Transmitting device, transmitting method, receiving device, and receiving method

Abstract

To more reliably perform deinterleaving.SOLUTION: The present disclosure provides a receiving device that includes a deinterleaver that deinterleaves the interleaved signal to return it to its original order on the basis of control information included in the physical layer frame transmitted for each transmission path from a transmitting device including: an interleaver that interleaves an FEC block among multiple transmission paths; and a frame constructor that constructs a physical layer frame for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and a control information signal. The control information includes information used when synchronizing and processing the interleaved signal included in the physical layer frame transmitted for each transmission path during deinterleaving. For example, the present disclosure can be applied to broadcasting using channel bonding.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a transmitting device, a transmitting method, a receiving device, and a receiving method, and more particularly to a transmitting device, a transmitting method, a receiving device, and a receiving method that enable more reliable deinterleaving. [Background technology]

[0002] In Japan, studies are being conducted to improve the next generation of terrestrial digital television broadcasting, and various technical methods are being considered.

[0003] For example, in order to realize a transmission path with a larger transmission capacity, the adoption of a technology for using multiple transmission paths as one transmission path, such as channel bonding, is being considered. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for multiplexing control information related to multiple channels that constitute channel bonding transmission with TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing Configuration Control) information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-143848 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When multiple transmission paths are used as a single path, if interleaving is performed on the transmitting side, deinterleaving must be performed on the receiving side to return the interleaved signals to their original order. However, there has been a demand for a technology that can perform deinterleaving more reliably.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and aims to enable more reliable deinterleaving. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A transmitting device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an interleaver that performs interleaving among multiple transmission paths when the multiple transmission paths are used as a single transmission path for a forward error correction (FEC) block, and a frame constructing unit that constructs a physical layer frame for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and a control information signal, wherein the control information includes information used to synchronize and process the interleaved signal included in the physical layer frame transmitted for each transmission path in deinterleaving that returns the interleaved signal to its original order.

[0008] A transmission method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a transmitting device interleaving multiple transmission paths when the multiple transmission paths are used as a single transmission path for a forward error correction (FEC) block, and constructing a physical layer frame for each transmission path using the interleaved signals and control information signals, wherein the control information includes information used to synchronize and process the interleaved signals included in the physical layer frame transmitted for each transmission path in deinterleaving, which returns the interleaved signals to their original order.

[0009] In a transmitting device and a transmitting method according to an aspect of the present disclosure, when a plurality of transmission paths are used as a single transmission path for a forward error correction (FEC) block, interleaving is performed among the plurality of transmission paths, and a physical layer frame is constructed for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and a control information signal. The control information includes information used in synchronizing and processing the interleaved signal included in the physical layer frame transmitted for each transmission path in deinterleaving, which returns the interleaved signal to its original order.

[0010] A receiving device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a receiving device that includes a transmitting device having an interleaver that performs interleaving among multiple transmission paths when the multiple transmission paths are used as a single transmission path for a forward error correction (FEC) block, and a frame constructing unit that constructs a physical layer frame for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and a control information signal, and a deinterleaver that deinterleaves the interleaved signals contained in the physical layer frames to return them to their original order based on the control information contained in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path, and the control information includes information used when synchronizing and processing the interleaved signals contained in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path during the deinterleaving.

[0011] A receiving method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a receiving device including an interleaver that performs interleaving among multiple transmission paths when the multiple transmission paths are used as a single transmission path for a forward error correction (FEC) block, and a frame constructing unit that constructs a physical layer frame for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and a control information signal, and a transmitting device that performs deinterleaving to return the interleaved signals contained in the physical layer frames to their original order based on the control information contained in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path, wherein the control information includes information used when synchronizing and processing the interleaved signals contained in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path during the deinterleaving.

[0012] In a receiving device and a receiving method according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a transmitting device includes an interleaver that performs interleaving among a plurality of transmission paths when the plurality of transmission paths are used as a single transmission path for a forward error correction (FEC) block, and a frame constructing unit that constructs a physical layer frame for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and a control information signal, and deinterleaves the interleaved signals included in the physical layer frames to return them to their original order based on the control information included in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path. The control information includes information used in synchronizing and processing the interleaved signals included in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path during the deinterleaving.

