVR).$$VIPER$services$also$include$Title$VI$–supporting$cable$television$compliance$regulations$for$in$home$services$and,$TV$Everywhere,$supporting$multiscreen$OTT$subscribers$and$devices.$$$

VIPER&VOD&$VIPER$Video$on$Demand$(VOD)$permits$a$customer$to$browse$an$online$program$or$film$catalog,$to$watch$trailers$and$select$programs.$The$playNout$of$the$selected$program$starts$nearly$instantaneously$on$the$customer's$TV$or$second$screen$device.$$VOD$content$is$prepared$for$storage$and$delivery$by$compressing$and$encrypting$it.$The$content$is$encrypted$with$various$Digital$Rights$Management$security$protocols,$which$generally$set$a$time$limit$to$the$availability$of$the$downloaded$content.$$When$the$customer$selects$the$movie,$a$connection$is$set$up$between$the$customer's$decoder$(setNtop$box$or$PC)$and$the$delivering$streaming$server.$Signaling$for$slow$motion,$fast$forward,$rewind$–known$as$the$trick$play$functionality,$is$inherently$supported.$$

VIPER&Linear&$VIPER$Linear$services$offer$a$full$channel$lineup$of$both$national$and$regional$Nor$local$channels,$which$can$be$viewed$on$a$wide$variety$of$devices$in$the$home.$Linear$content$is$directly$received$from$the$service$provider$via$Satellite,$Multicast$or$Fiber,$and$processed$through$VIPER’s$linear$transcoding$component$architecture,$then$stored$in$linear$origin$storage$and$packaged$per$unique$channel$request.$VIPER$Linear$supports$IP$video$switched$multicast$architecture$as$a$key$enabling$technology$supporting$the$digital$simulcast$of$live$televised$events$across$Linear$channels.**$$

VIPER&cDVR&$VIPER$Cloud$Digital$Video$Recording$(cDVR)$services$allows$end$users$watch$their$favorite$TV$programs$anytime,$anywhere$and$on$any$device.$$Cloud$DVR$is$a$networkNbased$solution$that$reduces$the$complexity,$cost$and$integration$issues$associated$with$the$delivery$of$timeNshifted$TV$services$to$connected$devices$and$TVs.$$VIPER$CDVR$is$a$reliable,$secure$solution$as$its$storage$and$streaming$capacities$can$scale$as$Consumer$demand$grows.$



Storage$per$subscriber$is$based$on$service$tier$purchased.$Because$the$storage$is$not$dependent$on$the$storage$capacity$of$a$set$top$box,$VIPER$cDVR$allows$subscribers$to$sign$up$and$increase$storage$tiers$without$truck$rolls.$$$$

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TV&Everywhere&$TV$Everywhere$(OTT)$is$viewed$as$a$supplementary$service$to$traditional$television$viewing$and$is$subject$to$separate$rights$management$between$service$operators$and$content$owners,$and$by$regulations$as$defined$by$the$FCC.$$$

VIPER&supports&TV&Everywhere&offering&a&subset&of&linear&channel&and&VOD&content&based&on&rights&availability&for&OTT.$$

Title&VI&&$Title$VI$requires$FCC$broadcast$compliance$(the$same$regulations$as$in$traditional$broadcast$cable)$supporting$Blackouts,$Secondary$Audio$Programming,$Close$Captioning,$and$the$Emergency$Alert$System$regulations.$$$

• VIPER&Linear,&CDVR&and&VOD&content&conforms&to&Title&VI&regulations.&$

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Key&Features&$Key$Features$across$the$VIPER$component$infrastructure$are$provided$below:$$Input$Formats$Supported$$$

MPEGN2$Transport$Stream$(M2TS)$with:$• Protocols$–$Unicast$or$Multicast$• Ad$Markers$–$SCTEN35$Cue$Messages$• Closed$Captioning$Standards$–$EIA/CEAN708$

!(Varies!between!Linear!and!VOD!–ask!for!specifics!if!needed)!

Input$Codecs$Supported$$

MPEGN2$Video$• Main$Profile$(4:2:0)$• High$Profile$(4:2:0)$

MPEGN4$AVC$/$H.264$Video$• Baseline,$Main,$High$Profile$(8Nbit$4:2:0)$• High$10$Profile$(10Nbit$4:2:0)$

MPEGN2$AACv1$Audio$• Mono,$Stereo,$Surround$(5.1)$

Dolby$Digital$(ACN3)$Audio$• Mono,$Stereo,$Surround$(5.1)$

MPEG$Audio$(Layer$II)$• Mono,$Stereo$

$(Varies!between!Linear!and!VOD!–ask!for!specifics!if!needed)$

Output$Codecs$Supported$ MPEGN4$AVC$/$H.264$Video$Baseline,$Main,$High$Profile$(4:2:0$Progressive)$

MPEGN4$AAC$Audio$HENAACv1$EC3$Dolby$Digital$+$$

Streaming$Output$Formats$$ Apple$HTTP$Live$Streaming$(HLS)$Spec.$V3,$V4$Adobe$HDS$Microsoft$Smooth$Streaming$$(Current$but$not$long$term$roadmap)$$

Advanced$Streaming$&$Custom$Packaging$Technologies$$

• VIPER’s$custom$Super8$packaging$technologies$package$content$on$the$fly$for$IP$distribution$$$

• Delivery$technologies$enable$Multicast$and$Unicast$Managed$Network$&$Connectivity$ • Wholly$owned$and$managed$Comcast$ecosystem$delivers$

content$over$IP$at$scale,$with$microNsecond$latency$• SelfNhealing$network$with$multiple$acquisition$facilities$and$

redundant$datacenters$$• Utilizes$Comcast’s$network$backbone$infrastructure$and$CDN$• Automated$failover$and$channel$recovery$• Minimized$server$infrastructure$with$network$efficiencies$

allows$for$significant$cost$minimizations$



• Low$bandwidth$tolls,$with$major$reductions$on$peak$bandwidth$and$latencies$

Advanced$Advertising$Capabilities$$$

• Supports$Ad$Insertion$with$clientNside$DAI$implementation$and$scheduling$controls.$

