The current modus operandi of wireless transmission systems is each individual system operates on its own. This means that UMTS/GPRS provides communication service at much less than 2 Mbit/second whilst DVB-T provides broadcast services at much greater than 2Mbit/second. By combining UMTS/GPRS and DVB services the broadband of DVB-T is combined with the interactive medium and UMTS/GPRS to create a mobile terminal that can be used to provide significant services. The CONFLUENT project will lay the foundations for elements needs for the commercial exploitation of services "anywhere" combining UMTS and DVB-T.

Innovation and advance over state-of-the-art

Crucial to the commercial exploitation of any service combing UMTS and DVB-T is the availability of the following system elements:

1. Handheld terminals for high-speed operation with low power consumption
2. Service scenarios developed around core services identified for key network scenarios (e.g. hot spots versus large area coverage)
3. API's adapted to the hybrid service and network concepts for mobile/portable terminals

To achieve this target CONFLUENT will comprise the following core elements:

1. The project will develop an integrated solution for space diversity reception using low-power front-end and processing). This is a prerequisite for the development of the hybrid service concept in a mobile environment.
2. The core services and applications identified from all EU projects on converged network operation and mobile/portable terminals will be reviewed. Service scenarios will be developed around the core services identified for key network scenarios.
3. The project will prove the concept of transferability of applications. This will be accomplished by enhancing the software API's of two terminals developed under different EU projects on hybrid services so that each offers applications developed for the other. A set of common functionalities will be extracted from the enhanced API profiles and published as a proposed minimum set of functionalities for the MHP-MOBILE tool kit that is intended to be the standard for API development in conformant hand-held mobile terminals.

Innovations will include:

• A tested key technical solution to enable low-cost terminals for overcoming under mobile conditions, the deficient byte-interleaving of DVB-T.
• Software API's demonstrating the transferability of applications between different EU projects working in the field of converged DVB-T/UMTS networks.
• A number of service scenarios which will be the basis for consumer user validation.

For true portable/handheld consumer terminals for hybrid services coupling broadcast and broadband services we have to solve:

• Interaction of UMTS and broadcast services (API, software, protocols, agreed rules of practice for service and content handling)
  Ground work for that interaction will be carried out in WP2 and WP3 of CONFLUENT.
  
• Missing byte-interleaving of DVB-T
  We have to overcome the deficiencies caused by the missing byte-interleaving of the DVB-T standard. The solution is to adopt space diversity reception. The challenge is to make this low-cost, low weight, small -size and low-power consumption at high processing speed. CONFLUENT will solve the space diversity problem and thus keep up with the performance announced for the Japanese ISDB-T system.
• Overall power consumption
  This project will address the power consumption of the front-end. Given this being solved, terminal manufacturers may then address the power consumption of the display to minimise the over-all power requirements.

The DVB-T technique may be used as an extension of downstream capability either within or outside of the broadcast bands respecting, or not, channel broadcast width. A UMTS network with an integrated DVB-T downlink could be enhanced with a direct link between the broadcaster and an Internet Service Provider. Portable/handheld consumer terminals for hybrid services coupling broadcast and broadband services would thus provide widely available alternative platforms for Internet access.

CONFLUENT takes steps to enabling the combination of UMTS cells with low power DVB cells (i.e. low radiating emissions) providing a service scenario for hotspots/small areas including "wireless cable TV" and Video-On- Demand through provision of extra DVB-T channels. This service scenario is suitable for both fixed hotspots like airports, malls, stations, stadiums, etc. And mobile hotspots such as trains, aircraft, cruise ships, etc.

CONFLUENT seeks to make it simple for the end user to access hybrid services coupling broadcast and broadband services for data-retrieval, e-commerce, etc. By developing a complex technical interaction on the ground between networks, various service and content providers. This needs definition, generation, handling and control of all the metadata and control elements including security aspects, business concepts etc. The CONFLUENT project makes significant progress towards this objective by laying the foundations for elements needed for the commercial exploitation of services "anywhere" combining UMTS and DVB-T.