[0013] The transmitting device and receiving device according to one aspect of the present disclosure may be independent devices or may be internal blocks constituting a single device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an embodiment of a transmission system to which the present disclosure is applied. [Figure 2] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the transmitting device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the receiving device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration when channel bonding is introduced in an advanced terrestrial broadcasting system. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths in units of symbols. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths in units of symbols. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths in units of segments. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths in units of segments. [Figure 9]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths on a carrier-by-carrier basis. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths on a carrier-by-carrier basis. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a transmission process by a transmission device. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a receiving process by a receiving device. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating deinterleaving in predetermined processing units. [Figure 14] 1. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the transmitting device of FIG. [Figure 15] 1. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the receiving device of FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths in units of symbols. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths in units of symbols. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths in units of segments. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths in units of segments. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths in units of segments. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths in units of segments. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths on a carrier-by-carrier basis. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of interleaving between transmission paths on a carrier-by-carrier basis. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the syntax of transmission control auxiliary information. [Figure 25] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a first example of the syntax of inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second example of the syntax of the inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information. [Figure 27]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an FEC block pointer. [Figure 28] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a computer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] <System configuration> Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of an embodiment of a transmission system to which the present disclosure is applied. In Fig. 1, the transmission system is composed of a transmitting device 10 and a receiving device 20. Note that a system refers to a logical collection of multiple devices.

[0016] The transmitting device 10 transmits content such as broadcast programs produced by terrestrial broadcasting stations as broadcast signals. The transmitting device 10 performs necessary processing on control information and content data, and transmits the resulting terrestrial broadcast signal from a transmitting antenna installed at a transmitting station.

[0017] The receiving device 20 is a device capable of receiving broadcast signals from a television receiver, a set-top box (STB), etc. The receiving device 20 receives the terrestrial broadcast signal transmitted from the transmitting device 10 via an antenna. The receiving device 20 performs necessary processing on the control information and data obtained from the received terrestrial broadcast signal, thereby outputting video and audio of content such as a broadcast program.

[0018] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the transmitting device 10 of Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, the transmitting device 10 includes a transmitting section 101 having a BICM section 111, an inter-transmission path interleaver 112, interleave processing sections 113-1 to 113-n, frame configuration sections 114-1 to 114-n, and a control information generating section 115. Here, n is an integer of 2 or more, and is a number corresponding to the number of transmission paths when multiple transmission paths are used as one transmission path.

[0019] The BICM unit 111 performs processing related to BICM (Bit Interleaved and Coded Modulation) on an input signal (data such as a packet or stream) input from one sequence, and outputs the resulting signal to the interleaver between transmission paths 112. This BICM processing includes processing including FEC (Forward Error Correction) encoding processing using error correction codes such as BCH code and LDPC code (Low-Density Parity-Check code), and outputs the resulting FEC block signal (hereinafter also referred to as FEC signal).

[0020] Inter-transmission path interleaver 112 performs interleaving among a plurality of transmission paths (hereinafter also referred to as inter-transmission path interleaving) for the FEC signal input from BICM unit 111 when the plurality of transmission paths are used as a single transmission path. Inter-transmission path interleaver 112 outputs the signal after inter-transmission path interleaving to each of interleave processing units 113-1 to 113-n.

[0021] The interleave processing unit 113-1 performs interleaving processes such as time interleaving and frequency interleaving on the signal input from the inter-transmission path interleaver 112, and outputs the signal after various interleaving processes to the frame configuration unit 114-1. The frame configuration unit 114-1 configures a physical layer frame using the signal (data signal) input from the interleave processing unit 113-1 and the control information signal input from the control information generation unit 115.

