Evaluation and Optimization of Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Antenna Schemes for Next-Generation Wireless Broadcasting

Abstract

Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna schemes in Digital TerrestrialTelevision (DTT) systems aim to maximize the spectral efficiency for the provision of large capacity contents in the scarce and limited DTT Radio-Frequency (RF) channel.The delivery of the emerging Ultra-High Definition TV (UHDTV) services as well as the continuous broadcast spectrum shortage due to the rapidly growing demand for wireless broadband services (4G and 5G) are the motivations for this proposal. MIMO technologies have been firstly developed in the DTT technical specification DVB-NGH (Digital Video Broadcasting Next Generation Handheld) and standardized in the latest DTT standard, ATSC3.0 (Advanced Television Systems Committee 3rd Generation). However, MIMO broadcasting has not been commercialized due to the additional investment for both service providers and receivers. On the other hand, mobile industry has developed mobile broadcast technologies known today as 5G Broadcast based on LTE (Long Term Evolution). Although LTE incorporates MIMO for point to point unicast, 5G Broadcast only uses a single antenna in transmission at the moment. The Ph.D. aims at assessing the performance of MIMO for broadcasting (terrestrial broadcast) for next-generation wireless broadcasting systems, including next-generation wireless broadcasting systems, both DTT and cellular system. During the standardization of MIMO DTT systems, the initial design accounts for perfect reception conditions, e.g., optimal demodulators, perfect Channel State Information (CSI), perfect noise power estimation. The main goal of this PhD is to assess and optimize the performance of MIMO wireless broadcast transmissions in realistic scenarios. This PhD proposes new models of terrestrial MIMO propagation channels based on field measurements which can be utilized for the evaluation of MIMO DTT system. Furthermore, it also optimizes the different MIMO transmission and reception configurations, such as broadcast MIMO channel estimation and signal processing. The scenarios considered in the thesis are highpower high-tower transmitter with fixed reception and characteristics of DTT networks. The results of the PhD have contributed to the ATSC standardization forum, International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), and the Japanese national research project on next generation DTT system.