Digital Video Broadcasting Research Articles

Quality-Driven Variable Frame-Rate for Green Video Coding in Broadcast Applications

The Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) has proposed to introduce the Ultra-High Definition services in three phases: UHD-1 phase 1, UHD-1 phase 2 and UHD-2. The UHD-1 phase 2 specification includes several new features such as High Dynamic Range (HDR) and High Frame-Rate (HFR). It has been shown in several studies that HFR (+100 fps) enhances the perceptual quality and that this quality enhancement is content-dependent. On the other hand, HFR brings several challenges to the transmission chain including codec complexity increase and bit-rate overhead, which may delay or even prevent its deployment in the broadcast echo-system. In this paper, we propose a Variable Frame Rate (VFR) solution to determine the minimum (critical) frame-rate that preserves the perceived video quality of HFR video. The frame-rate determination is modeled as a 3-class classification problem which consists in dynamically and locally selecting one frame-rate among three: 30, 60 and 120 frames per second. Two random forests classifiers are trained with a ground truth carefully built by experts for this purpose. The subjective results conducted on ten HFR video contents, not included in the training set, clearly show the efficiency of the proposed solution enabling to locally determine the lowest possible frame-rate while preserving the quality of the HFR content. Moreover, our VFR solution enables significant bit-rate savings and complexity reductions at both encoder and decoder sides.

Evaluation of Rainfall Estimation Derived From Commercial Interactive DVB Receivers Using Disdrometer, Rain Gauge, and Weather Radar

Accurate measurement and monitoring of precipitation is crucial for many applications, such as flood and drought risk assessment and management. Conventional meteorological devices for estimating precipitation (i.e., rain gauges, disdrometers, active and passive remote sensors, be they ground-based, spaceborne, or airborne) have their own strengths and weaknesses. The latter are often related to time and space resolution, coverage, and cost. In the last two decades, several studies have been carried out to exploit opportunistic signals of terrestrial microwave communication links to improve precipitation estimation capability. This study describes and evaluates a method to retrieve rainfall rate from the signal-to-noise ratio obtained from commercial interactive digital video broadcasting (DVB) receivers [referred as to smart low-noise blocks (smartLNBs)]. During a 1-year measurement campaign carried out in Tuscany (Italy) with purposely deployed instruments, the precipitation values estimated from a set of SmartLNBs were compared with measurements from co-located rain gauges and disdrometer. The normalized mean absolute error (NMAE) and root-mean-square error (RMSE) obtained comparing the total cumulative precipitation from a SmartLNB and a disdrometer are 48.8% and 7.46 mm, respectively. Encouraging results also come from comparing the total precipitation amounts as measured by the SmartLNBs and by the rain gauges, with values of NMAE (respectively, RMSE) ranging between 44% and 82% (respectively, 5.2 and 11.5 mm).

Design and implementation DVB-S & DVB-S2 systems

<p>Digital video broadcasting plays an important role in most digital communication systems. Digital broadcasting systems are designed with great accuracy and delicate design which has a major role in our lives today especially digital video broadcasting. It is these systems that are considered to be the most advanced in transmission, reception and reliability. From these systems they develop through the digital video broadcasting project group.The most important are digital video broadcasting of terrestrial, digital video broadcasting of cable and digital video broadcasting of satellite because of that many user's desires to use communications and entertainment in their lives there are new and demanding situations that the standards of these systems can only meet for their own applications .In this paper, it will design and implement the digital video broadcasting of satellite first generation and digital video broadcasting of satellite second generation of binary data,image and audio using Matlab-Simulink environment.In addition, will calculate the bit error rate of the signal. This system is designed with precision to improve performance errors and increase transmission capacity as well as provide a safe environment for information.</p>

Enhanced interpolation-based interference rejection combining for black-space cognitive radio in time-varying channels

In this paper, we investigate multi-antenna interference rejection combing (IRC)-based black-space cognitive radio (BS-CR) operation in time-varying channels. The idea of BS-CR is to transmit secondary user (SU) signal in the same frequency band with the primary user (PU) such that SU’s power spectral density is clearly below that of the PU, and no significant interference is inflicted on the PU receivers. We explore the effects of interpolation and mobility on the novel blind IRC technique which allows such operation mode for effective reuse of the PU spectrum for relatively short-distance CR communication. We assume that both the PU system and the BS-CR use orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveforms with common numerology. In this case, the PU interference on the BS-CR signal is strictly flat-fading at subcarrier level. Sample covariance matrix-based IRC adaptation is applied during silent gaps in CR operation. We evaluate the effect of the gap length on the link performance, using known PU channel-based interference covariance estimation as reference. We also propose an interpolation-based scheme for tracking the spatial covariance in time-varying channels, demonstrating significantly improved robustness compared to the earlier scheme. The performance of the proposed IRC scheme is tested considering terrestrial digital TV broadcasting (DVB-T) as the primary service. Also joint PU and co-channel CR interference cancellation is included in the study. The resulting interference suppression capability is evaluated with different PU interference power levels, silent gap durations, data block lengths, and CR device mobilities.