[0022] Control information generator 115 generates control information to be included in a physical layer frame (physical layer control information) and outputs it to frame constructors 114-1 to 114-n. Interleaver processors 113-2 to 113-n perform interleaving processing in the same way as interleaver 113-1. Frame constructors 114-2 to 114-n construct physical layer frames in the same way as frame constructor 114-1.

[0023] In the transmitter 101, frame constructors 114-1 to 114-n construct physical layer frames corresponding to each transmission path when multiple transmission paths are used as a single transmission path, and transmit the frames via the respective transmission paths. For example, the physical layer frame constructed by frame constructor 114-1 is output as RF signal #1 (RF output #1) and transmitted via the first transmission path. Also, the physical layer frame constructed by frame constructor 114-2 is output as RF signal #2 (RF output #2) and transmitted via the second transmission path.

[0024] In this way, in transmitting section 101, RF signals #1 to #n output from frame configuring sections 114-1 to 114-n are transmitted via the first to n-th transmission paths corresponding to the respective RF signals, thereby performing transmission using the first to n-th transmission paths as a single transmission path. Note that, as will be described in detail later, each transmission path is identified by rf_id. For example, the first transmission path is identified by rf_id = 0, and the second transmission path is identified by rf_id = 1. The n-th transmission path is identified by rf_id = n-1.

[0025] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of receiving device 20 of Fig. 1. In Fig. 3, receiving device 20 includes receiving unit 201 having frame configuration units 211-1 to 211-n, deinterleaving units 212-1 to 212-n, inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213, BICM unit 214, and control information acquisition unit 215. Here, n is an integer of 2 or more, and is the number corresponding to the number of transmission paths when multiple transmission paths are used as one transmission path.

[0026] Receiving unit 201 is composed of a tuner, a demodulation device (demodulation LSI, etc.), etc. In receiving unit 201, RF signals #1 to #n that are received via an antenna and transmitted via first to n-th transmission paths are input to frame configuration units 211-1 to 211-n corresponding to the RF signals.

[0027] The frame constructor 211-1 constructs a physical layer frame from the RF signal #1 (RF input #1) input thereto, and outputs the data signal included in the physical layer frame to the deinterleaver 212-1. The deinterleaver 212-1 performs deinterleaving processes such as frequency deinterleaving and time deinterleaving on the signal input from the frame constructor 211-1, and outputs the signal after various deinterleaving processes to the inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213.

[0028] Similar to frame constructing section 211-1, frame constructing sections 211-2 to 211-n construct physical layer frames from the input RF signals. Similar to deinterleaving section 212-1, deinterleaving sections 212-2 to 212-n perform deinterleaving processing. Control information acquiring section 215 acquires control information included in the physical layer frames constructed by frame constructing sections 211-1 to 211-n. Control information acquiring section 215 outputs the acquired control information to inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213.

[0029] Inter-transmission channel deinterleaver 213 performs inter-transmission channel deinterleaving on the signals input from each of deinterleave processing units 212-1 to 212-n, based on the control information input from control information acquisition unit 215. In this inter-transmission channel deinterleaving, since the signals input from each of deinterleave processing units 212-1 to 212-n (signals corresponding to RF signals #1 to #n) become signals after inter-transmission channel interleaving performed by inter-transmission channel interleaver 112 of FIG. 2, inter-transmission channel deinterleaving is performed to return the signals after inter-transmission channel interleaving to their original order. Inter-transmission channel deinterleaver 213 outputs the signals after inter-transmission channel deinterleaving to BICM unit 214.

[0030] The BICM unit 214 performs BICM-related processing on the signal (FEC signal) input from the inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213, and outputs the resulting signal. This BICM-related processing includes FEC decoding processing using error correction codes such as BCH codes and LDPC codes, and the resulting output signal (data such as packets or streams) is output to a subsequent processing unit.

[0031] The processing unit in the subsequent stage is configured with a main SoC (System on Chip) or the like, and performs processing such as decoding on the output signal from the receiving unit 201 to obtain data such as video data and audio data. As a result, in the receiving device 20, an image corresponding to the video data is displayed on the display, and sound corresponding to the audio data is output from the speaker, allowing the user to view content such as a broadcast program.

