A Simulation Framework for the Evaluation of the File Repair Mechanism Used in Ipdc/dvb-h

The rollout of digital television systems is taking place in many countries worldwide. Utilizing the advantages of digital technologies, the special characteristics of mobile devices – such as small screen sizes and low power supplies – can be addressed, thus enabling mobile television and data services. IP Datacast (IPDC) based on Digital Video Broadcasting – Handhelds (DVB-H) is one of the technologies which provide the broadcasting of audio and video streams as well as the distribution of arbitrary binary data objects. For the lossless transmission of binary data objects, the IPDC/DVB-H specifications define a mechanism for the indication and correction of erroneous broadcast data, called file repair mechanism. This study evaluates the performance of this file repair mechanism utilizing a simulation framework which integrates all relevant models and mechanisms including a state-of-the-art error model for the transmission channel. Based on the setting of different parameters such as the use of forward error correction and the length of encoding symbols, performance evaluations of different file repair strategies have been accomplished, resulting in some recommendations for the setting of critical transmission parameters.