The IPI group was initiated at the 38th meeting of the TM, on 20/21 September 2000 and approved by the Steering Board at its 31st meeting on 10 October 2000.

The Goal of the IPI group is to specify technologies on the interface between an IP network and retail receivers, enabling the end user to buy a DVB-IPTV receiver in any shop, connect it to a broadband network, switch it on and, without further ado, start to receive DVB services over IP-based networks.

Status of TM-IPI's work:

Phase 1:
IPI has finished the Phase 1 DVB-IP Handbook. This is aimed at early deployment of services, using MPEG-2 Transport Streams. Supported service profiles are Live Media Broadcast with and without trick modes (pause, fast forward, …) and Content on Demand. The Handbook specifies the interface on the Home Network End Device, enabling access to services delivered via an IP-based access network.

The Handbook has the following chapters:

• Architecture
• Service Discovery & Selection
• DVB-RTSP Agent
• Transport of MPEG-2TS over IP
• IP Address allocation and Network Time Services
• Identification Agent
• Network Provisioning (optional)
• Ethernet and IEEE 1394 Home Network Segments

Phase 2:
Phase 2 will address the new DVB content format, as specified by the TM-AVC group. Home networking will be dealt with in more detail than was possible in Phase 1. Authentication and data integrity issues will be taken into account.

Published specifications from TM-IPI

• SB36(02)17
  Architectural Framework for the Delivery of DVB-Services over IP-based Networks, 2001-11-19
  
• SB37(02)10
  IEEE1394 Home Network Segment, 2002-05-02 (latest editorial corrections TM2637rev.2 dd 2002-06-10)
  
• SB37(02)11
  Ethernet Home Network Segment, 2002-05-03 (latest editorial corrections TM2640rev.3 dd 2003-01-17)
  
• SB37(02)12
  Transport of DVB Services over IP-based Networks Part 1: MPEG-2 Transport Streams, 2002-06-10