Multistandard Integrated Network Convergence for Mobile and Broadcast Technologies

The ongoing large-scale deployment of digital broadcast networks adds an exciting new dimension to the wireless communication universe. This paper presents a novel global and unifying approach to network convergence with concurrent access and seamless handover between multiple broadcast networks and several communication networks for the uplink and feedback channel. In particular, we include DVB-H and the upcoming Chinese DTMB broadcast system with interaction provided via GSM/UMTS and WLAN. The software architecture for the integrated network relies on an integrated middleware framework that provides the common software interface for IP-datacast via the different underlying networks. Depending on reception conditions, network load, and QoS requirements, the middleware framework decides which network and route to use for the services requested by the users. We identify a set of use-cases that w ill direct our further research and present the testbed that will be used for prototyping and validation of the approach.