Automatic tuning system for a mobile DVB-T receiver

• US 7,477,872 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2005
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Digital Design Centre, Ltd. (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Digital Design Centre, Ltd. (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujii, Kyoichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): FERGUSON, KEITH
• Application Number:
  US11/147,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20050278752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/3.06, 455/422.1, 455/403, 455/500, 455/517, 455/343, 455/73, 455/466, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/67.11, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/513, 455/509, 4554561-457, 455/186.1, 725/38, 725/49, 725/52, 725/62, 725/106, 725/151, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 342/357.12, 342/357.13
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6112 involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

An automatic tuning system for a mobile DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial) receiver includes a position detecting system, a plurality of tuners, a plurality of demodulators configured to process DVB-T signals, each of which is paired with one of the plurality of tuners, for demodulating each of the signals received by each of the tuners and comparing the strengths of the signals. A database sets a frequency code relating to the optimum frequency found by the demodulators, to an area-cell code relating to the receiver position, in a processor. The processor controls the automatic tuning system on the basis of the stored frequency codes and current position data from the position detecting system.

Claims

1. An automatic tuning system for a mobile DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial) receiver, the system comprising:

a position detecting system;

a plurality of tuners;

a plurality of demodulators configured to process DVB-T signals, each of which is paired with one of the plurality of tuners, for demodulating signals received by each of the tuners and comparing the strengths of the signals to find an optimum frequency, and

a database for setting a frequency code relating to the optimum frequency found by the demodulators, to an area-cell code relating to the receiver position, in a processor,

wherein the processor controls the automatic tuning system on the basis of the stored frequency codes and current position data from the position detecting system.

2. The automatic tuning system of claim 1, wherein the position detecting system is a global positioning system.

3. The automatic tuning system of claim 2, wherein the system operates using RF, IF or baseband signals.

4. The automatic tuning system of claim 1, wherein the system operates using RF, IF or baseband signals.

5. The automatic tuning system of claim 1, wherein the turners and demodulators are housed within a tuning block.

6. The automatic tuning system of claim 1, wherein the database is a cell frequency link descriptor in the form of a network information table.

7. The automatic tuning system of claim 1, wherein the system is employed in a DVB-T receiver which further comprises:

a display;

a speaker;

a demultiplexer configured to receive and demodulate a multi-transport stream output from the plurality of demodulators;

digital audio and video decoders configured to decode an output signals from the demultiplexer; and

analog audio and video encoders configured to encode the signals output from the digital and video decoders for driving the display and speaker.

8. A method of automatically tuning a mobile DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial) receiver using an automatic tuning system, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the position of the receiver using a position detecting system;

receiving a plurality of signals containing digital broadcast data, via a plurality of tuners;

demodulating the received signals via a plurality of demodulators configured to process DVB-T signals, each of which is paired with one of the plurality of tuners,

comparing the strengths of the received signals to determine a signal having an optimum frequency;

storing codes relating to the optimum frequency and the receiver position in the database.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the position detecting system is a global positioning system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the automatic tuning system operates using RF, IF or baseband signals.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the automatic turning system operates using RF, IF or baseband signals.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the tuners and demodulators are housed within a tuning block.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the database is a cell frequency link descriptor in the form of a network information table.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising tuning the receiver to the optimum frequency, wherein the automatic tuning system is controlled by a processor on the basis of the stored frequency codes and current position data from the position detecting system.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the optimum frequency is the frequency of the strongest signal received by the tuners.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the optimum frequency is the frequency of the highest quality signal received by the tuners.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of tuners outputs a received signal to the demodulators, wherein the received signal is an RF, IF or baseband signal.