• Integrates$with$any$advertising$decision$system$that$conforms$to$SCTEN130$or$VAST$(Video$Ad$Serving$Template)$

• Reports$on$ad$viewing$numbers$and$enables$individual$ad$targeting$

Compatible$Player$ • Common$player$platform$for$all$IP$devices$ranging$from$PCs,$iOS,$Android,$setNtop$boxes,$connected$TVs$and$gaming$consoles$

• Player$SDK$customizable$player$framework$provides$a$common$API$to$all$of$Comcast’s$applications$

• Expanded$and$individually$targeted$IP$device$reach,$support$and$scalability$offers$extensive$data$reporting$capabilities$on$the$end$user$device$usage$and$performance$

• Secure,$high$quality$audio/video$playback,$optimized$for$all$targeted$screen$devices$and$CODEC’s$

• Controls$how$Title$VI$alerts$are$displayed$DRM$ • Secure$DRM$applied$at$time$of$player$request$

• Supports$multiple$DRM$solution$providers$and$platforms$including$AESN128$and$KeyNBased$HLS$encryption$$

• Supports$Adobe$Access$and$MS$PlayReady$(STB)$standards$• Utilizes$Comcast’s$internally$developed$Encryption$License$

Server$and$Content$Key$Manager$* *



Title$VI,$Emergency$Alerts,$Blackouts,$Content$Restrictions$$

Title$VI$• Compliance$with$cable$services$FCC$regulation$Title$VI$$Emergency$Alerts$• Emergency$Alert$Notifications$for$National$and$Regional$

Carriers$supports$the$Emergency$Alert$System$(EAS)$and$Emergency$Action$Notification$(EAN)$messaging$

• Works$with$existing$third$party$ENDECs$(Trilithic$and$Monroe)$$

• Provides$centralized$collection,$management,$distribution$and$reporting$of$alerts$

• VIPER$player$controls$how$EAS/EAN$alerts$are$displayed$$Blackouts$• Regional$and$multiNstate$blackouts$provide$signaling$

infrastructure$for$regional$sports,$syndicated$content$and$national$blackouts$$

Content$Restrictions$$• Business$rules$engine$with$geoNfiltering$drives$whitelist$or$

blacklist$content$and$availability$windows,$with$scheduled$blackouts$

$Big$Data/Analytics$$

• Collects$usage$data$across$all$of$VIPER’s$different$platforms$to$improve$delivery,$monitoring$and$overall$video$quality$

• Improves$the$customer$experience$by$reporting$health,$security,$and$performance$of$the$infrastructure$

• Player$side$client$device$metrics$are$collected$and$processed$in$real$time$$

• Aggregates$and$analyzes$data$to$provide$real$time$analysis$and$dashboards$$

• Extremely$low$latency$realNtime$processing$uses$customized$events$to$send$JSON$messages$

CDN$Flexibility$&$Edge$Server$Delivery$ • Utilizes$Comcast$CDN$and$PureNPlay$providers$for$reliable$content$delivery$and$publishing$

• Accesses$simple$CDN$switching$• HighNperformance$edgeNbased$delivery$leveraging$an$

optimal$mix$of$multiple$CDN$providers$caches$packets$of$fragmented$streams$to$end$users$

• Two$tiered$edge$server$model$reduces$player$caching$issues$Service$Operations$Health$ • Advanced,$custom$developed$technologies$support$24/7$

network$monitoring$and$uptime$across$all$service$areas$from$content$origination,$to$packaging,$delivery$and$playout$

• Automated$analysis$of$all$components$and$performance$across$the$network$with$real$time$analytics$reporting$

• Live$dynamic$views$on$health$at$each$physical$location$includes$all$National$and$Regional$IP$video$sites$

• Services$Delivery$Engineering$team$supports$Comcast’s$VIPER$retailer$customer$installations$


Copyright*©*2015*Comcast,*Inc.*All*Rights*Reserved$ $ $$ Page 19 of 53*

History&$Comcast$tapped$it$early$on$in$2011$to$run$some$initial$IP$video$trials$using$VIPER$infrastructure$at$the$Massachusetts$Institute$of$Technology$(MIT).$“We’ve$been$delivering$full$IP$linear$and$VOD$service$to$MIT$for$almost$three$years$now,”$says$Allen$Broome,$Vice$President$of$Development$and$Engineering.$$Comcast$also$utilized$VIPER$for$its$IPNdelivered$“Xfinity$on$Campus”$multiNscreen$service,$which$went$into$user$trials$at$the$University$of$New$Hampshire,$Drexel$University$and$also$at$Emerson$College,$in$2012.$$In$2013,$Comcast$was$one$of$the$first$pay$TV$distributors$to$launch$an$app$for$Apple's$iPad.$Using$the$VIPER$platform,$Comcast$updated$its$mobile$viewing$app,$Xfinity$TV$Go,$to$allow$subscribers$to$watch$35$live$TV$channels$on$their$Apple$and$Android$devices$outside$of$their$homes.$$Moving$to$the$VIPER$platform$in$just$60$days,$Comcast’s$Xfinity$TV$Go$app$experienced$significant$improvements$in$overall$video$quality$and$user$experience$following$release$of$it’s$VIPER$serviced$update.$$$$Another$example$that$highlights$the$power$of$the$VIPER$platform$is$the$recent$launch$of$the$Xfinity$On$Demand$app$on$Samsung’s$Smart$TVs.$With$little$to$no$oversight$from$the$VIPER$team,$Samsung$was$able$to$use$the$common$VIPER$components$to$build$and$launch$the$app$and$the$user$interface.$$$In$Late$Q2$2014,$VIPER$Operations$became$a$fully$staffed$team$whose$focus$was$to$shift$to$becoming$100%$focused$on$Cloud$Operations$and$Support.$$Over$the$past$9$months$during$2014,$the$VIPER$Ops$team$has$helped$to$successfully$launch$cDVR$in$7$markets$and$Linear$in$4$markets$covering$more$than$60%$of$the$footprint$with$no$significant$downtime$or$outages.$$In$summary,$the$VIPER$engineering$team$has$built$a$scalable$and$extensive$infrastructure$that$can$be$leveraged$with$any$new$video$platform$that$Comcast’s$businesses$or$product$teams$may$bring.$$Allowing$MVPD$retailers,$Telcos,$Technology$and$Content$providers$to$go$to$market$more$quickly$and$efficiently$using$Comcast$VIPER$infrastructure.$$$$