DVB-T-Based Passive Forward Scatter Radar: Inherent Limitations and Enabling Solutions

This article investigates the target detection capability of a passive forward scatter radar (PFSR) exploiting a digital video broadcasting - terrestrial (DVB-T) transmitter as illuminator of opportunity. By means of theoretical and simulated analyses, it is shown that conventional processing schemes might suffer from significant performance degradation when exploiting orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveforms of opportunity compared to other broadcast transmissions (e.g., frequency modulation radio broadcast). Specifically, the direct application of conventional processing approaches to the case of a DVB-T PFSR is demonstrated to yield: 1) a nonnegligible increase of the competing background level and 2) a steeper fading of the target response due to the intrinsic characteristics of the exploited waveforms of opportunity, above all the modulation scheme and the signal spectral characteristics. Therefore, appropriate signal processing techniques are proposed to avoid these effects which jeopardize the target detection capability. The conceived processing scheme exploits the digital nature of the employed waveforms and a subband approach for improving both the interference cancellation stage and the target signature extraction. The benefits of the proposed approach are illustrated by means of theoretical and simulated analyses. The application of the resulting processing scheme against experimental data proves its effectiveness in practical scenarios.

Co-Channel Secondary Deployment Over DTV Bands Using Reconfigurable Radios

This paper investigates the possibility of co-channel secondary transmission over the operational digital terrestrial video (DTV) broadcast bands within the interference limits of the DTV receivers. Aided by emulated DTV transmission experiments, secondary transmission-caused interference to the DTV receiver is analyzed. Using this understanding of interference behavior, a new transmission scheme for the secondary network nodes is proposed. The scheme selects the best communication parameters in terms of transmit power, spectral overlap, temporal occupancy, symbol duration, and modulation scheme to achieve a desired quality of service target within the interference limits of the DTV receivers. This is achieved without having information about the presence of DTV receivers. The feasibility as well as limits of the proposed secondary deployment scheme are then analyzed. This study is expected to serve as a valuable planning tool in deploying cognitive secondary networks over DTV transmission bands.

Estimation of Electromagnetic Compatibility Between DVB-T/DVB-T2 and 4G/5G in the 700 MHz Band for Co-Channel Case

Abstract The 694–790 MHz band (700 MHz) known also as the second digital dividend was allocated to the mobile radiocommunication service on a primary basis in Region 1 and identified to International Mobile Telecommunications by the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-12). The designation of mobile service in Europe and other countries of Region 1 in 700 MHz band was obtained after the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15). Administrations of Region 1 will be able to plan and use these frequencies for mobile networks, including IMT. The goal of this study is to estimate the electromagnetic compatibility of Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T/DVB-T2) and LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology operating both in 700 MHz band. The study assumes frequency division duplex (FDD) channel arrangement of 703–733 MHz (for uplink) and of 758–788 MHz (for downlink). The model contains two parts: a DVB-T/DVB-T2 system and LTE mobile broadband network. Co-channel scenario is considered in this paper, and possible impact of DVB-T/DVB-T2 on LTE base stations (receivers) is also investigated. The Monte Carlo simulations within SEAMCAT software and the Minimum Coupling Loss (MCL) method are used for interference investigation. The coordination trigger field strength value predetermined by GE06 Agreement is also used in this study. The Monte Carlo method presents more relaxed electromagnetic compatibility scenario in comparison with the MCL method. For SEAMCAT simulations, ITU-R P.1546-5 radio propagation model is used. The obtained results present the required minimum separation distance between DVB-T/DVB-T2 and LTE networks in the 694–790 MHz in order to provide the necessary performance of LTE mobile network.

