The PacketCable architecture

PacketCable/sup TM/ defines a multimedia system architecture that overlays a high-speed cable modem access network, with the goal of enabling a wide variety of Internet protocol-based multimedia services, such as voice over IP, unified messaging, PBX extension, videoconferencing, and online gaming. Currently, the architecture provides a complete solution for delivering VoIP services. We present the core capabilities necessary to implement such services in a scalable fashion. Next, we describe the major functional components that comprise the PacketCable architecture and illustrate how they work together to form an integrated IP multimedia-enabled system architecture, which is presently focused on voice over IP. Finally, we present some possible next steps in the evolution of PacketCable.