The human need to communicate has caused a dramatic growth of the number of subscribers to a mobile phone. This started the mid nineties of the last century after the GSM standards were finalized and adequate technology with the proper price performance ratio became available. For demanding services new third generation (3G) systems with increased bandwidth for voice and data traffic were defined (e.g. UMTS). Data intensive services like Multimedia Message Service (MMS), video call and Video on Demand (VoD) are now possible. VoD is catching on slowly because content needs to be available and suitable. Moreover, the user should get accustomed to the service on his phone with a small screen and perceive the service as value for money. Also bandwidth requirements are rather severe. New technology HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) is defined which enables increased download bandwidth to ease the VoD service. However, all mobile phone services use a direct link between the source and the user. As a consequence, the network traffic explodes when VoD is getting popular! An option is to create a broadcast link. The DVB-forum has done this with the DVB-H standard in 2005. Many users can be served with up to 30 TV channels in one broadcast frequency. This sets the scene for our MOBISERVE project in the field of rich-media applications and added value convergent technology using DVB-H broadcast and wireless links.

Problem statement

Deployment of highly interactive, DVB-H based, rich-media interactive services and related added-value convergent technologies is slow because there is a lack of interesting value-add services to challenge the service providers and the technology shapers. The first generation is (almost) there, but now the “second phase”, the next step! Moreover, the DVB-H standard is one of the technology choices for these services. Promoting the worldwide DVB concept, also in China, will help establishing a good position of DVB-H.

New technology and new user interaction concepts of a few newly defined rich-media service scenarios for mobile terminals based on a DVB-H mobile broadcast infrastructure and additional wireless networks. The rich-media application and added value convergent technology are intended for enhancing the consumer experience at big (sports) events (Olympics) and will enable sharing this experience at home. The consumer perception of the new service will be evaluated in a test trial at the Olympics in Beijing, China.

MOBISERVE is service driven. The project is addressing the service and its user perceived value of advanced interactive rich-media application and related convergent services. Especially the consistent usage of multiple sources of information through multiple channels (DVB-H, WiFi, GSM/GPRS) will be addressed. Based on those findings extension of the technology used in the end-to-end system like content preparation, head-end, broadcast infrastructure and the terminal (hardware and software) are improved and evaluated. This will lead to extension of the relevant standards for the “second phase” of DVB-H.

MOBISERVE and DVB-H in China

The project is aimed for the target country China. This provides a unique opportunity to show the enormous potential of the flexible DVB-H standard in China. Moreover, it allows the EU-based core partners to interact with Chinese partners and get a feel for the options in the Chinese market. The close collaboration with privileged partners opens options for now and will pave the way for future collaborations. MOBISERVE will be in a position to influence the Chinese discussion on standardisation of mobile digital TV.

Figure 1 The system overview of MOBISERVE. An end-to-end system with content properly prepared to be broadcasted to a mobile terminal (phone) and a feedback channel based on 2.5 G GPRS mobile phone technology for user interaction. The WiFi channel plays a role in extending the data resources for the service and enables scenarios at home by linking to the home network and “relives” the stadium experience. Moreover, at hotspots WiFi enables the special WLAN++ DVB-H related services.

To reach the general goal the project has the following objectives;

A limited number of new service scenarios of interactive rich-media services will be defined for user evaluation.

A new generic service application platform capable of easily defining the rich-media services will be designed and evaluated. Requirements will be derived from the interactive convergent services.

The user value of the service will be assessed by a trial during the Olympic games with around 20-40 users belonging to a particular focus group. The trial will be friendly[1] because optimal technical conditions will be used. The definition of the focus group will be carried out at the beginning of the project. A focus group represents a target group of real users and will provide very valuable feedback on the service and the related performance of the DVB-H system.

The service will use a number of data sources. The main ones considered by MOBISERVE are DVB-H broadcast for video and data. GSM/GPRS will be used for feedback. In some cases WLAN is available as well. New open API’s will be defined and tested to cope with the multiple sources. The results will be put forward in relevant standardisation bodies.

The availability of WLAN enables new options for rich-media services. The service could be provided using WLAN as a main channel. A mechanism of service relay from DVB-H to WLAN will be investigated and corresponding adaptation of head-end and the terminal software.

During the trial we will have both the GSM and DVB-H channel active. The frequencies of those channels are very close and interference is disturbing the robust performance in the phone. A partial solution can be found by additional the filtering and optimized antenna design. However, intelligent methods will be investigated to improve coexistence even more. The results will be input for the MBRAI (Mobile and Portable DVB-T/H radio Access Interface specification) of DVB-H.

To show your friends the highlights of the Olympic games at home a special rich-media scenario will be defined. Personal content at home will be shown by using the home network is needed. Adaptation of H264 mobile (LCD resolution typical 240*320) content to the Standard Definition TV will be investigated and evaluated.

The innovative solutions evaluated in MOBISERVE will be input for standardisation in the appropriate bodies. Several of the partners are represented in those bodies to take care. Our partners will liaison with Chinese regulatory and standardization bodies. The confrontation with excellent results of a trial will strengthen the position of DVB-H in general and in China in particular.

To provide a common base for the meaning of the term “rich-media”: rich-media describes a broad range of digital media, which combines graphic animation, video and audio with interactive features. Rich-media can be downloadable or may be embedded in an application.

MOBISERVE covers a lot of topics in the end-to-end chain of the interactive convergent service. However, focus is needed and not all topics can be part of the MOBISERVE project. For some topics we will use existing solutions. For more information see chapter 2.4.4.

MOBISERVE is aiming at the scenarios at big events. Especially the focus is the Olympic Games in 2008. However, other events like EU Championship Football 2008 or the world fair in 2010 (Shanghai) will benefit. Although the services will be very different for these examples, there will be a lot of common technology and standards needed for their realization. Moreover, even day-to-day services will benefit from our results.

[1] The term friendly trial is used for a trial where the conditions are optimised by friendly choices of location (good coverage) and user (educated a bit).

Overview

Mobile phone and services

Problem statement

MOBISERVE and DVB-H in China

To reach the general goal the project has the following objectives;