Technology&&&Architecture&

Technology&Summary&$Consumers$want$their$television$and$movies$accessible$across$all$their$devices:$OnNdemand,$Live,$Recorded,$and$Personalized.$Comcast$VIPER$has$put$together$the$pieces$in$the$cloud$and$at$the$end$points$essential$for$migrating$to$an$allNIP$services$infrastructure$meeting$National$and$Regional$consumer$demand$and$supporting$DVR$functionalities,$management$of$media,$controlled$network$distribution$to$any$device,$big$data$analytics,$content$protection,$dynamic$and$personalized$advertising$and$emergency$alerts$Nall$completely$managed$from$the$cloud.$$Critical$requirements$in$developing$a$successful$cloud$IPTV$architecture$are:$to$reduce$network$complexity$and$demand,$to$lower$operational$and$capitol$expenses,$to$optimize$and$improve$middleware$services,$and$to$build$a$completely$scalable$and$integrated$system$that$supports$traditional$cable$television$standards$and$services$that$consumers$expect$and$rely$on.$$$VIPER's$complex$IPTV$architecture$delivers$such$competitive$services$from$the$"headNend$to$the$endNuser$devices",$and$is$dependent$upon$close$interoperability$of$all$components$involved$in$its$service$delivery.$Designed$as$an$IPTV$adaptive$bitrate$video$platform$VIPER$is$architected$using$Open$Source$software,$VIPER$



team$developed$components$and$third$party$vendor$products$using$open$protocol$software$services,$all$installed$on$virtualized$highNcapacity$servers.$VIPER$then$ties$into$Comcast’s$existing$content$delivery$network$(CDN)$architecture$and$integrates$with$multiple$DRM$security$solutions$to$enable$an$entirely$cloud$based,$secure,$modular$architecture$solution$that$is$completely$scalable$and$accommodating$to$emerging$IPTV$standards$and$next$generation$technologies.$$$$Through$internal$research$and$development$and$extensive$involvement$in$the$leading$standards$bodies,$VIPER’s$engineering$team$has$contributed$to$technical$industry$specifications,$such$as$CableLabs’$ESAM,$ESNI,$EBP$and$metadata$3.0,$and$the$standards$for$the$Society$of$Cable$Telecommunications$Engineers$(SCTE),$including$SCTEN35$2012.$$VIPER's$ability$to$support$advanced$adaptive$bitrate$(ABR)$streaming$capabilities$at$all$edge$points$is$what$Comcast$calls$“justNinNtime$packaging”$JITP,$meaning$that$content$is$formatted$on$the$fly$into$ABR$“chunks”$specific$to$the$streaming$platform$and$DRM$solution,$as$requested$by$any$player$device.$These$capabilities$mark$a$new$dimension$in$TV$Everywhere$services$that$open$the$door$to$monetization$and$personalization$at$mass$user$scales.$$$The$VIPER$Platform$enables$rapid$development$and$deployment$of$IP$video$applications$and$is$fully$scalable$to$accommodate$various$deployment$models$for$an$allNIP$delivery$of$the$core$premium$TV$package.$$$* &



Linear&Architecture&Overview&$

$$

1. Linear$streams$are$received$from$the$service$provider$via$satellite$and/or$fiber$2. Once$received,$linear$streams$are$transcoded$into$Multi$bit$rate$profiles$MPEG$4$to$enable$adaptive$bit$

rate$streaming$$3. Next,$the$VIPER$developed$Linear$Packager,$Pillar$packages$the$MBR$MPEG$4$into$MPEG$DASH$

Fragments.$$4. Once$packaged$into$DASH,$fragments$are$sent$to$virtual$storage.$VIPER$currently$stores$2$copies$of$every$

fragment$for$2$minutes.$$5. Once$the$first$user$requests$to$watch$a$given$stream,$the$VIPER$developed$Mod_Live$pulls$the$specific$

fragment$out$of$storage$and$hands$it$off$to$Super8$to$package$on$the$fly$with$DRM$into$HLS$and$delivers$the$fragment$to$the$CDN$

$As$part$of$the$future$roadmap,$VIPER$will$save$bandwidth$on$the$access$network$by$multicasting$popular$channels.$VIPER’s$multicast$controller$tells$the$multicast$server$which$channels$to$multicast$to$all$home$gateways$in$the$physical$location$of$the$end$user$devices.$$$For$more$detailed$Linear$components$architecture$and$sequence$flows$see$the$Content$Origination$Technical$Document.$

$$

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VOD&Architecture&Overview&$

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1. VOD$assets$are$received$from$content$providers$and$transcoded$into$multi$bitrate$profile$MPEGN4$to$enable$adaptive$bitrate$streaming$

