Using Layered-Division-Multiplexing to Deliver Multi-Layer Mobile Services in ATSC 3.0

Abstract

Layered-division-multiplexing (LDM) is a physical-layer non-orthogonal multiplexing technology, which has been accepted as a baseline technology by the next generation terrestrial digital TV (DTV) broadcasting standard, advanced television systems committee (ATSC) 3.0. The typical scenario for an LDM-based ATSC 3.0 system is to deliver a robust high-definition TV (HDTV) service in the higher-power core-layer (CL) for mobile reception and a 4k ultra high definition TV or multiple enhanced full HDTV (1080p) services in the lower-power enhanced layer (EL) for fixed reception. So far, the capability of using the EL of an LDM system to deliver mobile services has not been investigated and well-understood. In this paper, we investigate the potential of using both layers of an LDM-based ATSC 3.0 system to delivery multiple mobile services that target different types of mobile devices. The mobile performance of the LDM system is then compared to its time-division-multiplexing and frequency-division-multiplexing counterparts, which will reveal the application scenarios for which using LDM would provide performance advantages. In addition, the availability of high-throughput fixed services carried in the LDM-EL to mobile receivers is also investigated by computer simulations. An advanced detection algorithm is proposed based on the LDM-CL inter-carrier-interference cancellation, which is shown to provide significantly better mobile performance. Finally, we show by simulation that using receive antenna diversity combining techniques can significantly improve the service detection performance of LDM mobile receivers, especially for services carried in the LDM EL.