An Overview of the ATSC 3.0 Standards for OTT/OTA Convergence
ATSC 3.0 is an update to the current standards that define HD broadcasting. The latest features will combine broadcast to deliver services using OTA signals with broadband IP data for messaging and information services. This brings two otherwise competing systems together which allows the basic television to have access to the Internet. It merges the features of OTA with OTT content. These current standards are needed to support what is called “Next Generation Television” or NextGen TV. The aim of NextGen TV is to provide content from anywhere at anytime from a variety of devices, not just the television set. That will provide support for the following features:
- HEVC or H.265 for video channels of up to 2160p 4K resolution at 120 fps
- Wide color gamut distribution for smoother gradients and vibrant images
- Dolby AC-4 and MPEG-H 3D Audio
- Datacasting capabilities e.g. supplemental information to TV shows and alerts
- Robust mobile television support for smartphone, tablet and vehicular screen devices
Here are the basic architecture components of ATSC 3.0:
Bootstrap - Defines the discovery and identification of signals transmitted on the network.
Physical Layer - This is focused on modulation and coding, emission waveforms and other common system elements that provide the support for upper layer protocols. These are the core transmission systems that are a part of the network infrastructure and design. The design specification calls for OFDM as the modulation technique
to provide a large range of possible operating points for broadcasters. Broadcasters and operators can use multiple Physical Layer Pipes (PLPs) which makes it possible to use different operating points simultaneously e.g. bandwidth can be divided between UHD and mobile services.
Protocol Layer - This deals with the management of signals for the services they are used for. This deals with service delivery and synchronization, service announcement and personalization, and interactive and companion-screen services. At the heart of this design is the use of the TCP/IP protocol suite, the very same data communications protocols used on the Internet. IP allows a more seamless integration with other systems that use this protocol, like streaming services. Since ATSC was meant to be a hybrid delivery system, it can use OTA to broadcast video and audio, with another option for users to change the audio to a different language using broadband signals.
Presentation - This involves the video and audio coding and the run-time environment. The service model for ATSC 3.0 allows for more complex services for broadcasters. This provides initial coding in UHD 4K and enhanced HD with SD support. That will bring higher video resolution to viewer’s screens who have the devices that support it. Most homes do not have UHD TV yet, but ATSC 3.0 is compatible to even standard definition TV and current sets that are 720p HD and 1080p Full HD. Besides resolution, the aspect ratio and frame rate is covered here as well. Audio is of course in the HEVC format. One other thing this aims to deliver is immersive audio which uses advanced signals for digital surround sound environments. This allows home viewers with advanced 5.1 SRS to fully enjoy TV shows that provide those audio signals. With the likes of MPEG-H 3D Audio, it can support up to 64 loudspeaker channels and 128 codec core channels. Digital watermarking is also supported in ATSC 3.0, which will allow content creators to copyright their audio and video signals.
Application - The runtime environment or application will be based on HbbTV 2.0 software, with modifications as needed due to changing requirements that keep pace with technology. This is a hybrid digital TV standard that already makes use of broadcast with broadband systems. This then allows the content to be displayed on the device screen, whether it is a UHD TV, standard TV, smartphone, tablet and other viewing devices that can support ATSC 3.0. Another feature the application will have is called embedded rich media. This can also allow users to interact and engage content. One example is Advanced Emergency Alerting, which uses geotargeting to provide emergency alerts. A user can than get more information from links provided from the alert.
What would be the requirements for ATSC 3.0 signaling? When OTA first went full digital DTV in June 12, 2009, analog TV that did not support the digital signals required a special tuner for DAC, called a converter box. ATSC 3.0 is not backward compatible with ATSC 1.0, which means that if your TV doesn’t include an ATSC 3.0 tuner, you’ll need an external converter to get the signals. Fortunately only one converter box is needed no matter how many devices you’re watching on. When TV broadcast signals first went digital, it required a tuner for each analog device.
This will allow signals to better match the latest products that offer UHD resolution TV and hi-fidelity audio. For consumers this will be a better delivery of service and that improves the user experience. These capabilities will allow broadcasters to use targeted advertising, but this is much like how commercials work with current TV broadcasting. With broadband integration, this does give broadcasters similar ways to track information like how the Internet has allowed social media giants. This is of course a big revenue stream potential for reaching out to new markets and getting insights from what users at home are watching with more accuracy. That allows TV networks to get a better idea of how shows are doing and for advertisers it provides them new ways to target their market audience based on popular time slots or potential viewership ratings.
Note: As the ATSC standards are continuously evolving, some information is subject to change. Updates can always be found at the following link:
Vote exchange site https://mysteemup.club