A research project of interactive services and technologies for mixed broadcasting, navigation and mobile communication

New technologies, methods, services and particularly system level solutions for a combined interactive broadcasting, navigation and mobile communication environment are sought in this university research project. Both a large-scale asymmetric infrastructure for DVB-T and those for desktop or mobile consumer devices are studied with the target about five to ten years ahead. All feasible features of the current technical infrastructure and particularly the coming 3G networks are utilized. Systems engineering is applied and individual technological and intellectual tasks are linked together to give coming service providers, operators and manufacturers a sole basis for their product development. A demonstrator system is implemented, partly based on 3G technology and partly on software due to limitations in time and manpower. Anticipated results include also an enhanced usage of the best propagating part of the radio frequency spectrum and new degrees of freedom for manufacturers and broadcasting companies. The cost of the broadcasting infrastructure could be reduced and set-up and reconfiguration efforts and associated investments decrease. Useful tools for authorities are predicted as well. Devices and systems with a high degree of interoperability are made possible due to intelligent arrangements in the use of radio frequency, modulation and signal processing resources. The cost of coming infrastructures will be lower due to mixed applications where broadcasting, Internet-type services, navigation and mobile communications share a common platform and. have flexible software-oriented reconfiguring capabilities. Completely new features and services may turn feasible when proper technologies, components and suitable user interfaces are created.