The IP Over NBMA (ION) Archive

[Mike Trest <trest@ATMnet.net>]

>   Some people believed that ATM is the network to offer the integrated
>   service and tried to map IP over Q.2931 signaled ATM network to have
>   the integrated Internet over ATM.
>
>   But, to support real-world TV broadcasting, multicast-capable
>   signaling (or, with IP terminology, resource reservation) protocol
>   must be scalable up to millions or even billions of receivers.

M. Ohta and ION list participants.  

I have quietly observed this discussion for some time with great interest.
However, this recent submission requires more response because the
fundamental statement of the problem does not match today's reality or the
near term probabilities for distribution of "real-world TV broadcasting".

The advent of ATM will probably not appreciably change the distribution
patterns of TV programming. The inference of M. Ohta's "millions or
billions" of receivers is that TV distribution would be from a single point
of origin (or a very small number) or origination points in the network.  

In the macro view of TV distribution, programming goes through a tiered
distribution (on an international scale) until it reaches a final delivery
provider.  

It is my opinion that ATM is best deployed in the "final delivery provider"
context rather than the macro distribution context.  Indeed, in most
metropolitan or regional areas, there are multiple "final delivery
providers" with multiple feeds.  Since market forces appears to support the
paradigm of competitive local providers, the real technological challenge
will be how to deliver the best quality integrated service in the context of
these multiple "final delivery providers".

Therefore, the scale in this context is more modest.  In my community of a
one million residential units (which in USA terms is about 2.3 million
folks) there are several local broadcast stations, several cable service
providers, and three direct satellite TV "final delivery providers" of TV
programming.  Since my community is one of the 10 largest in the US, I think
it provides a reasonable model from which can be scaled to others with
different populations. [With obvious differences between technology advanced
Southern California and other less advanced areas of the world.] My long
view of entertainment distribution sees a future which will be structured by
multi tiered, multi point feeds to much smaller clouds. 

While I take no exception to the need for CSR technology, I cannot agree
that the scale issue as applied to "real-world TV broadcasting" is
sufficient basis for the position espoused in this draft.

..mike..


Mike Trest,  ATMNET          Voice:  619 643-1805
5440 Morehouse Drive         Fax:    619 643-1801
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