Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting
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Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB) is the digital television (DTV) and digital audio broadcasting (DAB) format that Japan has created to allow radio and television stations there to convert to digital.
Contents |
Introduction
ISDB is maintained by ARIB. The standards can be obtained for free at the DiBEG website and at ARIB.
The core standards of ISDB are ISDB-S (satellite television), ISDB-T(terrestrial), ISDB-C (cable) and 2.6GHz band mobile broadcasting which are all based on MPEG-2 video and audio coding as well as the transport stream described by the MPEG-2 standard, and are capable of high definition television (HDTV). ISDB-T and ISDB-Tsb are for mobile reception in TV bands. 1seg is name of an ISDB-T service for repection on cell phone, laptop computer and vehicle.
The concept was named for its similarity to ISDN, because both allow multiple channels of data to be transmitted together (a process called multiplexing). This is also much like another digital radio system, Eureka 147, which calls each group of stations on a transmitter an ensemble; this is very much like the multi-channel digital TV standard DVB-T. ISDB-T operates on unused TV channels, an approach taken by other countries for TV but never before for radio.
Video and audio compression
ISDB has adopted the MPEG-2 video and audio compression system. ATSC and DVB also adopted the same system. DVB and ISDB also provide for other video compression methods to be used, including JPEG and MPEG-4, although JPEG is only a required part of the MHEG standard and MPEG-4 is not yet required at all.
Transmission
The various flavors of ISDB differ mainly in the modulations used, due to the requirements of different frequency bands. The 12 GHz band ISDB-S uses PSK modulation, 2.6 GHz band digital sound broadcasting uses CDM and ISDB-T (in VHF and/or UHF band) uses COFDM with PSK/QAM.
Interaction
Besides audio and video transmission, ISDB also defines data connections (Data broadcasting) with the internet as a return channel over several media (10Base-T/100Base-T, Telephone line modem, Mobile phone, Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11) etc.) and with different protocols. This is used, for example, for interactive interfaces like data broadcasting (ARIB STD B-24) and electronic program guides (EPG).
Interfaces and Encryption
ISDB describes a lot of (network) interfaces, but most importantly the Common Interface for Conditional Access (ARIB STD-B25) with the Common Scrambling Algorithm (Multi-2) required for (de-)scrambling TV.
The ISDB CAS system is operated by a company named B-CAS in Japan; the CAS card is called B-CAS card. The Japanese ISDB signal is always encrypted by the B-CAS system even if it is a free TV program. That is why it is commonly called "Pay per view system without charge". An interface for mobile reception is under consideration.
ISDB supports RMP (Rights management and protection). Since all DTV systems carry digital data content, a DVD or HD recorder could easily copy content losslessly, so that a great deal of pirated content could be circulating the market. Hollywood requested copy protection; this was the main reason for RMP. The content has three modes: “Copy once”, “Copy free” and “Copy never”. In “Copy once” mode a program can be stored on a hard disc recorder, but cannot be copied.
Receiver
There are two types of ISDB receiver: TV and STB (Set top box). The aspect ratio of ISDB television is 16:9; televisions fulfilling these specs are called Hi-vision TVs. There are three TV types: CRT (Cathode ray tube), PDP (Plasma display panel) and LCD (Liquid crystal display), with LCD being most popular Hi-Vision format on the Japanese market right now.
LCD share as measured by JEITA in November 2004 was about 60%. While PDP set occupies the high end market with units that are over 50 inches (1270 mm), PDP and CRT set shares are about 20% each. CRT set are considered low end for Hi-Vision.
STB is sometimes referred to as digital tuner. High-end ISDB STB have several interfaces:
- F connector(s) for RF input.
- D4 connector for HDTV monitor in home cinema.
- Optical digital audio interface for audio amplifier and speakers for 5.1 surround audio in a home cinema.
- IEEE 1394 (aka FireWire) interface for digital data recorders (like DVD recorders) in a home cinema.
- RCA video jack provides SDTV signal that is sampled down from the HDTV signal for analog CRT television sets or VCRs.
- RCA audio jacks provide stereo audio for analog CRT television sets or VCRs.
- S video are for VCRs or analog CRT television sets.
- 10BASE-T/100BASE-T and modular jack telephone line modem interfaces for an internet connection.
- B-CAS card interface to de-scramble.
- IR interface jack for controlling a VHS or DVD player.
Problems
Though ISDB is a feature-rich system, many problems have surfaced recently.
