Convergence sublayer for use in a wireless broadcasting system

• US 8,767,726 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Inventors: Marsh, Gene W., Gummadi, Srikanth, Madan, Seema, Petry, Brian P, Connors, Dennis P, Govind, Keerthi S, Burchill, William S
• Primary Examiner(s): Russell, Wanda Z
• Application Number:
  US12/906,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20110116500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 370/344, 370/390
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/12 Arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/67 Common-wave systems, i.e. using separate transmitters operating on substantially the same frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/95 characterised by a specific format, e.g. an encoded audio stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/621 Individual queue per connection or flow, e.g. per VC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• 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 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64315 DVB-H
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64707 for transferring content from a first network to a second network, e.g. between IP and wireless
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method of encapsulating data and a single frequency network configured to perform the method are disclosed. A content stream of data packets is received, and the data packets in the content stream are formatted in accordance with a first protocol. Information identifying a container size established for the content stream is received. The data packets formatted in accordance with the first protocol are fragmented and packed to form data units formatted in accordance with a second protocol, and the data units are sized based on the container size. The data units formatted in accordance with the second protocol are encapsulated to form second protocol data packets. The second protocol data packets are provided to a transmitter that is synchronized to one or more transmitters in a single frequency network so that each transmitter in the single frequency network broadcasts a same signal that includes the second protocol data packets.

Claims

1. A method of encapsulating data, the method comprising:

receiving a content stream of data packets that are formatted in accordance with a first protocol;

receiving, from a lower layer, information identifying a container size established for the content stream, the container size being different from a container size established for at least one other content stream;

fragmenting and packing the data packets that are formatted in accordance with the first protocol to form data units formatted in accordance with a second protocol, the data units being sized based on the container size;

encapsulating the data units that are formatted in accordance with the second protocol to form second protocol data packets; and

providing the second protocol data packets to a transmitter that is synchronized to one or more transmitters in a single frequency network so that each transmitter in the single frequency network broadcasts a same signal that includes the second protocol data packets.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the same signal broadcast from each transmitter in the single frequency network comprises an Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM) signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the content stream of data packets that are formatted in accordance with the first protocol comprises a stream of Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) transport packets.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the content stream of data packets comprises multimedia data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the content stream of data packets comprises a television network program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the content stream of data packets comprises an electronic program guide.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing the one or more transmitters based on a reference time signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the container size is predetermined.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each transmitter in the single frequency network broadcasts the same signal over an air interface via at least one antenna.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a connection identifier to each data packet, wherein the connection identifier associates each data packet with the content stream.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a second content stream of data packets that are formatted in accordance with the first protocol;

receiving, from the lower layer, information identifying a container size established for the second content stream, the container size established for the second content stream being different from the container size established for the content stream;

fragmenting and packing the data packets from the second content stream that are formatted in accordance with the first protocol to form a second set of data units formatted in accordance with the second protocol, each of the second set of data units being sized based on the container size established for the second content stream;

encapsulating each of the second set of data units that are formatted in accordance with the second protocol to form a second set of second protocol data packets; and

providing the second set of second protocol data packets to a transmitter that is synchronized to one or more transmitters in a single frequency network so that each transmitter in the single frequency network broadcasts a same signal that includes the second set of second protocol data packets.

12. An apparatus for encapsulating data comprising:

a receiver configured to;

receive a content stream of data packets that are formatted in accordance with a first protocol, and

receive, from a lower layer, information identifying a container size established for the content stream, the container size being different from a container size established for at least one other content stream;

a processor configured to;

fragment and pack the data packets that are formatted in accordance with the first protocol to form data units formatted in accordance with a second protocol, the data units being sized based on the container size, and

encapsulate the data units that are formatted in accordance with the second protocol to form second protocol data packets; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the second protocol data packets to a base station that is synchronized to one or more base stations in a single frequency network so that each base station in the single frequency network broadcasts a same signal that includes the second protocol data packets.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the same signal broadcast from each base station in the single frequency network comprises an Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation (OFDM) signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the content stream of data packets that are formatted in accordance with the first protocol comprises a stream of Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) transport packets.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the content stream of data packets comprises multimedia data.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the content stream of data packets comprises a television network program.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the content stream of data packets comprises an electronic program guide.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more base stations are synchronized based on a reference time signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the container size is predetermined.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to assigning a connection identifier to each data packet, wherein the connection identifier associates each data packet with the content stream.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a receiver configured to;

receive a second content stream of data packets that are formatted in accordance with the first protocol, and

receive, from the lower layer, information identifying a container size established for the second content stream, the container size established for the second content stream being different from the container size established for the content stream;

a processor configured to;

fragment and pack the data packets from the second content stream that are formatted in accordance with the first protocol to form a second set of data units formatted in accordance with the second protocol, each of the second set of data units being sized based on the container size established for the second content stream, and

encapsulate each of the second set of data units that are formatted in accordance with the second protocol to form a second set of second protocol data packets; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the second set of second protocol data packets to a base station that is synchronized to one or more base stations in a single frequency network so that each base station in the single frequency network broadcasts a same signal that includes the second set of second protocol data packets.