Novel cross-layer decoding design for 'WBC over DVB-H' link layer

This paper presents a novel cross-layer decoding method to improve the efficiency of the error protection at the link layer of wireless billboard channels (WBCs) when these are established my means of the digital video broadcast - handheld (DVB-H) carrier technology. Based on the DVB-T standard, the DVB-H itself supports high data rate IP datacasting (IPDC) in dispersive broadcasting channels and enables low power consumption of portable mobile terminals (MTs) running in a robust mode. The error protection of the DVB-H link layer is based on a Reed-Solomon forward error correction coding scheme combined with an IP packet level cyclic redundancy check scheme. Targeted primarily at the digital video broadcasting error protection, however, the redundancy allowed in the DVB-H standard is not sufficient for the WBC service advertisements datacasting. To achieve reliable broadcasting in WBC, a smart cross-layer algorithm that interacts with the service layer's advertisements delivery protocol is proposed in this paper. With this new efficient solution, the 'WBC over DVB-H' system is able to operate in a flexible and more reliable way, which requires no changes in the DVB-H standard.