2. Multiple$transcoding$processes$are$managed$using$an$external$content$management$system$3. Once$transcoded,$content$assets$are$pitched$to$VIPER’s$Origin$Storage$and$stored$for$durations$based$on$

content$license$windows$4. When$a$subscriber$player$makes$the$first$request$for$a$particular$movie$asset,$VIPER’s$Mod_Live$

component$pulls$the$specific$video$fragment$out$of$storage$and$hands$it$off$to$VIPER’s$DASH$VODNJ$5. The$DASH$VODNJ$translates$the$asset$from$the$MPEG$4$transport$stream$to$DASH$format$6. VIPER$developed$component,$Super8$then$packages$the$video$on$the$fly$with$secure$DRM$into$the$HLS$

streaming$format$and$delivers$the$video$fragment$to$the$CDN$edge$servers$where$it$is$cached.$7. The$end$user$player$validates$the$secure$key$and$then$receives$the$VOD$content$delivered$via$unicast,$

from$the$CDN$edge$servers.$8. Subsequent$requests$for$the$same$asset$will$deliver$the$asset$directly$from$the$CDN.$$

$For$more$detailed$VOD$components$architecture$and$sequence$flows$see$the$Content$Origination$Technical$Document.$$$$ &

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CDVR&Architecture&Overview&

$$VIPER$CDVR$records$and$plays$back$IP$linear$channel$or$VOD$content.$$VIPER$components$of$a$Recorder,$Recorder$Manager$and$Scheduler$drive$the$functional,$secure$infrastructure$for$recording$a$linear$program$or$channel.$As$part$of$the$CDVR$technical$workflow$there$are$two$types$of$user$responses,$which$initiate$backNend$functions:$

o Scheduling$the$Recording$(see$red$lines$of$diagram)$and,$o Playing$Back$the$Recording$(see$blue$lines$of$the$diagram).$$$

$In$the$architecture$above$the$steps$are:$

1. The$transcoder$joins$Source$Multicast,$repackages$content,$and$posts$it$to$Multicast.$$2. The$Recorder$Manager$joins$the$transcoder$Multicast$and$writes$mpeg$files.$3. Super8$checks$for$$the$manifest$on$Redis.$

a. If$the$manifest$is$available,$Super8$fulfill$the$request.$Go$to$step$8.$b. If$the$manifest$is$not$available,$the$request$is$sent$to$DASHNR.$Go$to$step$5.$

4. The$request$is$load$balanced$to$the$DASHNR$servers.$5. DASHNR$sends$the$request$to$CPLS$(S7$end$point)$for$the$asset,$and$CPLS$responds$with$the$recording$

URL.$6. DASHNR$contacts$the$recorder$manager$for$the$recorder$information;$the$recorder$manager$tells$DASHNR$

on$which$recorder$the$content$is$located.$7. DASHNR$contacts$the$recorder$for$the$manifest$(not$shown),$DASHNR$builds$a$DASH$manifest$and$returns$

it$to$Super8.$8. Super8$contacts$the$CKM$server,$which$supplies$the$media$ID$information$and$returns$the$authorization.$9. Super8$encrypts$the$manifest$and$stores$it$in$Redis.$10. Super8$delivers$the$manifest$to$the$client.$11. On$subsequent$fragment$requests,$CKM$material$stored$in$Redis$is$used$to$encrypt$content.$

$More$information,$technical$architectures$and$detailed$workflows$for$the$cDVR$Recorder,$Scheduling$and$Playback$functionality$are$available$in$the$Recorder$CDVR$Technical$Document.$

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VIPER&Functional&Areas&and&Components&&&$

Comcast$separated$VIPER’s$core$IPTV$video$platform$into$a$set$of$reusable$services$for$all$of$its$new$applications,$each$managed$separately$at$the$development$side.$$Six$separate$groups$or$teams$comprise$the$VIPER$platform$and$include:$content$ingest,$alternative$content,$big$data$and$realNtime$analytics,$player$platform,$security,$and$service$delivery$engineering.$$$$

VIPER&Functional&Areas&$This$overview$on$VIPER$into$major$functional$areas$with$custom$developed$components.$$Refer$to$seven$(8)$separate$documents$detailing$technical$information$on$each$of$these$VIPER$Functional$areas.$$$$$The$major$functional$areas$of$VIPER$are$as$follows:$$$

1. Content$Origination$2. Big$Data/Analytics$3. cDVR$Recorder$$4. Dynamic$Ad$Insertion$(DAI)$and$Blackouts$5. Emergency$Alerts$(EAS$and$EAN)$$6. Multicast$7. Player$and$Digital$Rights$Management$

$Note:$To$complete$the$endNtoNend$IPTV$distribution$offered$by$Comcast,$the$required$external$systems$for$Customer$Subscriber$Management,$Electronic$Program$Guide$Applications$and$Billing$Management$remain$outside$of,$but$connection$points$to,$the$VIPER$architecture.$$

1.&&Content&Origination&$VIPER$content$origination$systems$ingest$video$signals$from$a$wide$variety$of$sources$including$transcoding$and$packaging$them$into$an$MPEGN4$DASH$adaptive$bitrate$format,$then$delivering$high$quality$channel$or$onNdemand$content$via$VIPER$Linear,$VOD$or$cDVR$infrastructure$technology.$$$$

VIPER&Video&Compression&$

Integral$to$VIPER’s$Content$Origination$functionality$is$VIPER’s$Video$Compression$Group.$The$team$is$responsible$for$the$research$and$development$of$the$video,$audio,$and$data$transcoding$for$Linear$and$VOD$streams$in$the$MPEGN2,$AVC,$and$HEVC$(H.265$and$4K)$compression$formats.$$$$The$team’s$key$areas$of$engineering$responsibility$include:$

• Supports$the$National$and$Regional$deployment$teams$• Defines$requirements$and$generate$configuration$templates$$• Coordination$of$advanced$troubleshooting$efforts$• Leads$the$HEVC$effort$by$defining$BitNRates,$Resolutions,$and$Profiles$within$the$Comcast$ATS$(TASR)$

requirements$document$• Performs$inNdepth$analysis$of$video$profiles$to$optimize$video$quality$across$all$platforms$

