Mobile TV Services Research Articles

Free to Premium in Mobile TV Service : Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivational Factors Affecting Free Users’ Paid Subscription Intention

Free to Premium in Mobile TV Service : Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivational Factors Affecting Free Users’ Paid Subscription Intention

What Drives VOD Purchases in Mobile TV Services? Exploring Utilization, Motivations, and Personality Traits

Mobile streaming is increasingly viewed as a major advancement in the wireless industry, as it enables users to consume content without any time or space restrictions. Mobile TV serves as an excellent example of streaming, providing services for watching TV content on mobile devices. While previous studies have explored video-on-demand (VOD) purchasing factors in mobile TV, it is rare to find research examining differences based on users’ mobile TV usage types, such as subscribers and free users. Consequently, we investigated VOD purchase factors for 310 subscribers and 311 free mobile TV users. In other words, using 621 survey responses, we analyze the influence of personality traits, intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, and mobile-related factors on users’ VOD purchase intentions and behavior. Our findings indicate that mobile TV utilization, hedonic needs, and subjective norms are positively related to VOD purchases, and that neuroticism, extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness positively impact mobile TV utilization. We also examine the relationships between the constructs within two sub-groups to highlight the differing perceptions and behavioral patterns of these groups regarding mobile TV utilization and VOD purchases. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed as well.

Analysis of Hybrid Broadcast/Broadband Networks With Multiple Broadcasting Stations

Hybrid broadcast/broadband network (HBBN) presents a potential solution to mitigate the increasing demand for mobile TV. A proper HBBN deployment alleviates the limitations that each standalone network faces, thereby enhancing the global network coverage and efficiency. In this paper, we propose to address the question of performance improvement expected from such HBBN by means of an analytical framework based on stochastic geometry modeling. To this end, we introduce a generic model of the HBBN where multiple broadcast transmitters and a broadband network are deployed in the same area, jointly offering linear services, one of the mobile TV services. Two different approaches derived from stochastic geometry are applied and compared through the analysis of what is commonly referred to as a Point Hole Process (PHP): Original Poisson Point Process (PPP), and reduced PPP. Both approaches are thoroughly analyzed to give better insights into broadcast/broadband coexistence while taking into account the inter-cell interference of both networks. Exact and simplified expressions for the key performance metrics are derived such as the probability of coverage and ergodic capacity. Those expressions are then used to numerically maximize the spectral and power efficiency of the HBBN regarding the broadcast coverage radius and transmitters' density. The results show that for a wide range of user density, the HBBN introduces gain compared to either BB or BC networks. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper presents the first work dealing with the optimization of HBBN based on such a generic model and taking inter-cell and inter-network interference into consideration.

Extending the theory of planned behavior: A study of lifestyles, contextual factors, mobile viewing habits, TV content interest, and intention to adopt mobile TV

This study applied the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to explain the intentions of Hong Kong consumers to adopt mobile TV and their interests in its content. Using a probability sample of 644 respondents, this study not only demonstrated the robustness of TPB in explaining consumer behavior but also showed that channel deficiency, mobile viewing habits (which were moderated by perceived behavioral control), and content interest could significantly influence consumers’ intentions to adopt mobile TV services. Although lifestyle types were not found a significant predictor of behavioral intention, it had strong effect on content interests in mobile TV. Limitations and practical implications are provided.

A Layer-Mixed FEC Scheme for Scalable Media Transmission Over Mobile TV Services

This paper proposes a novel method for layered media transmission in mobile broadcast systems, which is referred to as the layer-mixed forward error correction (FEC). Unlike the existing unequal error protection and layer-aware FEC which decode each layer symbols with a probability, the new approach is capable of decoding each layer data deterministically as long as enough symbols are received corresponding to the specific layer. The lower layer is always decoded prior to upper layers, which facilitates the delivery of scalable media stream, especially in mobile TV services with heterogeneous networks and terminals. In order to evaluate the performance fairly, this paper compares the minimum channel capacity required by several FEC schemes. The experimental results show that the new approach outperforms the existing schemes in severely degraded channel situations.