[0032] 1 illustrates an example in which there is one receiving device 20, but in reality, multiple receiving devices 20 are provided, and each of them can receive and process the broadcast signal (RF signal) transmitted from the transmitting device 10. Also, in the configuration of FIG. 2, the transmitting device 10 includes the BICM unit 111, the inter-transmission path interleaver 112, the interleave processing units 113-1 to 113-n, the frame configuration units 114-1 to 114-n, and the control information generation unit 115, but these blocks do not need to be provided in a single housing. For example, the transmitting device 10 may be configured as a transmission system (broadcast transmission system) in which at least one block is provided in a separate device (broadcast server).

[0033] <Example of CB application in the advanced terrestrial broadcasting system> The transmission system shown in Figure 1 can use the terrestrial digital television broadcasting standard. In Japan, the ISDB-T (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting - Terrestrial) standard is used, but studies are underway to upgrade it to the next generation, and various technical standards are being considered. Hereinafter, the next generation ISDB-T standard will also be referred to as the terrestrial broadcasting standard.

[0034] For the advanced terrestrial broadcasting system, it is being considered to adopt the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) method, just like the current ISDB-T system. In other words, for the advanced terrestrial broadcasting system, it is being considered to use OFDM frames as the physical layer frame, just like the ISDB-T system. Also, for the advanced terrestrial broadcasting system, it is being considered to provide services using hierarchical transmission with a segment structure in which one channel is divided into segments, just like the current ISDB-T system. However, for the advanced terrestrial broadcasting system, it is being considered to increase the number of segments used for signal transmission from 13 to 35 segments.

[0035] In addition, in the advanced terrestrial broadcasting system, in order to realize a transmission path with a large transmission capacity, the introduction of channel bonding (CB), which expands transmission capacity by simultaneously using multiple channels (frequency bands), is being considered. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration when channel bonding is introduced in the advanced terrestrial broadcasting system.

[0036] Figure 4 shows a case where channel bonding is performed using two channels, channel RF1 and channel RF2, with the upper row showing an example of the physical layer frame of channel RF1 and the lower row showing an example of the physical layer frame of channel RF2. Channel RF1 corresponds to the first transmission path for transmitting RF signal #1, and channel RF2 corresponds to the second transmission path for transmitting RF signal #2. Also, in Figure 4, the horizontal direction represents time and the vertical direction represents frequency. The bandwidth in the frequency direction represents the bandwidth of one channel and can be divided into multiple segments (35 segments).

[0037] The physical layer frame of channel RF1 consists of a frame synchronization signal section, a TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing Configuration Control) section, and a subframe section. In the frame synchronization signal section, a synchronization signal, TMCC modulation parameters, etc. are transmitted. In the TMCC section, transmission control information including information about the entire frame (time information, etc.) and modulation parameters for subframes and layers is transmitted. In addition, in the TMCC section, transmission control auxiliary information (auxiliary data) can be transmitted as information for the extended section.

[0038] To realize diverse hierarchical transmissions that take into account various reception environments, subframe sections can be configured as frequency division multiplexing, time division multiplexing, or a combination of frequency division multiplexing and time division multiplexing. Subframe sections can be configured as a single subframe section or multiple subframe sections. The physical layer frame of channel RF1 consists of a single subframe section, and all 35 segments are allocated to the fixed receiver service of program 1.

[0039] The physical layer frame of channel RF2, like the physical layer frame of channel RF1, is composed of a frame synchronization signal section, a TMCC section, and a subframe section. The physical layer frame of channel RF2 is composed of a single subframe section, and of the 35 segments, 31 segments are allocated to stationary receiver services for program 1, and the remaining 4 segments are allocated to mobile reception services for program 1. For example, mobile reception services are provided by layer A, which is composed of 4 segments, and stationary receiver services are provided by layer B, which is composed of 31 segments.

