Signaling protocol for satellite direct radio broadcast system

• US 6,201,798 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WorldSpace Systems Corp. (WorldSpace, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldSpace Systems Corp. (WorldSpace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meltzer, Stefan, Courseille, Olivier, Eberlein, Ernst, Dunas, Etienne, Campanella, S. Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
• Application Number:
  US09/112,349
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 370/316, 370/326, 370/486, 370/314, 370/324, 370/522, 370/535, 370/536, 370/476, 370/465, 370/468, 370/503, 370/458, 370/472, 455/3.2, 455/12.1, 455/427, 455/13.2, 348/12, 348/423, 348/906, 348/461
• US Class Current: 370/326
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18526 Arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/19 digital satellite radio [DSR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/07 characterised by processes or methods for the generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution

Abstract

A satellite direct radio broadcast system is provided which assembles bits of broadcast programs into prime rate increments, several of which are assembled into a frame. Frames are divided into symbols which are demultiplexed into alternating ones of a plurality of prime rate channels. The prime rate channels are demultiplexed onto a corresponding number of broadcast frequencies for transmission to a satellite. The satellite payload switches the symbols into time division multiplexed (TDM) data streams. The receivers process the TDM streams using service control headers (SCHs) provided therein by broadcast stations. The SCHs facilitate transmission of different service components within broadcast channel frames, association of a primary broadcast channel with one or more secondary broadcast channels on a frame-to-frame basis, and the transmission of multiframe bit streams, or auxiliary data throughout a broadcast channel that are independent of a service, in contiguous or non-contiguous frames.

Claims

1. A method of formatting a signal for broadcast transmission to remote receivers comprising the steps of:

receiving a service comprising at least a first service component and a second service component each selected from the group consisting of audio, data, static images, dynamic images, paging signals, text, messages and panographic symbols; and

generating a broadcast channel bit stream frame by appending a service control header to said service to dynamically control reception of said service at said remote receivers, said service control header comprising service control data, said service comprising an overall bit rate of K bits per second, said overall bit rate corresponding to n multiples of a minimum bit rate of L bits per second, said frame having a period of M seconds, said service having n×

L×

M=n×

P bits per frame, said frame comprising n×

P bits for said service and n×

Q bits for said service control header, wherein K, n, L, M, P and Q are numerical values, respectively;

providing said service control header with first service component control data for dynamically controlling the reception of said first service component at said remote receivers; and

providing said service control header with second service component control data for dynamically controlling reception of said second service component at said remote receivers;

wherein at least one of said first service component control data and said second service component control data comprises at least one of a plurality of fields comprising a service component length field, a service component type field, an encryption field, a program type field and a language field, wherein said service component length field indicates the bit rate of the corresponding one of said first service component and said second service component, said service component type field indicates which of a plurality of signals is contained in the corresponding one of said first service component and said second service component, said encryption field indicates which of a plurality of encryption methods is used to encrypt the corresponding one of said first service component and said second service component, said program type field indicates which of a plurality of programs is transmitted via the corresponding one of said first service component and said second service component, and said language field indicates in which of a plurality of languages the corresponding one of said first service component and said second service component is generated.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said service component length field with n bits to indicate said bit rate of the corresponding one of said first service component and said second service component, said bit rate being a multiple number of m bits per second, wherein 1≦

said multiple number≦

2ⁿ, m bits per second is a minimum bit rate, n and m are numerical values, and the contents of said service component length field is a binary number having a decimal value between 0 and 2ⁿ corresponding to said multiple number.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said frame at said remote receivers; and

demultiplexing the corresponding one of said first service component and said second service component from said frame using said service component length field.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein n=4 bits and m=8000 bits per second.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said service component type field with one of a plurality of values corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of signals, said plurality of signals comprising Motion Pictures Expert Group (MPEG) coded audio, general data having no specified format, Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) coded picture data, video and invalid data.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said encryption field with a first value and a second value when the corresponding one of said first service component and said second service component is encrypted and is not encrypted, respectively.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said program type field with one a plurality of values corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of programs, said plurality of programs comprising music, a talk radio show, video, text, a censored program, an advertisement, and a program directed to a selected topic.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said language field with one of a plurality of values corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of languages.