Layered-Division-Multiplexing: Theory and Practice

As the next generation digital TV (DTV) standard, the ATSC 3.0 system is developed to provide significant improvements on the spectrum efficiency, the service reliability, the system flexibility, and system forward compatibility. One of the top-priority requirements for the ATSC 3.0 is the capability to deliver reliable mobile TV services to a large variety of mobile and indoor devices. Layered-division-multiplexing (LDM) is a physical-layer non-orthogonal-multiplexing technology to efficiently deliver multiple services with different robustness and throughputs in one TV channel. A two-layer LDM structure is accepted by ATSC 3.0 as a baseline physical-layer technology. This LDM system is capable of delivering robust high-definition (HD) mobile TV and ultra-HDTV services in one 6 MHz channel, with a higher spectrum efficiency than the traditional time/frequency-division-multiplexing (T/FDM)-based DTV systems. This paper presents a detailed overview on the LDM technology, and its application in the ATSC 3.0 systems. First, the fundamental advantages of the LDM over the traditional TDM/FDM systems are analyzed from information theory point of view. The performance advantages of the LDM are then confirmed by extensive simulations of the ATSC 3.0 system. It is shown that, LDM can realize the potential gain offered by superposition coding over the TDM/FDM systems, by properly configuring the transmission power, channel coding, and modulation, and using different multiple antenna technologies in the multiple layers. Next, the efficient implementation of LDM in the ATSC 3.0 system is presented to show that the performance advantages of the LDM are obtained with small additional complexity. This is achieved by carefully aligning the transmission signal structure and the signal processing chains in the multiple layers. Finally, we show that the LDM can be further integrated with different multiple antenna technologies to achieve further transmission capacity.

Coexistence Between DVB-T/T2 and LTE Standards in Common Frequency Bands

In the last decade, fulfilling the growing users' expectations on the quality of provided multimedia services is one of the biggest challenges for different wireless communication systems. However, many times, different kinds of wireless systems can operate in the same (shared) frequency band. Such coexistence generally negatively affects the performance of the systems colliding. This is especially true for the widely used Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) or upcoming DVB-2nd Generation Terrestrial (DVB-T2) and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) standards, operating in Europe. Hence, the aim of this paper is to explore the impact of interfering mobile telecommunication services on the mobile TV services provided by LTE and DVB-T/T2 systems in the same frequency band. For the simulation of the coexistence between the LTE and DVB-T/T2 services on the physical layer level, an appropriate method is proposed and complex simulation tools are coupled. The results, presented as a dependence of modulation error ratio at the receiver input and bit error ratio at the channel decoder input on the spectral level ratio, show comparable performances for DVB-T and DVB-T2 systems. Results from simulations are verified by laboratory measurements and should help to better understand the influence of co-channel interferences from LTE mobile networks on DVB-T/T2 networks for mobile transmission scenarios.

Performance Characterization and Optimization of Mobile Service Delivery in LDM-Based Next Generation DTV Systems

Layered-division-multiplexing (LDM) technology is a non-orthogonal multiplexing technology to provide more efficient transmission of multiple services that have different requirements on the robustness and throughput in one TV channel. The core of LDM is to transmit multiple-layer signals, where each layer occupies the whole channel bandwidth and the whole time. To meet the different requirements on different layers, each layer is allocated a specific power level, and is configured to use a different channel coding and modulation scheme, as well as its own multiple-antenna technology. Delivering robust and high-quality mobile TV services is one of the top priorities for the next generation digital TV (NG-DTV) systems. In this paper, we first investigate the performance of the NG-DTV systems with LDM in various difficult propagation channels that are likely encountered by the large variety of mobile devices, including fast-fading channels, slow-fading channels, indoor channels, and single-frequency-network (SFN) channels. A new channel estimation technique is proposed to overcome the severe performance degradation caused by the SFN channels. We will further show that using LDM makes it possible to deliver mobile services using the efficient 32k transmission mode. Finally, receive antenna diversity is shown to provide different levels of performance improvement for different LDM configurations.

Inter-organizational cognitive structures: network conception in MobileTV case

Purpose – This paper aims to explore collective cognitive structures in business networks by analyzing the coherency of network pictures in a service development network. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use the network pictures construct as a tool to analyze collective cognitive structures in a service development network. The studied case and unit of analysis is a focal network developing a consumer mobile TV service. Findings – Based on the empirical evidence, the authors found that individuals’ cognitive structures vary extensively in the studied focal network. In addition, collective cognitive structures in intra- and inter-organizational settings differ, and thus should be distinguished. Research limitations/implications – The research findings are based on a single case study. This study is one of the first attempts to apply network pictures as a research device in industrial marketing. The concept of network conception is put forward, distinguishing intra- and inter-organizational levels of collective cognition. Practical implications – The employed conceptual tool is proposed for application also when forming a business network, where it is important to make all actors’ (i.e. persons and companies) perspectives on the emerging focal business network visible. Originality/value – To study the focal network-level collective cognitive structures further, the authors propose the concept of network conception to represent the phenomenon. The present study contributes to the research on collective cognitive structures in industrial marketing by extending understanding on individual- and organizational-level cognitions to a focal network-level collective cognition.

