Increasing bandwidth utilization in next generation IPTV networks

In this paper we present a novel idea regarding transmission of next generation IPTV content. Today IPTV systems utilize a GOP structure to provide stream synchronization points for the clients, these are used when a channel switch occur. Since channel switches made by TV audiences are quite rare it is redundant to send synchronization opportunities in a GOP manner. The proposed design, synchronization frames for channel switching (SFCS), only requests synchronization frames when needed. We present a network traffic analysis model and compare it with simulations. SFCS increases bandwidth utilization compared to traditional GOP system under the presented transmission environment.