9. A method of formatting a signal for broadcast transmission to remote receivers comprising the steps of:

receiving a service comprising at least a first service component selected from the group consisting of audio, data, static images, dynamic images, paging signals, text, messages and panographic symbols;

generating a broadcast channel bit stream frame by appending a service control header to said service to dynamically control reception of said service at said remote receivers, said service control header comprising service control header data selected from the group consisting of a preamble indicating the beginning of said frame, a bit rate index indicating the bit rate of said service, encryption control data, an auxiliary data field, an auxiliary field content indicator relating to the content of said auxiliary data field, data relating to multiframes in said auxiliary data field when said auxiliary data field is multiplexed, and data indicating the number of service components which constitute said frame, said service corresponding to a primary service transmitted to said broadcast remote receivers on a primary broadcast channel;

receiving a second service comprising at least one service component selected from the group consisting of audio, data, static images, dynamic images, paging signals, text, messages and panographic symbols, said second service being transmitted to said remote receivers on a secondary broadcast channel;

generating a second broadcast channel bit stream frame by appending a second service control header to said second service to dynamically control reception of said second service at said remote receivers; and

providing bits in said service control header corresponding to said primary broadcast channel to indicate to said remote receivers that said primary broadcast channel is related to said secondary broadcast channel.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

assigning each of said primary broadcast channel and said secondary broadcast channel with an identification code, each said identification code being operable to uniquely identify the corresponding one of said primary broadcast channel and said secondary broadcast channel; and

providing said service control header of said primary broadcast channel with said identification code corresponding to said second broadcast channel.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a third broadcast channel is transmitted which is related to said primary broadcast channel, and has an identification code to uniquely identify said third broadcast channel, and further comprising the steps of:

generating another said broadcast channel bit stream frame; and

modifying said service control header of said primary broadcast channel to comprise said identification code corresponding to said third broadcast channel to indicate that said third broadcast channel is related to said primary broadcast channel in lieu of said secondary broadcast channel.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a third broadcast channel is transmitted which is also related to said primary broadcast channel, and has an identification code to uniquely identify said third broadcast channel, and further comprising the steps of:

generating another said broadcast channel bit stream frame; and

modifying said service control header of said secondary broadcast channel to comprise said identification code corresponding to said third broadcast channel to indicate that said third broadcast channel is also related to said primary broadcast channel.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said providing step further comprises the steps of:

providing a bit in said service control header of said primary broadcast channel to indicate that said primary broadcast channel is a primary broadcast channel having other broadcast channels related thereto; and

providing a bit in each said service control header corresponding to said secondary broadcast channel and said third broadcast channel to indicate a relationship with said primary broadcast channel.

14. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of assigning geographic-specific identification codes to said primary broadcast channel and said secondary broadcast channel to uniquely distinguish said primary broadcast channel and said secondary broadcast channel from each other and among a plurality of broadcast channels received within a selected one of a plurality of geographic areas.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising the step of providing at least one bit to said service control header of said primary broadcast channel to indicate which of a plurality of different identification code types corresponds to said geographic-specific identification codes, said plurality of different identification code types corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of geographic areas.

16. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of assigning identification codes to uniquely distinguish said primary broadcast channel and said secondary broadcast channel from each other and among a plurality of broadcast channels received within a local area, a regional area and worldwide, and said providing step comprising the step of adding at least two bits to said service control header of said primary broadcast channel to indicate which of a plurality of different identification code types corresponds to said identification codes, said type of code being selected from the group consisting of a local code, a regional code and a worldwide code, said local code being useful to uniquely identify one of said plurality of broadcast channels transmitted to a geographic area by a spot beam from a satellite transmitter, said regional code identifying one of said plurality of broadcast channels transmitted to one of a predetermined contiguous geographic area and predetermined non-contiguous geographic areas, said worldwide code being useful to distinguish said second broadcast channel from other ones of said plurality of broadcast channels worldwide.

17. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said providing step comprises the step of providing said bits in said auxiliary field content indicator in said service control header to indicate to said remote receivers that said primary broadcast channel is related to said secondary broadcast channel.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

assigning each of said primary broadcast channel and said secondary broadcast channel with an identification code, each said identification code being operable to uniquely identify the corresponding one of said primary broadcast channel and said secondary broadcast channel;

inserting said identification code corresponding to said secondary broadcast channel into said auxiliary data field of said primary broadcast channel; and

inserting said identification code corresponding to said primary broadcast channel into said auxiliary data field of said secondary broadcast channel.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising the step of inserting broadcast channel identification data in said auxiliary data field which identifies said secondary broadcast channel.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said broadcast channel identification data comprises an identification code to uniquely identify said secondary broadcast channel, and said inserting step further comprises the step of selecting said identification code to uniquely distinguish said secondary broadcast channel from among a plurality of broadcast channels received within a selected one of a plurality of geographic areas.

21. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said auxiliary data field in each of said service control header and said second service control header comprises a Primary/Secondary (PS) flag, and further comprising the steps of:

setting said PS flag to a first value when said frame corresponding to one of said service control header and said second service control header is a component of said primary broadcast channel; and

setting said PS flag to a second value when said frame corresponding to one of said service control header and said second service control header is a component of said secondary broadcast channel, said remote receivers being operable to use said PS flag to identify a received broadcast channel as one of a primary broadcast channel and a secondary broadcast channel.

22. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

assigning each of said primary broadcast channel and said secondary broadcast channel with an identification code, each said identification code being operable to uniquely identify the corresponding one of said primary broadcast channel and said secondary broadcast channel; and

providing said auxiliary data field corresponding to said primary broadcast channel with an associated service pointer (ASP) corresponding to said identification code of said secondary broadcast channel.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein a third broadcast channel is transmitted which is related to said primary broadcast channel, and further comprising the steps of:

generating another said broadcast channel bit stream frame of said primary broadcast channel; and

modifying said service control header of said primary broadcast channel to comprise said identification code corresponding to said third broadcast channel to indicate that said third broadcast channel is related to said primary broadcast channel in lieu of said secondary broadcast channel.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein a third broadcast channel is transmitted which is also related to said primary broadcast channel, and further comprising the steps of:

generating another said second broadcast channel bit stream frame on said secondary broadcast channel; and

modifying said service control header of said secondary broadcast channel to comprise said identification code corresponding to said third broadcast channel to indicate that said third broadcast channel is also related to said primary broadcast channel.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising the step of providing said service control header of said third broadcast channel with said identification code corresponding to said primary broadcast channel.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said providing step further comprises the steps of:

providing a bit in said service control header of said primary broadcast channel to indicate that said primary broadcast channel is a primary broadcast channel and has other broadcast channels related thereto; and

providing a bit in each said service control header corresponding to said secondary broadcast channel and said third broadcast channel to indicate a relationship with said primary broadcast channel.

27. A method of formatting a signal for broadcast transmission to remote receivers comprising the steps of:

receiving a service comprising at least a first service component selected from the group consisting of audio, data, static images, dynamic images, paging signals, text, messages and panographic symbols;

generating a broadcast channel bit stream frame by appending a service control header to said service to dynamically control reception of said service at said remote receivers, said service control header comprising service control header data selected from the group consisting of a preamble indicating the beginning of said frame, a bit rate index indicating the bit rate of said service, encryption control data, an auxiliary data field, an auxiliary field content indicator relating to the content of said auxiliary data field, data relating to multiframes in said auxiliary data field when said auxiliary data field is multiplexed, and data indicating the number of service components which constitute said frame;