Compact Ultra-Wide-Band HI Monopole Antenna Loaded with C-Shaped Parasitic Elements for DVB-T and LTE Applications

In this study, a compact ultra-wide band microstrip antenna loaded with C-shaped parasitic elements, for Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T) and LTE 450 / 700 signal reception, is presented. The proposed antenna is named “HI Monopole”, and its geometry has been designed to be simple and intuitive, lightweight, compact, possessing a low fabrication cost as well as an easy installation process inside electronic gadgets. The HI Monopole operates with ultra-wide bandwidth characteristics for operation within Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T) standard, 470–890 MHz, that has been accomplished by: inserting an indent in its ground plane, adjusting the dimension of the feeding line, and adding two C-shaped parasite elements onto the region posterior to the antenna’s main irradiating element. It was verified through electromagnetic measuring that this device is capable of covering the 429-1022 MHz range, thus having 593 MHz of bandwidth. The superior and inferior cutoff frequencies have been chosen as the values in –10 dB of the device’s return loss. Therefore, the proposed antenna can be utilized in DTV and LTE signal reception through broadcasting in any country, independently of its adopted standard.

Targeted Advertising for the Broadcasting Industry in DVB Markets

Today, targeted advertising (TA) needs no commercial justification. Even for the linear horizontal broadcasting ecosystem, TA is a necessary evolution to be on a par with the online video distribution on all these mobile devices and personal computers (PCs) where the addressability of advertising has been a solid reality for many years. It is going to be a reality even in the “old” horizontal broadcasting ecosystems, thanks to connected TVs and recent standardization by the digital video broadcasting (DVB) Projecti and the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) Association.ii

Dynamic MODCOD and power allocation in DVB-S2: a hybrid intelligent approach

Adaptive communication for is one of the hottest areas of research in the telecommunication systems including wireless broadcast systems. This is primarily accomplished for sake of boosting the transmission throughput with enhanced quality of service and ideal link utilization. In adaptive communication, various radio transmission parameters like modulation symbol, code-rate and power etc. are carefully chosen according to the erratic channel state information on the link. Digital video broadcast—second generation (DVB-S2) has an inbuilt support for adaptive coding and modulation (ACM). However, power adaptation is still a necessity because of power constraint in downlink where satellite has a limited power bank. Moreover, different downlinks have distinct transmit power requirements due to diverse ambient on earth receivers like rainy, foggy, stormy and with clear sky etc., hence flat transmit power distribution among all the ground receivers may not be a good idea at all. To utilize the ACM feature in DVB-S2 and to additionally adapt power, in this paper, an adaptive modulation, coding (MODCOD) and power scheme is proposed. By investigating a fuzzy system and differential evolution algorithm, to select the set of MODCODs and optimum power vector, respectively, for the next transmission interval. From the simulation results it is apparent that the proposed scheme is promising in terms of efficient link and transmit power utilization as well as quality of service compared to the schemes in the literature with flat power distribution.

The Use of the Reassignment Technique in the Time-Frequency Analysis Applied in VHF-Based Passive Forward Scattering Radar.

This paper presents the application of the time-frequency (TF) reassignment technique in passive forward scattering radar (FSR) using Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T) transmitters of opportunity operating in the Very High Frequency (VHF) band. The validation of the proposed technique was done using real-life signals collected by the passive radar demonstrator during a measurement campaign. The scenario was chosen to test detection ranges and the capability of estimating the kinematic parameters of a cooperative airborne target in passive FSR geometry. Additionally, in the experiment the possibility of utilizing FSR geometry in foliage penetration conditions taking advantage of the VHF band of a DVB-T illuminator of opportunity was tested. The results presented in this paper show that the concentrated (reassigned) energy distribution of the signal in the TF domain allows a more precise target Doppler rate to be estimated using the Hough transform.

