RadioDNS
Encyclopedia
RadioDNS is a methodology for an hybrid radio receiver, meaning receiving the broadcast radio signal and connected to the Internet, to find the internet address of the interactive service corresponding to the radio station actually tuned. It utilises the existing Domain Name System
to allow the connected radio receiver to lookup web resources based on their broadcast parameters, such as the station identifier received within the broadcast signal. The project is an open standard, initially created by a series of broadcasters and manufacturers.
, DAB
, DRM
and AMSS
. Using a standardised format a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) is constructed and queried. This returns a CNAME record
known as the "authoritative FQDN" which is a domain that represents the requested radio service. From this domain SRV record
lookups can be performed to verify the availability and location of various other applications that utilise RadioDNS.
For example, an FM radio service is identified by its RDS
parameters. To identify a radio service on 95.8Mhz with a country code of E1 and the PI code C586, the following FQDN is constructed:
09580.c586.ce1.fm.radiodns.org
Querying this domain returns a CNAME record:
09580.c586.ce1.fm.radiodns.org canonical name = rdns.musicradio.com.
This CNAME record can then be used to lookup SRV records that advertise the availability of applications based upon RadioDNS (in this example an application identified by the name radiovis):
_radiovis._tcp.rdns.musicradio.com service = 0 100 80 vis.musicradio.com.
One example is RadioVIS
, which is an open standard for accompanying visuals for radio broadcasts. The Sensia, manufactured by PURE
, is an example of a receiver with this functionality built-in. Demonstrations have also been made of RadioVIS running on a mobile phone.
Other examples being worked on by the RadioDNS project include RadioEPG, a way of obtaining additional station and programme information; and RadioTAG, a way for a listener to request more information, or simply bookmark a place, in a live broadcast.
(at that time called GCap Media
) and the BBC
, to investigate creating a mechanism for linking Broadcast Radio and IP delivered webservices.
The concept was first presented to the WorldDMB
Technical Committee in Munich in May 2008. Interest in the project grew, to the extent where it was necessary to formalise the project.
The First General Meeting of RadioDNS was hosted by the European Broadcasting Union in Geneva in October 2009
The Second General Meeting of RadioDNS (held on 16 February 2010 in Geneva) adopted the Statutes, Intellectual Rights Policy, Trust Model and Membership Process, and thus effectively established RadioDNS as a not-for-profit organisation.
Domain name system
The Domain Name System is a hierarchical distributed naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network. It associates various information with domain names assigned to each of the participating entities...
to allow the connected radio receiver to lookup web resources based on their broadcast parameters, such as the station identifier received within the broadcast signal. The project is an open standard, initially created by a series of broadcasters and manufacturers.
Details
The standard supports several radio bearers including VHF/FMFM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
, DAB
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
, DRM
Digital Radio Mondiale
Digital Radio Mondiale is a set of digital audio broadcasting technologies designed to work over the bands currently used for AM broadcasting, particularly shortwave...
and AMSS
Amplitude modulation signalling system
The amplitude modulation signalling system is a digital system for adding low bit rate information to an analogue amplitude modulated broadcast signal in the same manner as the Radio Data System for frequency modulated broadcast signals.This system has been standardized in March 2006 by ETSI as...
. Using a standardised format a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) is constructed and queried. This returns a CNAME record
CNAME record
A CNAME record or Canonical Name record is a type of resource record in the Domain Name System that specifies that the domain name is an alias of another, canonical domain name. This helps when running multiple services from a single IP address...
known as the "authoritative FQDN" which is a domain that represents the requested radio service. From this domain SRV record
SRV record
A Service record is a specification of data in the Domain Name System defining the location, i.e. the hostname and port number, of servers for specified services. It is defined in RFC 2782, and its type code is 33...
lookups can be performed to verify the availability and location of various other applications that utilise RadioDNS.
For example, an FM radio service is identified by its RDS
Radio Data System
Radio Data System, or RDS, is a communications protocol standard for embedding small amounts of digital information in conventional FM radio broadcasts. RDS standardises several types of information transmitted, including time, station identification and programme information.Radio Broadcast Data...
parameters. To identify a radio service on 95.8Mhz with a country code of E1 and the PI code C586, the following FQDN is constructed:
09580.c586.ce1.fm.radiodns.org
Querying this domain returns a CNAME record:
09580.c586.ce1.fm.radiodns.org canonical name = rdns.musicradio.com.
This CNAME record can then be used to lookup SRV records that advertise the availability of applications based upon RadioDNS (in this example an application identified by the name radiovis):
_radiovis._tcp.rdns.musicradio.com service = 0 100 80 vis.musicradio.com.
Possibilities
The linking of broadcast media with IP, as RadioDNS enables, allows additional functionality on receivers.One example is RadioVIS
RadioVIS
RadioVIS is a protocol for sideband signalling of images and text messages for a broadcast audio service to provide a richer visual experience....
, which is an open standard for accompanying visuals for radio broadcasts. The Sensia, manufactured by PURE
Pure Digital
PURE is a British consumer electronics company, based in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, founded in 2002. Pure is a division of another Hertfordshire-based company, Imagination Technologies, which primarily builds processors and graphics chips....
, is an example of a receiver with this functionality built-in. Demonstrations have also been made of RadioVIS running on a mobile phone.
Other examples being worked on by the RadioDNS project include RadioEPG, a way of obtaining additional station and programme information; and RadioTAG, a way for a listener to request more information, or simply bookmark a place, in a live broadcast.
History
RadioDNS was originally created as a collaborative project between Global RadioGlobal Radio
Global Radio UK Ltd. is a British commercial radio company, the largest in the country following acquisitions of Chrysalis Radio and GCap Media.The company's Chief Executive Officer is Stephen Miron, while the Group Chairman is Charles Allen...
(at that time called GCap Media
GCap Media
GCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
) and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, to investigate creating a mechanism for linking Broadcast Radio and IP delivered webservices.
The concept was first presented to the WorldDMB
WorldDMB
The WorldDMB Forum is responsible for defining the standards of the Eureka-147 family which includes DAB and DAB+ for digital radio and DMB for radio and mobile TV....
Technical Committee in Munich in May 2008. Interest in the project grew, to the extent where it was necessary to formalise the project.
The First General Meeting of RadioDNS was hosted by the European Broadcasting Union in Geneva in October 2009
The Second General Meeting of RadioDNS (held on 16 February 2010 in Geneva) adopted the Statutes, Intellectual Rights Policy, Trust Model and Membership Process, and thus effectively established RadioDNS as a not-for-profit organisation.
External links
- RDNS01 Technical Specification, radiodns.org
- RadioDNS Project Website, radiodns.org
- BBC RAD labs blog: Experiments with RadioDNS, bbc.co.uk
- CasterPlay, RadioVIS Monitor for Windows
- MyRadioDNS.com, SaaS solution provider