Programme Associated Services

In future, digital radios will feature progressively more advanced processors and storage devices. Such radios will be able to receive digital audio signals along with metadata, which in turn will allow listeners to use programme content in new ways – whenever, wherever. And in conjunction with wireless devices, there will be tremendous potential for interactive applications.

IRT is currently investigating various aspects of innovative radio technology:

• Configuration of narrow event channels for large events
• Provision of announcement channels, e.g. for weather/traffic reports
• Tagging of certain programme content with metadata
• Supplying an Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
• Transmission of audio files as a supplementary service
• Assistance during the recording of audio pieces

EPG - Electronic Program Guide

In early 2005, World DMB approved a standard for a DAB-EPG. It is expected that this standard will also apply to the DMB programme preview. As a result, DMB receivers will be able in future to receive programme previews for radio and TV content thanks to a single, joint standard.

IRT is aiding the broadcasting industry with the implementation of DAB-EPG. Radio-related requirements also deserve consideration during the future development of mobile-broadcast services and their standardisation (e.g. Electronic Service Guide). This is especially true of DVB-H.

DAB-Middleware

In future, it will be possible to flexibly use programme-associated services on a universal Java platform – thanks to DAB middleware. This means that digital-radio programming will be broadcast along with associated data as well as applications (Applets/Xlets). These applications will be run on a processor as a Java programme.

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