GRBF-NN based ambient aware realtime adaptive communication in DVB-S2

Adaptive communication is among the hottest areas of research in almost all types of modern communication systems like cellular, Wi-Fi and broadcast systems. In this technique, various radio parameters like modulation symbol, code rate and transmit power etc. are customized according to the erratic channel state information (CSI) on the link. By optimal link utilization, it is proven that the technique is promising in terms of enhanced data rates and quality of service (QoS) even in poor channel conditions. Digital video broadcast—second generation (DVB-S2) has a built-in support for adaptive coding and modulation. Researchers have employed soft-computing and evolutionary algorithms to find the appropriate MODCOD (modulation/code) and power vector for the next transmission interval to combat channel hostilities and to fulfil the QoS demand. However, such algorithms take significant time to tapper-off, hence the solution may not be feasible for the real-time environments. To overcome this issue, in this paper, a real time, dynamic MODCOD and power allocation technique using a Gaussian radial basis function neural network (GRBF-NN), is proposed. Once sufficiently trained, the GRBF-NN can suggest the appropriate MODCOD and power vector for the next transmission interval based on the CSI and QoS demands per TV channel. The example data is generated by a fuzzy rule based system and differential evolution algorithm to suggest MODCOD and power vector, respectively. From the simulation results it is evident that the proposed scheme is swift and promising in terms of link utilization and QoS compared to the schemes in the literature. A spectral efficiency of 6 bits/s/Hz is achieved compared to previous approaches with 4.5 bits/s/Hz and 4.2 bits/s/Hz, respectively.

Implementation of E-education in Africa via space digital video broadcasting system

This paper introduces an advanced E-education provision via space systems for Africa or any other regions in remote dispersed communities, such as rural, mining, agriculture, surveying, construction, tourism, military and etc. Based on the specific needs and requirements E-education implies significant broadband applications, interconnectivity, and timely and quality-assured content delivery of service. The E-education solutions of distance learning and training for remote and rural areas, which are beyond range of terrestrial and short distance wireless cellular facilities, cannot provide broadband access without space-enabled communication solutions, such as satellite constellations and Stratospheric Platform Systems (SPS) or High Altitude Platforms (HAP). This paper also discusses the integration challenges that are presented by combining space solutions for implementation E-education and learning in rural and mobile environments. Configuration of in-house development of all segments, installation of the scale-down Digital Video Broadcasting-Return Channel via Satellite (DVB-RCS) Hub (Gateway), Ground Network and Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), known as Fixed Interactive Terminals (FIT), for E-education, distance learning and staff training initiative in Africa are described.

Using Layered Division Multiplexing for Wireless In-Band Distribution Links in Next Generation Broadcast Systems

To meet the ever increasing demand for better service quality and availability, the next generation digital TV (DTV) broadcast, a.k.a., the ATSC 3.0, is developed with new capabilities to deliver 4K ultra-high-definition (4K-UHD) services to fixed receivers, robust HD-quality services to mobile receivers, as well as non-broadcast services (e.g., broadband), including Internet of Things (IoT), Connected Vehicles, etc. To realize these capabilities, it becomes necessary to evolve the existing single-transmitter high-power-high-tower (HPHT) network to multi-transmitter low-power-low-tower single-frequency-networks (SFN), which requires installing new transmitters. Each new transmitter needs a feederlink to receive the service data from the broadcast gateway (BG) for transmission. This feederlink contributes to a significant portion of installation and operational costs of the new transmitters. This paper proposes a wireless in-band distribution link (WIDL) technology, where the distribution data is delivered to the newly deployed transmitters from the existing DTV towers wirelessly sharing the same TV band with the broadcast services. The distribution signal is multiplexed with service signal in the same ATSC 3.0 waveform. Layered division multiplexing (LDM) technology is proposed to achieve more efficient transmission of the distribution signal. The WIDL offers better performance and more robust operation than the on-channel repeater (OCR) technologies. More importantly, it offers the possibility of delivering backhaul data for future applications over the DTV infrastructure, such as IoT and connected vehicles. Therefore, the proposed WIDL is one enabling technology to achieve convergence of broadcast services with broadband and other wireless services on the DTV spectrum.

Copyright in Digital Television Broadcasting in Kenya: An Analysis of the Royal Media Services Case

Kenyan superior courts missed an opportunity to discuss and authoritatively settle the law on the nature of copyright in broadcasts and the effect of the must carry rule in digital broadcasting through their decisions in the Royal Media Services case. The Supreme Court, in arriving at its decision, failed to be guided by Kenyan law on copyright in broadcasts and the must carry rule in three key areas. First, the Supreme Court relied on the Philippines’ decision on the definition of a broadcasting organisation without considering the provisions of the Copyright Act (Chapter 130) and the Kenya Information and Communication Act (Chapter 411). Second, the Supreme Court relied on the doctrine of fair use as envisaged in the Philippines copyright regime, yet Section 26 of the Kenyan Copyright Act provides for fair dealing. Third, the Supreme Court relied on the public interest defence without discussing its basis and establishing its parameters, especially since public interest is not provided for in Copyright Act. The Supreme Court erred in determining that rebroadcasting of local broadcasts by subscription television licencees was not an infringement of copyright in broadcast.

