Introduction

Pay-per-view is a generally available technology for guest room entertainment for hotel properties. Interactive Video-On-Demand (VOD), the ability to watch the Video-On-Demand, and Video-On-Demand with VCR-like control, is less widely available, but is being actively deployed in hotels worldwide. The problem is that neither the network providers nor the hotel operators seem to be content with their return on their investment for either of these technologies. Personal Video Recorder (PVR) technology has the possibility of reinventing this market and generating a much quicker return on investment.

A PVR is first and foremost a digital video recorder. With a PVR, standard television or cable television broadcast is recorded onto a storage medium such as a hard drive or removable media in a box that sits near the TV that is about the size of a VCR. Live television can be recorded for later viewing, like with a standard VCR. However, live television can also be recorded as it is being watched to allow for time-shifting capability. With this '"time-shift," live television can be paused with the touch of a button. The viewer can then watch the rest of the program later from where it was stopped or watch a short portion and then rejoin the live transmission.

Many analysts predict that PVRs will fundamentally change television-viewing habits and radically affect the television industry. The inherent ability of the PVR to allow television viewers to simultaneously record and playback television broadcasts with full interactive control at the viewer's convenience, is compelling and represents a vast technological improvement over VCRs.

Leveraging the DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or switched Ethernet broadband transport infrastructure in hospitality properties, hotel operators and broadband service providers will have the ability to introduce network-based Personal Video Channels (PVCs). This technology will provide the hospitality property operators with a clear competitive differentiator and a faster path to profitability.

Capabilities

With the advent of network-based PVC, the consumer will no longer be required to program a recording device or rely on self-programming based upon viewing history. Any type of programming is subject to errors, often leaving the consumer without the desired recorded program. Even self-programming is flawed with imperfections. Often, within a single household there are multiple viewers with quite different viewing habits. A husband's possible preference for sports is likely to be different than his spouse's programming choices, and both are undoubtedly different from their children's preference for cartoons or music videos. In addition, self-programming will not satisfy the requirement for impulse viewing when no viewing history has been established.

An offering from the broadband network provider, network-based PVR, offers in-home PVR-like functionality without the requirement for in-home equipment. Network-based PVCs provide significant advantages over in-home PVRs. With network-based PVC, there is no longer a limitation on the number of simultaneous recordings that can occur. Most in-home PVRs can record only one program at a time, whereas network-based PVC programming is virtually unlimited. In-home PVRs also have fixed storage limitations based upon the size of the disk in the unit.

Network-based PVC will provide the consumer with virtually unlimited storage capacity since thousands of subscribers will be able to view a single stored program simultaneously. Not only will the consumer be able to control live broadcasts, but also will essentially experience TV-On-Demand by having up to a week's worth of programming available for viewing at any time. Network-based PVC will eliminate the need for programming a recording device since a library of programs will be available on demand.

There will be no need for consumers to buy an expensive in-home PVR and be faced with obsolescence in years to come. Network-based PVC is simply a software application that will be downloaded to the consumer's set-top box and can easily be upgraded, without an upgrade cost to the consumer, as technology advances. The cost associated with network-based PVC is not only distributed over all subscribers, but utilizes the broadband transport and VOD infrastructure already in place.

The network-based PVC could easily be offered to the residence as a subscription service. As a subscription service, the consumer might simply be presented with a PVC channel in their channel line-up (see Figure 1).

Once a consumer has selected a PVC channel with an enabled program, the consumer will be able to experience full interactive control of the live broadcast (see Figure 2).

Assuming the network-based PVC was initiated on a program basis, an additional channel application could be developed, providing a programming library or essentially TV-On-Demand. The consumer would then simply select the channel and program (see Figures 3 & 4) and view the desired programming selection at his or her convenience - with full interactive control. Once the programs are stored on the video server, the system is simply performing Video- or TV-On-Demand.

For the hospitality property, network PVC offers additional capabilities. For example, as a guest service, properties could offer guests programs automatically recorded for a scheduled stay for a fixed price. Guests could also view programs recorded during the day for viewing after their workday and certain programs, like the local news or weather forecast, could also be offered on a time shifted basis. As the technology advances, there will be the possibility of offering programs recorded for a guest based on their frequent guest card.

Technical Considerations

Whereas VOD stream utilization is estimated at 10 to 25 percent, network-based PVC simultaneous stream utilization could easily range between 30 and 80 percent of its subscribers. Ultimately, consumers' viewing habits will drastically change, and each user of the system will want the flexibility associated with a personal connection, much like the Internet. The system architecture associated with network-based PVC must scale accordingly. The session setup and stream control will need to be distributed across the network architecture to insure that latencies are kept to a minimum. One possible system implementation for a network-based PVC is shown in Figure 5.

A network-based PVC system will need to encode both digital and analog signals in real time, load content files on a storage system, create trick files (such as fast forward and rewind), and play out within minimal transport latency. Creating the trick files may be the most difficult challenge in minimizing the overall transport latency. It should be possible to achieve overall system transport latencies of less than five seconds. Utilizing today's technology, a single 19-inch rack of equipment could provide thousands of hours of program storage, allowing for an entire week of programming to be stored for a variety of channels (see Figure 6).

In this example, a single rack can store programming for 45 channels for an entire week, assuming that daily programming is being refreshed.

Summary

Network-based PVC will drastically change viewing habits. Each consumer will ultimately establish his or her own connection and experience personalized TV without the dependency of a program schedule. For property owners or broadband operators already offering VOD, network-based PVR is an additional service, for little cost above and beyond standard VOD. Being able to control live broadcasts will enhance the viewing experience whether replaying a desired segment or pausing to address an interruption. Network-based PVC also provides significant advantages over VCRs and in-home PVRs (see Figure 7).

In today's hectic world when our personal time is always at a premium, network-based PVC will provide unparalleled viewing convenience and choice.

About the Author
Robert E. Chism is Vice President, Development with Concurrent Computer Corporation. He may be reached with questions or comments at (678) 258-4110 or via email bob.chism@ccur.com