scope:

This Recommendation describes functional requirements of the end-to-end (E2E) network platform to deliver 360°/Virtual Reality (VR) video services from the video cloud to terminal devices over integrated broadband cable networks. Cloud VR is a new cloud computing technology for VR services. With high-quality transport networks with high bandwidth and low latency, VR contents are stored and rendered in the cloud. Audiovisual contents are encoded, compressed and transmitted to user terminals. Local rendering requires expensive high-performance devices to provide immersive user experience.

The cloud VR services are divided into two categories based on the interaction characteristics. One category is weak-interaction VR services; and the other is strong-interaction VR services. Weak-interaction VR services mainly comprise VR video services, including IMAX theatre, 360° panoramic video and VR live broadcast. Strong-interaction VR services include VR games, VR home fitness and VR social networking.

The evolution of cloud VR service experience is divided into the following four phases: fair experience phase (FEP), comfortable experience phase (CEP), ideal experience phase (IEP) and ultimate experience phase (UEP). In these four phases, the typical content is 4K, 8K, 12K and 24K, respectively. The terminal screen resolution is typically 2K, 4K, 8K and 16K, respectively. The quality of image viewed by users is equivalent to the pixels per degree (PPD) effect of 240P/380P, 480P, 1080P and 4K on a traditional TV, respectively.

To ensure good experience for the cloud VR services, network performance indicators, e.g., bandwidth, latency, delay jitter and packet loss rate, are suggested as performance requirements (informative).

NOTE 1 - Integrated broadband cable networks can be referred to as a cable network, e.g., coaxial cable, optical fibre, hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC), that also has capability to provide broadband services integrated with television services over the same network.

NOTE 2 - Network performance indicators can be referred to as network/transmission related factors which are defined in [b-ITU-T G.1035] for VR services.