Broadcasting Technologies Overview April 2008

Future Broadcasting Technologies: A view from Canada Communications Research Centre Bernard Caron, Vice-President, Broadcast Technologies Research Communications Research Centre Canada An Agency of Industry Canada Centre de recherches sur les communications Canada Un organisme d’Industrie Canada

Broadcasting Technologies at CRC

CRC is the primary technical centre of excellence in broadcasting technologies in Canada, and the only organization with a R&D program and unique facilities dedicated to Broadcasting.

CRC provides supports for Spectrum Management to the Canadian Department of Industry.

CRC works with Private Industry and other Research organizations through collaborations, Service Contracts and IP licencing in Canada and around the world

Challenges to Over-the-Air Broadcasting

Hundreds channels cable, satellite, IPTV…

Internet Radio/TV: Universal Access

Mobile TV on Telecom networks

Wireless Internet Access: Wi-Fi, Wi-Max…

Multi-function Handheld devices

Personal Audio-Video Recorders

Users generated contents

Sharing of Broadcast Spectrum

Changing regulations

Fast evolution of technologies

... you ain’t seen nothing yet

A vision of the evolution of Broadcasting

“ Anything, anytime, anywhere…”

Choice

Mobility

Interactivity

Platform independence

Better quality - HDTV

More realism- 3D TV

How is CRC helping you to get there:

Mobile broadcasting

Improving Coverage

Sharing the Broadcast Band

3D TV

Mobile Broadcasting

Various distribution technologies

3G wireless networks -- DVB-H

ATSC H/M -- DMB

Qualcom/MediaFlo -- Wi-Fi/WiMax

Broadcasters advantages

Spectrum availability

Transmission facilities

Dual Transmission Mode: Mobile-Fixed (ATSC-H/M DVB-T/H)

Own Content

Mobile Broadcasting at CRC

Laboratory and Field tests of proposed systems for ATSC H/M

Investigations on more efficient Audio/Video compression technologies

Wavelet-based codec (CRC-CWT and CRC-WVC)

Frame rate conversion (CRC-FRC)

Multi-frame motion estimation

Bio-inspired audio coding algorithms

Contributions to the Video Quality Experts Group (VQEG) for Multimedia applications.

Subjective audio/video evaluations

Investigations on Multimedia Broadcasting using DAB-DMB technologies in the VHF-UHF Band

Video over Wi-Fi and WiMax

DVB-H and Satellite Trial

Experimental Mobile Multimedia Broadcasting system under evaluation in Montréal.

Need for Improved Broadcasting Coverage

Mobile-Handheld reception

Portable reception

Indoor antenna

Replication of Analog Reception area

CRC Improv ing Coverage

Distributed transmitters networks (DTN)

A number of low-power transmitters replace one centrally located high-power station

Coverage can be shaped to reach only populated areas

Potential for reduced construction and operating costs as well as spectrum saving

Needs for new tower sites may be problematic

Investigations on adaptive and directional antenna performance.

Coverage Prediction: CRC-COVLAB

Can be used with Distributed Transmitters networks

See a demo for ATSC H/M at the DTV HOT SPOT

Try it free on-line at l rcov.crc.ca

Improvements to ATSC DTV Coverage : Prediction of SFN Coverage Example of CRC-COVLAB prediction for Mobile/Fixed Fixed Mobile

Learning to Share the Broadcast Band

Digital dividend after the end of analog transmissions

Various systems could share the Broadcast spectrum:

Public Safety Mobile Communication

IEEE 802.22 Wireless Regional Area Networks (Unlicenced Devices)

MediaFlo, DVB-H, DMB

‘’ Wi-Fi’’ in the Broadcast Band

FM-IBOC, Digital Radio Mondiale

Sharing the Broadcast Band at CRC

Assessment of the impact of new communication systems in the Broadcast band:

Public Safety mobile transmission system on DTV

IEEE 802.22 Wireless Regional Area Networks (Unlicenced Devices) on DTV

Engineering studies for Industry Canada on the impact of new technologies such as IBOC, T-DMB, DVB-H, MediaFlo on spectrum management

Assessment of IBOC interference in the FM band

Investigation on DRB and Wi-Fi operation in the UHF band

200 kHz 1 st upper adjacent analog channel 1 st lower adjacent analog channel

3-D Video

Popularity of 3-D Cinema

Future Upgrade to HDTV

Availability of 3-D Display (Without glasses)

Small overhead in term of data rate

Better understanding of the 3-D production problems

3-D Video at CRC

Investigation on compression technologies for 3-D video

Subjective evaluation of 3-D

Conversion of 2-D video

programs to 3-D

Software DAB- DMB system s at CRC: Multiplex, Modulators, Channel Simulator and Receivers

The Broadcasting Systems of T omor r ow

Large Local Area

Wireless

Broadband

Mobile

Flexible: Audio, Mobile TV, HDTV, 3-D

Integrated with other telecommunication systems

Ideal for mass distribution of

multimedia content.

An example: Emergency Broadcasting

Conclusions

OTA Broadcasting continue to evolve and to play a major role.

Radio and Television will be one part of an interactive immersive multimedia experience .

Contents will be available through various media and displayed on a variety of devices.

Ultimate goal is to get anything, anytime, anywhere …

But each application will find its ways

CRC-Broadcasting is helping Industry-Canada, the Canadian industry and our international partners to move toward an harmonious transition to a digital and converged world.

Expected Achievement Thank you Communications Research Centre Bernard Caron, Vice-President Broadcast Technologies Research 613-998-2869, bernard.caron@crc.ca www.crc.ca

An example of integration Placeshifting Cable TV IPTV Satellite WI-FI Internet Cellular TV Transmitters Distribution Rights Production Distribution Viewers

Improvements to ATSC DTV Coverage : Prediction of Single Transmitter Coverage Example of CRC-COVLAB prediction for Mobile/Fixed Fixed Mobile Coverage Prediction of Hypothetical ATSC – M/H Single Frequency Network in Los Angeles Fixed Mobile