ACM and fixed coding and modulation of hierarchical layers

• US 8,411,572 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Kimmich, Kevin, Mo, Fan, Vanderaar, Mark, Harel, Richard, Fuerst, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Chirag
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kang, Suk Jin
• Application Number:
  US12/762,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20100260259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0009 by adapting the channel coding H04L1/1812 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0014 by adapting the source coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0046 Code rate detection or code type detection H04L1/0038 takes precedence; detection of the data rate H04L25/0262; for packet format H04L1/0091
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0098 Unequal error protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/136 Incoming video signal characteristics or properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/156 Availability of hardware or computational resources, e.g. encoding based on power-saving criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/164 Feedback from the receiver or from the transmission channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/36 Scalability techniques involving formatting the layers as a function of picture distortion after decoding, e.g. signal-to-noise [SNR] scalability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/66 involving data partitioning, i.e. separation of data into packets or partitions according to importance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/89 involving methods or arrangements for detection of transmission errors at the decoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 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 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/631 Multimode Transmission, e.g. transmitting basic layers and enhancement layers of the content over different transmission paths or transmitting with different error corrections, different keys or with different transmission protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64792 Controlling the complexity of the content stream, e.g. by dropping packets intermediate media network packet handling H04L65/765; proxy provisioning conversion or adaptation for reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data H04L67/5651; negotiation of resources in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38

Abstract

A network access unit of a communications network includes: a source data receiver module to receive first source data representing video content and second source data; a network control module to receive link condition data and configuration data, calculate priority data based on the link condition data and the configuration data, use the priority data to generate a master schedule indicating a first coding and modulation scheme for a first layer of the first source data and a second coding and modulation scheme for a second layer of the first source data, wherein at least one of the coding and modulation schemes for a next sequence is fixed relative to a present sequence; a pre-coder module to pre-code the first source data using pre-coding schemes to generate sets of representation data; and an ACM module to associate the sets of representation data with the coding and modulation schemes.

Claims

1. A network access unit of a communications network configured to communicate with a plurality of data terminals configured to receiving transmissions over a satellite link, the network access unit comprising:

a source data receiver module configured to receiving first source data representing video content to be communicated to one or more first data terminals of the plurality of data terminals and second source data to be communicated to one or more second data terminals of the plurality of data terminals;

a network control module configured to receiving link condition data about data terminals in the plurality of data terminals and configuration data about the first source data and the second source data, calculate priority data for the first source data and the second source data based on the link condition data and the configuration data, use the priority data to generate a master schedule including modcode data indicating a first coding and modulation scheme for a first layer of the first source data and a second coding and modulation scheme for a second layer of the first source data, and transmit the master schedule to other components of the network access unit to configure parameters for a next sequence, wherein at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is fixed relative to a present sequence;

a pre-coder module configured to pre-coding the first source data using a first pre-coding scheme to generate a first set of representation data decodable independently to provide a set of first-level playback data representing the first source data, and to pre-code the first source data using a second pre-coding scheme to generate a second set of representation data decodable in combination with the first set of representation data to provide a set of second-level playback data representing the first source data; and

an adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) module configured to associating the first set of representation data with the first coding and modulation scheme, and associate the second set of representation data with the second coding and modulation scheme, wherein the second coding and modulation scheme is of a higher order than the first coding and modulation scheme.

2. The network access unit of claim 1, wherein each of the first pre-coding scheme and the second pre-coding scheme includes a data partitioning scheme using scalable video coding.

3. The network access unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a transceiver module configured to generating a first transmission by applying the first coding and modulation scheme to the first set of representation data and applying the second coding and modulation scheme to the second set of representation data, to generate a second transmission from the second source data, to communicate the first transmission to the one or more first data terminals, and to communicate the second transmission to the one or more second data terminals.

4. The network access unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is determined to be fixed relative to the present sequence based on the priority data for the first source data and the second source data.

5. The network access unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is fixed relative to the present sequence if the link condition data includes fewer than a threshold number of link status reports or less than a threshold percentage of link status reports from the one or more first data terminals.

6. The network access unit of claim 5, wherein

the link condition data includes a link status report from at least one of the one or more first data terminals;

the fixed at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme is determined using historic rain fade data; and

the other of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme is adapted for the next sequence using one or more of current weather data and link status reports included in the link condition data.

7. The network access unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is fixed relative to the present sequence at a lowest order coding and modulation scheme of a set of coding and modulation schemes available for data transmission over the satellite link.

8. The network access unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is fixed relative to the present sequence at a minimum order coding and modulation scheme allowed for the first source data, the minimum order coding and modulation scheme having a higher order than a lowest order coding and modulation scheme of a set of coding and modulation schemes available for data transmission over the satellite link.

