The convergence between existing and emerging technologies such as broadband, mobile, and broadca... more The convergence between existing and emerging technologies such as broadband, mobile, and broadcast networks is considered as a promising opportunity for existing network operators to increase theirs services' audiences. An important research effort is undertaken by main industry actors to face the multidimensional (transport technology, session signaling, and QoS provisioning) heterogeneity in the Next Generation Network (NGN). The per-session service adaptation is crucial to accommodate terminal and network heterogeneity experienced by different mobile users. In this paper, we investigate an intermediate architecture based on interconnection of DVB-T and 802.11 WLAN networks. The 802.11 WLAN is considered today as the "de-facto" wireless access network for the last miles connection. Both its per-service cost-effectiveness and wide acceptation by users make it an ideal candidate to bridge existing broadcast TV services toward the end-users.
In this paper, we introduce a novel metadata model for describing scalable and interactive TV ser... more In this paper, we introduce a novel metadata model for describing scalable and interactive TV services that can be enriched with supplemental multimedia information. The model allows users to access such TV services not only via their traditional TV sets, but also via additional mobile devices like TabletPCs or PDAs. To achieve this, we segment the traditional linear program into sub-components, while separating device-independent and device-specific metadata. A realization of this model builds on the existing standards of TV-Anytime, . The model achieves a step towards the "Connected world" vision of the second specification phase of the TV-Anytime forum.
In this paper, we present a design and implementation of a TV-Anytime compliant Personal Digital ... more In this paper, we present a design and implementation of a TV-Anytime compliant Personal Digital Recorder (PDR) that provides personalized services according to user preferences and various terminal/network conditions. Especially, automatic extraction algorithm of user preference is introduced. This paper mainly details with a metadata engine which performs metadata demultiplexing, metadata decoding, and metadata-based content access and browsing. The implemented PDR employing the metadata engine is successfully tested with a set of personalized service scenarios in an end-to-end broadcasting test-bed 1
Mobile TV services are expected to become a key application in future wireless networks. The rece... more Mobile TV services are expected to become a key application in future wireless networks. The recently proposed terrestrial digital broadcast technology, DVB-H, especially designed for mobile services, is regarded as a powerful alternative to the 3G cellular networks that already offer these services out on a point-to-point basis. Unfortunately, the cost of supporting real-time streaming and full area coverage seems to be very high compared to fixed TV services. In this article we discuss hybrid IP datacast DVB-H and 3G systems as a possible solution for providing affordable network infrastructure and services. Our approach is DVB-H centric. The 3G cellular system plays the role of providing interactivity, error reporting, and repair for the DVB-H broadcast channel. To enable an easy and efficient interworking of DVB-H and 3G, we employ forward error correction at the application layer with digital fountain coding. The main way to provide lower cost services is to avoid full DVB-H area coverage from the beginning and to perform an incremental DVB-H network deployment that follows the user demand. In this direction, to hide the discontinuity in coverage from the perception of users, we propose to take advantage of the bursty character of DVB-H transmissions and the mobility of users. This is possible by sending additional parity data, either with the DVB-H or the cellular network, in the time intervals between original service bursts. We evaluate the potential DVB-H infrastructure cost savings determined by transmitting additional parity data in DVB-H when targeting vehicular users. The implications of delivering parity data through the cellular network also are discussed. The numerical investigations show a potential for significant cost savings compared with the traditional approaches
Current market research indicates high future demand for broadcast services such as Mobile TV. Wh... more Current market research indicates high future demand for broadcast services such as Mobile TV. While underlying competing bearer technologies are being extensively tested and refined, the focus keeps shifting towards interactive services on top of mobile broadcast. In order to investigate the possibilities of interactive mobile TV, projects require testbeds for convergent architectures and services. However, related technologies and standards still need to mature and key components such as open, programmable TVenabled phones are still missing. In this paper, we present our testbed for mobile interactive TV for early stage technology and application prototyping, with a focus on mobile client and network aspects. Furthermore, we illustrate the utilization of the system and outline selected future development issues concerning mobile interactivity options.
This paper describes the design and implementation of multimedia data processing elements for a h... more This paper describes the design and implementation of multimedia data processing elements for a home sewer platform. Generally, a home sewer can be considered as an integrated form of a multimedia data sewer, home control sewer, and home information sewer. As a multimedia data sewer, the proposed scheme has a digital TV receiver module and a multimedia codec module. Thus, watching digital TV and remote multimedia sewices are available in this platform. In addition, an error resilient scheme using digital watermarking is implemented to correct transmission errors in a noisy channel'.
In this paper we present the design of an environment that offers personalized, ubiquitous inform... more In this paper we present the design of an environment that offers personalized, ubiquitous information services in the emerging integrated world of the digital-TV and the Internet. This environment is based on extended TV sets with a large capacity disk and Internet connection. We present an architecture that integrates external service providers that provide extended information services about broadcasts with powerful retrieval, personalization and ubiquitous access capabilities. We assume that the metadata information about the content of the TV programs follows the TV-anytime Forum Metadata (TVAM) specifications. The architecture allows content based matching and/or retrieval based on the description of the broadcast or parts of the broadcast according to the interests of the viewers. The viewer has access to his/her "personal channel" any time not only from home, but also while on move. It is obvious that due to communication, storage and processing limitations of handy devices, it is not possible to access normal digital-TV content. Thus, special mechanisms that filter and appropriately adapt the content are necessary, in order to meet user's preferences and make its delivery and presentation feasible on the handy devices.
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Papers by Nick Lardo