A new traffic messaging system promises 50 times as much data as today's TMC technology.
TPEG - standing for Transport Protocol Experts Group - can handle 3000 messages a minute, compared to TMC's 60.
According to researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute, that could mean richer in-car information services without relying on expensive (and patchy) mobile internet services.
Taking messages up a TPEG
Automakers and device manufacturers, information service providers, research institutions and others have joined forces to create a consortium to establish TPEG as a European and international standard.
The information is transmitted DAB digital radio broadcasts and can be displayed on a new generation of sat navs, or even car radios. Warning messages in response to dynamic speed limits would be one option, as would finely tuned local weather forecasts and even information on parking spaces in the surrounding area.
The new encrypted premium services will offer a wealth of information tailored to specific customer groups: drivers of a specific car brand, owners of a certain sat nav or members of an automobile club, all with access to information such as up-to-date traffic and road data. However, there will still be free access to information on tailbacks, roadworks and accidents, as with the current European system.
Fraunhofer boffins are testing the system now, with the expectation that TPEG sat navs using encrypted messaging services will be on the market within years.
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tonywin
September 25th
1. TPEG is a great improvement on TMC - but it is hardly new - many organisations (Including my own - RadioScape) have been developing products based on the technology for delivery via Eureka 147 basedbroadcast systems for years.
The protocol is already heavily used in Korea by the major broadcasters and trials using it have taken place in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands amongst many other countries.
RadioScape's DAB Multiplex systems have been TPEG enabled for years, simply awaiting the content to be applied to the broadcasts and of course, for suitable receivers to be in place to receive those broadcasts.
It is the same "Chicken and Egg situation" here as with the many other Advanced Digital Services (EPG, Slide Show, Broadcast Websites etc) that are already enabled in RadioScape DAB / DAB+ and T-DMB Multiplexes around the world, - Listeners can not buy the receivers as manufactureres will not include the services in the radios until Broadcasters start including the services in their transmissions. Broadcasters will not start including the Data Services in their transmissions until the Manufacturers start producing recdeivers with the ability to pick up and sisplay the services (TPEG included).
Korea has "Bitten the Bullet" now with 20 million enabled receivers, - when will Europe follow.
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