Dynamic bandwidth allocation in DVB-T networks providing IP services

The combination of high capacity, signal robustness, and worldwide acceptance have made digital terrestrial broadcasting (DVB-T) one of today´s more promising technologies, while newly adopted standards support the integration of digital television programs and data services within a single multiplex, offered to both stationary and mobile end users. The paper addresses the issue of optimal bit rate allocation among DTV and IP services within the DVB-T multiplex, and demonstrates a novel configuration providing real-time sharing of the available bandwidth via an algorithm based on service hierarchy and perceptual quality assessment. The architecture and performance of a fully functional DVB-T testbed developed on this concept is also presented.