Abstract: In a digital broadband broadcast transmitter, digital data is time interleaved for transmission, and the time interleaved digital data is transmitted in a digital broadband broadcast transmission towards a plurality of receivers. A cellular transmitter is operated in an apparatus. In the same apparatus, the digital broadband broadcast transmission transmitted by the digital broadband broadcast transmitter is received, and the received digital broadband broadcast transmission is time deinterleaved.

Abstract: A terrestrial digital video broadcasting (DVB-T) network is used to transmit IP datagrams to receiving devices using multiprotocol encapsulation (MPE). MPE datagram sections and, if forward error correction (FEC) is used, MPE-FEC datagram sections are transmitted in time-sliced bursts. Time slicing parameters specifying a minimum time between bursts and bit rate output of a receiving device time slicing buffer can be used to help improve power saving and improve quality of service.

Abstract: Services and service components in a broadcast network may be mapped to disparate physical layer transmission channels (PLPs) using logical layer pipes (LLPs). The use of LLPs allows different service components of a single service to be mapped to physical layer transmission channels (PLPs). Accordingly, service components may be shared among different services. Additionally or alternatively, different functions (e.g., different error detection or correction protocols) may be applied to each service components of a service. A receiver may identify services, service components and corresponding PLPs based on LLP identifiers. The receiver may then access and receive desired services and service components through the identified PLPs.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to binary phase shift key modulating a first pilot symbol according to a reference sequence, and differentially binary phase shift key modulating a second pilot symbols. The original reference sequence and the delayed differentially modulated sequence are then combined before performing an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform and inserting a guard interval. Receiver operations are an inverse of the transmitter operations, which were just discussed. The receiver does not have to know the reference sequence. Embodiments are directed to specifying a plurality of seeds that are bit patterns each having r bits not all of which have a value of zero, extending the seeds into respective sequences by applying to each seed a recurrence formula; and using one of the sequences as a comb sequence and using the sequences other than the comb sequence as binary phase shift keying patterns.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically dividing the capacity of a fixed time division multiplexing (TDM) frame between physical channels for data transmission. According to various embodiments, a time frequency frame is divided into a plurality of subframes, and each of the plurality of subframes are divided into a plurality of corresponding slots. The plurality of slots are then selectively time shifted such that a defined time shift exists between corresponding slots in each subframe within the time frequency frame. For any slots or slot portions which have been selectively shifted beyond the end of the time frequency frame, such slots or slot portions are cyclically shifted to the beginning of the frame. Service data is then written into the slots of the time frequency frame, and the frame containing the service data can then be transmitted. Initialization and service access processes for a receiver are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing optimized multiplexing and power saving in a broadcast/multicast network. According to various embodiments, frame and slot structures are designed in such a way so as to adapt based upon the bit rate variation of the input stream, while at the same time not compromising the receiver's power consumption.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide apparatuses, computer media, and methods for supporting the broadcast of signaling data over a network. Signaling data is encoded, partitioned into M signaling segments, and distributed over M corresponding data frames. A data stream with the partitioned signaling data is transmitted through a digital terrestrial television broadcasting system, where the partitioned signaling data may include physical layer configurable data. The number of distributed signaling segments may be determined from a predetermined value or from a parameter contained in pre-signaling data. The number of physical layer pipes supported by signaling data may be increased by separating the static signaling part and the dynamic signaling part, dividing static signaling part into signaling segments, and interleaving the signaling segments over the data frames. The number of physical layer pipes can be further increased by adding at least one P2 symbol.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to transmitting receiver-capacity-signalling data that specifies a plurality of receiver capacities to be used for receiving a service. The signalled receiver capacities may include: a type of time interleaver being used and a minimum burst interval between two consequent bursts. The signaled receiver capacities may also specify: how often a physical layer pipe appears in frames, and/or a number of a frame in which a physical layer pipe appears for a first time during a super frame. Embodiments are directed to receiving the receiver-capacity-signalling data and if, based on the received receiver-capacity-signalling data, receiver capacity is sufficient for one or more selected services, performing service discovery and decoding the one or more services. Otherwise, decoding the one or more services may not be performed.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to service discovery in a digital broadcast network. A service discovery descriptor, which may be electronic service guide-provider and cell specific, provides mapping between a service identifier, a logical channel identifier, and a physical channel, which may be characterized by a frame identifier and a slot identifier, that is, each physical channel may have one or more slots within one or more frames. A neighboring service discovery descriptor provides mapping for the service available within neighboring cells. Aspects of the invention are directed to an encapsulation protocol that encapsulates variable length data, including, but not limited to, the service discovery descriptor and the neighboring service discovery descriptor, into fixed length data stream packets.