providing said auxiliary data field with data relating to said service for reception at said remote receivers; and

providing said auxiliary field content indicator in said service control header with bits for indicating a method of encryption used on the contents of said auxiliary data field.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

generating a second broadcast channel bit stream frame by appending a second service control header to one of said service and a second service, said second service comprising at least one service component selected from the group consisting of audio, data, static images, dynamic images, paging signals, text, messages and panographic symbols, said second service control header dynamically controlling reception of the corresponding one of said service and a second service at said remote receivers, each of said service control header and said second service control header comprising a start flag for indicating when said auxiliary data field in each of said service control header and said second service control header is one of a plurality of segments in a multiframe signal;

setting said start flag in said service control header to a first value when said auxiliary data field in said service control header is one of the first of said segments in said multiframe signal and an independent segment when no multiframe signal exists; and

setting said start flag in said second service control header to a second value when said auxiliary data field in said service control header is the first of said segments in said multiframe signal and said auxiliary data field in said second service control header is another one of said segments in said multiframe signal, wherein said frame corresponding to said service need not be contiguous to said frame corresponding to said second service.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the step of providing each of said service control header and said second service control header with a segment offset and length field (SOLF), said SOLF comprising bits relating to how many of said segments constitute said multiframe signal.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said step of providing said SOLF comprises the step of setting said SOLF to N−

1 when said start flag is set to said first value wherein N is the total number of said segments that constitute said multiframe signal.

31. A method as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

generating a third broadcast channel bit stream frame by appending a third service control header to one of said service said second service and a third service, said third service comprising at least one service component selected from the group consisting of audio, data, static images, dynamic images, paging signals, text, messages and panographic symbols, said third service control header dynamically controlling reception of the corresponding one of said service, said second service and a third service at said remote receivers, each of said service control header, said second service control header and said third service control header comprising a start flag for indicating when said auxiliary data field corresponding thereto is a segment in a multiframe signal; and

providing each of said service control header, said second service control header and said third service control header with a segment offset and length field (SOLF), said SOLF comprising bits to relating to how many of said segments constitute said multiframe signal.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising the step of setting said SOLF in said service control header to N−

1 when said start flag therein is set to said first value, N corresponding to the total number of said segments that constitute said multiframe signal.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32, further comprising the step of setting said SOLF in said second service control header to N−

(N−

1) when said start flag therein is set to said second value.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, further comprising the step of setting said SOLF in said third service control header to N−

(N−

2) when said start flag therein is set to said second value and said frame comprising said third service control header is transmitted after said frame comprising said second service control header.

35. A method as claimed in claim 32, further comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of frames comprising one of a plurality of services comprising said service, said second service, said third service and other services and respective ones of a plurality of service control headers, each of said plurality of service control headers comprising an auxiliary data field and start flag for indicating when said auxiliary data field corresponding thereto is a segment in a multiframe signal;

setting said SOLF in said service control header to N−

1 when said start flag therein is set to said first value, N corresponding to the total number of said segments that constitute said multiframe signal;

setting said SOLF in said second service control header, said third service control header and each of said plurality of service control headers to 1, 2, 3, 4 . . . N−

1, respectively when said corresponding start flag is set to said second value to indicate which of said N segments in said multiframe signal said auxiliary data field corresponds.

36. A method of formatting data for transmission to remote receivers comprising the steps of:

receiving broadcast channels from at least one broadcast station, each of said broadcast channels comprising a plurality of prime rate channels, each of said prime rate channels comprising a plurality of symbols;

routing each of said plurality of prime rate channels to at least one of a plurality of time division multiplexed downlinks, each of said plurality of time division multiplexed downlinks comprising a plurality of time slots;

multiplexing said symbols corresponding to each of said prime rate channels and routed to the same one of said plurality of time division multiplexed downlinks into said time slots in said same downlinks to generate a corresponding plurality of serial, time division multiplexed or TDM frame bit streams; and

