Headend system based on IP network, method of operating the headend system, and QAM pre-processor

A QAM pre-processing device, the device comprising:

• a first receiving unit to receive, from a cable modem termination device, service flow information pre-registered in a subscriber modem device and a network protocol packet;
• a first transmitting unit to transmit the received network protocol packet to a service supply server connected based on an IP network;
• a second receiving unit being determined, by the service supply server, as a data reception route, to receive a video data stream;
• a controller to perform data processing of the received video data stream;
• and
• a second transmitting unit to transmit the data processed video data stream to the subscriber modem device;
• wherein the controller compares the pre-registered service flow information received by the first receiving unit with service flow information pre-registered in the QAM pre-processing device to determine whether the pre-registered service flow information received by the first receiving unit is identical to the service flow information pre-registered in the QAM pre-processing device, and wherein the controller controls the first transmitting unit to transmit the received network protocol packet to the service supply server based on determining that the pre-registered service flow information received by the first receiving unit is identical to the service flow information pre-registered in the QAM pre- processing device.

A method of operating an IP network-based headend system, the method comprising:

• receiving a network protocol packet from a subscriber modem device, and analyzing the received network protocol packet to obtain service flow information pre-registered in the subscriber modem device;
• transmitting the pre-registered service flow information and the network protocol packet to a QAM pre-processing device for communicating to a service supply server that is connected based on an IP network, and enabling the IP network-based headend system to be determined as a data reception route;
• performing data processing at the QAM pre-processing device when a video data stream is received from the service supply server;
• and
• transmitting the data processed video data stream from a QAM post-processing device to the subscriber modem device based on the pre-registered service flow information when the data processed video data stream is received;
• wherein the enabling of the IP network-based headend system to be determined as a data reception route, comprises:
• comparing the pre-registered service flow information with service flow information pre-registered in the headend system to determine whether the pre-registered service flow information is identical to the service flow information pre-registered in the headend system when the pre-registered service flow information and the network protocol packet are received, and transmitting the network protocol packet to the service supply server where the pre-registered service flow information is determined to be identical to the service flow information pre-registered in the headend system.