Method and Apparatus for Selective Data Reception

• US 20080036909A1
• Filed: 06/28/2004
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Paila, Toni
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/461
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/426 Receiver side

Abstract

A terminal 13 for selectively receiving broadcast data in a transport stream 7 over a first network, the broadcast data including a series of bursts of associated data packets (B1), comprises a controller 16 and a receiver 19. The controller 16 is configured to extract information identifying a group of data packets from the data packets within a first burst, e.g. Packet Identifier (PID) PID1, PID2, calculate a burst length and burst interval for the series on the basis of the times at which data packets are received by the receiver and to calculate one or more instances of time t_s at which one or more subsequent bursts in the series will be received based on the calculated burst length t_s3 and/or burst interval t₁. The receiver 19 is operated to selectively receiving the transport stream 7, e.g. by switching the receiver 19 between its on and off states, the receiver 19 being switched on at time i_s for a period equal to the burst length in order to receive subsequent data bursts in the series. The terminal 13 may be further configured to enable mobile telephone communication via a second network.

Claims

1. A terminal for selectively receiving broadcast data in a data stream, wherein the broadcast data includes a series of bursts of associated data packets, comprising:

a receiver; and

a controller;

wherein the controller is configured to;

extract information identifying a group of data packets from the data packets within a first burst;

calculate a burst length and burst interval for the series on the basis of the instances of time at which data packets are received by the receiver;

determine a further instance of time at which a subsequent burst corresponding to the extracted information in the series is expected to be received based on at least one of said burst length and burst interval; and

operate the receiver to receive the subsequent burst corresponding to the extracted information by selectively receiving the data stream.

2. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein address information relating to a source of the data is included within the bursts.

3. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein address information relating to a source of the data is extracted from a session announcement.

4. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the extraction of information identifying a group of data packets and the calculation of the burst length and the burst interval are performed in response to a request for reception of a particular service.

5. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate the receiver to selectively receive the subsequent bursts by switching the receiver between two operation modes.

6. A terminal according to claim 5, wherein the two operation modes are on and off states.

7. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to repeat the extraction of identifying information from the data packets and the calculation of the burst interval and the burst length at regular intervals.

8. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to repeat the steps of extracting identifying information from the data packets and calculating burst interval and burst length in response to notification that a configuration of the data stream has changed.

9. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a data stream broadcast over a first network, further comprising means for enabling communication over a second network.

10. A terminal according to claim 9, wherein the second network is a cellular telecommunications network.

19. A communication system for broadcasting data, comprising:

a multiplexer;

a transmitter;

a communication network; and

a terminal according to claim 1.

11. A method of operating a receiver to selectively receive broadcast data in a data stream, wherein the broadcast data includes a series of bursts of associated data packets, comprising:

extracting information identifying a group of data packets from the data packets within a first burst;

calculating a burst length and burst interval for the series on the basis of the instances of time at which data packets are received by the receiver;

determining a further instance of time at which a subsequent burst corresponding to the extracted information in the series is expected to be received; and

operating the receiver to receive the subsequent burst corresponding to the extracted information by selectively receiving the data stream.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising extracting address information relating to a source of the data from data packets within a burst.

13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising extracting address information relating to a source of the data from a session announcement.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the steps of extracting information identifying a group of data packets and calculating the burst length and the burst interval are performed in response to a request for reception of a particular service.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the receiver is operated to selectively receive the subsequent burst by switching the receiver between two operation modes.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the two operation modes are on and off states.

17. A method according to claim 11, wherein the steps of extracting identifying information from the data packets and calculating burst interval and burst length are repeated at regular intervals.

18. A method according to claim 11, further comprising repeating the steps of extracting identifying information from the data packets and calculating burst interval and burst length in response to notification that a configuration of the data stream has changed.