[0040] In Figure 4, when channel bonding is performed using channels RF1 and RF2, channel bonding is performed using segments assigned to services for fixed receivers. That is, since channel bonding is applied to the layer of channel RF1 (35 segments) and the layer of channel RF2 (31 segments), the number of segments differs for each channel (layer). That is, the transmission capacities of the first transmission path corresponding to channel RF1 and the second transmission path corresponding to channel RF2 differ depending on the number of segments. The transmission capacity of the first transmission path corresponding to channel RF1 is larger than that of the second transmission path corresponding to channel RF2.

[0041] 4, the time direction corresponds to OFDM symbols, and the symbols within the bold frame F1 in the physical layer frame of channel RF1 and the symbols within the bold frames F2 and F3 in the physical layer frame of channel RF2 are considered to be symbols at the same time (simultaneous time). In this disclosure, interleaving between transmission paths is performed for the symbols at the same time in predetermined processing units according to the ratio of transmission capacities. The predetermined processing units can be symbol units, segment units, or carrier units, and these processing units will be explained in order below.

[0042] <Inter-transmission line IL: symbol unit> An example of inter-transmission path interleaving on a symbol-by-symbol basis by the inter-transmission path interleaver 112 in Fig. 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. In this example, when an input signal of one series is input, two transmission paths, channel RF1 and channel RF2, are used as one transmission path by channel bonding.

[0043] In Figure 5, similar to Figure 4, the upper part shows an example of the configuration of the physical layer frame for channel RF1, and the lower part shows an example of the configuration of the physical layer frame for channel RF2. The two transmission paths, channel RF1 and channel RF2, are considered as one transmission path through channel bonding. Channels RF1 and RF2 are assigned rf_id. rf_id identifies the transmission path and indicates the order of the transmission path. In this example, channel RF1 is assigned rf_id = 0, and channel RF2 is assigned rf_id = 1, so the order of the transmission paths is channel RF1, then channel RF2.

[0044] In Fig. 5, as in Fig. 4, channel bonding is applied to the hierarchy of channel RF1 (35 segments) and the hierarchy of channel RF2 (31 segments), so the number of segments differs for each channel (hierarchy). Therefore, the transmission capacity differs for each channel, with channel RF1 having a larger transmission capacity than channel RF2.

[0045] In Fig. 5, as in Fig. 4, the bold frames on the physical layer frames of channels RF1 and RF2 represent symbols at the same time, and signals are arranged in the order shown by the circled numbers. Fig. 6 shows an example of the segment numbers and signal arrangement order for symbols at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2 shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 6, the horizontal axis represents frequency, i.e., segments, and the vertical axis represents time, i.e., symbols.

[0046] In Fig. 6, the circled numbers correspond to the circled numbers in Fig. 5, and the RF1 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 1 and the RF2 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 2 are considered to be symbols of the same time. Similarly, the RF1 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 3 and the RF2 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 4 are considered to be symbols of the same time. Furthermore, the RF1 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 5 and the RF2 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 6 are considered to be symbols of the same time.

[0047] In Figure 6, a solid-lined square within a dashed-lined square symbol indicates a segment, and the number within the square indicates the segment number. That is, channel RF1 is made up of 35 segments, so 35 squares numbered 1 to 35 in order are lined up horizontally. Also, channel RF2 is made up of 31 segments, so 31 squares numbered 1 to 31 in order are lined up horizontally. However, for convenience of explanation, some squares are omitted. The numbers in parentheses above the squares indicating the segments indicate the order of the signal allocation.

[0048] For example, if we look at the RF1 symbol, which is indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 1, and the RF2 symbol, which is indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 2, which are symbols at the same time, the FEC signal is placed in segments 1 to 35 in the RF1 symbol in the order indicated by the numbers 1 to 35 in parentheses, and then the FEC signal is placed in segments 1 to 31 in the RF2 symbol in the order indicated by the numbers 36 to 66 in parentheses.

[0049] Focusing on the next symbols at the same time, the RF1 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 3 and the RF2 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 4, the FEC signals are placed in segments 1 to 35 within the RF1 symbol in the order indicated by the numbers 67 to 101 in parentheses, and then the FEC signals are placed in segments 1 to 31 within the RF2 symbol in the order indicated by the numbers 102 to 132 in parentheses.

