Title: Incorporating digital repeaters into the soft handover standard in digital video broadcasting for handhelds

Authors: Xiaodong Yang, Yong-Hua Song, Thomas J. Owens, John Cosmas, Takebumi Itagaki

Addresses: School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK. ' School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK. ' School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK. ' School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK. ' School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK

Abstract: Digital Video Broadcasting for Handhelds (DVB-H) is a standard for broadcasting IP data to portable devices. This paper proposes and analyses the Repeater-Aided Soft Handover (RA_handover) algorithm for a DVB-H receiver with Multiple Input–Multiple Output (MIMO) antennas and presents the benefits of implementing the RA_handover compared with a handover process without repeaters. Simulation models are developed to analyse the RA_handover approach. It is shown that the RA_handover could greatly improve the quality of service and consume much less front-end battery power than the handover method without repeaters. This paper also provides valuable outcomes for service providers and standard policymakers.

Keywords: digital video broadcasting; handhelds; DVB-H; handover processes; repeaters; standards.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSS.2006.009756

International Journal of Services and Standards, 2006 Vol.2 No.3, pp.238 - 256

Published online: 09 May 2006 *

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