HbbTV based Push-VOD services over DVB networks: Analysis and AL-FEC code application

Abstract

Hybrid broadcast broadband TV (HbbTV) is an European initiative for providing viewers a richer experience of enhanced and interactive hybrid TV, through the launching of innovative hybrid services on both broadcast and broadband networks, allowing the viewer to interact with the current TV program. The latest release, HbbTV standard v2.0, provides additional features to HbbTV applications. Among the most important advancement of this version was the addition of the Push-VOD service. In this paper we focus on the broadcast method principle of Push-VOD services presented in the HbbTV v2.0. We investigate various technical aspects that have remained open questions in the standard to provide a first reference on the depth analysis of HbbTV based Push-VOD services. In addition, we propose and analyse a first solution for a reliable Push-VOD service delivery within file delivery protocol. This solution is based on the LDPC-Staircase AL-FEC codes using the hybrid (IT/ML) decoding method. Simulation results show that the merging of the repetition and the AL-FEC coding allows to inherit the benefits of both repetition and coding. A reliable file delivery is assured with low recovering complexity and download time.