appending a time slot control word to each of said TDM frame bit streams to control the recovery of said prime rate channels corresponding to a selected one of said broadcast channels by at least one of said remote receivers, said time slot control word comprising at least one field selected from the group consisting of a broadcast channel identifier type field, a broadcast channel identifier number field, a last prime rate channel flag, a format identifier field, and a broadcast audience field;

wherein said appending step further comprises the step of adding at least two bits to said time slot control word to indicate which of a plurality of different identification code types corresponds to said identification code of said selected one of said broadcast channels, said type of code being selected from the group consisting of a local code, a regional code and a worldwide code, said local code being useful to uniquely identify one of a plurality of broadcast channels transmitted to a geographic area by a spot beam from a satellite transmitter, said regional code identifying one of a plurality of broadcast channels transmitted to one of a predetermined contiguous geographic area and predetermined non-contiguous geographic areas, said worldwide code being useful to distinguish said second broadcast channel from other ones of a plurality of broadcast channels transmitted worldwide.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein said appending step further comprises the step of adding at least two bits to said time slot control word to indicate which of a plurality of different identification code types corresponds to said identification code of said selected one of said broadcast channels, said type of code being selected from the group consisting of a local code, a regional code and a worldwide code, said local code being useful to uniquely identify one of a plurality of broadcast channels transmitted to a geographic area by a spot beam from a satellite transmitter, said regional code identifying one of a plurality of broadcast channels transmitted to one of a predetermined contiguous geographic area and predetermined non-contiguous geographic areas, said worldwide code being useful to distinguish said second broadcast channel from other ones of a plurality of broadcast channels transmitted worldwide.

38. A method of formatting data for transmission to remote receivers comprising the steps of:

receiving broadcast channels from at least one broadcast station, each of said broadcast channels comprising a plurality of prime rate channels, each of said prime rate channels comprising a plurality of symbols;

routing each of said plurality of prime rate channels to at least one of a plurality of time division multiplexed downlinks, each of said plurality of time division multiplexed downlinks comprising a plurality of time slots;

multiplexing said symbols corresponding to each of said prime rate channels and routed to the same one of said plurality of time division multiplexed downlinks into said time slots in said same downlinks to generate a corresponding plurality of serial, time division multiplexed or TDM frame bit streams;

appending a time slot control word to each of said TDM frame bit streams to control the recovery of said prime rate channels corresponding to a selected one of said broadcast channels by at least one of said remote receivers, said time slot control word comprising at least one field selected from the group consisting of a broadcast channel identifier type field, a broadcast channel identifier number field, a last prime rate channel flag, a format identifier field, and a broadcast audience field; and

assigning an identification code to uniquely distinguish said selected one of said broadcast channels from among a plurality of broadcast channels received within a selected one of a plurality of geographic areas.

39. A method as claimed in claim 38, further comprising the step of providing at least one bit to said time slot control word to indicate which of a plurality of different identification code types corresponds to said identification code of said selected one of said broadcast channels, said plurality of different identification code types corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of geographic areas.

40. A method of formatting a signal for broadcast transmission to remote receivers comprising the steps of:

receiving a service comprising at least a first service component selected from the group consisting of audio, data, static images, dynamic images, paging signals, text, messages and panographic symbols; and

generating a broadcast channel bit stream frame by appending a service control header to said service to dynamically control reception of said service at said remote receivers, said service control header comprising service control header data selected from the group consisting of a preamble indicating the beginning of said frame, a bit rate index indicating the bit rate of said service, encryption control data, an auxiliary data field, an auxiliary field content indicator relating to the content of said auxiliary data field, data relating to multiframes in said auxiliary data field when said auxiliary data field is multiplexed, and data indicating the number of service components which constitute said frame;

wherein said preamble is one of a binary number and a hexadecimal number selected for effective auto-correlation to facilitate synchronization of said frame when said frame is received, said preamble comprising 20 bits and corresponding to 0474B hexadecimal.

