Subscriber terminal units for video dial tone systems

The subscriber terminal unit (STU) receives and decodes video signals and provides interactive support for server-based multimedia applications delivered over a video dial tone network. The STU can be a maddening bottleneck or a gateway to the world. Done properly, it is the vital link that exploits the sophisticated capabilities of the broadband network. We describe the service model upon which applications are based and our current understanding of the application requirements. Different STU types, their capabilities, and expected availability are presented. A model of the functionality of a generic STU is presented, as well as several different development scenarios, including our approach to an actual implementation.<
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