Greening of IP-Based Video Distribution Networks: Developments and Challenges

The creation and the distribution of video content is a multi-stage process that refers to the aquisition of video source, content production and packaging, and distribution to customers. The major components are the access networks, metro/edge networks, core networks, data centers and storage networks. The creation and the distribution of video content is a multi-stage process that refers to the aquisition of video source, content production and packaging, and distribution to customers. The major components are the access networks, metro/edge networks, core networks, data centers and storage networks. Today, the access networks, of type wireless and wired, dominate the power consumption of the chain. However, it is expected that, with increasing access speeds, the core network routing will dominate the power consumption of the chain as well. Furthermore, it is also expected that the power consumption of Data Centers (DCs) and Content Distribution Networks (CDNs) will be dominated by the power consumption of data storage for content that is infrequently downloaded as well as by the transport of data for content that is frequently downloaded. The paper provides an overview of the problems related to the greening of IP-based video distribution, with particular focus on recent developments and the associated challenges. These are research topics planned to be solved by the last call Celtic-Plus project proposal CONVINcE (Consumption OptimizatioN in Video Networks). This research project has received the EUREKA Celtic-Plus label for funding approval in five European countries: France, Sweden, Finland, Romania and Turkey. It is considered to be a very high quality research and the topic is considered to be very relevant to our future from ecological and economical view.