[0033] The detailed description is set forth below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, the detailed description is intended as a description of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is not intended to represent the only embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided by way of example or illustration only and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive, nor are they intended to limit the claimed subject matter to the precise forms disclosed.
[0034] For the purposes of this disclosure, for example, the phrase "at least one of A, B, and C" means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B) and C) or (A, B and C), when more than three elements are listed, all further possible permutations are included. In other words, the term "at least one of A and B" generally refers to "A and/or B", ie "A" alone, "B" alone, or "A and B".
[0035] exist figure 1 In , a broadcast system 10 is shown comprising a data source 12 and a gateway 14 connected to the data source 12, for example via an Ethernet connection.
[0036] Further, broadcast system 10 includes multiple transmitters 16 distributed to a single gateway 14 , which is a centralized gateway 14 for multiple transmitters 16 .
[0037] Furthermore, if figure 1 As shown, the broadcast system 10 has a channel coding module 18 formed separately from the transmitter 16 and the single gateway 14 .
[0038] In practice, the channel coding module 18 is interconnected between the gateway 14 and the transmitter 16 . Therefore, an interface 20 is provided upstream of the transmitter 16 , by means of which the channel coding module 18 is integrated in the broadcast system 10 . Therefore, the channel coding module 18 is located between the gateway 14 and the transmitter 16 .
[0039]The channel coding module 18 may be established by a separately formed processing unit, such as a server, which is connected via the interface 20 to the transmission line 22 established between the gateway 14 and the transmitter 16 .
[0040] The channel coding module 18 may be connected to the transmitter 16 via a corresponding communication interface, eg an Ethernet interface.
[0041] The channel coding module 18 is also connected to the gateway 14 through a corresponding communication interface, in particular the same communication interface used between the transmitter 16 and the channel coding module 18 . Therefore, the channel coding module 18 can also be connected to the gateway 14 through an Ethernet interface.
[0042] Usually, as figure 1 The broadcast system 10 shown is configured to perform as figure 2 The method shown, according to which the data to be transmitted over the air is processed.
[0043] The gateway 14 is configured to forward the received digital content to the plurality of transmitters 16 . The digital content may have been previously forwarded by the source 12 to the gateway 12 .
[0044] Transmitters 16 are each configured to transmit digital content received from gateway 14 . In order to transmit the corresponding digital content, each transmitter 16 contains an antenna 24 to transmit the digital content over the air by means of (radio) signals received by the corresponding receiver.
[0045] like figure 1 As shown, the channel encoding module 18 is interconnected between the gateway 14 and the transmitter 16 so that the digital content forwarded to the transmitter 16 is pre-processed by the channel encoding module 18 .
[0046] Channel encoding module 18 performs, at least in part, channel encoding on the digital content to be transmitted over the air. This means that the precoding of the digital content is done by the channel coding module 18 . Thus, a precoded signal is provided which is forwarded to the transmitter 16 for broadcast over the air.
[0047] The channel coding module 18 may precode the signal to be transmitted, or perform full coding. In particular, the channel coding module 18 may also perform scrambling on the corresponding data to be transmitted.
[0048] Since the complete encoding, ie the channel encoding, is done by the separately formed channel encoding module 18, the corresponding transmitter 16 can be set up in an encoderless manner.
[0049] In other words, the channel coding is (completely) outsourced to the channel coding module 18 from the corresponding transmitter 16 .
[0050] Thus, each transmitter 16 can be set up in a cost-effective manner, as the transmitter 16 no longer has to include a processing unit with sufficient computing power to perform channel coding on the received data.
[0051] Thus, the entire broadcast system 10 can be built in a cost-effective manner.
[0052] In particular, this is important for single frequency networks (SFNs) established by broadcast systems 10, as single frequency networks typically include multiple transmitters 16.
[0053] like figure 1 As shown, the channel coding module 18 is located between the centralized gateway 14 and the plurality of transmitters 16 .
[0054] Therefore, the channel coding module 18 is a centralized channel coding module because all data streams or signals forwarded to the transmitter 16 were previously pre-processed by the channel coding module 18 .
[0055] Generally, the broadcast system 10 may process transport streams broadcast by multiple transmitters 16 .
[0056] In addition to the digital content to be transmitted over the air, the channel encoding module 18 is also configured to forward at least one control signal to the corresponding transmitter 16 .
[0057] The control signal may relate to a time stamp (of the processed data) or transmission time at which the transmitter 16 transmits the corresponding data received over the air.
[0058] Therefore, the channel coding module 18 is also configured to ensure the proper functioning of the entire broadcast system 10 , since the control signals are also distributed in the broadcast system 10 , in particular forwarded to the various transmitters 16 .
[0059] Accordingly, the broadcasting system 10 is configured to provide the digital content to be transmitted via the gateway 14 in a first step S1.
[0060] In a second step S2 , the digital content is forwarded to at least one transmitter 16 via the gateway 14 .
[0061] In a third step S3, the digital content is channel-coded by the channel coding module 18 before it is received by the corresponding transmitter 16. Channel encoding module 18 is configured to at least partially encode digital content or a signal containing digital content.
[0062] like figure 1 As shown, channel coding module 18 is formed separately from transmitter 16 . Accordingly, the corresponding channel coding is outsourced, since each transmitter 16 does not necessarily have to include an inner encoder.
[0063] In a fourth step S4 the at least partially encoded digital content, or the at least partially encoded signal containing the digital content, is forwarded to the corresponding transmitter 16 .
[0064] In a fifth step S5, each transmitter 16 processing the digital content received from the channel coding module 18 transmits the corresponding signal over the air. In doing so, the transmitter 16 takes into account the forwarded control signals, thereby ensuring that the digital content, or the corresponding signal containing the digital content, is transmitted in the intended manner (eg, in a synchronized manner).
[0065] In other words, the transmitter 16 is configured to perform (only) baseband signal processing of the received digital content, while the channel coding is outsourced.
[0066] The outsourced or separately formed channel encoding module 18 may have higher computational power than the individual encoders used by transmitters known in the art. Thus, improved coding techniques can be established.
[0067] Furthermore, the overall cost of the broadcast system 10 can be significantly reduced.
[0068] The term "module" is understood to describe suitable hardware, suitable software, or a combination of hardware and software configured to perform a certain function. The hardware may include, among other things, CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, ASICs, or other types of electronic circuits.
[0069] Certain embodiments disclosed herein, particularly corresponding modules, utilize circuits (eg, one or more circuits) to operably couple two or more components to implement the standards, protocols, methods, or techniques disclosed herein, Generate information, process information, analyze information, generate signals, encode/decode signals, convert signals, transmit and/or receive signals, control other devices, etc. Any type of circuit can be used.
[0070] In one embodiment, circuitry includes, among other things, one or more computing devices such as processors (eg, microprocessors), central processing units (CPUs), digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), system on chip (SoC), or the like, or any combination of the above, and may include discrete digital or analog circuit elements or electronics, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the circuitry includes hardware circuit implementations (eg, implementations in analog circuits, implementations in digital circuits, and the like, and combinations thereof).
[0071] In one embodiment, circuitry includes a combination of circuitry and a computer program product having software or firmware instructions stored on one or more computer-readable memories that work together to cause a device to perform one or more of the herein described protocol, method or technique. In one embodiment, the circuitry includes circuitry that requires software, firmware, etc. to operate, such as a microprocessor or a portion of a microprocessor. In one embodiment, circuitry includes one or more processors, or portions thereof, and accompanying software, firmware, hardware, and the like.