An exploratory study into the determinants of adoption of mobile TV services: an integrated value perspective

While promising appealing benefits to consumers and increased revenues for stakeholders, mobile TV success remains very uncertain with disappointing adoption levels. The literature suggests that there is no comprehensive theoretical framework for explaining the adoption of mobile TV services. Our paper aims to propose a new theoretical framework for better understanding of consumers' adoption of new mobile TV services. The paper outlines major issues drawn from the extensive literature review and an exploratory qualitative study that we carried out. We present a new comprehensive value–centric framework that integrates theories and constructs from different fields of research. As such, it fulfils identified theoretical gaps while providing orientation to managers who deal with the development and implementation of new mobile services.

Support Vector Clustering for Customer Segmentation on Mobile TV Service

This article presents a proposal for customer segmentation through Support Vector Clustering, a technique that has been gaining attention in the academic literature due to the good results usually obtained. An application of this method to a sample from consumers in Brazil about mobile TV service is performed; we compare this approach with the classical hierarchical methods of cluster analysis. It is concluded that this methodology is effective in reducing the heterogeneity often present in customers’ data, improving the cluster segmentation analysis for managers.

Time Slicing for Mobile TV Services with a Channel Switching Delay Limit

Time slicing is an important technology which can save the energy of mobile devices in mobile TV services. Some burst scheduling algorithms for time slicing are proposed in the literature. However, they are designed to maximize energy saving without considering channel switching delay limitation. In this letter, the burst scheduling problem with channel switching delay limit is studied and shown to be NP-complete. An algorithm for the problem is proposed and the simulation result demonstrates that the energy saving of the proposed algorithm is just 2% less than the limit when channel switching delay is limited to 0.5 seconds.

Simulation Model for DVB-SH Systems Based on OFDM for Analyzing Quasi-error-free Communication over Different Channel Models

Mobile users today expect wide range of multimedia services to be available in different mobility scenarios, and among the others is mobile TV service. The Digital Video Broadcasting - Satellite services to Handheld (DVB-SH) is designed to provide mobile TV services, supporting a wide range of mobile multimedia services, like audio and data broadcasting as well as file downloading services. In this paper we present our simulation model for the performance evaluation of the DVB-SH system following the ETSI standard EN 302 583. Simulation model includes complete DVB-SH system, supporting all standardized system modes and parameters. From transmitter to receiver, the information may be sent over different channel model, thus simulation real case scenarios. To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first complete model of DVB-SH system that includes all standardized system parameters and may be used for examining real DVB-SH communication as well as for educational purposes.

Social Interaction Feature for Mobile TV Services Based On Cloud Move

Social Interaction Feature for Mobile TV Services Based On Cloud Move

Commentary: The Other Mobile TV: ATSC MDTV Broadcasting In Canada

This commentary describes an approach for delivering television content to mobile phones in Canada using over-the-air broadcast signals. Over-the-air television broadcasting to mobile phones is available to our American neighbours but has not been implemented in Canada. We report on a test of mobile TV services, demonstrating access to U.S. signals from Canada. While it is technically feasible to deliver over-the-air mobile broadcasting in Canada, it is likely that vertical integration in the broadcasting and communications sectors is creating barriers to the development of this service. The commentary concludes with some thoughts on how mobile digital television services could be developed for Canadian viewers.

Dimensioning and Profit Sharing in Hybrid LTE/DVB Systems to Offer Mobile TV Services

Our aim in this work is to develop profit sharing strategies for coooperative 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Digital Video Broadcasting - Next Generation Handheld (DVB-NGH) systems offering mobile TV service. We first study the capacity of the hybrid system for offering such a service and derive the associated cost for each network. We then focus on the sharing of profit between LTE and DVB operators as well as TV channels providers, taking into account the subscription revenues as well as the infrastructure and operation costs. We consider two cases: one in which both LTE and DVB networks are managed by a single operator and one in which the operators are separate. In both cases, we derive closed-form expressions for each player profit share using coalition game concept Shapley value. We further obtain the players optimal strategies, at the Nash equilibrium, where each player tries to maximize its own profit.

