Utilization of Digital Television Technologies for Elearning

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Utilization of Digital Television Technologies
for E-learning

• LADL Conference
• 1st LOGOS Open Workshop
• 20 September 2007
• Budapest

Dr. Sándor Bozóki, András Gnandt, György
SogrikAntenna Hungária Corp.
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E-learning infrastructure based on digital
television networks planned in the framework of
the LOGOS project
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DVB Data Broadcast Configuration- enables
delivery of e-learning material as files and
packages
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MHP based interactive television

• MHP is an open standard API, standards for
  interactive television.
• MHP works across all DVB transmission
  technologies (DVB-S, DVB-T, DVB-C, IPTV).
• MHP has a core based around a Java virtual
  machine DVB-J.
• The innovation will result in MHP applications
  which run as fast as native ones.
• MHP-based iTV technology enables e-learning
  applications accesible for all digital TV
  subscribers

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MHP API

• Resources are provided to MHP transparently
• Portability no direct addressing of resources,
  System software provides an abstract view
• Application Manager manages the lifecycle of
  applications
• API is the interface between applications and
  System software

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MHP versions

• MHP 1.0 Broadcast applications Data via IP
  Satellite, Cable and Terrestrial support
  (commercially introduced)
• MHP 1.1 Applications via IP Smartcard support
  VOD support DVB-HTML support (commercially
  introduced e.g. in Austria)
• MHP 1.2 DVB-IPTV profile non-DVB IPTV profile
  (commercially not available yet)
• The latest versions allow for more sophisticated
  e-learning applications

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MHP profiles

• Enhanced Broadcast Profile
• local interactivity, using remote control to
  interact with broadcast applications
• No return channel
• Interactive Broadcast Profile
• IP over the return channel TCP, UDP
• DNS forward resolving protocols
• Internet Access profile
• HTTP 1.0 with persistent connection support and
  not using Keep-Alive when talking with proxies
  that doesnt understand Connection
• HTTPS
• IPTV Profile
• RTSP
• IP Service discovery (checks the signalling of
  services, no request to do this more frequently
  than once per day)
• The Internet access through television enables
  web-like e-learning experience (but, of course,
  the processing and presentation capabilities are
  still lower than in case of PCs)

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MHP profiles considered for e-learning
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MHP in broadcasting services

• Typical applications
• EPG
• Information services (superteletext, running
  banners)
• Applications synchronized to the TV programs,
  like voting, games, (questioning tests for LOGOS)
  etc.
• Electronic commerce and secure transactions
• The methodology of the development and the basic
  components of the above applications can be
  reused for iTV-based e-learning applications

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MHP based interactive television head-end
systemwhich can serve the delivery of e-learning
applications
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MHP content formats essential for e-learning

• Picture formats
• JPEG
• GIF
• PNG
• MPEG-2 I-frame
• Text formats
• Monomedia text with UTF-8 character encoding
• DVB-HTML - optional

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MHP capabilities for e-learning

• Dynamic HTML pages using scripts and return
  channel
• Interactivity with defining actions for the
  remote control
• Sending back information via return channel

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Return channel technologies

• PSTN/ISDN, ADSL, GSM, GPRS most common return
  channels for DVB services.
• DVB-RCT (Return Channel Terrestrial) due to
  lack of frequency, it is not available on the
  market.
• DVB-RCS (Return Channel Satellite) terminals
  capable of two-way satellite communication are
  still rather expensive.

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IPTV infrastructure for e-learning
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Set-top-box capabilities
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Conclusions

• We have designed and integrated a DTV content
  delivery platform in the framework of the LOGOS
  project.
• The limitations of DTV comparable to PC must be
  taken into account when developing e-learning
  applications.
• Content distribution via broadcast to many users
  is more cost-effective than via telecommunication
  channels.
• Content delivery platform should be assessed with
  real t-learning content during the tests planned
  for the next phase of the LOGOS project.

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Thank you for your kind attention! András
Gnandt Antenna Hungaria Co. http//www.ahrt.hu gna
ndta_at_ahrt.hu