ATSC 3.0 Broadcast Positioning System (BPS) Mesh Network 

The Broadcast Positioning System (BPS) concept and related proof-of-concept technologies were introduced at the 2023 NAB Broadcast Engineering and Information Technology (BEIT) conference. Work on the BPS project has continued through 2023 and into 2024 with a focus on better accuracy and traceability but also on how such a system would be put into operation across one or more regions. This paper describes the design of a BPS transmitter mesh network that would allow nationwide time synchronization based entirely on ATSC 3.0 broadcasts. This network could also be used to obtain position information for devices receiving three or more BPS broadcasts. To accomplish this design, the proof-of-concept implementations presented at the 2023 NAB BEIT Conference were redesigned to meet the needs of this mesh network. The paper will describe the overall architecture and equipment needed to allow such a mesh network to be implemented. A nationwide monitoring system necessary to manage the mesh network will also be discussed. Finally, the paper will suggest areas of design and development needed before such a system could be realized.

Mark Corl | Triveni Digital, Inc. | Princeton, N.J., United States
Vladimir Anishchenko | Avateq Corp. | Markham, Ontario, Canada
Francisco Girela Lopez | Safran Electronics and Defense | Rochester, N.Y., United States
Tariq Mondal | National Association of Broadcasters | Washington, D.C., United States