Copy Protection Technology
Almost every TV broadcast (including free TV) are encrypted with "Copy-Once", which allows users to record to a digital media (D-VHS, DVD, HDD, etc) but does not allow dubbing to another digital media. On the other hand, the "Copy-Once" technology does not prohibit all types of dubbing. It is possible to dub to an analog media (such as standard VHS) and if recorded to an HDD, it will allow users to "Move" the contents to a D-VHS, but not copy.
Many users are also very worried about the recent news of severe protection in the future. There are modes in ISDB to now allow the output of signal from an Analog connector (D-connector, Component, Composite, S-Video, etc). There are already plans to not allow analog output for "Copyright Protection" reasons. (Same as Bluray and HD-DVD) This will make all currently sold STB Tuners, and the majority of LCD/Plasma TVs without HDMI inputs unusuable. Plus all analog VHS, D-VHS that can only record via analog input, and all DVD players will also become unusuable. These "unfair" copy protection technologies will all start after analog broadcasting ends (when there won't be any choice for viewers). Currently, no financial assistance are planned, and viewers without proper devices will be forced to buy a new compatible TV at their own cost. Though not clear, it is said that there are also plans to protect all programs with "Copy-Never".
B-CAS Card
The B-CAS card is required to decode all broadcasts. These cards are included with every digital TV or Tuner at no charge. To use this card, you must agree to the statement written on the registration card. Despite the fact that the card must be inserted to watch TV, if you don't agree to the statement, then the user cannot watch digital broadcasts. Essentially, users are "forced" to agree with the statement. Though registration is not required, it is recommended to fully enjoy interactive programs. However, many viewers worry about the leaking of personal information, and the power/rights the TV stations have to access personal information for almost every citizen in Japan.
Services
- One HDTV or up to three SDTV services within one channel.
- Provides Data broadcasting.
- Interactive services via Telephone Line or 10Base-T Broadband Internet.
- EPG (Electronic Program Guide)
- Ability to send firmware patches for the TV/tuner
ISDB-S
History
Japan started digital broadcasting using the DVB-S standard by PerfecTV in October/1996 and DirecTV in December/1997 with communication satellites. Still, the DVB-S did not satisfy the requirements of Japanese broadcasters, among others NHK, key commercial broadcasting stations like Nippon Television, TBS, Fuji Television, tv asahi, TV Tokyo, and WOWOW (Movie-only Pay-TV broadcasting). Consequently, ARIB developed the ISDB-S standards. The requirements were, among others HDTV capability, interactive services, network access and effective frequency utilization. The DVB-S standard allows the transmission of a bit stream of roughly 34 Mbit/s with a satellite transponder, which means that the transponder can send a HDTV channel. Unfortunately, broadcasting satellite had only four vacant transponders, which led ARIB and NHK to develop ISDB-S: The new standard could transmit about 51 Mbit/s with a single transponder, which means that ISDB-S is 1.5 times more efficient than DVB-S and that one transponder can transmit two HDTV channels, along with other independent audio and data. Digital satellite broadcasting (BS digital) was started by NHK and followed commercial broadcasting stations on the 1 December 2000. Today, SKY PerfecTV!, successor of Skyport TV, Sky D, CS burn, Platone, EP, DirecTV, J Sky B, and PerfecTV!, adopted ISDB-S system at the east longitude 110 degree wide band communication satellite.
Technical specification
Summary of ISDB-S (Satellite digital broadcasting)
| Transmission channel coding | Modulation | TC8PSK, QPSK, BPSK (Hierarchical transmission) | Error correction coding | Inner coding:Trellis [TC8PSK] and Convolution
Outer coding :RS(204,188); TMCC:Convolution coding+RS |
Time domain multiplexing | TMCC |
|---|---|---|
| Conditional Access | Mutli-2 | |
| Data broadcasting | ARIB STD B-24 (BML, ECMA script) | |
| Service information | ARIB STD B-10 | |
| Multiplexing | MPEG-2 Systems | |
| Audio coding | MPEG-2 Audio（AAC） | |
| Video coding | MPEG-2 Video | |
Channel
Frequency and channel specification of Japanese Satellite using ISDB-S
| Method | BS digital broadcasting | Wide band CS digital broadcasting |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency band | 11.7 to 12.2 GHz | 12.2 to 12.75 GHz |
| Transmission bit rate | 51 Mbit/s (TC8PSK) | 40 Mbit/s (QPSK) |
| Transmission band width | 34.5 MHz* | 34.5 MHz |
- Compatible to 27 MHz band satellite transponder for analog FM broadcasting.
