Abstract: An output of an equalizer is decoded to produce first decoded data having a first accuracy. The output of the equalizer is further decoded to produce second decoded data having a second accuracy, and the second accuracy is greater than the first accuracy. Tap weights for the equalizer are calculated using the first and second decoded data. The calculated tap weights are applied to the taps of the equalizer.

Abstract: An equalizer system includes an equalizer, first and second decoders, and a tap weight controller. The equalizer equalizes a received signal to provide an equalizer output. The first decoder is characterized by a first parallel output, and the first decoder decodes the equalizer output to provide first symbol decisions having a first accuracy. The second decoder is characterized by a second parallel output, the second decoder receives the first parallel output and decodes the equalizer output to provide second symbol decisions having a second accuracy, the first accuracy is greater than the second accuracy, and the second decoder applies the second parallel output to the equalizer. The tap weight controller determines tap weights based on the first symbol decisions and supplies the tap weights to the equalizer.

Abstract: An impulse response of a channel is estimated by cross-correlating a known training signal with a received training signal to produce a cross-correlation vector. The cross-correlation vector is characterized by a known noise component resulting from the finiteness of the correlation. A correction vector is estimated based on the known training signal, where the correction vector is related to the noise component. Truncated representations of the correction vector are iteratively subtracted from the cross-correlation vector in order to produce a succession of cross-correlation outputs of increased accuracy. When the cross-correlation output is sufficiently accurate, it may be used to determine the weights to be given to the taps of an equalizer.

Abstract: A response of a channel may be estimated by correlating a received signal and a training sequence, by forming a matrix ? based on a desired shape for the peaks of the correlation, by extracting a vector y from the received signal, and by estimating the channel response from a least-squares solution based on the matrix ?, the vector y, and a matrix formed from the elements of the known training sequence.

Abstract: A channel impulse response is determined from a cross-correlation of a received training sequence and a stored version of the transmitted training sequence. The channel impulse response is iteratively cleansed of noise caused by the finiteness of the cross-correlation. Initial values of the tap weights for the taps of an equalizer such as a decision feedback equalizer may be determined based on the cleansed channel impulse response.

Abstract: Normally ordered robust VSB data are reordered in accordance with a first interleave to produce reordered robust VSB data, The reordered robust VSB data and ATSC data are reordered in accordance with a second interleave to produce normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data. The normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data are time multiplexed for transmission to a receiver. The receiver discards the reordered ATSC data or the normally ordered robust VSB data depending upon receiver type or user selection. A robust VSB receiver is able to process the normally ordered robust VSB data upstream of an outer decoder without an interleave thereby avoiding the delay associated with an interleave.

Abstract: A received signal having a series of T-spaced symbols having more than two levels is sampled at a rate that produces successive samples SP, SC, and SN substantially equally spaced by T/2. An output representing the difference between the sign of the sample SN and the sign of the sample SP is generated, and the value of the sample SC is offset so that the value of the sample SC approaches zero. The offset value of the sample SC and the generated output are multiplied together in order to provide a timing error signal. The sampling of the received signal is controlled in accordance with the timing error signal.

Abstract: Frames comprise odd fields and even fields. The frame sync segments of the odd fields contains a current map specifying the location of data in frames, a next map specifying the location of data in a future frame, and a frame count designating the future frame. The frame sync segments of the even field may contain the same information. Alternatively, the frame sync segments of the odd fields contain the current map and part of the frame count, and the frame sync segments of the corresponding even fields contain the next map and the rest of the frame count. A receiver uses the map and frame count information to find data in the fields of received frames.

Abstract: A decision feedback equalizer is operated by making first symbol decisions from an output of the decision feedback equalizer such that the first symbol decisions are characterized by a relatively long processing delay, by making second symbol decisions from the output of the decision feedback equalizer such that the second symbol decisions are characterized by a relatively short processing delay, and by determining tap weights for the decision feedback equalizer based on the first and second symbol decisions. The first symbol decisions may be derived from the output of a long traceback trellis decoder. The second symbol decisions may be derived either from the output of a short traceback trellis decoder or from shorter delay outputs of the long traceback trellis decoder.

Abstract: In an enhanced slice prediction embodiment, an input containing first and second data is received. Each data element of the first data represents a number of bits that is greater than a number of bits represented by each data element of the second data, and the first and second data in the received input are defined by the same n level constellation. The input is decoded with a first decoder to recover both the first and second data. Only the second data is decoded with a second decoder. Enhanced slice prediction is provided based on the decoding of the second decoder.

Abstract: A receiver receives a digital signal. The digital signal contains a frame of robust VSB data and ATSC data, and the digital signal further contains a map. The map contains information indicating a location of the robust VSB data and ATSC data in the frame. A decoder of the receiver decodes the digital signal. A processor of the receiver processes at least one of the robust VSB data and the ATSC data according to the location information contained in the map.