Abstract: In an example embodiment a method comprises receiving at least one data stream from at least two transmitter antennas, wherein the at least one data stream is pre-coded by a set of weighting coefficients; receiving a pilot channel from each of the at least two transmitter antennas; processing the received at least one data stream by an equalizer with a set of equalizer filter coefficients; calculating for each of the at least one data stream following: a signal power and an interference power from other stream, if there is any intererence, at least in part based on a set of post equalizer channel coefficients and the set of weighting coefficients; a noise power at least in part based on the received pilot channels and the set of weighting coefficients; and a signal to interference and noise ratio based on the corresponding calculated signal power, interference power and noise power.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to a cell-frequency-link descriptor configured to map network-specific parameters with time frequency slicing (TFS) information in a digital video broadcast system. The cell-frequency-link descriptor may include fields that provide a mapping between a cell identifier, a TFS group identifier, a bandwidth, a guard interval, a transmission mode, and a frequency. The fields may provide a mapping between cells, frequencies, TFS groups, related guard intervals, bandwidths, and transmission modes for multiple cells within the digital video broadcast system. The fields may include: a cell identifier field, a TFS-group identifier field, a bandwidth field, a guard interval field, a transmission mode field, a frequency field, a cell identifier extension field, and a transposer frequency field.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to physical layer and data link layer signaling in digital video broadcast preamble symbols. Embodiments are directed to distributing physical layer pre-signalling data among preamble symbols. If physical layer data is larger than a predetermined number of preamble symbols, then excess physical layer data is written to data symbols immediately following the preamble symbols in top-down order symbol by symbol or the predetermined number of preamble symbols is increased. If physical layer data is not larger than the predetermined number of preamble symbols such that there is excess preamble symbol space, physical layer pipe 0 data comprising link layer signaling and notification data is carried in the excess preamble symbols or the excess preamble symbols are left empty. Different permutation rules may be used to frequency interleave odd-numbered versus even-numbered orthogonal frequency division multiplexing symbols.

Abstract: The invention is directed to efficient transfer of low bit rate services in a communication system. A synchronization symbol which has known characteristics may be included as a first symbol of digital broadcast frames. The synchronization symbol, which can be decoded without having to resort to trial and error methods, contains parameters for the rest of the signal. Low bit rate services are allocated to time slots following the pilot symbol used for synchronization allowing for fast access times with maximum power saving capabilities. A user terminal wakes up just before the synchronization symbol and received the data allocated for the low bit rate services. The user terminal may power off for the remaining time slots which are allocated for higher bit services to conserve power.

