R&S^®DVB-H Playout with statistical multiplex and adaptive time slicing

Efficient DVB-H playout

The DVB-H standard for transmitting TV services to small mobile terminals is gaining ground. Rohde&Schwarz offers service and network providers a new DVB-H playout system with a statistical multiplex function and adaptive time slicing. This system allows up to 40% of the data rate to be saved- without compromising on video quality. As a result, more than 20 (instead of 15) mobile TV programs can be broadcast on a TV channel, for example, ensuring highly efficient use of the limited DVB-H frequency spectrum.

DVBH-Features:DVB-H playout requires the following instruments:

• R&S^®DIP010 DTV IP Inserter and Generator for DVB-H
• R&S^®AVE264 Low-Definition Video and Audio Encoder
• R&S^®AVP264 Video and Audio Playout Base Unit

As all instruments are designed to work together, their functions ideally complement one another. For the encoder and the playout base unit, Rohde&Schwarz uses software licensed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (HHI).

Each R&S^®AVE264 Low-Definition Video and Audio Encoder encodes a program with video and audio information in the line with the H.264 and AAC++standards. The statistical multiplex manager coordinates the variable program-dependent data rates of the encoders for the statistical multiplex and forwards the information about data configuration in the statistical multiplex to the R&S^®DIP010 DTV IP Inserter and Generator for DVB-H. The R&S^®DIP010 DTV IP Inserter and Generator for DVB-H further processes this information with adaptive time slicing, which is a unique feature. The inserter does this by converting the signal to a burst structure that reduces data rates.

The European Union co-financed the development of the DVB-H playout with statistical multiplex and adaptive time slicing.