Testing of Applications & Local Experiments
Continued from "Digitalization of Japan's Terrestrial Broadcasting"


1. Tokyo Pilot Experiment: Development and Testing of Applications


Since the establishment of the Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting Pilot Project, undertaken mainly by broadcasters, application tests of digital terrestrial broadcasting have been under way in the extended Kanto region, using a national budget of 240 million yen.

Phase One (Fiscal 1998)
Most of the experiments were related to digital terrestrial transmission characteristics. These included experiments on video transmission and mobile terminal reception.

Phase Two(Fiscal 1999)
During this phase, applications were tested using signals more similar to those that will be used for actual services (video, audio, and data transmission).

*Table 1 shows the second phase test items.

Table 1: Tokyo Pilot phase 2 experiment outline
Video transmission
Experiment name Outline Major participant companies, etc
Transmission/ reception test Transmission parameters and reception quality, CM transmission. NHK, 5 commercial broadcasters
New video services New video services experiments such as for interactive programs which do not require return channels and panoramic videos. TV Asahi, NHK Integrated Technology, NTV
CATV transmission OFDM reception over cable TV, Frequency conversion, Passthrough. Maspro Denkoh, Yagi Antenna, Radiocommunication Technology Association
Satellite distribution Transmission experiment of HDTV and multiple SDTV hybrid programming via satellite. Space communication, Mitsubishi Electric
Closed-captioning broadcast Closed-Captioning transmission. NHK, 5 commercial broadcasters

EPG/data transmission
Experiment name Outline Major participant companies, etc
EPG service EPG function development, Development of the EPG service. IBLabs., NHK, Nippon TV, Fuji TV
Data transmission Verification of multimedia data contents transmission,various presentation function experiment, and BML* data transmission. Fuji TV, NHK, Fujitsu
Mobile medium Interactive program experiment using portable receiver
Various antenna for mobile reception		 Denso, Maspro Denkoh, FM Tokyo, NHK, TBS, TV Asahi, NTT DoCoMo
Interactive services Electronic commerce
Interactive contents, Application for CM 		ITF, Fuji TV, NTT.
EPG terminal operability Verification of interface operability for visually impaired people. NEC, the MPT, Keio University.
*XML-based multimedia coding sheme
Extracted from the Tokyo Pilot (Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting Tokyo Pilot Project) reference.



2. Experiments at Collaborative Facilities for R&D


The MPT appropriated 46 billion yen as a subsidiary budget for fiscal 1998 for the installation of collaborative facilities for R&D at eleven locations across Japan. During fiscal 1999, full-scale tests on digital terrestrial broadcasting were carried out at these facilities.
* The project is officially called the "Preparation of Collaborative Facilities for R&D on Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting." It is being implemented by the Telecommunications Advancement Organization of Japan (TAO) as one of their projects to establish basic facilities for specific research and development.

Presently, as part of this R&D project, local broadcasters and NHK are conducting a variety of tests over the next five years or so with the cooperation of specialists from a wide range of fields such as education, public welfare, distribution, publishing, and local governments so as to meet the needs of the local communities concerned.

Major Test Items
Test items are designed that reflect each region's distinctive lifestyles, economies, and cultures. Tests related to transmission feature SFN transmission experiments.
Major test items are roughly divided into the following three main categories:

  1. Construction of the most economical broadcasting networks optimum to the geographical features of each district.
  2. Development of service systems closely catering to local interests such as interactive broadcasts, stored type broadcasts, and multimedia broadcasts for portable and mobile receivers.
  3. Development of new services deeply rooted in local municipal activities and industries such as education, public welfare, distribution and publishing.

Figure 1: National structure and NHK structure


Table 2: Collaborative facilities test items
District

Facilities to be used

 Main multimedia test items
Sapporo Hokkaido Telecom Center; Shiraishi-Ward, Sapporo
1. Development of technology to substitute local data at relay stations
2. Development of audience-participatory, life-long education taking advantage of interactivity
3. Technological development of the best possible single-frequency networks (SFNs) or double-frequency network (DFN) in an extensive area
Sendai 21st Century Plaza Research Center; Izumi-ward, Sendai
1. Development of intelligent home-terminal technology friendly to disadvantaged members of society
2. Development of comprehensive meteorological systems such as the Yamase System
3. Technological development of SFN for a radial system for simultaneous distribution from one to multiple points
Nagoya Aichi Prefecture Sports Dormitory; Nishi-ward, Nagoya
1. Development of mobile multimedia services
2. Technological development of a seamless connection between digital terrestrial broadcasting and cable TV
3. Technological development of SFN using a circumferential lighting system
Osaka Digital Eight Bldg.; Former Kansai TV, Kita-ward, Osaka
1. Development of an information/data distribution system for use in times of emergencies and disasters
2. Development of general multimedia service systems such as broadcasting of specific local information
3. Technological development of SFN using the Multi relay system
Okayama,
Takamatsu		 STNet; Takamatsu City
Teleport Okayama; Ouchida, Okayama
1. Development of a linking system with local Internet services and related services
2. Development of an on-demand administrative information service
3. Technological development of SFN using the transmission system from an opposing riverbank
Hiroshima RCC Housing Exhibition, "Premiere"; Nishi-ward, Hiroshima
1. Providing of information on marine navigation using remote control sensor technology
2. Development of a system for TV shopping and micropayments
3. Development of the most suitable SFN technology for topographically complex regions such as mountainous areas
Fukuoka Fukuoka Transmitting Center; Toshiba Fukuoka building, Chuo-ward, Fukuoka Kitakyushu Transmitting Center; Kita-Kyushu Media Dome, Kita-ward, Kita-kyushu Kokura
1. Development of seamless replacement and insertion technologies for image programs in MPEG compression
2. Information service based on maps; virtual mall service
3. Development of the most suitable SFN technology for extensive urban areas
Shin etsu Nagano Full-Net Center; Nagano City
1. Development of an online banking service
2. Development of an information distribution network service
3. Mobile interactive information supply service
4. Accumulative on-demand information supply service
Hokuriku Ishikawa TV; Kannondo-cho, Kanazawa
1. Link with local networks
2. Development of data broadcast systems for children
3. Development of SFN technology for plains and valleys
Okinawa KDD building; Higashi-machi, Naha
1. Development of audience participation-type data broadcasting systems and services
2. Development of audience selection-type closed-captioning and sound broadcasting technologies
3. Development of SFN technology using long distance above-sea propagation
Tokyo Tokyo Tower; Minato-ward, Tokyo Preparation of facilities for material transmission to related districts