Abstract: The present invention concerns a system for transmitting a plurality of modes of digital television signals within the same transmission channel where one transmission mode is more robust than another mode. The present invention also concerns a system for receiving and decoding such signals. More specifically, an aspect of the present invention involves a method and an apparatus for utilizing a proper length of preamble data for the improvement of reception. Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention involves a method and an apparatus for inserting a preamble into a proper place in a transmitted data stream relative to the filed synchronization data. Another aspect of the present invention involves a method and an apparatus for decoding trellis-coded data, using the predetermined preamble data.

Abstract: A joint preamble and code rate identifier flag in a reserved portion of a data field synchronization segment in a digital television (DTV) data field identifies the presence of preamble training data in a forward error correction (FEC) encoded portion of the DTV data field. The identifier flag also indicates the code rate used for the data field. The data field synchronization segment is not FEC encoded, thereby allowing detection of the identifier flag without FEC decoding. The detection at a receiver of the identifier flag in a DTV data field allows receiver elements, such as an equalizer and a FEC decoder, to more readily obtain and utilize the preamble training data, thereby enhancing reception and/or simplifying receiver design.

Abstract: A preamble identifier flag in a reserved portion of a data field synchronization segment in a digital television (DTV) data field identifies the presence of preamble training data in a forward error correction (FEC) encoded portion of the DTV data field. The data field synchronization segment is not FEC encoded, thereby allowing detection of the preamble identifier flag without FEC decoding. The detection at a receiver of the preamble identifier flag in a DTV data field allows receiver elements, such as an equalizer and a FEC decoder, to more readily obtain and utilize the preamble training data, thereby enhancing reception and/or simplifying receiver design.

Abstract: Information is transmitted indicating when a burst mode will take place which intervenes during a regular transmission mode. The information transmitted can also include information indicating how long such a burst mode will be and the contents of the burst mode where such contents can be identified as video, audio, system information, advertisements, or interactive content.

Abstract: New capabilities will allow conventional broadcast transmission to be available to mobile devices. A method is described including receiving a data set, extracting a subset, encoding the subset using a first encoding process, combining the encoded subset with the remaining portion, and encoding the combined data set including the appended subset using a second encoding process. an apparatus is described including means for extracting a subset, means for first encoding, means for combining, and means for second encoding. An apparatus for decoding includes a data identifier receiving a data set and identifying a subset of data, a first decoder decoding the subset using a first decoding process, and a second decoder combining the subset of data with a remaining portion of the data set and decoding the combined data using a second decoding process. A method for decoding is also described.

Abstract: New capabilities will allow conventional broadcast transmission to be available to mobile devices. A method is described including receiving a data set, extracting a subset, encoding the subset using a first encoding process, combining the encoded subset with the remaining portion, and encoding the combined data set including the appended subset using a second encoding process. an apparatus is described including means for extracting a subset, means for first encoding, means for combining, and means for second encoding. An apparatus for decoding includes a data identifier receiving a data set and identifying a subset of data, a first decoder decoding the subset using a first decoding process, and a second decoder combining the subset of data with a remaining portion of the data set and decoding the combined data using a second decoding process. A method for decoding is also described.

Abstract: New capabilities will allow conventional broadcast transmission to be available to mobile devices. The present embodiments describe an apparatus and method for encoding and decoding signals. A method includes the steps of generating data blocks, encoding a first set of data blocks using a first encoding rate, encoding a second set of data blocks using a second encoding rate, and generating a control packet, the control packet identifying the first set of data blocks and the first encoding rate, and identifying the second set of data blocks and the second encoding rate. An apparatus includes a first decoder receiving data and decoding a first subset of the data, including a control packet, at a first decoding rate and a controller controlling the operation of the first decoder based on the decoded control packet.

Abstract: New capabilities will allow conventional broadcast transmission to be available to mobile devices. A method is described including the steps of receiving data, encoding the data using a first encoding process, inserting training data into the encoded data, and encoding the encoded data and the training data using a second encoding process. An apparatus is also described including a first encoder receiving at least a portion of data and encoding the portion of data using a first encoding process, a training data inserter inserting training data into the first encoded data, and a second encoder encoding the first encoded data and the training data using a second encoding process.

Abstract: New capabilities will allow conventional broadcast transmission to be available to mobile devices. A method is described including the steps of receiving a packet of data having a data payload and a header, byte code encoding the data in the packet, and altering information in the header in response to the byte code encoding. An apparatus is described including an encoder receiving a packet of data and encoding the data using a byte code encoding process and a header modifier altering information in the header in response to the byte code encoding. A decoding apparatus is described including a packet identifier receiving a plurality of data packets, and identifying a data packet based on information in the header, a byte code decoder decoding the identified data packet using a byte code decoding process, and a Reed-Solomon decoder decoding at least the decoded identified data packet using a Reed-Solomon decoding process.

Abstract: A receiver includes an equalizer and a decoder which decodes data from a signal. The signal is based upon an output of the equalizer. The receiver also includes an encoder, which re-encodes the decoded data, and an error generator, which generates an error vector based upon the signal and the encoded data and which weights the error vector according to a reliability that the decoder accurately decoded the data from the signal. A controller controls the equalizer in response to the weighted error vector.

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: An equalizer (200A) comprises a feedforward filter (210), wherein the feedforward filter includes a plurality of feedforward filter taps, coefficients are associated with the plurality of feedforward filter taps, and values of all of the coefficients associated with the plurality of feedforward filter taps are dynamically determined. In some embodiments, the equalizer also comprises a decision feedback equalizer (216).

Abstract: A method of controlling sampling frequency and sampling phase of a sampling device from a value generated by an equalizer coupled to the sampling device includes the steps of generating a complex representation of the value developed by the equalizer and generating a representation of a decision from an output of the equalizer. The complex representation and the decision representation are correlated to obtain a sampling error estimate. The sampling error estimate is used to adjust the sampling frequency and sampling phase of the sampling device.

Abstract: A joint preamble and code rate identifier flag in a reserved portion of a data field synchronization segment in a digital television (DTV) data field identifies the presence of preamble training data in a forward error correction (FEC) encoded portion of the DTV data field. The identifier flag also indicates the code rate used for the data field. The data field synchronization segment is not FEC encoded, thereby allowing detection of the identifier flag without FEC decoding. The detection at a receiver of the identifier flag in a DTV data field allows receiver elements, such as an equalizer and a FEC decoder, to more readily obtain and utilize the preamble training data, thereby enhancing reception and/or simplifying receiver design.

Abstract: A preamble identifier flag in a reserved portion of a data field synchronization segment in a digital television (DTV) data field identifies the presence of preamble training data in a forward error correction (FEC) encoded portion of the DTV data field. The data field synchronization segment is not FEC encoded, thereby allowing detection of the preamble identifier flag without FEC decoding. The detection at a receiver of the preamble identifier flag in a DTV data field allows receiver elements, such as an equalizer and a FEC decoder, to more readily obtain and utilize the preamble training data, thereby enhancing reception and/or simplifying receiver design.

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: 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: 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.