This document discusses using digital broadcast technologies like FM/RDS and mobile DTV for public alerting on smartphones. It summarizes CRC's work developing an FM radio application called FM TwoO for Android phones that demonstrates receiving emergency alerts over FM/RDS. While FM/RDS has good penetration, smartphone integration is inconsistent. Mobile DTV has potential for multimedia alerts but has no penetration currently in Canada. CRC could contribute to standardizing alert formats, coverage planning, testing, and field trials using these broadcast technologies for public alerts on mobile devices.

1. Radio Advisory
Public Alerting
Board of Canada
June 18, 2012 with
Digital Broadcast Technologies
François Lefebvre
slideshare.net/fralef
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2. Objectives
Present
•CRC expertise
•CRC developments
•Non-expert perspectives (Public Alerting)
NOT Promote
•Technologies
•Approaches
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3. Receiving Alert Messages
Reach members of the public en masse to warn them
of an impending emergency as quickly as possible, at
anytime, anywhere they are.
Personal Smartphone
Connected
Wireless =
Mobile
Multimedia Great Platform !
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4. Delivering Alert Messages
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5. Delivering Alert Messages
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6. Delivering Alert Messages
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7. Delivering Alert Messages
All delivery mechanisms should
be treated as complementary if
the intent is to deploy an
efficient, effective, resilient
delivery system.
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8. Anatomy of a Smartphone
Convergence
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9. Broadcast Connectivity
Mobile Device
Broadcast Connectivity
In Canada
Radio:
FM/RDS
DAB
HD Radio
Satellite radio
TV:
Mobile DTV
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10. FM-RDS on Smartphones
Very inconsistent deployment:
- Very limited availability in USA
- Some availability in Canada and rest of the world
- By default on many devices but not active (part of combo
chip sets)
- Not on Apple products except iPod Nano
- No official FM API on Android (API available on ROMs)
- Open API in BB Curve selected models OS 7.1 (but no
FM on BB 10 ?)
- API on Windows mobile ? (Nokia Lumia)
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11. CRC Enables FM on Android Phone
 Q4 2010
New phone:
 Android
FM-RDS chip
(yes! But no API)
 Developed an API
(Silicon Labs fmsi4709)
 Enhanced the app
RDS Raw data access
Audio Volume Region
GUI Seek Copyright: Samsung
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12. FM TwoO Overview
 Released in February 2011 on Android Market
 Pronounce: Two "O", like in Web 2.0
 Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant (Bell)
 Demo/Testing Application
 First FM App on Android Market
 80k downloads to date
 Test mode (RDS via Wifi)
 RT+ Decoding
 RadioDNS: RadioVIS/EPG
 Distribute free library available
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13. FM TwoO vs. Samsung Stock FM App
src: mmbtools.crc.ca
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14. FM TwoO Compatibility
 Galaxy S Then: YES
 Galaxy TAB: NO
 Nexus S: NO
 5 Galaxy S US models: NO?
 Galaxy S 2: root
 Galaxy S Now: ROOT
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15. FM TwoO Emergency Warnings Demo
From FM/RDS
MASAS - RT/RT+
Gateway - PS
- PI
- Audio
To
FM/RDS and
RadioVIS
From Internet
- Image
- Text
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16. FM TwoO on BlackBerry Curve
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17. RDS and MDTV for Public Alerting
FM/RDS Mobile DTV
Open standard NO in progress (M-EAS A/153)
Penetration in Canada 95% 0%
Smartphone integration inconsistent no
Cost of chip set $0 - $1 ?
Energy consumption low ?
Multimedia NO YES
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18. CRC Potential Contributions
• Alerts formatting and transport (RDS)
• Standardization (ATSC member)
• RDS and Mobile DTV coverage planning
(CRC-COVLAB)
• Integrated antenna (RDS)
• Testing
• Field trials
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19. Thanks
francois.lefebvre@crc.ca
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