ISDB-T
History
HDTV was invented at NHK STRL. The research of HDTV started as early as in the 1960s, though only in 1973 a standard was proposed to the ITU-R (CCIR). In the 1980's, the television camera, high definition cathode-ray tube, video tape recorder and editing equipment among others have developed. In 1982 NHK developed MUSE (Multiple sub-nyquist sampling Encoding), the first HDTV video compression and transmission system. MUSE adopted digital video compression system, but for transmission frequency modulation had been adopted after a digital-to-analog converter converted the digital signal. In 1987, NHK made demonstration of MUSE in the Washington D.C and NAB. The demonstration made great impression on the U.S. As a result of this, the U.S. developed ATSC, a terrestrial digital DTV system. Europe also developed their own DTV system, DVB. Although the DVB-T service started operating a few weeks later than the ATSC system, it quickly outstripped ATSC in terms of user base. Japan started R&D of a completely digital system in the 1980s that led to ISDB. Japan started terrestrial digital broadcasting using ISDB-T standard by NHK and commercial broadcasting stations on the 1 December, 2003.
Feature
ISDB-T is characterized by the following features:
- ISDB-T can transmit a HDTV channel and a mobile phone channel within the 6 MHz bandwidth usually reserved for TV transmissions.
- ISDB-T allows to switch to two or three SDTV channels instead of one HDTV channel (multiplexing SDTV channels).
- The combination of these services can be changed at anytime.
- ISDB-T provides interactive services with data broadcasting.
- ISDB-T provides EPG (Electronic Program Guides).
- ISDB-T supports internet access as a return channel that works to support the data broadcasting. Internet access is also provided on mobile phones.
- ISDB-T provides SFN (Single frequency Network) and on-channel repeater technology. SFN makes effcient utilization of the frequency resource (spectrum).
- ISDB-T can be received indoors with a simple indoor antenna.
- ISDB-T provides robustness to multipath interference ("ghosting").
- ISDB-T provides robustness to co-channel analog television interference.
- ISDB-T provides robustness to impulse noises that come from motor vehicles and power lines in urban environments.
- ISDB-T allows HDTV to be received on moving vehicles at over 100 km/h; DVB-T can only receive SDTV on moving vehicles, while ATSC can not be received on moving vehicles at all.
- 1seg is a mobile terrestrial digital audio/video broadcasting service in Japan. The 1seg can be received on mobile phones moving at a speed over 400 km/h.
Adoption
ISDB-T was adopted in commercial transmissions in Japan in December 2003. It comprises a market of about 100 million television sets. ISDB-T had 10 million subscribers by the end of April 2005. Along with the wide use of ISDB-T, the price of STB is getting low. The price of ISDB-T STB in lower end of the market is ¥19800 that is worth $169 at 19 April 2006. Template:Ja icon uniden
Brazil, which currently uses an analogue TV system (PAL-M) that slightly differs from any other country's, is considering ISDB-T for its DTV format. Other than that, there are no other countries that are considering ISDB. Possibly because ISDB Tuners and TVs are way too expensive compared to other formats. However. it does seem to have an advantage over ATSC and DVB-T in reception tests. The ABERT/SET group in Brazil did system comparison tests of DTV under the supervision of the CPqD foundation. The comparison tests were done under the direction of a work group of SET (the Brazilian Television Engineering Society) and ABERT (the Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters). The ABERT/SET group selected ISDB-T as the best in the digital broadcasting systems among ATSC, DVB-T and ISDB-T. ISDB-T was pointed out as the most flexible of all for better answering the necessities of mobility and portability. It is most efficient for mobile and portable reception. See SBTVD.
Technical specification
Segment struture
ARIB has developed the segment structure called OFDM (see figure). ISDB-T divides the frequency band of one channel into thirteen segments. Broadcaster can select the combination of segments to use: this choice of segment structure allows for flexibility of services. For example, ISDB-T can transmit a LDTV and a HDTV using one TV channel or change to 3 SDTV, a switch that can be performed anytime. ISDB-T can also change the modulation scheme at the same time.
| Seg.13 | Seg.11 | Seg.9 | Seg.7 | Seg.5 | Seg.3 | Seg.1 | Seg.2 | Seg.4 | Seg.6 | Seg.8 | Seg.10 | Seg.12 |
|---|
- FIGURE Spectrum segment structure of ISDB-T
Summary of ISDB-T
| Transmission channel coding | Modulation | 64QAM-OFDM, 16QAM-OFDM, | Error correction coding | Inner coding, Convolution 7/8,3/4,2/3,1/2 Outer coding :RS(204,188) |
Guard interval | 1/16,1/8,1/4 | Interleaving | Time, Frequency, bit, byte | Frequency domain multiplexing | BST-OFDM (Segmented structure OFDM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditional Access | Mutli-2 | ||
| Data broadcasting | ARIB STD B-24 (BML, ECMA script) | ||
| Service information | ARIB STD B-10 | ||
| Multiplexing | MPEG-2 Systems | ||
| Audio coding | MPEG-2 Audio (AAC) | ||
| Video coding | MPEG-2 Video | MPEG-4 AVC /H.264* | |
- H.264 used in one segment broadcasting for Mobile phone.