[0050] Furthermore, if we look at the next symbols at the same time, the RF1 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 5 and the RF2 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 6, we see that after the FEC signal is placed in segments 1 to 35 within the RF1 symbol in the order indicated by the numbers 133, 134, ... in parentheses, the FEC signal is then placed in segments 1 to 31 within the RF2 symbol in the order indicated by the numbers 168, 169, ... in parentheses.

[0051] The rest of the description is omitted as it would be repetitive, but for symbols at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2, the FEC signals are sequentially allocated to segments 1 to 35 of channel RF1, and then sequentially allocated to segments 1 to 31 of channel RF2.

[0052] In this way, in the inter-transmission path interleaver 112 of FIG. 2, for each symbol at the same time in channels RF1 and RF2, the FEC signal input from the BICM unit 111 is sequentially arranged in segments 1 to 35 in the symbol of channel RF1, and then sequentially arranged in segments 1 to 31 in the symbol of channel RF2, and this is repeated, thereby performing interleaving between transmission paths (between channels RF1 and RF2) on a symbol-by-symbol basis according to the ratio of transmission capacities (the ratio of the transmission capacities of 35 segments in channel RF1 to 31 segments in channel RF2).

[0053] <Inter-transmission line IL: segment unit> An example of inter-transmission path interleaving in segment units by the inter-transmission path interleaver 112 in Fig. 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. In this example, when a single input signal sequence is input, two transmission paths, channel RF1 and channel RF2, are used as one transmission path by channel bonding.

[0054] In Fig. 7, similar to Fig. 5, when two transmission paths, channel RF1 and channel RF2, are regarded as one transmission path by channel bonding, rf_id = 0 is assigned to channel RF1 and rf_id = 1 is assigned to channel RF2, and the order of the transmission paths is channel RF1, channel RF2. In Fig. 7, similar to Fig. 5, the hierarchical level (number of segments) to which channel bonding is applied differs between channel RF1 (35 segments) and channel RF2 (31 segments), and therefore the transmission capacity differs for each channel.

[0055] In Fig. 7, as in Fig. 5, the bold frames on the physical layer frames of channels RF1 and RF2 represent symbols at the same time, and signals are arranged in the order shown by the circled numbers. Fig. 8 shows an example of the segment numbers and signal arrangement order for symbols at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2 shown in Fig. 7. In Fig. 8, the horizontal axis represents frequency (segments) and the vertical axis represents time (symbols).

[0056] In Fig. 8, the circled numbers correspond to the circled numbers in Fig. 7, and the RF1 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 1 and the RF2 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 2 are symbols at the same time. Although not shown in Fig. 7, dashed squares indicating the next symbol at the same time and the symbol after that are shown for channel RF1 and channel RF2, respectively.

[0057] 8, a solid square within a dashed square symbol indicates a segment, and the number within the square indicates the segment number. The number in parentheses above the square indicating the segment indicates the signal arrangement order.

[0058] For example, if we look at the RF1 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 1 and the RF2 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 2, which are symbols at the same time, we get the following: That is, as indicated by the numbers 1 to 62 in parentheses, the FEC signal is first placed in segment 1 within the RF1 symbol, then in segment 1 within the RF2 symbol, then in segment 2 within the RF1 symbol, then in segment 2 within the RF2 symbol, and so on, alternately placed in segments within the RF1 symbol and segments within the RF2 symbol.

[0059] Here, channel RF1 has 35 segments, while channel RF2 has 31 segments, and since the number of segments is different, as shown by the numbers 63 to 66 in parentheses, the FEC signal is placed in segment 31 in the RF2 symbol, and then in segments 32, 33, 34, and 35 in the RF1 symbol in that order.

