The Interactive Video Network: An overview of the Video Manager and the V Protocol

The AT&T Interactive Video Network (IVN) offering consists of the network elements and signaling protocol necessary to provide interactive services such as video on demand, home shopping, and interactive games, while establishing a framework for evolution to support future services. This paper introduces the network architecture being developed and the two most frequently deployed access technologies — switched digital video (SDV) and hybrid fiber-coax (HFC). It then focuses on two major AT&T Network Systems offerings that support the interactive video network — the AT&T Video Manager and the V Protocol.