Apparatus, systems and methods for providing time diversity for mobile broadcast services

• US 7,532,857 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Simon, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; CongVan
• Application Number:
  US11/422,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20060246836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 455 301- 2, 455/73, 455/130, 455/550.1, 455/334, 375/136, 375/147, 375/267, 375/347, 375/316, 270/276, 270/277, 270/278, 270/280, 270/313, 270/314
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/22 Arrangements for broadcast of identical information via plural broadcast systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/67 Common-wave systems, i.e. using separate transmitters operating on substantially the same frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 using space diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/02 Amplitude-modulated carrier systems, e.g. using on-off keying; Single sideband or vestigial sideband modulation H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• 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 21/4382 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 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus are provided for providing to a receiver a time diverse digital signal corresponding to a service including receiving a digital signal containing a service content and receiving a digital signal containing a non-deterministic content. The service content is inserted into a first predetermined number of data packets in a first predetermined number of data frames deterministically. In addition, a first portion of the non-deterministic content is inserted into a second predetermined number of data packets in the first predetermined number of data frames. A copy of the first predetermined number of data packets is generated. The first predetermined number of data frames is broadcast over a distribution network. The copy of the first predetermined number of data packets is inserted into a second predetermined number of data frames and a second portion of the non-deterministic content is inserted into the second predetermined number of data frames. The second predetermined number of data frames is broadcast after a predetermined time.

Claims

1. A method for providing to a receiver a time diverse digital signal corresponding to a service, comprising the steps of:

receiving a digital signal containing a service content;

receiving a digital signal containing a non-deterministic content;

inserting the service content into a first predetermined number of data packets in a first predetermined number of data frames deterministically;

inserting a first portion of the non-deterministic content into a second predetermined number of data packets in the first predetermined number of data frames;

generating a copy of the first predetermined number of data packets;

broadcasting the first predetermined number of data frames over a distribution network;

inserting the copy of the first predetermined number of data packets into a second predetermined number of data frames;

inserting a second portion of the non-deterministic content into the second predetermined number of data frames; and

broadcasting the second predetermined number of data frames after a predetermined time.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

inserting an initialization packet into the first frame of the predetermined number of data frames, the initialization packet indicating the beginning of the first predetermined number of data frames.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

deterministically spreading the service content over a predetermined number of the first predetermined number of data frames; and

deterministically spreading the copy of the first predetermined number of data packets over a predetermined number of the second predetermined number of data frames.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the service content is at least one of a mobile streaming service content and a mobile datacast content.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

signaling a deterministic mapping of a service content corresponding to the service.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the first predetermined number of data frames;

buffering the first predetermined number of data packets;

receiving the second predetermined number of data frames;

comparing the first predetermined number of data packets of the first set of the predetermined number of data frames and the first predetermined number of data packets of the second set of the predetermined number of data frames; and

supplying a predetermined number of data packets to a service content application decoder based on the comparing.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

broadcasting the first set of the predetermined number of data frames from a first RF terrestrial transmission system; and

broadcasting the second set of the predetermined number of data frames from a second RF terrestrial transmission system.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

broadcasting at least one of the first set of the predetermined number of data frames and the second set of the predetermined number of data frames from a satellite service provider; and

broadcasting at least one of the first set of the predetermined number of data frames and the second set of the predetermined number of data frames from an RF terrestrial transmission system.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined number of data packets is a slice of a data frame, and the first predetermined number of data frames is a superframe.

10. A method for receiving a time diverse digital signal corresponding to a service, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first digital signal containing a first predetermined number of data frames including a first predetermined number of data packets;

demodulating the first digital signal;

demultiplexing the first predetermined number of data frames;

buffering the first predetermined number of data packets of the first set of the predetermined number of data frames;

receiving a second digital signal containing a second predetermined number of data frames including a copy of the first predetermined number of data packets;

demodulating the second digital signal;

demultiplexing the second predetermined number of data frames;

comparing the first predetermined number of packets and the copy of the first predetermined number of packets; and

supplying a predetermined number of packets to a service content application decoder based on the comparing.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

performing an error correction operation using the first predetermined number of packets and the copy of the first predetermined number of packets.

12. The method of claim 10,

wherein the first digital signal is received from at least one of an RF terrestrial transmission system and a satellite service provider, and

wherein the second digital signal is received from at least one of an RF terrestrial transmission system and a satellite service provider.