9. A communications network configured to communicate with data terminals in a satellite environment, the network comprising:

a plurality of data terminals, each configured to receiving a transmission over a satellite link; and

a gateway, in communication with the plurality of data terminals and comprising;

a source data receiver module configured to receiving first source data representing video content to be communicated to one or more first data terminals of the plurality of data terminals and second source data to be communicated to one or more second data terminals of the plurality of data terminals;

a network control module configured to receiving link condition data about data terminals in the plurality of data terminals and configuration data about the first source data and the second source data, calculate priority data for the first source data and the second source data based on the link condition data and the configuration data, use the priority data to generate a master schedule including modcode data indicating a first coding and modulation scheme for a first layer of the first source data and a second coding and modulation scheme for a second layer of the first source data, and transmit the master schedule to other components of the gateway to configure parameters for a next sequence, wherein at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is fixed relative to a present sequence;

a pre-coder module configured to pre-coding the first source data using a first pre-coding scheme to generate a first set of representation data decodable independently to provide a set of first-level playback data representing the first source data, and to pre-code the first source data using a second pre-coding scheme to generate a second set of representation data decodable in combination with the first set of representation data to provide a set of second-level playback data representing the first source data; and

an adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) module configured to associating the first set of representation data with the first coding and modulation scheme, and associate the second set of representation data with the second coding and modulation scheme, wherein the second coding and modulation scheme is of a higher order than the first coding and modulation scheme.

10. The network of claim 9, wherein each of the first pre-coding scheme and the second pre-coding scheme includes a data partitioning scheme using scalable video coding.

11. The network of claim 9, further comprising:

a transceiver module configured to generating a first transmission by applying the first coding and modulation scheme to the first set of representation data and applying the second coding and modulation scheme to the second set of representation data, to generate a second transmission from the second source data, to communicate the first transmission to the one or more first data terminals, and to communicate the second transmission to the one or more second data terminals.

12. The network of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is determined to be fixed relative to the present sequence based on the priority data for the first source data and the second source data.

13. The network of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is fixed relative to the present sequence if the link condition data includes fewer than a threshold number of link status reports or less than a threshold percentage of link status reports from the one or more first data terminals.

14. The network of claim 13, wherein

the link condition data includes a link status report from at least one of the one or more first data terminals;

the fixed at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme is determined using historic rain fade data; and

the other of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme is adapted for the next sequence using one or more of current weather data and link status reports included in the link condition data.

15. The network of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is fixed relative to the present sequence at a lowest order coding and modulation scheme of a set of coding and modulation schemes available for data transmission over the satellite link.

16. The network of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is fixed relative to the present sequence at a minimum order coding and modulation scheme allowed for the first source data, the minimum order coding and modulation scheme having a higher order than a lowest order coding and modulation scheme of a set of coding and modulation schemes available for data transmission over the satellite link.

17. A method for hierarchical communication of a set of source data in a communications network configured to communicate with a plurality of data terminals in a satellite environment, each of the data terminals configured to receiving a transmission over a satellite link, the method comprising:

receiving first source data representing video content to be communicated to one or more first data terminals of the plurality of data terminals;

receiving second source data to be communicated to one or more second data terminals of the plurality of data terminals;

receiving link condition data about data terminals in the plurality of data terminals and configuration data about the first source data and the second source data;

calculating priority data for the first source data and the second source data based on the link condition data and the configuration data;

using the priority data to generate a master schedule including modcode data indicating a first coding and modulation scheme for a first layer of the first source data and a second coding and modulation scheme for a second layer of the first source data, wherein at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is fixed relative to a present sequence;

transmitting the master schedule to configure parameters for a next sequence;

pre-coding the first source data using a first pre-coding scheme to generate a first set of representation data decodable independently to provide a set of first-level playback data representing the first source data;

pre-coding the first source data using a second pre-coding scheme to generate a second set of representation data decodable in combination with the first set of representation data to provide a set of second-level playback data representing the first source data;

associating the first set of representation data with the first coding and modulation scheme; and

associating the second set of representation data with the second coding and modulation scheme, wherein the second coding and modulation scheme is of a higher order than the first coding and modulation scheme.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the first pre-coding scheme and the second pre-coding scheme includes a data partitioning scheme using scalable video coding.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

generating a first transmission by applying the first coding and modulation scheme to the first set of representation data and applying the second coding and modulation scheme to the second set of representation data;

generating a second transmission from the second source data;

communicating the first transmission to the one or more first data terminals; and

communicating the second transmission to the one or more second data terminals.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is determined to be fixed relative to the present sequence based on the priority data for the first source data and the second source data.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is fixed relative to the present sequence if the link condition data includes fewer than a threshold number of link status reports or less than a threshold percentage of link status reports from the one or more first data terminals.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein

receiving link condition data further comprises receiving link condition data including a link status report from at least one of the one or more first data terminals;

the fixed at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme is determined using historic rain fade data; and

the other of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme is adapted for the next sequence using one or more of current weather data and link status reports included in the link condition data.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is fixed relative to the present sequence at a lowest order coding and modulation scheme of a set of coding and modulation schemes available for data transmission over the satellite link.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one of the first coding and modulation scheme and the second coding and modulation scheme for the next sequence is fixed relative to the present sequence at a minimum order coding and modulation scheme allowed for the first source data, the minimum order coding and modulation scheme having a higher order than a lowest order coding and modulation scheme of a set of coding and modulation schemes available for data transmission over the satellite link.