$



Transcoding&&$Architected$as$an$Open$Transcoder$Platform$(OTP),$the$transcoding$systems$operate$as$virtualization$servers,$in$a$pure,$CPU$based$software$solution.$$VIPER$integrates$with$multiple$third$party$vendor$ecoNsystems$with$cloudNbased$technology$or$module$licensing$solutions.$$A$common$workflow$platform$drives$multiple$configurable$transcoding$use$cases,$supporting$fully$programmable$and$integrated$MPEGN4$(H.264).$$$Content$origination$varies$by$service$type$ranging$from$Linear,$which$includes$Regional$and$National$Channels,$Live$Programming,$VOD$and$cDVR.$$All$transcoding$methods$utilize$third$party$software$based$transcoding$solutions$running$on$virtualized$servers.$

&

Linear&Programming&*Content$is$directly$received$from$the$service$provider$and$processed$through$VIPER’s$linear$transcoding$component$architecture,$then$stored$in$linear$origin$storage$and$packaged$per$unique$channel$request.$$VIPER$uniquely$packages$and$transports$Linear$and$Live$content$to$the$end$user$devices,$as$described$in$the$Services$Description$section.$$

VOD&–&Video&on&Demand&$As$with$traditional$VOD$systems,$content$assets$are$received$from$service$providers,$transcoded$and$stored$in$VOD$origin$storage$and$packaged$per$unique$user$playback$request.$$VIPER$uniquely$packages$and$transports$VOD$content$to$the$end$user$devices,$as$described$in$the$Services$Description$section.$$

cDVR&–&Cloud&Digital&Video&Recorder&$Leveraging$the$same$transcoding$infrastructure$as$Linear,$when$the$user$makes$a$request$to$record$a$channel,$the$recorded$channel$is$transcoded$into$an$MPEGN4$H.264$transport$stream$onto$VIPER’s$cloud$recorder$storage$and$then$packaged$per$request$by$the$user$for$future$playback.$VIPER$uniquely$packages$and$transports$cDVR$content$to$the$end$user$devices,$as$described$in$the$Services$Description$section.$

$

2.&&Big&Data&U&Analytics&$Big$Data$is$a$collection$of$both$structured$and$unstructured$data$that$so$large$that$it$is$difficult$to$process$using$a$traditional$database.$Every$action$that$happens$over$VIPER’s$application$systems$is$captured$and$processed$in$Big$Data.$$VIPER$collects$Big$Data$in$the$form$of$real$time$analytics,$by$collecting$usage$data$across$all$of$VIPER’s$different$systems$to$improve$video$delivery,$video$monitoring$and$overall$video$quality.$$$$VIPER$collects$more$player$analytics$data$than$Twitter$does$tweets.$$VIPER$Player$metrics$are$collected$and$processed$in$real$time$for$the$purpose$of$monitoring$the$health,$security,$and$performance$of$the$linear$video$and$VOD$content$delivery$infrastructure.$$Using$open$source$tools$like$Flume,$Storm,$Splunk,$and$Hadoop,$VIPER$accesses,$aggregates$and$analyzes$Big$Data$to$provide$real$time$data$analysis$and$metrics$dashboards.$VIPER$analytics$allow$the$engineering$teams$to$continue$to$build$a$robust$platform$and$improve$the$customer$experience.$$$



VIPER$Big$Data$uses$customized$events$to$send$JSON$messages$with$a$key$value$pair$to$the$analytics$endpoint.$The$messages$are$then$sent$to$Big$Data$clusters$and$are$processed$by$real$time$engines$to$present$real$time$analytics$in$graphical$form.$$$$Providing$collection$and$insight$to$Big$Data,$helps$engineers$to$understand$hidden$patterns,$while$business$end$users$can$view$visualized$data$metrics,$and$analytics$can$help$them$find$new$business$opportunities.$$Big$data$is$also$used$as$the$first$point$of$contact$for$monitoring$the$video$delivery$system$in$real$time.$$Quality$of$service$data$travels$from$all$devices$into$our$Flume$collectors,$then$up$to$Storm$for$processing,$then$into$MemSQL$where$it$becomes$available$to$our$realNtime$API.$

$Slide:&Real&Time&Analytics&Dashboard&View$

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3.&&cDVR&Recorder&&&$In$the$VIPER$workflow,$cloud$digital$recorded$video$(cDVR)$records$a$Liner$video$program$or$channel.$$The$VIPER$components$of$a$Recorder,$Recorder$Manager$and$Scheduler$drive$the$functional,$secure$infrastructure.$$The$recorder$and$archive,$located$in$regional$data$centers$and$carrier$neutral$facilities,$stores$the$subscriber’s$cDVR$recordings.$When$a$subscriber$initiates$a$recording,$the$recorder$joins$the$multicast$output$from$the$transcoder$and$records$the$program.$$The$VIPER$cDVR$Recorder$performs$recording$and$scheduling$of$programming.$$$$

4.&&Dynamic&Ad&Insertion&(DAI)&and&Blackouts&$



Dynamic$Ad$Insertion$and$Blackouts$are$external$content$that$is$scheduled$based$on$geographic$location$or$and$added$to$the$digitized$video$stream.$$VIPER$provides$support$for$these$types$of$alternate$content$by$way$of$custom$developed$components$and$third$party$application$support.$$$

DAI&(Dynamic&Ad&Insertion)&&$Dynamic$Ad$Insertion$technology$provides$advertisers$with$the$ability$to$inject$video$ads$into$a$linear$stream$or$VOD$asset$where$and$when$they$want$to$deliver$the$ad$N$all$in$realNtime.$$VIPER$DAI$supports$Linear$and$VOD$Stream$Conditioning$on$both$Regional$and$National$Channels$including$Title$6$and$TVE.$$VIPER$DAI$supports$VAST$and$SCTE$130$Standard$Ad$Decision$Systems$with$accurate$numbers$for$linear$ad$viewing.$$

