DVB-H Pilot

One of the major challenges facing the mobile industry is implementation of an efficient platform for supply of video services to mobile terminals. Parallel with this, the broadcast industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation from mass audience programming to offering a choice of multiple digital channels, while similarly having to confront the challenge of reaching an ever more fragmented audience used to obtain information through internet and mobile communication. Especially young consumers are increasingly becoming reliant on their mobile devices for accessing information and their consumption of traditional media like TV has decreased in the recent years. Consequently the broadcasters, especially public service broadcasters are looking for new ways to reach this segment of consumers. These market trends have created converging interests between broadcast and the mobile industry, as the new DVB-H digital video broadcast format for handheld devices supports not only broadcast but also provides the most bandwidth efficient one-to-many IP delivery of any other kind of digital content like, movie trailers, full length music tracks, online games or dynamic updates of news portal web pages. Combining DVB with UMTS mobile services adds a bi-directional one–to-one return channel for browsing additional on-line information and offering interactive user participation, as well as providing a fundament for new business models based on acquisition of DRM digital rights management protected multimedia or retrieval of CA conditional access pay-TV channels.

The standardisation of DVB-H is finalised and the next challenge is to research the actual usage patterns for how content- and service types are best adapted to the limited screen size of mobile terminals, as well as investigating viable business models for delivering value added services in the market. There has previously been DVB-H network trials in other countries but still a lot of unsolved questions remain when it comes to real commercialisation of the platform.

CICT is establishing a DVB-H trial project in Denmark in cooperation with the major market players within the Danish broadcast and mobile sector. In the framework of NordICT the different research areas at CICT will be involved and contribute to this project. The aim is to involve relevant SMEs in the project especially on the services and application side.

The DVB-H trial will enable research within the areas:

•         Digital content formats and DRM digital rights management protection

•         Converged broadcast and 3G mobile service types

•         Interaction design and user involvement in the design process

•         HCI (Human Computer Interaction)

•         Personalisation of content based on user preferences

•         Integration of service discovery and user profiles

•         Business models for value added converged services

•         Frequency planning aspects relevant for network design

•         Roaming issues

 

  Main components of the project will include:

•        A converged DVB-H and 3G environment for developing and testing services

•        A DVB-H distribution and trial network setup, for transmitting digital content to mobile terminals combined with a 3G interactivity channel for accessing services

•        A number of test terminals made available to user groups consisting of: 1) DTU students representing advanced users and 2) Non-technical ordinary users from the neighbouring Lyngby municipality

here

If you have further questions please contact:

Michael Petersen, petersen@cict.dtu.dk

Andrius Butkus, andrius@cict.dtu.dk

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