FM-RDS developments at CRC

FM-RDS developments

at CRC

DRCG - New Radio Platforms and Applications

March 22, 2011

By Jean-Michel Bouffard

DRCG - New Radio Platforms and Applications - March 22, 2011

Plan

Our objective

History

FM-RDS Tx/Rx test platform

Android development

Recent progress


History

To bring FM on mobile devices

Why? To show the potential for innovation. To encourage the development of new FM applications.

How? Presence of FM-RDS chips on mobile devices. Accessible API for developers.


History

2009-2010 App. for HTC Touch Pro Windows Mobile(closed platform)

FM-RDS chip(no official API)

Developed RDS decoder(rdslib)

Presented at NAB 2010

Copyright: HTC


History

2010 (After NAB)

App. for T-Mobile G1 Android(open platform)

FM-RDS chip(no! → We used a RDS over WiFi)

Developed FM-RDS app.(Support for ODAs)(Using USRP + PC)

Waiting for Android phone with FM-RDS chip. Copyright: HTC



Tx/Rx platform to experiment with FM-RDS Hardware (generic and cheap) Laptop USRP with basic TX and basic RX daughter boards

Software GNURadio version 3.2.2 GNURadio Companion 3.2.2 gr-rds (to enable RDS)

Built from free software



GNURadio FM-RDS applications



Experiment with RDS features RadioText Open Data Applications(Not available on commercial radio stations)



iTunes tagging Proprietary iTunesprotocol

RT+

Other types of metadata would be possible



FM-RDS monitoring ODAs in the ottawa areaDon't lie, we know what you're doing!

Freq Group AID Name Comment

97.9 8A CD46 RDS-TMC

11A C3B0 iTunes tagging

No data

12A 4BD7 RT+ No data

101.9 13A 4BD7 RT+ RT+ data available but no RT

103.3 11A C737 UMC

104.7 8A CD46 RDS-TMC


Android development

Why Android? Project backed by Google(A little company that have succeeded with some of their projects)

Partly open platform(Could enable low level access to hardware resources)

Some devices already had FM receivers(Might be possible to unlock/use the chip)

Rumours mentioned the possible inclusion of an FM API in Android 2.2(That would have simplified things a lot!)


Android development

Functional diagram RDS data over ip RDS decoding in rdslib Use custom RDS streams or stream grabbed from commercial radio stations

RDS awareapplicationdevelopedwithout theneed of therequiredhardware

USRP

PC

Samsung Phone

Dalvik Vitual Machine

Java Native Interface

Android native Linux OS

RDS decoder library

CRC FM PlayerJava Application

RDS decoded

RDSraw

Software Defined Radio (GNU Radio)

Tx Rx

TCP/UDP streams

WiFi

Raw RDS


Android development

ODA Rx on G1PCPC

USRPUSRP

Tx FMTx FM

Rx FMRx FM

USRPUSRP

PCPC

WiFiWiFi

G1G1

USRPUSRP

PCPC

TxTx

RxRx

G1G1


Android development

One click!

11stst ODA Application! ODA Application!


Recent progress

Q4 2010New phone: Android(Great! It's the platform we have selected earlier)

FM-RDS chip(yes! But no API)

Developed an API(Silicon Labs fmsi4709)

Enhanced the app RDS Audio Volume Region GUI Seek Copyright: Samsung


Conclusion

Objective progressing well FM is on an Android mobile device We distribute an API for FM control and RDS decoding We distribute an application Advanced FM features Platform to release prototype RDS based services

Door is opening for hybrid radio innovation

Thanks

For more information: Project websitehttp://mmbtools.crc.ca/

http://mmbtools.crc.ca/

FM-RDS developments at CRC

Technology