Mapping Metadata to Elements
The metadata and content to populate UX elements can come from a variety of sources, and in different levels of details.
For each element, the potential sources are showing, in order of priority (highest priority first).
SPI - Service & Programme Information
Section titled “SPI - Service & Programme Information”The most comprehensive source of information about a radio station is SPI (Service & Programme Information) which is a rich XML structured document.
The main document is Service and Programme Information - TS 102 818 - which describes the structure of the XML.
The Service Information is relatively static information about a radio station. It changes infrequently. The Programme Information is more dynamic information about the programmes on a radio station. It changes daily.
SPI on DAB+
Section titled “SPI on DAB+”SPI can be broadcast as a data service on DAB+.
Useful information:
- The data service is usually in a packet data channel of 8-32kbit/s
- The SPI can contain information on services in this ensemble AND other ensembles
- The SPI will sometimes contain logos for radio stations on other ensembles
- Only 4 sizes of logo are transmitted on DAB, and only in the PNG v1.1 format
- Programme Information (PI) may be provided
- The acquisition time can be very long - test for cases of 20-25 minutes
SPI sent over DAB is encoded into a binary format (specified in TS XXX XXX), within an MOT (Multimedia Object Transport) layer (TS 103 234), usually as a packet data channel (EN 300 401). It is generally a subset of the SPI information available over IP (see next section)
SPI over IP (RadioDNS)
Section titled “SPI over IP (RadioDNS)”SPI can be acquired over IP, using a RadioDNS Lookup (TS 103 270).
Useful information:
- The SPI SI file will often contain information for many radio stations
- At least 5 sizes of logos are provided, in JPG or PNG formats
- Usually more fields are provided than with SPI/DAB+
- Programme Information (PI) may be provided
Generally, the SI information provided over IP is a superset of information provided over DAB+.
Station Name
Section titled “Station Name”| Source | Maximum Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SPI - service/longName | 128 characters | |
| SPI - service/mediumName | 16 characters | |
| DAB - Label | 16 characters | |
| SPI - service/shortName | 8 characters | Broadcasters - must provide these versions. Manufacturers - It’s recommended not to use the 8 character station names unless it’s unavoidable. |
| DAB - Short Label | 8 characters | |
| FM RDS - PS | 8 characters |
Station Logo
Section titled “Station Logo”| Source | Dimensions | DAB File Type | IP File Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPI - logo_unrestricted | 600 px x 600px | (not supported) | JPG or PNG |
| SPI - logo_unrestricted | 320 px x 240px | PNG | JPG or PNG |
| SPI - logo_unrestricted | 128px x 128px | PNG | JPG or PNG |
| SPI - logo_colour_rectangle | 112px x 32px | PNG | PNG |
| SPI - logo_colour_square | 32px x 32px | PNG | PNG |
Programme Name
Section titled “Programme Name”Programme information is provided over DAB+ or IP, as defined
| Source | Maximum Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SPI - programme/longName | 128 characters | |
| SPI - programme/mediumName | 16 characters | Broadcasters - must provide these versions. Manufacturers - It’s recommended not to use the 8 character programme names unless it’s unavoidable.. |
| SPI - programme/shortName | 8 characters |
Programme Description
Section titled “Programme Description”| Source | Maximum Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SPI - programme/longDescription | 1 200 characters | |
| SPI - programme/shortDescription | 180 characters |
Dynamic Information
Section titled “Dynamic Information”Real-time information is provided as text, visuals and marked-up metadata (JSON format)
Text Information
Section titled “Text Information”Text information on FM is provided as RDS RT (RadioText) or RT+
Text information on DAB is provided as DLS (Dynamic Label Segment - EN 300 401) or DL+ (TS 102 980)
Text information on IP is provided as a function of Visual Slideshow (TS 101 499), but is not generally supported. Use DLS, DL+, RT or RT+ instead.
| Source | Maximum Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DAB - DLS | 128 characters | |
| RDS - RT | 64 characters | |
| IP - /text | 128 characters | Generally the same text as DAB - DLS |
Visual Information
Section titled “Visual Information”Visual information is provided over DAB+ or IP, as defined in Visual Slideshow (TS 101 499). When requesting visuals over IP, the receiver can request specific dimensions and an image will be returned that fits within those dimensions (or no image returned at all).
| Source | Dimensions | DAB File Type | IP File Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Slideshow | (defined by receiver) | (not supported) | JPG or PNG |
| Visual Slideshow | 320 px x 240px | JPG or PNG | JPG or PNG |
If the Visual Slideshow is not available, it’s possible to substitute the Station Logo at 320px x 240px as a visual.
Metadata Information
Section titled “Metadata Information”Information is available from some broadcasters in a JSON format, described in TS 101 499. The structure is common with DL+.