Blackouts&$VIPER$Blackout$functionality$is$applicable$only$to$linear$channels.$Blackouts$block$particular$channel$content$from$being$viewable$to$the$end$user.$$VIPER$Blackout$functions$are$fully$faultNtolerant$allowing$for$complete$granularity$of$control$supporting$both$Web$and$Regional$Blackouts.$$

$

5.&&Emergency&Alert&System&and&Emergency&Action&Notifications&(EAS&&&EAN)&$VIPER$EAS$is$designed$to$provide$the$capability$to$communicate$a$national$emergency$to$public$via$a$live$video/audio$transmission.$Along$with$its$capability$of$providing$an$emergency$message$to$the$entire$nation$simultaneously,$the$EAS$allows$authorized$state$and$local$authorities$to$quickly$distribute$important$local$emergency$information.$VIPER$EAS$works$with$existing$ENDECs;$and$provides$centralized$collection,$management$and$distribution$of$alerts.$$The$VIPER$Player$controls$how$the$alert$is$displayed.$

&

6.&&Multicast& &$In$IP$multicasting,$the$implementation$of$the$multicast$concept$occurs$at$the$IP$routing$level,$where$routers$create$optimal$distribution$paths$for$datagrams$sent$to$a$multicast$destination$address.$$The$goal$for$VIPER$was$to$deploy$an$allNIP$version$of$Comcast’s$existing$video$services$that$scales$to$all$screens$in$customers’$homes,$however,$not$enough$bandwidth$is$projected$to$be$available$in$the$nearN$to$midNterm$timeline.$$$The$solution$was$to$incorporate$multicasting$technology$that$consumes$less$access$network$bandwidth$by$using$multicast$streaming$(a$“oneNtoNmany”$or$“manyNtoNmany”$distribution).$VIPER$now$delivers$video$content$to$all$advanced$setNtop$boxes$and$customer$owned$and$managed$(COAM)$video$clients$over$IP$at$scale$using$multicast.$

&

7.&Player&and&Digital&Rights&Management&(DRM)&&$Player&Given$the$history$of$issues$with$video$players$and$device$incompatibility,$the$VIPER$player$is$intelligently$developed.$$The$VIPER$player$offers$a$common$player$platform$for$all$IP$devices$ranging$from$PC’s,$iOS,$Android,$setNtop$boxes,$connected$TVs$and$gaming$consoles.$The$player$is$responsible$for$playing$all$Linear,$VOD$and$



CDVR$IPTV$content.$$It$also$provides$a$common$API$to$all$of$Comcast’s$applications.$Electronic$Program$Guide$(EPG)$information$is$not$part$of$VIPER,$but$integrates$with$VIPER$utilizing$Comcast$Compass.$$$$$The$VIPER$player$is$essentially$a$library$that$gets$embedded$in$a$device$application.$There's$a$backend$web$file$server$that$downloads$the$proper$player$library$to$the$end$device.$When$the$STB$or$player$device$requests$playback;$the$supporting$player$is$automatically$downloaded$from$the$backend$web$server.$$$$The$VIPER$player$supports$HLS,$DASH,$HEVC,$MS$Smooth$Support,$EME$DRM,$CC$(608/708)/WebVTT,$Trick$Play,$Analytics,$EAS/EAN,$Neilsen,$ComScore,$Ad$Insertion,$Java$Script$(in$2015)$and$the$testing$of$future$devices$and$playback.$$The$player$provides$consistent$APIs$and$a$set$of$modules$to$abstract$away$the$complexity$of$specific$video$containers,$adaptive$logic,$ad$insertion,$authorization$and$DRM.$$DRM&Comcast$VIPER$offers$scalable$DRM,$supporting$multiple$DRM$solution$providers.$Comcast’s$VIPER$security$group$handles$all$levels$of$security$from$hardware$specifications$for$Comcast’s$setNtop$boxes,$code$signing,$keying,$and$software$security$audits$to$third$party$authorization$and$entitlement$systems.$VIPER$applies$secure$DRM$using$Comcast’s$existing$Content$Key$Manager$and$Encryption$License$Servers$(or$external$encryption$license$servers)$to$validate$entitlement$to$content.$At$the$time$of$VIPER$player$request$for$content,$VIPER$enables$“Download$and$Go”$playback.$$This$applies$DRM$at$the$time$of$player$request,$allowing$for$quick$response$in$case$of$a$breach.$$$

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VIPER&Service&Delivery&Engineering&Team&$VIPER’s$service$delivery$engineering$team$(SDET)$provides$tooling$for$configuration$management,$deployment,$monitoring,$and$capacity$management$across$the$VIPER$network$infrastructure.$$$$The$Services$Delivery$Engineering$team$supports$Comcast’s$VIPER$retailer$customer$installations$including$Cox;$TV$Everywhere$Channel$Rollouts,$the$Avalanche$(multicast)$trail$in$Great$Britain,$and$the$iVOD$trails$in$process$at$Comcast.$$$SDET$tools$are$focused$on$improving$the$customer$experience$by$optimizing:$$

• Channel$health$and$configuration$$$• Confirmations$of$cDVR$recordings$within$1$second$• The$restart$of$all$channels$on$40$packagers$within$10$seconds$• Dynamic,$siteNbased,$intelligent$video$health$monitoring$$• Tool$Suites$to$improve$error$reporting,$implementing$self$resolution$services$• Velocity$of$24x7$operations$teams$to$triage$efficiently$with$ability$to$isolate$production$issues$

systemically$$• Automated$deployment$processes$to$improve$speed$and$accuracy$of$deploying$new$software$and$

upgrades$$

$$Tools&provided&by&the&Service&Delivery&Engineering&team&include:&$

• LPUtility:$Service$API$+$GUI$for$IP$linear$site$health$&$configured$channel$lineup$

Service Delivery Engineering Tools

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13 hours saved to configure 40 packagers

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Competitors&&&Current&Install&Base&

