Pekka Talmola

DVB-H: Digital Broadcast Services to Handheld Devices

This paper gives a brief review of the new Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld(DVB-H) standard. This is based on the earlier standard DVB-T, which is used for terrestrial digital TV broadcasting. The new extension brings features that make it possible to receive digital video broadcast type services in handheld, mobile terminals. The paper discusses the key technology elements-4K mode and in-depth interleavers, time slicing and additional forward error correction-in some detail. It also gives extensive range of performance results based on laboratory measurements and real field tests. Finally it presents viewpoints relevant for DVB-H network design and system use in general.

Novel Radio Channel Models for Evaluation of DVB-H Broadcast Systems

A new area of digital television broadcasting has emerged in the from of hand held reception. This has created a need for new standard channel models, which describe more accurately the conditions in portable reception. Hence, the Finnish partners of the multinational CELTIC Wing-TV project performed a comprehensive measurement campaign during autumn 2005. The analysis of the measurement results show that in most scenarios a strong specular or line-of-sight component is present and clearly dominating. This is noted from the very large values of Rician K-factor. The SFN characteristics of the DVB-H reception is clearly visible while considering the RMS delay spreads, total excess delays and variations of the number of taps. Based on the analysis of the measured data this contribution presents novel tapped delay line (TDL) channel models suitable for DVB-H testing

Experimental Investigations on MIMO Radio Channel Characteristics on UHF Band

Pan-European project B21C (Broadcasting for the 21st Century) aims to develop technology for DVB-T2 (Digital Video Broadcasting, Terrestrial), which is a spectrum efficient broadcasting system for future. The evaluated technologies include MIMO, which has been widely studied in perspective of B3G (Beyond 3rd Generation) systems, but never for any UHF band systems. In addition, the latest decision of WRC (World Radiocommunication Conference) highlights that the B3G systems can be deployed in UHF bands. This paper introduces a measurement campaign performed in UHF frequency and presents the most important results with regard to channel modeling and MIMO.

Field measurements of WSD-DTT protection ratios over outdoor and indoor reference geometries

A currently prevalent view of the operation of white space cognitive radios is that they should use geolocation databases to determine their frequency band and maximum transmission power in any given location so that interference radiated to broadcast receivers is negligible. To estimate the level of such interference, physical reference geometries and path loss estimates have been proposed between co-located devices. In this paper we present results of a measurement campaign conducted over indoor and outdoor reference geometry scenarios in a digital terrestrial television test network. Applying a subjective error criterion, we provide practical estimates on the maximum relative transmit powers for white space devices in order to avoid visible interference in television reception. The study applies to various primary and secondary transmission and reception scenarios, and its results can be extended also to estimate protection ratios for signal configurations not considered in the reported measurements.

Mitigation Techniques for High Power and Long Duration Interference in DVB-T/H Systems

This paper describes different techniques for mitigation of high power and long duration interference in terrestrial digital video broadcasting (DVB-T/H) systems. The interference is assumed to distort the DVB-T/H signal severely so that on average one fourth of the DVB-T/H symbol is lost. We investigate the use of long enough time interleaver in combination with simple soft bits scaling. Additional mitigation of the interference effects is also achieved using the pilots carried by the DVB-T/H signal. The mitigation schemes are evaluated in the case where the interference occurs in additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and static frequency selective channels.

Coexistence of DTT and Mobile Broadband: A Survey and Guidelines for Field Measurements

This article provides a survey and a general methodology for coexistence studies between digital terrestrial television (DTT) and mobile broadband (MBB) systems in the ultra high frequency (UHF) broadcasting band. The methodology includes characterization of relevant field measurement scenarios and gives a step-by-step guideline on how to obtain reliable field measurement results to be used in conjunction with link budget analyses, laboratory measurements, and simulations. A survey of potential European coexistence scenarios and regulatory status is given to determine feasible future use scenarios for the UHF television (TV) broadcasting band. The DTT reception system behavior and performance are also described as they greatly affect the amount of spectrum potentially available for MBB use and determine the relevant coexistence field measurement scenarios. Simulation methods used in determining broadcast protection criteria and in coexistence studies are briefly described to demonstrate how the information obtained from field measurements can be used to improve their accuracy. The presented field measurement guidelines can be applied to any DTT-MBB coexistence scenarios and to a wide range of spectrum sharing and cognitive radio system coexistence measurements.

Coexistence of Digital Terrestrial Television and 4G LTE Mobile Network Utilizing Supplemental Downlink Concept: A Real Case Study

This paper contributes to the studies for long-term evolution (LTE) deployment into the ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) broadcasting spectrum (470–790 MHz) utilizing the supplemental downlink (SDL) concept and its coexistence with the digital terrestrial Television (DTT) service. The performed real and practical coexistence scenario studies were based on the modeling and simulation of the LTE and DTT systems in order to assess potential interference between systems and the availability of the spectrum for the LTE SDL services. Simulations were aligned with the scenarios and assumptions agreed to in the European regulation complemented with real case study parameters from Finland: the early adopter of the digital dividend II. The results lead to some conclusions about the LTE SDL-DTT coexistence and indicated availability of the complementary LTE SDL services on the lower UHF spectrum. Flexible use of the UHF band aims to increase the efficiency of spectrum use in delivering fast growing and converging mobile broadband, media, and TV content to meet the changing consumer needs. Simulated scenarios can be utilized by regulation and standardization forums for studying the future of UHF spectrum and LTE broadcasting evolution in mobile communications toward fifth-generation (5G).

The Validation of the Novel DVB-H Radio Channel Models

This paper provides results of the radio channel measurements performed in DVB-H network during autumn 2006. The purpose of these measurements was to acquire additional channel information in order to validate the channel models constructed from the earlier measurements [1], [2]. This paper presents the most relevant results of the measurements including Ricean K-factors, RMS delay spreads, total excess delays and the variations of the number of taps. By comparing these results to those presented in [1] can be stated that the values are similar. Therefore, the original models can be considered consistent.

Strategic Choices for Mobile Network Operators in Future Flexible UHF Spectrum Concepts

This paper seeks to identify and discuss for mobile network operators business opportunities and strategic choices in the new flexible hybrid use concept of the Ultra High Frequency spectrum (470–790 MHz) by Digital Terrestrial TV and Mobile Broadband. More flexible use of the band aims to increase the efficiency of spectrum use in delivering fast growing and converging MBB, media and TV content to meet changing consumer needs. The framed opportunities and created simple rules indicate that the MNOs could benefit significantly from the new UHF bands enabling to cope with increasing asymmetric media data traffic and to offer differentiation through personalized broadcasting and new media services. As a collaborative benefit concept opens up new business opportunities in delivering TV and media content using MBB network. Furthermore, it had potential to transform the business ecosystem around both the broadcasting and the MBB by introducing new convergence opportunities.

Measurement based investigations of cross-polarization characteristics originating from radio channel in 500MHz frequency

From the XPR results can be seen that the original transmitted polarization is preserved well in the LOS environment. Accordingly orthogonal channels exist in LOS cases and these can be employed for transmitting parallel data streams in spatial multiplexing (SM) mode. Since the LOS scenario offers also a good signal-to-noise ratio a 2xM MIMO scheme seems to be feasible at UHF frequency range. In these measurements the LOS connection was caused by the fact that the base station antennas were placed to a TV-mast which was located on a hill and the RX antennas were lifted high off the ground to model fixed rooftop reception.