Channel
Specification of Japanese terrestrial digital broadcasting using ISDB-T
| Method | terrestrial digital broadcasting |
|---|---|
| Frequency band | VHF/UHF, Super high band |
| Transmission bit rate | 19 Mbit/s(64QAM) |
| Transmission band width | 5.6 MHz* |
- Compatible to 6 MHz band terrestrial analog TV broadcasting.
2.6 GHz Mobile satellite digital audio/video broadcasting
MobaHo! is the name of the services that uses the Mobile satellite digital audio broadcasting specifications. MobaHo! started its service on 20th October, 2004.
ISDB-Tsb
ISDB-Tsb is the terrestrial digital sound broadcasting specification. The technical specification is the same as ISDB-T. ISDB-Tsb supports the coded transmission of OFDM siginals.
ISDB-C
ISDB-C is cable digital broadcasting specification. The technical specification is developed by JCTEA.
Standards
ARIB and JCTEA developed the following standards. Some part of standards are located on the pages of ITU-R and ITU-T.
| Channel | Communication Satellite television digital broadcasting | Broadcasting
/Communication broadcasting | Terrestrial television digital broadcasting | Satellite Sound digital broadcasting | Terrestrial Sound digital broadcasting | Cable
television digital broadcasting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick name | - | ISDB-S | ISDB-T | 2.6 GHz mobile broadcasting | ISDB-Tsb | 64QAM,
Trans-modulation (ISDB-C) |
| Transmission | DVB-S | ARIB
STD-B20, ITU-R BO.1408 | ARIB
STD-B31, ITU-R BT.1306-1 | ARIB STD-B41 | ARIB STD-B29, ITU-R BS.1114 | ITU-T J.83 Annex C, J.183 |
| Receiver | ARIB STD-B16 | ARIB STD-B21 | ARIB STD-B42 | ARIB STD-B30 | JCTEA STD-004, STD-007 | |
| Server type broadcasting | - | ARIB STD-B38 | - | |||
| Conditional access | - | ARIB STD-B25 (Muti-2) | JCTEA STD-001 | Service information | - | ARIB STD-B10 | JCTEA STD-003 | Data broadcasting | - | ARIB STD-B24 (BML), ARIB STD-B23 (EE or MHP like) | - |
| Video/Audio compression and multiplexing | MPEG-2 | ARIB STD-B32 (MPEG) | - | |||
| Technical report | - | ARIB TR-B13 | ARIB TR-B14 | - | - | - |
Table of terrestrial HDTV transmission systems
| Systems | ATSC 8-VSB | DVB COFDM | ISDB BST-COFDM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source coding | |||
| Video | Main profile syntax of ISO/IEC 13818-2 (MPEG-2 - video) | ||
| Audio | ATSC Standard A/52 (Dolby AC-3) | ISO/IEC 13818-2 (MPEG-2 – layer II audio) and Dolby AC-3 | ISO/IEC 13818-7 (MPEG-2 – AAC audio) |
| Transmission system | |||
| Channel coding | |||
| Outer coding | R-S (207, 187, t = 10) | R-S (204, 188, t = 8) | |
| Outer interleaver | 52 R-S block interleaver | 12 R-S block interleaver | |
| Inner coding | Rate 2/3 trellis code | Punctured convolution code: Rate 1/2, 2/3,3/4, 5/6, 7/8 Constraint length = 7, Polynomials (octal) = 171, 133 | |
| Inner interleaver | 12 to 1 trellis code interleaver | Bit-wise interleaving and frequency interleaving | Bit-wise interleaving, frequency interleaving and selectable time interleaving |
| Data randomization | 16-bit PRBS | 16-bit PRBS | 16-bit PRBS |
| Modulation | 8-VSB and 16-VSB | COFDM QPSK, 16QAM and 64QAM Hierarchical modulation: multi-resolution constellation (16QAM and 64 QAM) Guard interval: 1/32, 1/16, 1/8 & 1/4 of OFDM symbol 2 modes: 2k and 8k FFT | BST-COFDM with 13 frequency segments DQPSK, QPSK, 16QAM and 64QAM Hierarchical modulation: choice of three different modulations on each segment Guard interval: 1/32, 1/16, 1/8 & 1/4 of OFDM symbol 3 modes: 2k, 4k and 8k FFT |
See also
General category
Transmission technology