Abstract: A reception apparatus including a tuner and circuitry is provided. The tuner is configured to receive a transmission frame. The circuitry is configured to detect a last symbol of a first part of the transmission frame. The circuitry is configured to extract first signaling information, from the last symbol of the first part of the transmission frame, to decode a second part of the transmission frame. The circuitry is configured to remove a guard interval of a symbol of the second part of the transmission frame based on the guard interval indicated by the first signaling information. The circuitry is further configured to recover payload data from a third part of the transmission frame based on second signaling information included in the second part of the transmission frame. The first part is a bootstrap portion, the second part is a preamble portion, and the third part is a payload portion.

Abstract: A method of a reception apparatus for receiving transmission frames. The method includes receiving, by circuitry of the reception apparatus, the transmission frames transmitted on one millisecond boundaries. Each of the transmission frames includes a bootstrap, a preamble, and a payload. The method further includes determining, by the circuitry, an absolute point of time at a predetermined position in a stream of the transmission frames based on first time information included in a first one of the transmission frames.

Abstract: A method is provided for a reception apparatus to access content. The method includes outputting a distribution schedule for a plurality of content and receiving a selection of one of the plurality of content for which distribution started before or starts after a current time. At least one processor of the reception apparatus determines whether on-demand access is requested for the selected content. When on-demand access is determined to be requested for the selected content, a request for the selected content is sent over a first communication medium and the selected content is received via a second communication medium.

Abstract: A method of a reception apparatus for receiving transmission frames. The method includes receiving, by circuitry of the reception apparatus, the transmission frames transmitted on one millisecond boundaries. Each of the transmission frames includes a bootstrap, a preamble, and a payload. The method further includes determining, by the circuitry, an absolute point of time at a predetermined position in a stream of the transmission frames based on first time information included in a first one of the transmission frames.

Abstract: An information providing system, reception apparatus, and methods thereof are provided for providing content data. The method for providing content includes generating the content data. A digital television pre-broadcast signal, including the content data, is generated. At least one portion of the digital television pre-broadcast signal is extracted. The at least one portion of the digital television pre-broadcast signal is packaged into one or more Internet Protocol (IP) data packets. A digital television broadcast signal, including the remainder of the digital television pre-broadcast signal, is generated. The one or more IP data packets is provided via a communication network. The digital television broadcast signal is provided on a predetermined radio frequency (RF) channel.

Abstract: A distribution system and reception apparatus, and methods thereof, are provided for broadcasting and receiving a plurality of first services from a plurality of different broadcast providers, which broadcast a plurality of second services over a plurality of different broadcast channels, on a transition broadcast channel that is different from the plurality of different broadcast channels. The system includes at least one receiver and a transmitter. The at least one receiver is configured to receive the plurality of first services from the plurality of different broadcast providers. The transmitter is configured to broadcast the plurality of first services over the transition broadcast channel.

Abstract: A distribution system and reception apparatus, and methods thereof, are provided for broadcasting and receiving a plurality of non-backwards-compatible services. The broadcasting method includes receiving, by a first service provider, a plurality of first services, which include a first service from each of the first and second service providers. The first service provider generates a first broadcast multiplex, including the plurality of first services, and broadcasts the first broadcast multiplex on a first broadcast channel allocated to the first service provider. A second service provider receives a plurality of second services, which include a second service from each of the first and second service providers. The second service provider generates a second broadcast multiplex, including the plurality of second services, and broadcasts the second broadcast multiplex on a second broadcast channel allocated to the second service provider.

Abstract: A reception apparatus including a tuner and circuitry is provided. The tuner is configured to receive a transmission frame. The circuitry is configured to detect a last symbol of a first part of the transmission frame. The circuitry is configured to extract first signaling information, from the last symbol of the first part of the transmission frame, to decode a second part of the transmission frame. The circuitry is configured to remove a guard interval of a symbol of the second part of the transmission frame based on the guard interval indicated by the first signaling information. The circuitry is further configured to recover payload data from a third part of the transmission frame based on second signaling information included in the second part of the transmission frame. The first part is a bootstrap portion, the second part is a preamble portion, and the third part is a payload portion.

Abstract: A method is provided for a reception apparatus to access non-real-time (NRT) content. The method includes receiving, by the reception apparatus, a selection of the NRT content included in a digital television broadcast signal broadcast by a content source. The reception apparatus determines whether the selected NRT content is stored in a memory of the reception apparatus. When the selected NRT content is determined not to be stored in the memory, the reception apparatus determines whether the selected NRT content can be downloaded from an external device that is accessible via a communication network. When the selected NRT content is determined to be downloadable from an external device that is accessible via the communication network, the reception apparatus downloads the selected NRT content from the external device.

Abstract: A distribution system and reception apparatus, and methods thereof, are provided for broadcasting and receiving a plurality of non-backwards-compatible services. The broadcasting method includes receiving, by a first service provider, a plurality of first services, which include a first service from each of the first and second service providers. The first service provider generates a first broadcast multiplex, including the plurality of first services, and broadcasts the first broadcast multiplex on a first broadcast channel allocated to the first service provider. A second service provider receives a plurality of second services, which include a second service from each of the first and second service providers. The second service provider generates a second broadcast multiplex, including the plurality of second services, and broadcasts the second broadcast multiplex on a second broadcast channel allocated to the second service provider.

