IP based enhanced data casting services over radio broadcast networks

Emerging technologies like ATM, WDM or xDSL enable broadband communication over wireline networks. Mobile data systems like GSM or even UMTS are lacking in bandwidth for broadband multimedia. Furthermore, the emergence of Internet information systems like the WWW increases the desire for broadband multimedia information and communication services and also for wireless, i.e. mobile users. The system architecture, which is described, enables the realization of broadband multimedia information services for mobile users. The basic idea for the wireless provision of multimedia services to the users is the usage of digital radio and television broadcast networks like DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcast-Terrestrial) or DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast). Though these networks only support unidirectional data casting, they provide sufficient bandwidth for multimedia information services with a large number of users. An interaction channel for upstream communication to request information is integrated in the system using different approaches with GSM data services. The system architecture is structured in components with standardized interfaces to be flexible in regard of the realization of a specific service. The Internet protocol (IP) is the basic means of interconnection for our system to form a flexible multiservice network. The system architecture has already been implemented in a prototype information service system, which enables WWW access over DVB-T and is on its way to becoming a product.