CABSINET: Cellular access to broadband services and interactive television

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 96.0369

Key words (English)

Broadband Services; Interactive Multimedia Services; Interactive Television; Wireless Access

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: AC236

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 1.2 Communications technologies

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Central Research Laboratories LTD, Alcatel Telespace SA, Fondazione Ugo Bordoni, Centro Studi e Laboratori Telecomunicazioni SPA, Seleco Italtel Multimedia SPA, Telediffusion de France SA, Thomcast AG, Queens University of Belfast, Centre Commun d'Etudes de Telediffusion et Telecommunications, Robert Bosch GmbH, Deutsche Telekom AG, Thomson Multimedia SA, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

Abstract (English)

Objective
The main objective of CABSINET it to design, build and demonstrate a working interactive cellular TV architecture at 40GHz and 5.8GHz, capable of the delivering both broadcast and other multimedia services.

Technical Approach
- Cellular Two-Layer Network (TLN), with Macrocells serving a locality and Microcells serving specific terminal clusters.
- Interactive two layer system using COFDM in both the 5.8GHz and 40GHz range.
- Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) return channel in the microcell at 5.8GHz.
- Standard QPSK return channel in the macrocell at 40GHz.
- Two different user terminals:
Fixed units: DVB standard, QPSK modulation, line of sight, 40GHz.
Nomadic units: COFDM modulation, no line of sight, 5.8GHz

Final Trials
The possibility of interactive broadband services was shown in a very difficult indoor environment. Both Video-on-Demand and Internet services to users are possible without 'line of sight' and with many reflections by using the robust modulations of COFDM for the downstream and DSSS for the upstream.
Two services, Video On Demand and Internet access, could be provided as typical applications.
Propagation measurements were made in both the macro cell and the micro cell and a comparison of COFDM and single carrier QPSK was carried out at 40GHz.
Using the COFDM multi-carrier modulation improved the reception at 40GHz significantly. A 40GHz link requires Line of Sight.
The 40GHz system was complimented with a lower frequency 5.8GHz cell. This cell retained the COFDM modulation and allowed indoor reception with good resistance to multipath.

Thomcast provided the multi-carrier COFDM system and participated in the final trials.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 96.0369