Esrwaffggvbbgvbbbchannel data broadcasting.

This article reviews some of the results of the work in the worldwide DVB Project and

explains some of the fundamental concepts behind the work of this group. It then concen-

trates on the terrestrial transmission system (DVB-T) as one example of the many transmis-

sion technologies DVB has developed over the last few years. The COFDM modulation

scheme which is a key ingredient of DVB-T IS described in some detail. The performance of

the system is presented. The use of DVB for data broadcasting and the accompanying

return channel technologies are briefly explained.

ireless video today for the large majority of peo-

ple word-wide means TV. While in some coun-

tries equivalent to the reception of terrestrial analog

television signals via a rooftop aerial, in other countries televi-

sion programs are received via satellite, cable, or even multi-

channel microwave distribution (MMDS) system links. Over a

number of years a major change in the area of TV distribu-

tiqn has occurred. The advent of digital television systems, in

most parts of the world termed digital video broadcasting

(DVB) after the DVB Project, transforms the classical TV

channel to a data transmission medium which may carry huge

data rates at extremely low bit error rates (below 1*10-11). In

one satellite channel, for example, 38 Mbis can easily be

accommodated. At the same time the term television loses

part of its well-known meaning. Digital television, according

to the specifications developed by the DVB Project, is no

longer restricted to transmitting sound and images, but

instead has become a data broadcasting mechanism which is

fully transparent to all sorts of content. In conjunction with

one of several systems for bidirectional data transmission via

different kinds of interaction channels designed by the DVB

according to the Global System for Mobile Communications

(GSM) standard in parallel to this data distribution channel, a

bidirectional communication system with a very high degree of

asymmetry is created.

In the following the approaches taken to make digital tele-

vision a reality and some of the technical solutions found will

be described. Full details of DVB can be found in [l-31.

THE DVB PROJECT

The DVB Project, the body responsible for creating the DVB

specifications, was officially inaugurated in September 1993. It

was preceded by what at that time was called the European

Launching Group for Digital Video Broadcasting. The project

consists of a voluntary group of currently more than 210 orga-

nizations which have joined forces to make possible the devel-

opment of standards for DVB in all

parts of the world, as well as the early

introduction of DVB services. The part-

ners have signed a Memorandum of

Understanding which describes the

goals of the project. The whole activity

is neither funded nor controlled by

political bodies, but instead has devel-

oped its own objectives, policy, and

rules of procedure based on the

acknowledgment that today's broadcast

and electronic media environment requires market-led

approaches to new technical developments.

The current organization of the project is depicted in Fig.

1. The members can be seen as representing four constituen-

cies, namely the manufacturing industry, broadcasters and

program content providers, network and satellite operators,

and, last but not least, those regulatory bodies from several

countries that have the responsibility of defining the policy

with respect to frequency allocations and so forth. The Steer-

ing Board receives regular reports from four Modules and a

few ad hoc groups. The Commercial Module is responsible for

formulating user requirements for cable and satellite services,

terrestrial broadcasting, and interactive services as well as for

the definition of the Multimedia Home Platform (MHP). The

Promotions Module looks at the worldwide promotion of

DVB solutions. The enormous amount of intellectual property

that has been created by the members of the DVB Project is

being coordinated via the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

Module. The Technical Module, chaired by the author, is the

body which is concerned with technical development and com-

piling the specifications. This Technical Module includes engi-

neers from approximately 75 organizations. Several subgroups

have been charged with performing specific tasks.

DVB FROM THE USER'S POINT OF VIEW

DVB is primarily targeting the private customer who will

make use of the services offered in his or her home. Of

course, the data broadcasting capabilities of DVB are being

used in professional applications as well, and DVB makes

possible reception of digitized signals by portable and mobile

receivers. But khe typical scenario for the use of DVB will

look like that depicted in Fig. 2. The two pieces of hardware

that will be used to display DVB service offerings will be the

TV receiver and multimedia PC. A separate integrated receiv-

eridecoder (IRD) may or may not be necessary to demodulate

and decode the DVB signals. In the early days the functionali-

ty of the IRD will in most cases be incorporated in an exter-

nal black box which will be connected to the existing TV

receiver or PC. In a few years the IRD functionality will have

become integrated in both pieces of equipment.

DVB signals will be delivered via all sorts of broadcast

media (MMDS, satellite, cable, terrestrial), and interaction

104 0163-6804/98/$10.00 0 1998 IEEE IEEE Communications Magaz