Competitive&IPTV&&&IP&Video&Landscape&$As$Comcast$continues$to$grow$and$leverage$its$X1$Platform,$Cloud$DVR,$Wireless$Gateways$and$Xfinity$Home$services,$powered$by$VIPER,$there$is$increasing$pressure$on$competitive$IPTV$operators,$previously$holding$the$competitive$advantage$in$the$marketplace.$$Competitors$AT&T$and$Verizon$face$the$greatest$pressure$from$“technologically$focused$and$momentum$driven”$Comcast,$with$a$decline$in$their$respective$video$subscribers$in$Q2$2014.$$The$following$list$provides$context$as$to$the$disparate,$competitive$IPTV$competitive$landscape$in$the$US$and$Europe,$where$the$largest$distributed$networks$are$so$far$implemented.$$In$particular,$strongest$European$adoption$is$in$the$UK,$France,$Spain$and$Italy.$$IPTV$companies$include$Ericsson,$NetVue,$Sony,$UT$Starcom,$ZTE$and$Boxer.$$However,$the$US$market$is$gaining$traction$based$on$the$following$company$initiatives$outlined$below.$$Information$is$pulled$from$2014$IPTV$industry,$news$and$corporate$articles.$$NueLion& NeuLion,$Inc.$www.neulion.com$

April$1$2015,$NeuLion$launches$secure$EndNtoNEnd$4k$Live$Streaming$With$MPEG$DASH$Support$Enabling$OTT,$TV$Everywhere.$$Article$at:$http://www.marketwired.com/pressNrelease/N2005759.htm$Based$in$the$US$and$China,$NeuLion$is$selfNdescribed$as$"the$leading$enabler$and$provider$of$live$and$onNdemand$content$to$InternetNconnected$devices"$inclusive$of$PC's,$cell$phones$and$tablets,$gaming$devices,$smart$TV's$and$set$top$boxes.$Services$include$and/or$support:$real$Time$live$event$and$linear$channel$broadcasts,$enhanced$DVR,$dynamic$advertising,$adaptive$streaming,$playback$controls,$backend$content$management,$and$authentication.$Customers$include$major$entertainment,$sports,$global$content$and$news$companies$including$the$NFL$and$NHL.$$$In$2012$NeuLion$offered$5600$hours$of$Olympics$video$to$customers$in$China.$NeuLion$acquired$the$DivX$Corporation,$provider$of$nextNgeneration$digital$video$solutions,$in$January$2015,$with$a$transaction$value$of$$62.5$million.$$Offers$services$to$allow$content$providers$to$monetize$on$IP$delivered$revenue$models.$Services$include$comprehensive$billing$and$reporting$functionalities$designed$to$maximize$content$owner$marketing$program$tactics$and$stimulate$growth.$The$platform$can$support$multiple$currencies$and$price$points.$

Verizon$ Verizon$launched$its$FiOS$Internet$service$(internet$access,$telephone$and$television$services$provided$over$fiber$optic)$in$September$2005.$The$FIOS$Mobile$app$allows$for$viewing$many$streaming$TV$networks$and$shows$over$mobile$devices$as$part$of$Verizon’s$FIOS$TV$plan,$this$is$available$through$partner$apps$and$the$FiOS$Mobile$app.$$Verizon$plans$to$launch$a$streaming$IPTV$venture$in$midN2015$targeting$its$FiOS$TV$bundled$service$footprint,$following$its$2013$acquisition$of$Intel's$OnCue$IPTV$streaming$video$setNtop$aimed$at$delivering$both$linear$and$onNdemand$content.$

Ericsson$ In$2013$Ericsson$was$noted$as$the$leading$provider$of$IPTV$and$multiNscreen$entertainment$with$more$than$25$percent$of$the$market.$$In$Q4$2014$Ericsson$introduced$the$latest$release$of$their$IPTV$platform,$Ericsson$Mediaroom.$$Sold$to$Ericsson$by$Microsoft$in$2012,$Mediaroom$had$20%$of$the$IPTV$market$share,$which$Ericcson$then$acquired$in$Q4$2013.$Ericsson$Mediaroom$delivers$high$quality$live$television,$video$on$demand$(VOD)$and$enhanced$search$functionality.$Ericsson$is$bringing$to$the$market$in$the$second$half$of$2015,$4K$



and$HEVC$capabilities$in$its$Mediaroom$IPTV$platform$using$new$SystemNonNaNChip$(SOC)$set$top$boxes.$

AT&T$ Long$time$player$AT&T$Inc.$announced$plans$for$a$fiberNoptic$network$and$IPTV$deployment$in$2004$that$led$to$various$trials$and$services$and$subsequent$release$in$2008$of$UNverse,$which$included$broadband$Internet,$IP$telephone,$and$dedicated$IPTV$services.$UNverse$specifically$delivers$IPTV$from$the$headNend$to$the$consumer's$receiver$STB,$which$is$required$for$each$TV.$UNverse’s$“High$Speed$Internet$Elite$Service”$provides$several$TV$apps$delivering$games,$interactive$media$and$video$content.&

Microsoft$ Microsoft$first$ran$IPTV$services$on$its$Xbox$set$top$box$back$in$2007.$Microsoft$then$sold$its$sole$TV$strategy,$MediaRoom$to$Ericsson$in$2012,$to$focus$strictly$on$the$Xbox$as$an$entertainment$hub$for$the$home.$In$2013,$Microsoft$had$76$million$Xbox$360$consoles$installed$worldwide$with$46$million$Xbox$LIVE$members.$Today,$IPTV$operators$seeking$to$reach$the$Xbox$global$install$base,$rely$on$the$$Xbox$360$as$a$Connected$TV$(setNtop$box$IP$video$service)$providing$SW$apps$that$runs$on$the$STB.$As$of$2013,$Verizon,$European$IPTV$provider$KPN,$Netflix$and$Time$Warner$Cable$all$had$apps$for$IPTV$services$on$the$Xbox$Live$STB.$In$Q4$2104,$Xbox$One$announced$improvements$to$its$platform$including$tracking$Trending$Live$TV,$an$accessory$for$a$Digital$TV$Tuner,$with$the$ability$to$stream$TV$to$the$SmartGlass$app$via$Xbox$One$Video.$$In$the$future,$the$cloud$approach$to$TV$service,$where$apps$are$the$gateway$to$subscription$video$content,$may$be$the$trend$that$makes$STBs$like$Xbox$obsolete.$

