Coupling Wave Canceler for Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting

NHK has developed a coupling wave canceler that eliminates wave coupling between transmitting and receiving antennas at digital terrestrial broadcasting relay stations. Field trials of this canceler confirmed that stable relay broadcasting could be performed even when the electrical power of the coupling waves was nearly equal to that of the master broadcasting station wave. As a part of the experiment conducted by The Kinki Region Experimental Council on Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting, field trials were carried out from March 21, 2000, through March 31, 2000. These trials used the Hokutan Tarumi Relay Station, which is part of TAO's (Telecommunications Advancement Organization of Japan) collaborative facilities for R&D on digital terrestrial broadcasting.
In order to effectively utilize available frequencies, examinations of Single Frequency Networks (SFN) are currently underway. These would allow a relay station to broadcast programs on the same channel as the master station. Various methods can be used for transmitting signals from a master station to its relay stations. These include the use of optical fiber, microwave circuits, and broadcasting radio wave relays. Although the broadcasting radio wave relays are the most advantageous in terms of cost, oscillations are likely to occur. This is due to the fact that a relay station broadcasts to its customers on the same frequency as the transmissions it receives from the master station, inducing partial coupling between the transmitted radio wave and the receiving antenna. The coupling wave canceler detects any irregularities in the frequency which may be caused by the coupling wave, and then eliminates the coupling wave by maintaining normal frequency characteristics.

Symposium for the 70th STRL Opening Anniversary

For over 70 years, since its opening in 1930, the NHK Science & Technical Research Laboratories have been actively pursuing the development and advancement of broadcasting technology, ranging from program production to transmission and reception. During this significant anniversary year, the STRL held a symposium to freely discuss the types and content of future broadcasting services. The details of this symposium were as follows:

Date: Friday, July 7, 2000.
Location:	Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) Hall (Keidanren Kaikan 14F).
Program:

-	Keynote address:	Mr. Katsuji EBISAWA (President of NHK)
-	Special address:	Mr. Robin Foster (Director of Strategy and Development, BBC Broadcast)

-	Panel discussion A: "Toward the development of new services" Coordinator: Mr. Kazuma YAMANE (Non-fiction writer)
-	Panel discussion B: "Toward the creation of new content" Coordinator: Dr. Hiroshi HARASHIMA (Professor, the University of Tokyo)

*: The symposium was broadcast live on the Internet.

The 2nd NHK Research Award Scheme for ABU Engineers in 2001

NHK launched a programme to offer young researchers from ABU countries last year an excellent chance to conduct research at the NHK Science and Technical Research Laboratories. The award enables 1 - 2 engineers to stay in Japan for a period of six months to one year (one year is considered the norm). Qualifications Applications are invited from engineers satisfying the following qualifications: * are employees of ABU member organisations or research engineers of ABU countries majoring in engineering, who have conducted or wish to conduct research in areas related to multi-media services, data broadcasting, cable TV networks, (terrestrial) digital broadcasting, broadcast networks/protocol using computer networks, desk-top programme production, video indexing, digital archives etc. * possess a doctor's degree in a scientific, technological or engineering field, or have an equivalent qualification. Professional experience of a high standard may be considered as an equivalent qualification. * be no older than 35 years old, as a general rule. * have adequate proficiency in the English language, though proficiency in the Japanese language is preferred, to pursue research activities in Japan. Method of Application All applicants are required to submit to the Secretariat a paper describing his or her view of future broadcasting technology (no more than ten A4 size pages, in English), with the following: - Personal data of applicant in the prescribed form. Please contact the Secretariat of the NHK Science and Technical Research Laboratories at the address given below by e-mail for the application form. - Curriculum vitae - Report of medical examination - List of published papers and copies of main papers - Certificates of graduation for Doctoral, Master's and Bachelor's degrees - Letter of recommendation Secretariat E-mail: suganami@strl.nhk.or.jp Applications must reach us by September 30, 2000.

NAB2000 (National Association of Broadcasters)

NAB2000(National Association of Broadcasters) was held from April 8, 2000, through April 13, 2000 in Las Vegas, Nevada. During the NAB2000 lecture session, Research Engineer Naohiko IAI of the STRL (Digital Broadcasting Networks) introduced a digital terrestrial sound broadcasting (narrow-band ISDB-T) system and its verification test results. The Japanese narrow-band ISDB-T system is superior in sound and data broadcasting reception when used with mobile terminals. Its signal processing unit uses the same system as the wide-band ISDB-T system used for television broadcasting, since a narrow-band receiver can receive partial signals centered in a wide-band wave. During the event, a Brazilian broadcaster sponsored a panel discussion which compared three digital terrestrial systems proposed by different countries, and announced that overall, the Japanese ISDB-T system seemed to be superior. There are three types of international standards for digital terrestrial broadcasting: ATSC of the United States, DVB-T of Europe, and ISDB-T of Japan. The Brazilian broadcaster conducted comparative experiments using these three systems in preparation for the introduction of digital terrestrial broadcasting in their country. Their research, which they presented at the panel discussion, revealed that the Japanese ISDB-T system performed the best indoors and in field tests. This was the first time such comparative test results were publicly announced. Director-General Osamu YAMADA of the STRL, who participated as a panelist in the discussion, commented: "This result, in fact, is no surprise to us. We have also obtained other comparative experiment results from Singapore and Hong Kong." Brazil is scheduled to formally decide on which system to implement domestically by August of this year.