Error Performance Analysis of an Unequal Error Protection System for the JPEG 2000 and H.265 Standards Over Wireless Channels

In this paper an unequal error protection scheme based on Rate-Compatible Punctured Convolutional codes employing Hierarchical PSK modulation is presented. New error bounds are derived and reported for AWGN and flat Rayleigh fading channels. Both soft and hard decision decoding techniques are considered in our analysis. The proposed scheme does not involve increased in complexity of resources and bandwidth expansion either. It is shown that by varying the signal to noise ratio and a specific constellation parameter set, which controls the level of error protection, significant error performance can be achieved over the uniform modulation case. All the established theoretical upper bounds are illustrated with numerical examples and these are also simulated using Matlab Simulink® 2017. Simulation results show that near-13-dB difference is achieved between the first and last priority sub-channels of the UEP communication system. The proposed scheme can find suitable applications in digital video broadcasting and Wireless JPEG2000 as well as H.265 data transmission systems.

MATLAB Simulation and HDL Implementation of DVB S2 Modulator

Ongoing improvements in the region of satellite communication are making conceivable minimal effort information transmission and TV broadcasting to gently populated zones spread over a huge environmental district. As a result of direct and non-direct manner of satellite subsystems and station, audio and video transmissions through satellite transponders face corruption. These damages make an antagonistic impact on the end to end interface execution. This Project is centered around reproduction of the Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite second era computerized TV transmission. For this simulation, an application in MATLAB is created. It tends to be utilized for re-enactment of entire preparation in DVB-S2 transmitter including stream adjustment, FEC coding with interleaving, modulation, channel damage & also opposite tasks in the receiver. The main aim of this model is to manage Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite second era parameters using filter in different modulation scheme like QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK and 32APSK, to get better roll off factor, with all the possible code rates, and use Hardware Description Language to prepare this model, since this way of implementation will make the model cost efficient and also enables the user for the customized code rates.

Harmonious Coexistence of IEEE 802.11af Wireless LAN and Digital TV

ABSTRACT Congested Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band stifles the growth of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). The recent switchover from analog to digital TV (DTV) broadcast frees from the conventional TV bands a sizeable amount of spectrum, which is commonly called TV white space (TVWS). TVWS is very attractive to many wireless technologies, including WLAN. IEEE came up with 802.11af, the standard for the WLAN technology that operates in TVWS. Nevertheless, it is unsure how best to guarantee its operation not causing harmful interference to DTV. In this paper, we present the conditions required for harmless coexistence of IEEE 802.11af WLAN and DTV. We make use of the standard prediction method based on radio propagation characteristics, i.e. the ITU-R P.1411-9 method which has been adopted in communication system planning. Based on our findings, we suggest the followings: (1) Operate IEEE 802.11af WLAN at any adjacent channel other than the first (i.e. except the closest neighbour channel). (2) The height of IEEE 802.11af installation does play a part when there is a relatively large separation distance between the WLAN and DTV (e.g. 50 m). (3) For outdoor operation, IEEE 802.11af WLAN should be installed at the second, third, or fourth channels adjacent to the DTV’s; fifth or sixth adjacent channel for indoor operation.

Improved Passive SAR Imaging With DVB-T Transmissions

This article investigates passive synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image formation using Terrestrial Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-T) transmitters of opportunity and an airborne receiver. The proposed airborne system does not use separate channels for direct and reflected signal reception. The proposed image formation algorithm suppresses artifacts due to the presence of the direct signal in radar echo data using modified CLEAN method and accounts for unknown irregularities in airborne platform motion using a map-drift autofocus (MDA) technique. The algorithms are theoretically derived and experimentally confirmed via an appropriate airborne campaign, and their experimental performance is measured.

Modernization of DVB-S2 Standard Using Signal-Code Constructions Based on Amplitude Modulation of Many Components

It is proposed to modernize the DVB-S2 standard by using AMMC (amplitude modulation of many components) signals instead of 8PSK (8-phase shift keying) and APSK (amplitude-phase shift keying) signals, and to modernize the DVB-S2 standard equipment by using the AMMC modulator and AMMC demodulator. Usage of AMMC makes it possible to reduce the symbol error rate in communication channel up to 52 times. The satellite digital video broadcast systems that apply signal-code constructions based on AMMC are characterized by a higher energy efficiency from 1 to 2.6 dB compared with signal-code constructions based on 8PSK and APSK.