Subscriber Management IGMP Model Overview

In an IPTV network, channel changes occur when a set-top box (STB) sends IGMP commands that inform an upstream device (for example, a multiservice access node [MSAN] or services router) whether to start or stop sending multicast groups to the subscriber. In addition, IGMP hosts periodically request notification from the STB about which channels (multicast groups) are being received.

You can implement IGMP in the subscriber management network in the following ways:

• Static IGMP—All multicast channels are sent to the MSAN. When the MSAN receives an IGMP request to start or stop sending a channel, it adds the subscriber to the multicast group and then discards the IGMP packet.

• IGMP Proxy—Only multicast channels currently being viewed are sent to the MSAN. If the MSAN receives a request to view a channel that is not currently being forwarded to the MSAN, it forwards the request upstream. However, the upstream device does not see all channel change requests from each subscriber, limiting bandwidth control options.

• IGMP Snooping—Only multicast channels currently being viewed are sent to the MSAN. The MSAN forwards all IGMP requests upstream, unaltered, even if it is already receiving the channel. The upstream device sees all channel change requests from each subscriber. Using IGMP snooping enables the broadband services router to determine the mix of services and the bandwidth requirements of each subscriber and adjust the bandwidth made available to each service.

• IGMP Passthrough—The MSAN transparently passes IGMP packets upstream to the broadband services router.

IGMP hosts (sources) also periodically verify that they are sending the correct traffic by requesting that each client send information about what multicast groups it wants to receive. The responses to this IGMP query can result in a substantial upstream traffic burst.

IGMPv2 is the minimum level required to support IPTV, and is the most widely deployed. Emerging standards specify IGMPv3.