Category: New Media
Date: 11.08.2005
Printable version
Two 91Èȱ¬ research scientists have been award the prestigious best technical paper prize at this year's International Broadcasting Convention (IBC).
Ìý
The prize has been won jointly by Adam Wiewiorka and Peter Moss who are part of the 91Èȱ¬'s Research and Development Department based at Kingswood Warren.
Ìý
The paper - Digital On-Channel Repeater for DAB - describes a technique for improving reception of DAB digital radio services by using on-channel repeaters - small transmitters that pick up the wanted service off-air, amplify it and rebroadcast it.
Ìý
Normally such a technique would cause oscillation like the familiar 'howl-round' from microphone to loudspeaker.
Ìý
But Adam and Peter have developed digital signal processing circuitry that cancels out the feedback that causes instability.
Ìý
Field trials have shown that the on-channel repeater does solve reception problems when a wanted signal is affected by interference from much stronger signals in adjacent channels.
Ìý
A similar technique could be used to improve DTT reception, but the processing required would be more complex.
Ìý
Ian Childs, Chief Scientist at 91Èȱ¬ R&D, said: "There is stiff international competition to present papers at IBC, so to have papers accepted for the conference - and we have many this year - is quite an honour.
Ìý
"This award from an international conference shows once again the high regard that the whole industry has for the work done by this part of the 91Èȱ¬."
Ìý
The International Broadcasting Convention is by far the most important broadcasting technology event held in Europe, attracting over 40,000 visitors from around the world.
Ìý
Its Technical Conference aims to meet the needs of the creative, business and technical communities in both its in-depth coverage of subject material and the variety of different formats that its sessions take.
Ìý
Professor David Crawford, Chairman, IBC Technical Papers Committee, commented:
"Each year the IBC Technical Papers Committee sets itself the near-impossible task of selecting a 'best paper' from the truly world class contributions to the IBC Papers Programme.
Ìý
"The assessors were particularly impressed how the authors maintained the right balance between the complex mathematical theory of the subject and the practical implementation of a solution.
Ìý
"Our congratulations are extended to the authors for an interesting and informative report of some good research and development work."
Ìý
Notes to Editors
Ìý
About the prize-winners
Ìý
Adam Wiewiorka joined the 91Èȱ¬ in 1996 after obtaining a BEng in electronic engineering from University of North London in 1993 and a PhD in signal processing and speech recognition from Imperial College, London in 1997.
Ìý
Currently employed as an Engineer, he has taken part in projects that include work on amplifier linearization, video coding, mixed signal design and signal processing using programmable logic devices.
Ìý
Peter Moss joined 91Èȱ¬ Designs Department in 1980 after gaining a degree in physics from the University of Oxford.
Ìý
Initially involved in the design of transmitters and receivers for broadcast and ancillary services, he is now a Senior Engineer.
Ìý
In recent years he worked in the areas of amplifier linearization for DAB and DVB applications, responsible for the Cartesian Loop PA design used in the first 27 DAB broadcast transmitters.
Ìý
He was also part of a team developing a wireless television camera based on the DVB-T COFDM standard where he had contributed in the areas of system simulation and RF design.
Ìý
About the International Broadcasting Convention
Ìý
This year's IBC is to be held at the RAI Centre in Amsterdam from 8 to 13 September.
Ìý
The prizewinning paper will be presented on the afternoon of Friday 9 September in the session Content Delivery - New Solutions are Born, chaired by Boris Lokshin, of SCC Skolkovo, Russia.
Ìý
More information about IBC, including the complete Technical Conference programme, can be found at www.ibc.org.
Ìý
About 91Èȱ¬ R&D
Ìý
91Èȱ¬ Research & Development is a world leading centre for media production and broadcasting technology. It helps the 91Èȱ¬ to build public value by innovating in technology in support of the 91Èȱ¬'s public service purpose.
Ìý
Its technological innovation helps the 91Èȱ¬ to deliver its services on all the new digital platforms, to ensure that licence payers are able to access our programmes, to reduce costs and improve efficiency, to keep ahead in programme innovation, and to generate external revenue.
Ìý
Like the rest of the 91Èȱ¬, R&D has recently been under review. The 91Èȱ¬ Governors unanimously supported the review's conclusion that a strong, vibrant and world class technology function is key to our ability to create a Digital 91Èȱ¬, at the heart of, and indeed helping to create, a fully Digital Britain.
Ìý
They also recognised the changes necessary to bring that about and that, in making those changes, it was important not to put at risk the highly critical work in many areas of R&D.
Ìý
91Èȱ¬ R&D has a staff of about 160 professional engineers, mathematicians and scientists.
Ìý
Its current work includes:
Ìý
spectrum planning for TV and radio - recommending what transmitters are needed, where, and using what frequencies;
Ìý
Digital Radio Mondiale - digital radio for the long, medium, and short-wave bands;
Ìý
digital TV services - interactivity, electronic programme guides, and reception improvements;
Ìý
access services for TV - subtitling, signing, and audio description;
Ìý
wireless techniques in broadcast production;
Ìý
virtual production for TV - computer-generated sets and virtual actors;
Ìý
production technology - enabling TV and radio production from a computer desktop;
Ìý
developing new services for the 91Èȱ¬ website.
