[opendtv] TSC Looks to Future With Mobile DTV
- From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 10:34:53 -0600
The new twist described in this piece is work on enabling ALL of the 6 MHz
channel to be used for ATSC M/H. Well, that would sure kill off any thought of
OTA HDTV.
This looks like a tactic for broadcasters to hold onto their OTA spectrum,
showing that they too can reinvent themselves to fit into the trendy new mobile
hand-held market, even 100 percent. Seems like one heck of a challenge to
MediaFLO, potentially.
(Oh, except there's no monthly fee. People won't like that. Must add the
monthly fee to be taken seriously.)
Bert
--------------------------------
http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/89660
ATSC Looks to Future With Mobile DTV
by Jerry Whitaker, 11.02.2009.
The landmark ATSC Mobile DTV Standard has been completed. Following a final
vote of approval from the ATSC membership on October 15, the long process to
develop a comprehensive standard to address the need for a mobile digital
television service has reached completion. As broadcasters announce plans to
roll-out this new technology, the ATSC has launched new work designed to extend
and support the ATSC Mobile DTV Standard.
ABOUT ATSC MOBILE DTV
ATSC Mobile DTV is built around a highly robust transmission system based on
vestigial sideband (VSB) modulation coupled with a flexible and extensible
IP-based transport system, efficient MPEG AVC (ISO/IEC 14496-10 or ITU H.264)
video, and HE AAC v2 audio (ISO/IEC 14496-3) coding. The new services are
carried in digital broadcast channels along with current DTV services without
any adverse impact on legacy receiving equipment.
In addition to live television, the ATSC Mobile DTV system provides a flexible
Application Framework to enable new receiver capabilities. Receivers that make
use of an optional Internet connection will enable new interactive television
services, ranging from simple audience voting to the integration of
Internet-based applications and transactions with television content.
A SCALABLE FULL-CHANNEL OPTION
Looking forward to new applications and services beyond traditional television
broadcasting, work has begun on an extension of the ATSC Mobile DTV system that
enables use of the full-channel bandwidth for mobile services. This new project
was approved by the ATSC Board of Directors in June and assigned to TSG/S4.
The work is intended to add increased capacity in a scalable manner up to
complete channel bandwidth usage. The Scalable Full-Channel Mobile Mode (SFCMM)
technology will provide additional operational options for use of A/153. The
existing A/153 (Core Mobile Mode, or CMM) requires a minimum of 4.7 Mbps to be
transmitted as conventional 8-VSB. SFCMM, on the other hand, could scale
capacity up to the total available from the channel.
Requirements and compatibility with existing devices and systems include the
following:
The emitted SFCMM signal must be compatible with the A/153 (CMM) emitted signal
so as to allow receivers designed for SFCMM reception to be able to also
receive A/153 (CMM) signals.
A CMM-compatible portion of the emitted signal from a SFCMM system must be
capable of being received and decoded on a CMM receiver.
Like the current A/153 (CMM), emission of the SFCMM must not have any adverse
impact on existing and future receivers deployed to receive ATSC A/53 DTV.
Work on the scalable full-channel system is underway in a new subgroup of
TSG/S4, known as S4-5. This group is led by Jordan Cookman of Microtune. The
first step in this process was to develop a Request for Proposals (RFP), which
was issued on October 7.
TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE
In an effort to address certain infrastructure issues relating to ATSC Mobile
DTV implementation, the ATSC has formed a Specialist Group on Transmission
Infrastructure (TSG/S5), led by Art Allison of NAB. TSG/S5 is working to
develop a broadcast station infrastructure communications standard, and related
informational documents (as needed). The work will be coordinated with SMPTE
whenever the possibility of overlapping responsibilities warrants such liaison.
Current efforts are focused on developing appropriate documentation to
facilitate transport of standardized ATSC Mobile DTV data and metadata across
various studio-to-transmitter links (STL). Because of the pending roll-out of
ATSC Mobile DTV services, this program is on a fast-track to completion.
MOBILE DTV RECOMMENDED PRACTICE
ATSC recognized early on in the development of the ATSC Mobile DTV Standard
that implementation guidelines would be beneficial to broadcasters and
equipment suppliers. TSG/S4 and its subgroups are working to develop a
Recommended Practice on ATSC Mobile DTV. This document is being written by the
same experts that developed the standard itself.
Although no firm timeline for completion of the RP has been set, work is
expected to stretch into next year as implementation experience is gained from
stations placing ATSC Mobile DTV systems on the air.
Work within ATSC is open to all organizations with a direct and material
interest. If you would like to be involved in this ongoing work, please contact
the author. The ATSC Mobile DTV Standard document set will be available shortly
from the Standards Page on the ATSC Web site: www.atsc.org.
Jerry Whitaker is vice president of standards development for the ATSC. You can
reach him via TV Technology.
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