Dual layer signal processing in a layered modulation digital signal system

• US 20070071134A1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ernest Chen, Joseph Santoru, Philip Hilmes, Tiffany Furuya
• Original Assignee: Ernest Chen, Joseph Santoru, Philip Hilmes, Tiffany Furuya
• Inventors: Santoru, Joseph, Chen, Ernest, Hilmes, Philip, Furuya, Tiffany
• Granted Patent: US 7,426,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/322
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/3488 Multiresolution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/455 Demodulation-circuits

Abstract

Systems and methods for receiving layered modulation for digital signals are presented. An exemplary apparatus comprises a tuner for receiving a layered signal and producing a layered in-phase signal and a layered quadrature signal therefrom, an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the layered in-phase signal and the layered quadrature signal and a processor for decoding the layered in-phase signal and the layered quadrature signal to produce one or more discrete layer signals.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving a non-coherently layered modulation signal comprising a lower layer signal non-coherently layered with an upper layer signal, comprising:

a tuner for receiving the non-coherently layered modulation signal and producing a non-coherently layered in-phase signal and a non-coherently layered quadrature signal therefrom;

an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the non-coherently layered in-phase signal and the non-coherently layered quadrature signal; and

a processor for decoding the non-coherently layered in-phase signal and the non-coherently layered quadrature signal to produce the upper layer signal and the lower layer signal;

wherein the upper layer is a legacy signal and the lower layer is a non-legacy signal.

2. A processor for decoding a non-coherently layered modulation signal comprising a lower layer signal non-coherently layered with an upper layer signal into the upper layer signal and the lower layer signal, comprising:

a first demodulator and first decoder for demodulating and decoding the upper layer signal from the non-coherently layered modulation signal and providing the demodulated and decoded upper layer signal at a first output;

an encoder for generating an ideal upper layer signal from the decoded upper layer signal;

a signal processor for modifying the ideal upper layer signal to characterize transmission and processing effects;

a subtractor for subtracting the modified ideal upper layer signal from the non-coherently layered modulation signal to produce the lower layer signal; and

a second demodulator and second decoder for demodulating and decoding the lower layer signal and providing the decoded lower layer signal at a second output;

wherein the upper layer is a legacy signal and the lower layer is a non-legacy signal.

3. A method of decoding a non-coherently layered modulation signal comprising a lower layer signal non-coherently layered with an upper layer signal, comprising the steps of:

receiving the non-coherently layered modulation signal and producing a non-coherently layered in-phase signal and a non-coherently layered quadrature signal therefrom;

digitizing the non-coherently layered in-phase signal and the non-coherently layered quadrature signal; and

decoding the digitized non-coherently layered in-phase signal and the non-coherently layered quadrature signal to produce the upper layer signal and the lower layer signal;

wherein the upper layer signal is a legacy signal and the lower layer signal is a non-legacy signal.

4. In a system broadcasting a legacy signal having legacy data to a plurality of legacy receivers, a method of increasing data throughput of the system so as to transmit the legacy data to the legacy receivers while compatibly transmitting the legacy data and non-legacy data adding to or enhancing the legacy data to a plurality of non-legacy receivers, comprising:

transmitting a non-coherently layered modulation signal to the legacy receivers and the non-legacy receivers;

wherein the non-coherently layered modulation signal comprises a lower layer signal and an upper layer signal non-coherently layered with the lower layer signal; and

wherein the upper layer signal comprises the legacy data and the lower layer signal comprises the non-legacy data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the lower layer signal and the upper layer signal are transmitted by different transmitters.

6. The method of claim 4, Wherein the lower layer signal is transmitted by a legacy transmitter and the upper layer signal is asynchronously transmitted by a non-legacy transmitter.

7. In a system broadcasting a legacy signal having legacy data to a plurality of legacy receivers, a method of increasing data throughput of the system so as to transmit the legacy data to the legacy receivers while compatibly transmitting the legacy data and non-legacy data adding to or enhancing the legacy data to a plurality of non-legacy receivers, comprising the steps of:

receiving a non-coherently layered modulation signal comprising a lower layer signal having the non-legacy data non-coherently layered with an upper layer signal having the legacy data;

demodulating the upper layer signal from the non-coherently layered modulation signal and providing the demodulated upper layer signal having the legacy data to a first output;

remodulating the demodulated upper layer signal;

subtracting the remodulated ideal upper layer signal from the non-coherently layered modulation signal to produce the lower layer signal;

demodulating the lower layer signal and providing the demodulated lower layer signal having the non-legacy data to a second output.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the lower layer signal and the upper layer signal are transmitted by different transmitters.

9. The method of claim 7, Wherein the lower layer signal is transmitted by a legacy transmitter and the upper layer signal is asynchronously transmitted by a non-legacy transmitter.