Abstract: A transmitter transmits successive data fields, and each data field includes a mix of VSB data segments and E-VSB data segments and interleaved portions of maps. The maps define the mixes of VSB data segments and E-VSB data segments in corresponding data fields to be transmitted after the corresponding maps are transmitted. Prior to interleaving, the maps are encoded. At a receiver, the maps are de-interleaved and de-coded so as to derive the mix of VSB and E-VSB data segments defining each of the data fields. The interleaving and de-interleaving have a combined latency of at least L fields. The VSB and E-VSB data segments of each of the data fields are separated in response to the de-interleaved maps.

Abstract: Frames comprise odd fields and even fields. The frame sync segments of the odd fields contains a current map specifying the location of data in frames, a next map specifying the location of data in a future frame, and a frame count designating the future frame. The frame sync segments of the even field may contain the same information. Alternatively, the frame sync segments of the odd fields contain the current map and part of the frame count, and the frame sync segments of the corresponding even fields contain the next map and the rest of the frame count. A receiver uses the map and frame count information to find data in the fields of received frames.

Abstract: Input data segments of received symbols are continuously stored in a decision feedback equalizer buffer at a symbol rate S. Output data sections of received symbols are supplied from the decision feedback equalizer buffer at an output rate of nS such that void times separate the output data sections, and n>1. The received symbols supplied by the decision feedback equalizer buffer are equalized in a decision feedback equalizer to provide equalized symbols; and the equalized symbols are decoded by a decoder to provide decoded symbols. Adjustments for the decision feedback equalizer are calculated during the void times such that the adjustments are calculated based on both the received symbols supplied by the decision feedback equalizer buffer and the decoded symbols. The adjustments are applied to the decision feedback equalizer.

Abstract: Normally ordered robust VSB data are reordered in accordance with a first interleave to produce reordered robust VSB data. The reordered robust VSB data and ATSC data are reordered in accordance with a second interleave to produce normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data. The normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data are time multiplexed for transmission to a receiver. The receiver discards the reordered ATSC data or the normally ordered robust VSB data depending upon receiver type or user selection. A robust VSB receiver is able to process the normally ordered robust VSB data upstream of an outer decoder without an interleave thereby avoiding the delay associated with an interleave.

Abstract: Normally ordered robust VSB data are reordered in accordance with a first interleave to produce reordered robust VSB data. The reordered robust VSB data and ATSC data are reordered in accordance with a second interleave to produce normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data. The normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data are time multiplexed for transmission to a receiver. The receiver discards the reordered ATSC data or the normally ordered robust VSB data depending upon receiver type or user selection. A robust VSB receiver is able to process the normally ordered robust VSB data upstream of an outer decoder without an interleave thereby avoiding the delay associated with an interleave.

Abstract: A data encoding system includes a modifier, an encoder, and a feedback. The modifier receives a first data stream and modifies the first data stream so as to provide a second data stream. The encoder encodes the second data stream in order to provide an output. At least a portion of the output has predetermined symbol values. A feedback from the encoder to the modifier provides encoder states to the modifier. The modifier modifies the first data stream based on the encoder states so as to facilitate the encoder in providing the portion of the output having the predetermined symbol values. A receiver receives a signal based on the output and decodes the signal.

Abstract: Frames comprise odd fields and even fields. The frame sync segments of the odd fields contains a current map specifying the location of data in frames, a next map specifying the location of data in a future frame, and a frame count designating the future frame. The frame sync segments of the even field may contain the same information. Alternatively, the frame sync segments of the odd fields contain the current map and part of the frame count, and the frame sync segments of the corresponding even fields contain the next map and the rest of the frame count. A receiver uses the map and frame count information to find data in the fields of received frames.

Abstract: Frames comprise odd fields and even fields. The frame sync segments of the odd fields contains a current map specifying the location of data in frames, a next map specifying the location of data in a future frame, and a frame count designating the future frame. The frame sync segments of the even field may contain the same information. Alternatively, the frame sync segments of the odd fields contain the current map and part of the frame count, and the frame sync segments of the corresponding even fields contain the next map and the rest of the frame count. A receiver uses the map and frame count information to find data in the fields of received frames.

Abstract: A channel impulse response for a channel is determined by determining an initial channel impulse response estimate based upon a stored training sequence and a received signal, by thresholding the initial channel impulse response estimate, by estimating a noise variance for the channel based upon the stored training sequence, the thresholded initial channel impulse response estimate, and the received signal, by determining an inverse of a covariance matrix based on the estimated noise variance and the thresholded initial channel impulse response estimate, by updating the channel impulse response based on the inverse covariance matrix, the stored training sequence, and the received signal, and by thresholding the updated channel impulse response estimate.