The PacketCable™ IP Services Delivery Platform

PacketCable is an IP-services delivery platform. PacketCable consists of several specifications that define functional components and interfaces needed for delivering IP services over the DOCSIS 1.1 cable access network. Cable operators can use products developed to these specifications to provide a variety of quality of service (QoS) enabled applications and features to broadband subscribers. Examples of services include Voice-over-IP (VoIP), multi-player games, video conferencing, and a variety of other IP-based multimedia services.

Residential VoIP is the first service based on the PacketCable specifications that cable operators are actively testing in their labs and in field trials. PacketCable specifies a complete solution for delivering end-to-end IP-based telephony services. A stepping stone solution, known as line control signaling (LCS), is also specified and includes IP-based components on the access network connecting to a circuit switch in the headend.

The PacketCable specifications were developed in phases. PacketCable 1.0 enables telephony service for customers within a single cable operator’s network. PacketCable 1.1 provides support for primary line capabilities. PacketCable 1.2 enables end-to-end IP-based telephony service between cable operators.

The first set of PacketCable specifications was released in December of 1999, and a lot has happened since then. Vendors have been actively developing product based on the specifications, a fully functional PacketCable interoperability test network called the Advanced Interoperability Test Network (AITN) has been created at CableLabs to assess interoperability, and the PacketCable team and vendor community has worked together to refine the specifications to reflect clarifications and corrections based on lessons learned from product development and multi-vendor interoperability testing. The PacketCable certification program, much like the DOCSIS program, “certifies” customer-premise equipment (MTAs) against requirements in the specifications, while network elements that are under the care of operators are “qualified” against the specifications.

Going forward, the PacketCable project will continue interoperability and certification testing, advance work on specifications for stand-alone client devices, as well as expand the footprint of the PacketCable architecture to support services beyond voice such as multi-player gaming and other enhanced QoS services.

For more information on the PacketCable project, please go to the PacketCable web site, www.packetcable.com.