Abstract: In an example embodiment a method comprises receiving at least one data stream from at least two transmitter antennas, wherein the at least one data stream is pre-coded by a set of weighting coefficients; receiving a pilot channel from each of the at least two transmitter antennas; processing the received at least one data stream by an equalizer with a set of equalizer filter coefficients; calculating for each of the at least one data stream following: a signal power and an interference power from other stream, if there is any intererence, at least in part based on a set of post equalizer channel coefficients and the set of weighting coefficients; a noise power at least in part based on the received pilot channels and the set of weighting coefficients; and a signal to interference and noise ratio based on the corresponding calculated signal power, interference power and noise power.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a best-effort service is divided into packets for best-effort digital broadcast transmission. The packets are encapsulated with an encapsulation protocol that uses a packet order defining field. The encapsulated packets are inserted into an unused portion of a slot of a digital broadcast transmission frame. Then, the encapsulated packets are repeatedly inserted into the unused portion of the slot of the digital broadcast transmission frame in a packet-carousel fashion. And the transmission frame is digitally broadcast. In accordance with an embodiment, a digital broadcast transmission is received. Encapsulated packets that have been repeatedly broadcast in a packet-carousel fashion are accessed from a best-effort portion of a digital broadcast transmission frame slot. And a best-effort service is composed from the encapsulated packets by combining the encapsulated packets in an order based on a packet order defining field of the encapsulated packets.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for ensuring that time for tuning to another RF channel between two TF frames in TF slicing exists while reception with a single hopping-tuner is enabled, and reception for terminals can be guaranteed when transmitting and receiving common services. An additional time for tuning is introduced for TF-sliced services, where the time for tuning can be inserted either before of after the P1 & P2 symbols, and the symbols allocated for the tuning time can also be used for transmission of low-bit rate services. Alternatively, additional padding bits and a guard period can be added in the event that slots or slot fragments exceed a cyclic transfer border upon time shifting. Alternatively still, the tuning time is represented by a complete TF frame, where the complete TF frame carries services other than those in the first TF frame, so that a service is transmitted in every second TF frame and a receiver can perform tuning during the TF frames which do not carry the service.

Abstract: Systems and methods for receiving an OFDM preamble without knowledge of channel characteristics are provided. An OFDM preamble signal with frequency shifted cyclic extensions is received. Taken together the cyclic extensions form a frequency shifted version of the OFDM preamble signal. Frequency offsets and timing offsets are estimated and corrected in an efficient manner using a simple concatenation approach in the time domain, followed by a summation of the OFDM preamble signal and the concatenation after a transformation of the OFDM preamble and the concatenation into the frequency domain. Phase errors in the frequency domain are estimated and corrected after FFT transformations of the received signals. A valid preamble is detected and additional parameters for receiving subsequently transmitted OFDM symbols in a channel are extracted from the OFDM preamble. The methods are computationally efficient and robust. Receiver implementations for performing the methods in a DVB receiver are disclosed.

Abstract: A multiprotocol encapsulation forward error correction (MPE-FEC) frame comprising datagrams and FEC data is shown wherein an MPE encapsulator places datagrams in MPE sections and FEC data in MPE-FEC sections. A time slicing block forms a sequence of bursts and dividing the MPE-FEC frame between bursts, such that MPE sections are sent in at least two bursts. The time slicing block adds a burst number parameter to headers of the MPE and MPE-FEC sections to enable a terminal to determine whether to expect further bursts carrying data from the MPE-FEC frame.

Abstract: A method comprises dividing a time frequency frame into a plurality of slots, the frame having one or more radio-frequency (RF) channels, determining a maximum slot length, and scheduling service data in symbols such that all service data symbols are within the maximum slot length of symbols corresponding to at least one common service part.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to first and second OFDM pilot symbols. The first and second pilot symbols may have first and second sets, respectively, of allowed, forbidden, and active carrier frequencies. The second sets of carrier frequencies may be formed by frequency shifting the respective first sets by a predetermined frequency, such as the frequency difference between adjacent carriers. An embodiment is directed to frequency translating part of a first received pilot symbol by one carrier interval in a first direction, frequency translating part of a second received pilot symbol by one carrier interval in a second direction that is opposite from the first direction, and forming a correlation by multiplying the frequency translated parts of the first and second pilot symbols by complex conjugates of parts of the pilot symbols upon which frequency translation has not been performed, and summing the multiplication results.