The PacketCable architecture

PacketCable (TM) defines a multimedia system architecture that overlays a h igh-speed cable modem access network, with the goal of enabling a wide vari ety of Internet-Protocol-based multimedia services, such as voice over IF, unified messaging, PBX extension, videoconferencing, and online gaming. Cur rently, the architecture provides a complete solution for delivering VolP s ervices. In this article we present the cure capabilities necessary to impl ement such services in a scalable fashion. Next, we describe the major func tional components that comprise the PacketCable architecture and illustrate how they work together to form an integrated IP multimedia-enabled system architecture, which is: presently focused on voice over IF. Finally, we pre sent some possible next steps in the evolution of PacketCable.