Design and Analysis of a Wireless Switched Digital Video Scheme for Mobile TV Services Over WiMAX Networks

Mobile WiMAX is emerging as one of the most promising systems for 4th generation mobile wireless networks in which it is foreseen that mobile TV services will proliferate. In general, TV applications are bandwidth hogs that cause a challenging capacity problem in wireless networks. To address this challenge, a novel scheme for mobile TV services over WiMAX network, called the wireless switched digital video (WSDV) scheme, is proposed in this paper. Compared with the conventional broadcast or unicast schemes, the hybrid approach introduced in our proposed WSDV approach exploits the merits of two conventional schemes and mitigates their demerits, which enables it to increase wireless capacity for mobile TV services. In addition, we present a WiMAX design tool, based on an analytical model, which facilitates analysis of the influence of some system parameters on wireless capacity. The analytical model can capture the details of WiMAX resource allocation and take into consideration the popularity of the mobile TV contents being viewed by users-enabling it to provide an accurate estimate of the amount of bandwidth required for WiMAX TV services and also enabling a designer to optimally select the number of channels via the WSDV service while meeting a desired level of blocking probability. In addition, we demonstrate that our proposed optimized scheme outperforms the conventional schemes with respect to blocking probability. Finally, an end-to-end solution to the WSDV scheme is also presented.

CloudMoV: Cloud-Based Mobile Social TV

The rapidly increasing power of personal mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.) is providing much richer contents and social interactions to users on the move. This trend however is throttled by the limited battery lifetime of mobile devices and unstable wireless connectivity, making the highest possible quality of service experienced by mobile users not feasible. The recent cloud computing technology, with its rich resources to compensate for the limitations of mobile devices and connections, can potentially provide an ideal platform to support the desired mobile services. Tough challenges arise on how to effectively exploit cloud resources to facilitate mobile services, especially those with stringent interaction delay requirements. In this paper, we propose the design of a Cloud-based, novel Mobile sOcial tV system (CloudMoV). The system effectively utilizes both PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) and IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) cloud services to offer the living-room experience of video watching to a group of disparate mobile users who can interact socially while sharing the video. To guarantee good streaming quality as experienced by the mobile users with time-varying wireless connectivity, we employ a surrogate for each user in the IaaS cloud for video downloading and social exchanges on behalf of the user. The surrogate performs efficient stream transcoding that matches the current connectivity quality of the mobile user. Given the battery life as a key performance bottleneck, we advocate the use of burst transmission from the surrogates to the mobile users, and carefully decide the burst size which can lead to high energy efficiency and streaming quality. Social interactions among the users, in terms of spontaneous textual exchanges, are effectively achieved by efficient designs of data storage with BigTable and dynamic handling of large volumes of concurrent messages in a typical PaaS cloud. These various designs for flexible transcoding capabilities, battery efficiency of mobile devices and spontaneous social interactivity together provide an ideal platform for mobile social TV services. We have implemented CloudMoV on Amazon EC2 and Google App Engine and verified its superior performance based on real-world experiments.

Energy efficient burst scheduling in mobile TV services

With the advancement of mobile communication technology, Mobile TV has emerged and is becoming increasingly popular. However, viewing is limited with battery-powered mobile devices. To reduce the energy consumption, burst transmission has been proposed for mobile devices. The optimal burst scheduling problem for energy saving has been proven to be NP-complete. This paper proposes a sub-optimal burst scheduling algorithm called Regulated Period Scheduling (RPS) for energy saving in Mobile TV networks. Simulation results demonstrate that the resulting energy saving of the proposed algorithm is about 10% greater than the state of the art algorithm can achieve while maintaining very low computation complexity.

The Role of Perceived Cost toward on Continuance Intention of Mobile TV: Focused on Chinese users

This study highlight the role of perceived cost on user's continuance intention to use mobile TV service in china. We proposed research model based on the expectation-confirmation model(ECM) and reclaim 243 questionnaires from experienced users in china. Above all, the analysis results support significant relationship perceived variables, satisfaction, and continuance intention of mobile TV. First, while expectation confirmation has positive influence on perceived playfulness and satisfaction, the effect on perceived usefulness is not significant. Second, perceived cost can significantly predict perceived usefulness and satisfaction, however, we found no evidence of a statistically significant influence on perceived playfulness. Third, perceived usefulness and perceived playfulness have a positive influence on satisfaction, and perceived usefulness, satisfaction, and perceived playfulness have a positive influence on continuance intention. This results provide implications from both theoretical and managerial perspectives and the limitations have been discussed for future research.