PacketCable network is a technology specification defined by the industry consortium CableLabs for using Internet Protocol (IP) networks to deliver multimedia services, such as IP telephony, conferencing, and interactive gaming on a cable television infrastructure. The PacketCable technology is based on the DOCSIS base with extensions that enable cable operators to deliver data and voice traffic efficiently using a single high-speed, quality-of-service (QoS)-enabled broadband (cable) architecture. The PacketCable effort dates back to 1997 when cable operators identified the need for a real-time multimedia architecture to support the delivery of advanced multimedia services over the DOCSIS architecture. The original PacketCable specifications were based on the physical network characteristics of operators in the U.S. For the European market, Cable Europe Labs, maintains a separate, but equivalent effort, EuroPacketCable, based on European network implementations. Technical overview PacketCable interconnects three network types: Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) access network Public switched telephone network (PSTN) TCP/IP Managed IP networks Protocols DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) - standard for data over cable and details mostly the RF band Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) & Real Time Control Protocol (RTCP) required for media transfer PSTN Gateway Call Signaling Protocol Specification (TGCP) which is an MGCP extension for Media Gateways Network-Based Call Signaling Protocol Specification (NCS) which is an MGCP extension for analog residential Media Gateways - the NCS specification, which is derived from the IETF MGCP RFC 2705, details VoIP signalling. Basically the IETF version is a subset of the NCS version. The Packet Cable group has defined more messages and features than the IETF. Common Open Policy Service (COPS) for quality of service PacketCable voice coders The required coders are: ITU G.711 (both μ-law and a-law algorithm versions) - for V1.0 & 1.5 iLBC - for V1.5 BV16 - for V1.5 In addition the specifications recommended the following: ITU G.728 ITU G.729 Annex E PacketCable 1.0 PacketCable 1.0 comprises eleven specifications and six technical reports which define call signaling, quality of service (QoS), codec usage, client provisioning, billing event message collection, public switched telephone network (PSTN) interconnection, and security interfaces for implement a single-zone PacketCable solution for residential Internet Protocol (IP) voice services. PacketCable 1.5 PacketCable 1.5 contains additional capabilities over PacketCable 1.0. It superseded previous versions (1.1, 1.2, and 1.3). The standard covers 21 specifications and one technical report which together define call signaling, quality of service (QoS), coders, client provisioning, billing event message collection,