Multiprotocol Encapsulation

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Contents

[edit] Introduction

Multiprotocol Encapsulation, or MPE for short, is a protocol defined by DVB which has been published as part of ETSI TS 301 192. It provides means to carry packet oriented protocols (like for instance IP) on top of MPEG-2 Transport Stream (TS).

[edit] Protocol Outline

MPE uses MPEG-2 Private Table sections to carry the user datagrams. The section header is used to convey:

  • the frame's destination MAC address
  • a payload scrambling indication
  • a MAC address scrambling indication

MAC addresses from 1 to 6 bytes length may be used. The format of MPEG-2 DSM-CC sections happens to be compatible with DVB MPE.

[edit] MPE-based IP Service Offerings

[edit] Service Architecture

A complete IP service offering over MPEG-2 TS can be established by organising MPE streams into one or more IP Platforms carried on a broadcast network by means of the IP/MAC Notification Table mechanism which is also defined in ETSI TS 301 192.

[edit] Commercial Offerings

Both major European satelliet operators (SES-Astra and Eutelsat) are offering commercial IP services using MPE to both, businesses and cocnsumers.

[edit] External Links