Free Software for Radio Broadcasting
- 1. Free Software for Radio Broadcasting: What ? Why ? Participate ? François Lefebvre Communications Research Centre, Canada EBU Digital Radio Summit 2011 February 16, Geneva, Switzerland 1
- 2. Mobile Multimedia Broadcasting Systems R&D Program CRC: 20 years in DAB Standardisation Field trials Datacasting, applications Equipment, receiver tests Understand Demonstrate: industry, regulator, broadcasters 2
- 3. What ? 3
- 5. CRC-mmbTools Timeline 2000 – 2006 : Main tools developed 2006: IBC demo DAB, DRM, DMB (USRP) 2007: First live CD released (freeware) 2007: DAB Openmokast on NEO FreeRunner 2008: GPL CRC-DABMUX, CRC-DABMOD, … 2009: Demo EBU Village IBC, Android DAB 2010: NAB demo Live CD FM tx + FM hybrid app 2011: FM-RDS Android Library, FM TwoO 2011: ??? ...
- 6. Software + Generic HW CRC-mmbTools OpenBTS DAB Transmitter GSM Base Station USRP Oscilloscope ??? Test System
- 7. The Software Advantage Can be changed, fixed, enhanced... easily Can be copied at almost no cost Can be distributed at almost no cost Functionality can be enhanced after HW has been produced, distributed: upgrades, ... 7
- 8. Defining Free Software As in free beer or as in free speech ? You are free to do what you want with it … once you've paid for it ! Executable software available at no cost with limited or full functionality: freeware, shareware Free open source: license limits redistribution Free libre open source (FLOSS): copyleft (GPL) Free open source BSD: free to do anything WARNING: Software Patents = Legal Gray Zone 8
- 9. CRC SW Distribution Models 9
- 10. CRC-mmbTools Live CD Free ”One-click” transmitter CRC-DABMUX CRC-DABMOD Pre-encoded content: DAB, DAB+, DLS, MOT, Slideshow, DMB, … Installable
- 11. Why ? 11
- 12. Too Many Good Reasons Open + free leads to ubiquity (TCP/IP, WWW, ...) Accelerates innovation: more brains on issues Accessibility catalyses organic adoption and deployment Inclusive: small players can join the parade Public money builds public property Re-use instead of re-invent No lock-in (ex. manufacturer goes bankrupt) Focus on enabling new services not new tech Create more value than you capture Collaboration on steroids Internet runs on free software (Google, ...) USE CASES : 12
- 13. RAI + Rai Way: TPEG CRC Openmokast
- 14. EBU IBC 2010 Demo 3500 Euros 10 Watts TX EBU Village IBC 2010 14
- 15. Total Broadcast Consultants Experimental license Since April 2010 Dedicated lines, wireless links 11 DAB and DAB+ services Internet mp3audio streams Barix Exstreamers (mp3 decoding) CRC-DABPLUS audio encoder CRC-DABMUX Farsite ETI Interface UBS Modulator SFN, 2 transmitters: 28dBw, 15dBw Coverage in Dublin, Ireland Stability: from hours to weeks without ”crash” 15
- 16. Total Broadcast Consultants Free/Libre Software Inside 16
- 17. Workshop EBU Radio Week 2011 10 DAB Multiplexes in a room ! 17
- 18. Testing in the ”Cloud” CRC Web Appliances First DAB+ encoder Upload .mp3 Get .ETI Playback with CRC-EtiStreamer Reference encoders, compliance, ... 18
- 19. Other Users Most of all industry sectors: testing of receivers, chipsets, new applications,... CRC-DABMUX embedded in commercial test equipment Low power events broadacsting ... 19
- 20. Participate ? 20
- 21. Many Ways to Participate Use : share feedback, comments, issues, use cases Tweak, modify, adapt, fix and share results Report your success stories Invest in talent (hire geeks, hackers, …) Integrate HW devices (local industry) Donate Fund development of new features you need Join communities: mmbtools forum crc-mmbtools+subscribe@googlegroups.com www.opendigitalradio.org 21
- 22. Fund New Features GPL Pricing 22
- 23. Announcement 23
- 24. CRC FM-RDS Android Library Samsung Galaxy S Silicon Labs FM chipset High level API Receive PI, PS, RT Free of charge Redistribute on Android Market Give Credit to CRC Notify CRC Get from mmbtools.crc.ca 24
- 25. FM TwoO App Demo App Get from Android Market Test mode RT+ 25
- 26. Demo App: Free Source Code www.youtube.com/crcmmb 26
- 27. TEAM Francois Lefebvre, Pascal Charest, Jean-Michel Bouffard, Roy Kyrillos PRESENTATIONS www.slideshare.net/tag/crcmmb www.youtube.com/crcmmb PROJECTS www.crc.ca/mmb, mmbTools.crc.ca, openmokast.org BLOG Broadcasting20.org Twitter: @fralef francois.lefebvre@crc.ca 27