The TV Lab
In our newly established digital video broadcast lab there we have the possibility to built and test the whole digital TV chain. The video and data generation is made possible either by the Tektronix DVB/MHP Generator or by a Philips DVS 3112 Multiplexing unit. The so built Multiple Program Transport Stream is fed into a DVB-S Modulator, which provides the signals for the various DVB-S receivers (PC or STB).
Students Work
Design and Development of simple Electronic Program Guides
The students learn to use the MHP API e.g. to display the Service Name, Event Name, Event Description etc. of a selected service. In addition they have the opportunity to design and program basic UI for efficient digital TV navigation taking into account usability aspects.
Some UI examples designed and programmed by the sudents
R&D Activities
Optimisation techniques of MHP Object carousels
The success of MHP heavily relies upon low acquisition times (latencies) of the MHP application and its related data modules. In this context we investigate how data modules are to be structured taking into account the relationship among the modules, order of usage, size etc. The theoretical studies are accompanied by means of measurements in a real DVB/MHP component chain.
Synchronisation of streaming video with interactive elements
The aim of this work is to develop new concepts to synchronize video streams with interactive elements generating new revenue streams for the various members of the TV chain. In this context we search for meta data techniques enabling a semantic description of the content and at the same time provide an efficient link to access the content element e.g. the frame or even the object within a frame at the receiver. This kind of add-on service enables new revenue for the content as well as service provider.
Screen shots of some interactive scenarios:
A) Time based Synchronisation
Constraints:
The user interactivity must follow the story of the quiz.
Constraints:
Annotate the moving object and provide frame object accurate interactivity at the receiver.
Usability of user interfaces for interactive TV applications
The layout and its functionality of User Interfaces (UI) is the key component for accepting the digital TV receiver. Taking into account the user profile (novice/expert/etc.) together with the video content various approaches of UI are investigated and assessed by means of usability tests.
