Objective
The MAMBO project addresses the problem of managing the audio-video services distribution on the available bandwidth. It is clear that the main advantage of using digital transmission for audio-video services has been and will be the ability to use less bandwidth and infrastructure for reduced operation expenses per program. The project proposes an innovative concept and system capable of optimising the bandwidth allocation for every service, function of the complexity of the service and based on the perceived quality of the service. The activities concentrate on the development and implementation of key components of the distributed feed back loop bandwidth allocation system, which is the kernel of our open and scalable solution. The proposed architecture is the solution for service providers and mobile operators who demand a flexible and cost-effective method for managing compressed digital services while maximising bandwidth capacity but maintaining the service quality. At the service provider site, the operator is able to select specific services of interest, from a large number of TV and IP services, locally generated or arriving at its premises via satellite, terrestrial or cable networks. This solution, available in real time, enables operators to statistically remultiplex services from a variety of sources and create a new, customised statistical multiplex while optimising bandwidth for delivery of additional tiered services. A prototype, incorporating the developed key building modules, will be implemented in order to validate the new technology and to evaluate the performance and the quality of the services.
OBJECTIVES
The first specific objective is the specification and development of the bandwidth optimisation remultiplexer mechanism. The second specific objective is the specification and development of the transducer gateway to handle QoS data for the services going through the platform. The third specific objective concerns the development of applications making use of the advanced features of the platform: UMTS multicast channels application, Video Messaging Application and Distant Learning Application. The overall objective is: to develop and implement an interactive broadcasting solution merging DVB-T, GSM, UMTS and LMDS technologies in an integrated and seamless environment to integrate the developed building modules in a prototype and demonstrate the objectives of the project in a real environment; to test, evaluate and validate the overall performance of the system for a variety of services (TV programmes, fast access to Internet, interactive multimedia applications).
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
The key objective of the MAMBO project is to develop, implement and assess an universal, open and scalable platform that manage the distribution of high quality interactive multimedia DVB / IP services through a terrestrial access network, to mobile and residential end-users by an optimal allocation of the allowable bandwidth. The project will merge DVB-T, GSM, UMTS and LMDS technologies in an integrated and seamless environment. To fulfil this objective, the MAMBO project will develop, implement and validate a bandwidth efficient interactive broadcasting network, using real time and customised dynamic spectrum allocation. A distributed feed back loop bandwidth optimisation mechanism will be implemented, which is able to adapt, in real time, the bit rate of each service according to the available bandwidth and the complexity of the service, without degrading the service quality. For this purpose, innovative modules for the measurement of the perceived quality will be designed, implemented and integrated at different layer of the multimedia distribution chain. The kernel of the platform is the bandwidth optimisation remultiplexer, installed at service provider level, which can multiplex all kind of services: DVB, IP, etc. and generates the DVB or IP bouquets according to the available bandwidth. The quality of the service, at the user level, is one of the most important parameters used by the feed back loop bandwidth allocation mechanism, to specify the new bit rate of the service. In order to provide the best quality estimation, as control input for the feed back loop bandwidth allocation mechanism, a new approach will be developed and implemented, based on the Perceived Quality of Service (PQoS). The project will investigate a variety of radio access networks : DVB-T, LMDS, GSM and UMTS, taking into account the bandwidth constraints and individualities of each network, thus contributing towards the convergence of these radio access technologies, not only in technical level but also in respect to the quality of services and efficient spectrum utilisation. A prototype, incorporating the developed key building modules, will be implemented in order to validate the new technology and to evaluate the performance and the quality of the services. The MAMBO project proposes an advanced network solution capable to offer high quality Interactive Integrated Broadcast / Internet services of the future. The network uses spectrum in a more efficient way: it is automatically and in real time adaptable according to the end-user requirements and the available network resources. The MAMBO workplan has been split into four work packages: WP1: Project Management, Standardisation, Dissemination and Exploitation.; WP2: System Architecture Definition and Demonstrator Specification; WP3: System Component Development and Implementation; WP4: Overall System Integration, Validation and Application Assessment.
Overall, the project is confident that good results have been obtained, in particular in the following areas:
· Definition and specification of the global MAMBO platform architecture;
· MAMBO demonstrator specification, development and implementation;
· Applications definition, development and implementation;
· Definition, specification, development and implementation of the bandwidth optimisation remultiplexer as key element of feed back loop bandwidth allocation mechanism;
· Definition, specification, development and implementation of the transducer gateway to handle QoS data for the services going through the platform;
· Definition of the broadcasting network environment targeted to three configurations:
· DVB-T broadcasting down-link and LMDS return channel for residential end-users;
· DVB-T broadcasting down-link and GSM return channel for mobile end-users;
· DAB down-link and GSM return channel for mobile end-users;
· Specification, development and implementation of the personalised bouquets configurator and supervisor;
· Realisation, during the trials, of a large number of experiments to measure functionality and performances of the MAMBO platform;
· Dissemination of project achievements at major events;
· Contribution to standard activity groups.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
78700 CONFLANS SAINTE HONORINE
France