Managing the multi-device home

The growing number of connected devices has created more complexity in the home and reduced operator control over the delivery of related services. To counteract those effects, operators have standardized their use of physical (PHY) layer technologies and are leaning increasingly upon a network management protocol, TR-069, to help bridge the wide area and home networks.

Physical (PHY) layer technology choices sometimes follow a regional pattern. In North America, Multimedia over Coaxial Alliance (MoCA) prevails; in Europe powerline is the prevalent distribution method for many operators; in Asia, Ethernet is strong. Wireless is potentially complementary.

Like the cable operators it has overbuilt, Verizon chose MoCA as its local area network (LAN) “backbone” for FiOS TV services. But according to Brian Whitton, Verizon Executive Director, Access Network Technologies, it is not the only option.

“The LAN can be a random mix of PHYs, device and traffic, so it’s important that Verizon-provided CPE are connected on a robust primary LAN backbone to ensure a highly deterministic infrastructure,” Whitton said. “The consumer can then augment the LAN backbone with branches, such as Wi-Fi, Ethernet or PLC (Powerline Communication) as needed.”

Above the PHY layer, a network-agnostic protocol adopted by the Broadband Forum and entitled CPE WAN Management protocol, or Technical Report (TR)-069, has helped operators regain control. “(TR-069) is key for managing devices, driving efficiencies in remote diagnostics and with provisioning services, such as customer self-ordering of new services and upgrades,” said Whitton. “Using TR-069, we are able to expose physical layer parameters on many of our devices to verify physical layer performance in the home at time of install and for remote trouble analysis.”

Designed from the start to be network agnostic, TR-069 features network address translation (NAT) traversal capabilities, uses XML to facilitate the description of device-supported data sets and employs defined extensions to communicate with other categories of devices (e.g. TR-135 for set-tops, TR-098 for access gateways). In key regards, TR-069 exceeds SNMP, a legacy protocol widely used by cable operators. It is gaining adherence, as the following examples indicate:

• Keith Huang, VP Product Management at Hong Kong-based PCCW said that while customized end-to-end monitoring tools give PCCW a reasonable level of understanding, it is looking for more: “TR-069 is the standard that we will start using in our home network.”
• A Spanish Internet services provider (ISP) that is launching an OTT service under the Jazztel brand also is preparing to deploy. “TR-69 is very useful,” said Fernando Enrile, Head of Digital Television Services at Canal+ Yomvi’s Technical Department. “We plan to implement it in the near future on Jazztel boxes.”
• Listing the benefits of TR-069 on a TalkTalk user forum, a service rep said that the remote access tool allows the UK broadband operator to update software, diagnose and remedy faults proactively, and reduce time spent on the phone with customer service.

Activity in the vendor community also reflects interest in this protocol. In early 2012, Cisco announced the acquisition of Clear Access, a privately held provider of TR-069-based software to service providers, and discussed in this Cisco blog post from last week. ADB also has a lengthening list of customers for Epicentro-PMP, a TR-069-based platform formerly part of the Pirelli Broadband family.

One customer, TEO in Lithuania, illustrates some of the protocol’s possible applications. TEO began deploying ADB wireless ADSL and Gigabit Ethernet gateways using the Epicentro software stack with a related application portal in 2011. The portal enables consumers to install home network applications that deliver additional services such as energy management, home automation, home security and health-care. A thermostat may not be the most obvious bring-your-own-device (BYOD) application, but the mechanics are similar. “Ultimately, anything that you can get on one screen, you should be able to move to another,” explained Paul Bristow, VP Strategy, Middleware and Consumer Experience for ADB.

For more, see the latest Videonet special report, â€œQoE and the New Pay TV Home,” from which this article was adapted.