Netflix&(as&OTT&and&IPTV)&&&British&Telecom$

Netflix$as$an$OTT$service,$is$available$on$almost$all$types$of$connected$devices$from$Xbox$(360$and$One),$to$Sony$PlayStation$3$and$4,$TiVo,$Apple$TV,$Chromecast,$Roku,$Android,$Windows,$iOS$devices$and$online$(PC).$Popular$in$the$US,$Netflix$has$been$strong$in$Western$Europe$and$in$the$Nordic$euro$region,$where$the$number$of$Netflix$subscribers$is$estimated$to$reach$1.9$million$in$Sweden$and$Denmark$in$2014.$UK$telco$British$Telecom$(BT)$is$to$partner$in$a$subscription$videoNonNdemand$service$with$Netflix$to$deliver$Netflix$directly$to$the$TV.$BT$said$its$TV/broadband$subscriber$base$was$1.04$million$in$2012.$$$$$

Sony&&&Viacom$ In$2009,$Sony$came$out$with$Bravia$Internet$Video$for$Internet$enabled$Sony$Bravia$Smart$TV's,$and$later$on$Sony$BluNray$and$home$theatre$systems.$Bravia$Internet$Video$had$several$streaming$media$partners$including:$Amazon$Video$On$Demand,$YouTube,$Yahoo!,$Netflix$and$Sony$Video$(Qriocity).$In$Jan.$2014,$Sony$announced$it$would$be$testing$the$launch$of$a$cloudNbased$TV$offering$with$both$live$TV$and$VOD$"that$personalizes$itself$for$the$viewer".$$In$Q4$2014,$the$PlayStation$TV$box$was$announced$as$their$forthcoming$cloudNbased$TV$service,$to$carry$22$channels$from$Viacom's$media$lineup.$Allowing$viewers$to$watch$live$TV$and$VOD$content$on$Sony$Smart$TVs,$PlayStation$games$consoles$and$mobile$devices,$Sony's$initial$2013$Viacom$deal$was$to$become$the$start$of$Sony$streaming$live$TV$across$the$Internet.$In$Q2$2014,$Sony$and$Vue$Entertainment$streamed$two$FIFA$World$Cup$matches$live$to$a$UK$cinema$in$Ultra$HighNDef$4K$resolution$as$a$premiere$4K$(localized)$IPTV$experience.$

Dish& Dish$is$showing$an$IPTV$service$at$CES,$Jan.$2015$to$be$launched$this$year$–no$date$set$yet$(Dish$has$been$involved$in$IPTV$since$2012).$Available$for$streaming$on$computers,$IOS$and$Android$devices,$Amazon$Fire$TV,$and$Chromecast.$Subscriptions$cost$$20/month.$Dish,$a$Colorado$based$company,$decided$to$accept$Bitcoin$in$May$2014,$and$planned$to$begin$accepting$payments$by$the$third$quarter$of$the$year.$Dish$offers$services$with$Roku’s$device$known$as$DishWorld$IPTV$using$a$broadband$Internet$connection$to$deliver$International$programming$to$TV’s$w/$



Roku$player$or$directly$to$an$IPNenabled$device.$$Dish$also$offers$Dish$ESPN,$Dish$Anywhere.$http://cointelegraph.com/news/113259/dishNnetworkNlaunchingNiptvNserviceNpayableNinNbitcoin$

Google&TV,&Apple&TV,&Amazon&TV,&Roku&&&Smart&TV’s$

Each$has$smaller$IPTV$footprints$in$the$US$market$with$apps$and/or$dedicated$STB$Connected$TV$devices.$Google$Chromecast$is$in$the$lead$(IPTVNnews.com)$followed$closely$by$Roku,$with$Apple$slipping$to$third$place,$having$led$the$market$previously.$In$the$Smart$TV$US$market$Samsung$leads$with$35%$share$followed$by$Vizio$then$Sony$and$LG.$$

DivX&OTT&Service&Provider&$

DivX$OmniView$product$states$it$“enables$Pay$TV$Operators,$Broadcasters,$Channels,$and$OTT$Services$and$Platforms$to$create,$securely$distribute$and$play$overNtheNtop$video$across$a$wide$array$of$screens$including$mobile$and$smart$TVs.”$$$http://www.divx.com/solutions/multiNscreenNvideo/$

Vubiquity$ Vubiquity$states$they$are$“the$largest$global$provider$of$multiplatform$video$services.$The$company$manages$more$than$28,000$hours$of$content$monthly$from$over$340$content$providers$and$reaches$over$75$million$households$through$close$to$300$service$providers.$Vubiquity's$services,$including$Video$On$Demand$(VOD),$Multiplatform,$Advanced$Advertising,$Creative$Services$and$Data$Analytics,$are$available$in$39$territories$and$15$languages.”$http://www.vubiquity.com$

$$$$ &



Product&Roadmap&$VIPER$infrastructure$is$deployed$in$large$scale$with$datacenters$already$deployed$across$the$US.$$Datacenters$are$quickly$installed,$implemented,$tested$and$deployed$for$production$release.$$$$Future$technology$and$functional$components$for$VIPER$are$released$in$managed$environments$supported$by$VIPER’s$Service$Operations$and$Delivery$teams.$$$$For$information$on$the$most$current$VIPER$Product$Roadmap,$please$contact$a$Comcast$VIPER$management$lead.$

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