13. An apparatus for providing a time diverse digital signal corresponding to a service, comprising:

a receiver operable to receive a digital signal containing a service content and a non-deterministic content;

a packet inserter operable to insert the service content into a first predetermined number of data packets in a first predetermined number of data frames deterministically and a first portion of the non-deterministic content into a second predetermined number of data packets in the first predetermined number of data frames;

a processor operable to generate a copy of the first predetermined number of data packets;

a transmitter operable to broadcast the first predetermined number of data frames over a distribution network, and

the packet inserter being further operable to insert the copy of the first predetermined number of data packets into a second predetermined number of data frames and to insert a second portion of the non-deterministic content into the second predetermined number of data frames, and

the transmitter being further operable to broadcast the second predetermined number of data frames after a predetermined time.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the packet inserter is further operable to insert an initialization packet into the first frame of the predetermined number of data frames, the initialization packet indicating the beginning of the first predetermined number of data frames.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the packet inserter is further operable to deterministically spread the service content over a predetermined number of the first predetermined number of data frames, and deterministically spread the copy of the first predetermined number of data packets over a predetermined number of the second predetermined number of data frames.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the service content is at least one of a mobile streaming service content and a mobile datacast content.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the transmitter is further operable to signal a deterministic mapping of a service content corresponding to the service.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a receiver operable to receive the first predetermined number of data frames and the second predetermined number of data frames;

a buffer operable to buffer the first predetermined number of data packets of the first set of the predetermined number of data frames; and

a synchronization combiner operable to compare the first predetermined number of data packets of the first set of the predetermined number of data frames and the first predetermined number of data packets of the second set of the predetermined number of data frames and to supply a predetermined number of data packets to a service content application based on a result of a comparison by the synchronization combiner.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a first RF terrestrial transmission system operable to broadcast the first set of the predetermined number of data frames; and

a second RF terrestrial transmission system operable to broadcast the second set of the predetermined number of data frames.

20. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a satellite service provider operable to broadcast at least one of the first set of the predetermined number of data frames and the second set of the predetermined number of data frames; and

an RF terrestrial transmission system operable to broadcast at least one of the first set of the predetermined number of data frames and the second set of the predetermined number of data frames.

21. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first predetermined number of data packets is a slice of a data frame, and the first predetermined number of data frames is a superframe.

22. A receiver for receiving a time diverse digital signal corresponding to a service, comprising:

a receiver front end and filter operable to receive a first digital signal containing a first predetermined number of data frames including a first predetermined number of data packets and a second digital signal containing a second predetermined number of data frames including a copy of the first predetermined number of data packets;

a demodulator operable to demodulate the first digital signal and the second digital signal and the second predetermined number of data frames;

a demultiplexer operable to demultiplex the first predetermined number of data frames and the second predetermined number of data frames;

a buffer operable to buffer the first predetermined number of data packets; and

a synchronization combiner operable to compare the first predetermined number of packets and the copy of the first predetermined number of packets and to supply a predetermined number of packets to a service content application decoder based on a result of a comparison by the synchronization combiner.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

an error correction unit operable to perform an error correction operation using the first predetermined number of packets and the copy of the first predetermined number of packets.

24. The apparatus of claim 22,

wherein the first digital signal is received from at least one of an RF terrestrial transmission system and a satellite service provider, and

wherein the second digital signal is received from at least one of an RF terrestrial transmission system and a satellite service provider.

25. An apparatus for providing a time diverse digital signal corresponding to a service, comprising:

means for receiving a digital signal containing a service content and a non-deterministic content;

means for inserting the service content into a first predetermined number of data packets in a first predetermined number of data frames deterministically and a first portion of the non-deterministic content into a second predetermined number of data packets in the first predetermined number of data frames;

means for generating a copy of the first predetermined number of data packets;

means for broadcasting the first predetermined number of data frames over a distribution network;

means for inserting the copy of the first predetermined number of data packets into a second predetermined number of data frames and for inserting a second portion of the non-deterministic content into the second predetermined number of data frames; and

means for broadcasting the second predetermined number of data frames after a predetermined time.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:

means for inserting an initialization packet into the first frame of the predetermined number of data frames, the initialization packet indicating the beginning of the first predetermined number of data frames.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:

means for signaling a deterministic mapping of a service content corresponding to the service.

28. A receiver for receiving a time diverse digital signal corresponding to a service, comprising:

means for receiving a first digital signal containing a first predetermined number of data frames including a first predetermined number of data packets and a second digital signal containing a second predetermined number of data frames including a copy of the first predetermined number of data packets;

means for demodulating the first digital signal and the second digital signal and the second predetermined number of data frames;

means for demultiplexing the first predetermined number of data frames and the second predetermined number of data frames;

means for buffering the first predetermined number of data packets;

means for comparing the first predetermined number of packets and the copy of the first predetermined number of packets; and

means for supplying a predetermined number of packets to a service content application decoder.