[KDDI reports development of mobile phone that receives digital terrestrial TV broadcasting.]

KDDI R&D Laboratories and KDDI Corp. have jointly developed a mobile phone terminal that receives digital terrestrial TV broadcasting and supports linked communications and broadcasting services in conjunction with NHK Science and Technical Research Laboratories. The two companies are the first in Japan to develop such a product in advance of digital TV broadcasting aimed at mobile terminals, which is due to commence in fiscal 2005.

The special features of this mobile terminal include the fact that it fully complies with broadcast makeup language (BML), a data broadcasting standard for mobile terminals in Japan, and that it enables the mutual linking of communications content and broadcasting content. It is also equipped with an extension function that shares information such as location data history between telephone handsets and servers, and it enables the provision of location data-linked content.

More specifically, a broadcasting reception function is automatically initiated from a communications center, and emergency warning broadcasts are displayed on the screens of cellular phones. It is also possible to obtain details of disaster information, as data broadcasting is linked to communications. Furthermore, through the linking of programs that announce information regarding events such as movies with communications and the use of GPS functions, the user can obtain information regarding the nearest theater that is screening the movie concerned. Through the use of a video streaming reception function, it is also possible to watch and listen to video that has been taken from a different camera angle to the video shown during the broadcasting of sports programs, for example.

As cellular phone handsets that receive digital terrestrial TV broadcasting will be able to offer various attractive services that did not previously exist by linking communications and broadcasting, their development has been keenly awaited. Nevertheless, as the operating functions that cellular phones currently possess are only a fraction of those of existing notebook PCs and there are severe constraints in terms of battery capacity as well, it is extremely difficult to incorporate all advanced functions that involve a large amount of computation, such as BML, a video playback function, and OFDM [1].

With regard to this challenge, based on cooperation with Hitachi, Ltd., KDDI R&D Laboratories has succeeded in incorporating all the functions associated with the reception of digital terrestrial broadcasting and its linkage with communications in existing cellular phones by enhancing the efficiency of various real time and non-linear time tasks and optimizing scheduling management.

Going forward, in conjunction with NHK Science and Technical Research Laboratories, we plan to engage in technical testing and practical experiments aimed at the development of content that is suitable for the fusion of communications and broadcasting.

This cellular phone handset that receives digital terrestrial TV broadcasting will be publicly displayed at NHK Science and Technical Research Laboratories' public exhibition to be held from May 27 (Thursday) to May 30 (Sunday).

More...

Back to Headlines...