A Design of Generalized Peer-to-Peer Based IPTV System Using Multiple Chain Architecture

In this paper, we propose a P2P-based IPTV system using a multiple chain architecture. The proposed system robustly accommodates peer churn. As opposed to the Internet, the IPTV network managed by a single ISP has fewer bandwidth constraints and guarantees stability. Therefore, we emphasize preferentially the robustness of a P2P network in an IPTV environment. A single chain structure, which was proposed previously, emphasizes simplicity, but suffers delay toward the end of the chain as the number of peers increases. To diminish delay time, we propose a scheme that divides the chain into several levels, and again divides each level into spans. Although the chain is divided into levels and spans, the basic structure of the proposed scheme is still a chain structure, one that simplifies the recovery procedure caused by the entry or departure of peers. We also propose a generalized structure that classifies channel types into popular channels and unpopular channels, so as to improve P2P performance. We show that with respect to delay time, the proposed scheme offers improved performance over the single chain structure.