Internet Access
Internet access is the most well-known and widely used data over cable application. The popularity of the Internet has completely driven the cable industry into the data services business. The available bandwidth of cable's broadband network allows
users to download web pages faster and to support multimedia driven IP technologies that require extensive bandwidth resources to support streaming audio and video.
IP Telephony
IP Telephony allows cable operators to offer local and/or long distance
telephone services using Internet Protocol to deliver voice through the use
of a gateway located at the cable headend. Telephony networks can either be
private with services limited to a LAN, or allow access across the Internet
or to and from the telco system. The initial telephony networks developed
to operate over IP were crude. However, the current technology provides an
acceptable level of quality.
Multi-User Dimensions [MUD]
A MUD is a structured social environment operating over IP and managed by a
computer program. It involves a loosely organized context or theme, such as
a castle with multiple rooms. As a user enters a MUD, he or she is
represented within the program as an animated character visible to all of
the users. Depending on the capabilities and nature of the MUD, users can
communicate in real-time via text chat or voice, and engage in activities
within the environment such as playing a game or fighting. Though most
MUDS are designed for entertainment, some are used for informational
purposes such as distance learning.
Primary MUD developers:
Intermetrics
mPath Interactive
Sony
Video Conferencing
Video conferencing, which is run over IP, allows a group of users to
communicate in real-time through the use of live streaming audio and video.
Some conferences involve a single video image from a main source and
multiple audio feeds from many sites, while others can support at least up
to four users on a split screen. Some video conferencing programs feature
"whiteboarding", which allows users to interactively draw or write onto a
commonly shared portion of the PC screen.
Primary vendors of video conferencing software & servers:
Concentric Networks
Digiphone International
Microsoft
Netscape
VocalTec
Facsimile over IP
Just as IP can support telephony, the Internet Protocol can also handle
facsimile transmissions. Networks supporting faxes can either be private
or provide access over the Internet.
Primary suppliers of facsimile networking equipment:
DSP Software Engineering
Delta Three
ViaDSP
VocalTec
Voxo Telecom
Webcasting
Webcasting, often referred to as PUSH technology, is the automated delivery
of information from server to client over IP. Generally, webcasting
services offer users access to a wide range of information and news. Users
are able to filter or specify what information is to be downloaded to their
PC. For example, if a service clipped the latest news regarding high-speed
data services, the user may be given the option to accept all articles and
press releases regarding high-speed data services or specify only articles
that deal directly with cable modems. The application would eliminate the
need for the user to find the article on the Internet and manually download
it.
Primary webcasting providers:
BackWeb
Castanet
Headliner
Intermind
Microsoft
Netscape
Pointcast
Multicasting
Multicasting is the automatic transmission of files or streaming audio and
video to pre-selected multiple users. Though multicasting is similar to
webcasting, it operates like a sophisticated mailing list rather than a
news clipping service. Information is uploaded by the provider to a server
and users automatically download that information or a pre-selected portion
of that information. It promises to be a popular application within
private networks.
Standards for IP delivery of multicasting are being developed including IP
Multicast and Mbone.
Virtual Private Networks
Since a cable system acts as a broadband network, operators are capable of
developing virtual private networks [VPN] or pseudo local area networks
[LAN]. The networks can be built as a completely closed environment or
allow users access to the Internet [Intranet].
In many cases, the VPN application may generate more revenue than Internet
access. Instead of competing with ISPs, the cable operator is competing
with networking companies that demand higher prices at better margins. If
a cable operator passes 20,000 homes and gets 2% of those households to
subscribe to a high-speed Internet access service at $40 a month, the
monthly revenue generated is $16,000. If that operator has 20 VPN
customers with an average monthly bill of $1,000 then the monthly revenue
is $20,000.
Telecommuting
Telecommuting is usually an extension of the virtual private network,
allowing the network to extend outside the office premises. The
telecommuting service may be part of a VPN or simply a high-bandwidth
connection to the office or the Internet enabling an employee to work
effectively from home.
Municipal LANs
Municipal LANs are VPNs that connect governmental agencies and public
offices such as police, fire, emergency services and city hall. Operators
that are seeking government subsidies for plant upgrades may want to
emphasize the application's potential and possibly offer the service at no
charge or at a discounted rate. Obviously, the application provides
operates with leverage in politically controlled environments.
Educational LANs/Distance Learning
Educational LANs connect local schools, universities and libraries. Within
that application, the network can be used to teach students outside the
physical classroom. Professors can use tools such as video conferencing or
multicasting to simulate the classroom over a PC. Just as telecommuting
allows employees to work from home, distance learning allows students to
learn from home.
Primary vendors of software developed specifically for distance learning:
Energy Management
Through distance monitoring, the cable infrastructure can support energy
management of local utilities (electric, water, and gas). Maintenance,
troubleshooting, meter reading and usage monitoring can be performed from a
remote location.
HFC operators utilizing energy management applications:
TCI for Pacific Gas & Electric, in San Fransisco, San Jose, and Walnut Creek
Cox for Virginia Power
Jones Intercable [undisclosed location]
Primary suppliers of software specifically developed for energy management
applications:
CTI
Electrotek Concepts
WaterLink Systems
Home Monitoring/Security
The cable network can be used to monitor homes for fires, break-ins, and
medical emergencies. The available bandwidth of a cable network combined
with the system's "always on" characteristic enables emergency information
to be quickly transmitted.
Cable operators utilizing the home monitoring application:
South Tokyo Cable Television with Sogo Keibi Hosho
Primary supplier of home monitoring equipment/software:
Signal Communications
Karaoke
Since the cable network has the available bandwidth to support streaming
audio and video, it can support karaoke as an application. Users can
download video clips and sing the words into a PC microphone.
Cable operators offering karaoke:
Jupiter Telecom & Sumitomo, in Urawaka, Japan
Telemedicine
Physicians, specialists, patients, hospitals, clinics, and mobile units can
take advantage of a broadband networks' ability to support the quick
transfer of huge files can aid the medical community in providing
diagnosis, treatment, consulting and education.
Primary vendors of software used for telemedicine applications:
