DVB Mobile TV : Technology

DVB-H, DVB-SH and DVB-IPDC are the key enabling technologies for mobile television.

DVB-H is largely based on the successful DVB-T specification for digital terrestrial television, adding to it a number of features designed to take account of the limited battery life of small handheld devices, and the particular environments in which such receivers must operate. The use of a technique called time-slicing, where bursts of data are received periodically, allows the receiver to power off when it is inactive leading to significant power savings. DVB-H also employs additional forward error correction to further improve the already excellent mobile performance of DVB-T.

As with DVB-H, the DVB-SH specification is also designed for the delivery of audio, video and data services to handheld devices. However DVB-SH (Satellite Services to Handheld Devices) is designed to enable hybrid satellite/terrestrial networks that use S-band spectrum.

The DVB-IPDC specifications for IP Datacast are essential to the convergence of broadcast networks and mobile telecommunications networks that will almost certainly be central to the majority of commercial launches of DVB-H and DVB-SH services. The specifications cover the overall system architecture, electronic service guide (ESG), content delivery protocols, and the PSI/SI that will make the establishment of convergent networks possible.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS*

*All DVB standards can be downloaded directly from the ETSI website.

DVB-H

DVB-H - Transmission System for Handheld Terminals - EN 302 304 v1.1.1

Implementation Guidelines for DVB-H Services - TR 102 377 v1.2.1

Implementation Guidelines for DVB-H Services - A092r2 (Draft v1.3.1)

DVB-H Validation Task Force Report - TR 102 401 v1.1.1

DVB-SH

System Specifications for Satellite services to Handheld devices (SH) below 3 GHz - TS 102 585 v1.1.1

Framing Structure, channel coding and modulation for Satellite Services to Handheld devices (SH) below 3 GHz - EN 302 583 v1.1.0

DVB-SH Implementation Guidelines - A120

DVB-IPDC

IP Datacast over DVB-H: PSI/SI - TS 102 470 v1.1.1

IP Datacast over DVB-H: Set of Specifications for Phase 1- TS 102 468 v1.1.1

IP Datacast over DVB-H: Use Cases and Services - TR 102 473 v1.1.1

IP Datacast over DVB-H: Architecture - TR 102 469 v1.1.1

IP Datacast over DVB-H: Electronic Service Guide (ESG) - TS 102 471 v1.2.1

IP Datacast over DVB-H: ESG - A099r1 (dTS 102 471 v1.3.1)

Electronic Service Guide (ESG) Implementation Guidelines - TS 102 592 v1.1.1

Service Purchase and Protection (SPP) - TS 102 474 v1.1.1

IP Datacast over DVB-H: Content Delivery Protocols (CDP) - TS 102 472 v1.2.1

Content Delivery Protocols (CDP) Implementation Guidelines - TS 102 591 v1.1.1

IP Datacast: Implementation Guidelines for Mobility - TS 102 611 v1.1.1

IP Datacast: Implementation Guidelines for Mobility - A117r1 dTS 102 611 v1.2.1

Video and Audio Coding for DVB IP Applications

Specification for the use of Video and Audio Coding in DVB services delivered directly over IP Protocols - TS 102 005 v1.3.1

USEFUL RESOURCES

Test Streams

The DVB Project Office makes an FTP server available for the purpose of providing access to DVB-H and DVB-IPDC Test Streams. Access details are as follows:

Address: ftp.dvb-h.org
Username: dvbh-ftpr
Password: gui3oria

If you are unable to access the site, please try again later - it accepts only a limited number of simultaneous connections. For information about how you can submit a test stream for inclusion on the server, please contact info@dvb-h.org

Currently available:
- Wing TV/MBRAI Interoperability DVB-H Streams

DVB Fact Sheets
These short documents give a brief overview of the standards:

DVB-H Fact Sheet (August 2008)
DVB-SH Fact Sheet (June 2008)
DVB-IPDC Fact Sheet (April 2008)

Other documents

DVB-H: Digital Broadcast Services to Handheld Devices
G. Faria, J. A. Henriksson, E. Stare, and P. Talmola, Proc. IEEE, vol. 94, no. 1, pp. 194-209, Jan. 2006.

This paper gives a brief review the DVB-H standard discussing the key technology elements in some detail. It also gives a 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.

European Parliament Mobile TV Study (October 2007)

This study was developed by TNO-ICT at the request of the European Parliament's committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). It assesses key issues in the debate on mobile TV in Europe and builds a strong case for DVB-H to become a single standard for the provision of mobile TV services in Europe.