41. A method of formatting a signal for broadcast transmission to remote receivers comprising the steps of:

receiving a service comprising at least a first service component selected from the group consisting of audio, data, static images, dynamic images, paging signals, text, messages and panographic symbols;

generating a broadcast channel bit stream frame by appending a service control header to said service to dynamically control reception of said service at said remote receivers, said service control header comprising service control header data selected from the group consisting of a preamble indicating the beginning of said frame, a bit rate index indicating the bit rate of said service, encryption control data, an auxiliary data field, an auxiliary field content indicator relating to the content of said auxiliary data field, data relating to multiframes in said auxiliary data field when said auxiliary data field is multiplexed, and data indicating the number of service components which constitute said frame; and

encrypting one of a broadcast channel comprising said service and said service control header, and a plurality of broadcast channels comprising different services and corresponding service control headers, said encryption control data comprising bits to indicate a type of key needed by said remote receivers to decrypt a corresponding one of said broadcast channel and said plurality of broadcast channels, said type of key being selected from a group of keys consisting of a static key, a common key and a specific key, said static key being useful to encrypt and broadcast said service in said broadcast channel to selected ones of said remote receivers which are configured perform decryption using said static key, said common key being useful for decryption at all of said remote receivers of each of said plurality of broadcast channels which were encrypt ed using the same encryption scheme, and said specific key being useful for decryption at all of said remote receivers of said broadcast channel when said broadcast channel has been encrypted using a selected encryption scheme.

42. A method of formatting a signal for broadcast transmission to remote receivers comprising the steps of:

receiving a service comprising at least a first service component selected from the group consisting of audio, data, static images, dynamic images, paging signals, text, messages and panographic symbols;

generating a broadcast channel bit stream frame by appending a service control header to said service to dynamically control reception of said service at said remote receivers, said service control header comprising service control header data selected from the group consisting of a preamble indicating the beginning of said frame, a bit rate index indicating the bit rate of said service, encryption control data, an auxiliary data field, an auxiliary field content indicator relating to the content of said auxiliary data field, data relating to multiframes in said auxiliary data field when said auxiliary data field is multiplexed, and data indicating the number of service components which constitute said frame; and

transmitting a Radio Data System (RDS) PI code for frequency modulated (FM) broadcasting in said auxiliary data field of service control header, said auxiliary field content indicator comprising bits to indicate that said auxiliary data field comprises said RDS PI code.

43. A method of formatting a signal for broadcast transmission to remote receivers comprising the steps of:

receiving a service comprising at least a first service component selected from the group consisting of audio, data, static images, dynamic images, paging signals, text, messages and panographic symbols;

generating a broadcast channel bit stream frame by appending a service control header to said service to dynamically control reception of said service at said remote receivers, said service control header comprising service control header data selected from the group consisting of a preamble indicating the beginning of said frame, a bit rate index indicating the bit rate of said service, encryption control data, an auxiliary data field, an auxiliary field content indicator relating to the content of said auxiliary data field, data relating to multiframes in said auxiliary data field when said auxiliary data field is multiplexed, and data indicating the number of service components which constitute said frame; and

providing said service control header with bits in said auxiliary field content indicator for display on a display device connected to at least one of said remote.

44. A method of formatting a signal for broadcast transmission to remote receivers comprising the steps of:

receiving a service comprising at least a first service component selected from the group consisting of audio, data, static images, dynamic images, paging signals, text, messages and panographic symbols;

generating a broadcast channel bit stream frame by appending a service control header to said service to dynamically control reception of said service at said remote receivers, said service control header comprising service control header data selected from the group consisting of a preamble indicating the beginning of said frame, a bit rate index indicating the bit rate of said service, encryption control data, an auxiliary data field, an auxiliary field content indicator relating to the content of said auxiliary data field, data relating to multiframes in said auxiliary data field when said auxiliary data field is multiplexed, and data indicating the number of service components which constitute said frame; and

providing said service control header with bits for display on a display device connected to at least one of said remote, said bits comprising a standard sequence service label.