RF receivers

• US 20110286554A1
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited (Imagination Technologies Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited (Imagination Technologies Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: KNOWLES, Ian
• Application Number:
  US13/065,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20110286554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/340
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/426 Receiver side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/20 digital audio broadcasting [DAB]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/40 characterised in that additional data relating to the broadcast data are available via a different channel than the broadcast channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for receiving an RF service. At least two RF channels 26 are received. Each channel comprises a plurality of time slice services. A selected RF service is decoded from its time sliced portion with a first RF channel in a decoder 24. During periods non-intersecting with that portion of the first RF channel data from a second RF channel is decoded to determine RF services available on the second RF channel. This data is then provided for display.

Claims

1. A method for receiving an RF service comprising the steps of receiving at least two RF channels, each channel comprising a plurality of time sliced services, decoding a selected RF service received on a time sliced portion of a first RF channel, and during periods non intersecting with the said portion of the first RF channel decoding data available on a second RF channel to determine RF services available on the second RF channel, and providing data relating to the services provided on the second RF channel for display.

2. A method accordingly to claim 1 in which the RF channels each comprise COFDM channels.

3. A method according to claim 1 in which the RF channel comprises a DAB channel.

4. A method according to claim 2 in which the step of determining RF services available on the second RF channel comprises detecting a fast information channel (FIC) in the second RF channel.

5. Apparatus for receiving a RF service comprising means for receiving at least two RF channels, each channel comprising a plurality of time sliced services, means for decoding a selected RF service received on a time sliced portion of a first RF channel, and during periods non-intersecting with the said portion of the first RF channel, decoding data available on a second RF channel, and means for providing data relating to the services provided on the second RF channel for display.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the RF channels are COFDM channels and the decoding means is a COFDM decoder.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the RF channels are DAB channels and the decoder is a DAB decoder.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the means for determining services available on the second RF channel comprises means for detecting an FIC in the second RF channel.