Abstract: A distribution system and reception apparatus, and methods thereof, are provided for broadcasting and receiving a plurality of non-backwards-compatible services. The broadcasting method includes receiving, by a first service provider, a plurality of first services, which include a first service from each of the first and second service providers. The first service provider generates a first broadcast multiplex, including the plurality of first services, and broadcasts the first broadcast multiplex on a first broadcast channel allocated to the first service provider. A second service provider receives a plurality of second services, which include a second service from each of the first and second service providers. The second service provider generates a second broadcast multiplex, including the plurality of second services, and broadcasts the second broadcast multiplex on a second broadcast channel allocated to the second service provider.

Abstract: Processing and transmitting transmission frames. A method for processing a transmission frame, includes receiving a transmission frame including a bootstrap portion, a preamble portion, and a payload portion. The boot strap portion of the received transmission frame is processed, by processing circuitry of a reception apparatus, to extract preamble structure information from one of four bootstrap symbols included in the bootstrap portion. The preamble portion of the transmission frame is decoded, by the processing circuitry, based on the extracted preamble structure information. A first one of the four bootstrap symbols is used for synchronization and a last one of the four bootstrap symbols in the bootstrap portion includes the preamble structure information. Further, the preamble structure information indicates a structure of one or more preamble symbols in the preamble portion that follows the last symbol.

Abstract: A method is provided for a reception apparatus to store non-real-time (NRT) content. The method includes receiving, by the reception apparatus, the NRT content included in a digital television broadcast signal broadcast from a content source. The received NRT content, included in the digital television broadcast signal broadcast from the content source, is stored in a memory of the reception apparatus. The reception apparatus outputs the NRT content stored in the memory for presentation to a user. The reception apparatus receives a request to store the NRT content in an external device and, in response, sends an instruction via a communication network to store the NRT content in the external device.

Abstract: An information providing system, reception apparatus, and methods thereof are provided for protected content data. The method for providing the protected content data includes generating or receiving the protected content data, and generating a digital television broadcast signal including at least one data field sync segment and the protected content data. The digital television broadcast signal is provided to a reception apparatus. The at least one data field sync segment carries information necessary to identify a framing structure of the digital television broadcast signal and includes one of security information for accessing the protected content data and a location of the security information.

Abstract: A method is provided for a reception apparatus to store non-real-time (NRT) content. The method includes receiving, by the reception apparatus, the NRT content included in a digital television broadcast signal broadcast from a content source. The received NRT content, included in the digital television broadcast signal broadcast from the content source, is stored in a memory of the reception apparatus. The reception apparatus outputs the NRT content stored in the memory for presentation to a user. The reception apparatus receives a request to store the NRT content in an external device and, in response, sends an instruction via a communication network to store the NRT content in the external device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for transmitting and receiving a-priori information. The transmitting method includes generating, by circuitry of a transmission apparatus, the a-priori information based on a sampling frequency and a channel bandwidth of a signal to be transmitted. The a-priori information is appended to a data signal by the circuitry. The circuitry transmits the data signal including the appended a-priori information to a reception apparatus.

Abstract: A reception apparatus and method for provider signaling. The method includes receiving a portion of a broadcast stream including low level signaling (LLS) information. The LLS information includes a provider count field. The method further includes extracting using circuitry a value of the provider count field. The provider count field identifies the number of different providers that provide LLS information in the portion of the broadcast stream. In addition, the method includes determining the number of providers based on the value of the provider count field and processing the portion of the broadcast stream to extract the LLS information until the LLS information for each of the different providers is extracted based on the determined number of providers.

Abstract: Processing and transmitting transmission frames. A method for processing a transmission frame, includes receiving a transmission frame including a bootstrap portion, a preamble portion, and a payload portion. The boot strap portion of the received transmission frame is processed, by processing circuitry of a reception apparatus, to extract preamble structure information from one of four bootstrap symbols included in the bootstrap portion. The preamble portion of the transmission frame is decoded, by the processing circuitry, based on the extracted preamble structure information. A first one of the four bootstrap symbols is used for synchronization and a last one of the four bootstrap symbols in the bootstrap portion includes the preamble structure information. Further, the preamble structure information indicates a structure of one or more preamble symbols in the preamble portion that follows the last symbol.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus and transmitting method for signaling parameters of a part of a frame, and a reception apparatus and receiving method for decoding a part of a transmission frame. The transmitting method includes generating, using processing circuitry of a transmission apparatus, a transmission frame. The transmission frame includes a plurality of parts. A last symbol in a first one of the plurality of parts includes signaling information for decoding a second one of the plurality of parts. The transmitting method further includes transmitting the transmission frame using the processing circuitry.

Abstract: A distribution system and reception apparatus, and methods thereof, are provided for broadcasting and receiving a plurality of first services from a plurality of different broadcast providers, which broadcast a plurality of second services over a plurality of different broadcast channels, on a transition broadcast channel that is different from the plurality of different broadcast channels. The system includes at least one receiver and a transmitter. The at least one receiver is configured to receive the plurality of first services from the plurality of different broadcast providers. The transmitter is configured to broadcast the plurality of first services over the transition broadcast channel.