Mobile Television and Innovative Receivers
Main Objective
MOTIVATE will investigate mobile reception of digital terrestrial TV signals in single-frequency (SFN) and multi-frequency (MFN) networks using the new open standard for data and multimedia broadcasting DVB-T. These networks will offer customers new features, such as broadband interactive multimedia networks with data rates of 15Mbit/s. Receivers using this standard could be integrated into TV sets, laptops and cars to provide a user interface for Information Society applications. The rapid development of DVB-T infrastructure in Europe will also provide components and services for wireless and hybrid networks.
MOTIVATE will verify the flexibility and suitability of the DVB-T standard for mobile reception. Major demonstrations will be planned integrating the work of the relevant ACTS projects. Support will also be provided for implementing DVB-T in countries outside Europe.
The main objectives of MOTIVATE are to:
- analyse the theoretical performance limits of DVB-T for mobile reception and implement optimised receivers,
- study, implement and test efficient algorithms for mobile and portable SFN reception,
- test state-of-the-art DVB-T receivers for mobile reception,
- set-up a pilot network to measure mobile channel characteristics and mobile coverage in urban and suburban networks,
- set-up and carry out major demonstrations to present DVB-T in major national and international events (e.g. IBC'98, IFA'99, NAB'99.),
- support integration, promotion and dissemination of results of other ACTS projects working on DVB-T,
- verify the open API for DVB-T receivers,
- provide guidelines for the implementation of a mobile DVB-T service.
Technical Approach
At the network level, MOTIVATE will investigate the extended system aspects of SNFs; e.g. network feeds, time and frequency synchronisation, Quality-of-Service management systems. The project will also investigate the coverage aspects; e.g. gain, different network structures (MFN, SFN, gap fillers) suitable for portable and mobile reception. The network topology with optimum transmitted bitrate, transmitter distance (cell size) and DVB-T mode will be determined by the appropriate selection of polarisation, MFN and SFN combination, the use of gap-fillers and the choice of suitable DVB-T modes; such as modulation, code rate, and guard interval.
MOTIVATE will also specify the minimal set of performance parameters that are needed to obtain guaranteed service quality with particular types of receiver. Those parameters are essential for planning the different DVB-T networks (MFN, large area SFN, regional SFN, SFN with gap fillers) that support mobile services.
MOTIVATE will study, implement, test and optimise efficient receiver algorithms for channel estimation and channel correction, that will be more tolerant to echoes longer than a fourth of the symbol duration, with a view to improve the coverage area obtained with SFN. Prototypes of mobile and portable receivers will be tested in MFNs and SFNs, in order to evaluate the real gain of the network for coverage in a real environment.
MOTIVATE will optimise the receiver prototypes according to the results of the measurements and tests for mobile reception.
MOTIVATE will also organise and implement technical demonstrations for major events to promote the results of the ACTS projects working on DVB-T. It will attempt to extend the implementation of DVB-T towards non-EU countries; such as CEE, Australia, China and Brazil to obtain a world wide diffusion.
MOTIVATE builds on the work of the AC106 VALIDATE project which has verified the DVB specification for terrestrial broadcast.
Summary of Trial
From the commitments given by the MOTIVATE partners, SFNs and MFNs could be used for field trials in Sweden, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Germany and Italy.
The networks provided by various partners will be important for joint field trials with other ACTS projects and as testbeds for manufacturers designing receivers.
Key Issues
- MOTIVATE will verify that the DVB-T standard provides all the facilities and all the flexibility needed for mobile reception. A report on implementation guidelines for mobile reception using DVB-T will be produced. MOTIVATE will specify a reference receiver and the conditions for mobile reception.
- MOTIVATE will help to verify the open API for DVB-T receivers.
Expected Impact
The DVB-T standard was developed in Europe and has advantages over competing proposals, especially for mobile reception and higher data rates. It is clear that the world-wide competition between the European DVB-T standard and other proposals will have a major impact on European industry and broadcasters. MOTIVATE will demonstrate the benefits of the DVB-T standard at major technical demonstrations - IBC'98 and IFA'99 - to promote the results of ACTS projects working on this standard and to extend the implementation of the DVB-T specification towards non-EU countries.
Multipath Reception of DVB-T
| D |
Deutsche Telekom Berkom GmbH |
| UK |
British Broadcasting Corporation |
| F |
Centre Commun d'Études de Télédiffusion et de Télécommunications |
| B |
European Broadcasting Union |
| F |
Innovation Télécommunications Image Son |
| D |
Institut für Rundfunktechnik GmbH |
| E |
MIER COMUNICACIONES S.A. |
| SF |
NOKIA Multimedia Network Terminals Ltd. |
| NL |
Nozema NV |
| I |
Radiotelevisione Italiana |
| E |
Retevision |
| D |
Robert Bosch GmbH |
| D |
Rohde & Schwarz & Co. KG |
| F |
Télédiffusion de France |
| E |
Televes SA |
| S |
Teracom AB |
| F |
Thomcast |
Sponsoring Partnership
| Teledanmark |
| Radio Telefs Eireann |
| TU-München - Lehrstuhl für Integrierte Schaltungen |
| TU-Braunschweig - Institut für Nachrichtentechnik |
| NDS |
| BMW AG |
| Infineon |
Peter Christ
Deutsche Telekom Berkom GmbH
Goslarer Ufer 35
D-10589 Berlin
Germany
Tel: +49 030 3497 3512
Fax: +49 030 3497 3513
WWW: http://b5www.berkom.de/MOTIVATE/
E-mail: christ@berkom.de