[0060] Similarly, in the next symbol at the same time, the FEC signal is alternately allocated to segments in the RF1 symbol and segments in the RF2 symbol, as indicated by the parenthesized numbers 67 to 128. Furthermore, because the number of segments differs between channels RF1 and RF2, the FEC signal is allocated to segment 31 in the RF2 symbol, and then to segments 32, 33, 34, and 35 in the RF1 symbol, in that order, as indicated by the parenthesized numbers 129 to 132.

[0061] The rest of this section is omitted as it would be repetitive, but for symbols at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2, the FEC signal is alternately placed in segments within the RF1 symbol and segments within the RF2 symbol, and after being placed in segment 31 within the RF2 symbol, it is placed in segments 32, 33, 34, and 35 within the RF1 symbol in that order, and this process is repeated.

[0062] In this way, in the inter-transmission path interleaver 112 of FIG. 2, the FEC signal input from the BICM unit 111 is alternately allocated to segments within the symbol of channel RF1 and segments within the symbol of channel RF2 for each symbol at the same time in channel RF1 and channel RF2. After being allocated to segment 31 within the symbol of channel RF2, the FEC signal is allocated to segments 32, 33, 34, and 35 within the symbol of channel RF1 in this order, and this process is repeated, thereby performing interleaving between the transmission paths in segment units according to the ratio of the transmission capacities.

[0063] <Inter-transmission line IL: Carrier unit> 9 and 10, an example of inter-transmission path interleaving on a carrier-by-carrier basis by the inter-transmission path interleaver 112 in Fig. 2 will be described. In this example, too, when a single input signal sequence is input, an example will be described in which two transmission paths, channel RF1 and channel RF2, are used as one transmission path by channel bonding.

[0064] In Fig. 9, similarly to Fig. 5, when two transmission paths, channel RF1 and channel RF2, are regarded as one transmission path by channel bonding, rf_id = 0 is assigned to channel RF1 and rf_id = 1 is assigned to channel RF2, and the order of the transmission paths is channel RF1, channel RF2. In Fig. 9, similarly to Fig. 5, the hierarchical level (number of segments) to which channel bonding is applied differs between channel RF1 (35 segments) and channel RF2 (31 segments), and therefore the transmission capacity differs for each channel.

[0065] In Fig. 9, as in Fig. 5, the bold frames on the physical layer frames of channels RF1 and RF2 represent symbols at the same time, and signals are arranged in the order shown by the circled numbers. Fig. 10 shows an example of the carrier numbers and signal arrangement order for symbols at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2 shown in Fig. 9. In Fig. 10, the horizontal axis represents frequency (segments) and the vertical axis represents time (symbols). Here, an example is shown in which one segment has 384 carriers.

[0066] In Fig. 10, the circled numbers correspond to the circled numbers in Fig. 9, and the RF1 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 1 and the RF2 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 2 are symbols at the same time. Although not shown in Fig. 9, dashed squares indicating the next symbols at the same time are shown for channel RF1 and channel RF2, respectively.

[0067] In Fig. 10, a solid-lined square within a dashed-lined square symbol indicates a carrier, and the number within the square indicates the carrier number. That is, channel RF1 is made up of 35 segments, and one segment has 384 carriers, so 13,440 squares numbered 1 to 13,440 in order are lined up horizontally (some squares are omitted). Also, channel RF2 is made up of 31 segments, and one segment has 384 carriers, so 11,904 squares numbered 1 to 11,904 in order are lined up horizontally (some squares are omitted). The numbers in parentheses above the squares indicating carriers indicate the order of the signal constellation.

[0068] For example, if we look at the RF1 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 1 and the RF2 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 2, which are symbols at the same time, we get the following: That is, as indicated by the numbers 1 to 23808 in parentheses, the FEC signal is first placed on carrier 1 in the RF1 symbol, then on carrier 1 in the RF2 symbol, then on carrier 2 in the RF1 symbol, then on carrier 2 in the RF2 symbol, and so on, alternately placed on carriers in the RF1 symbol and carriers in the RF2 symbol.

[0069] Here, channel RF1 has 35 segments, while channel RF2 has 31 segments, and since the number of segments is different, as shown by the numbers 23809 to 25344 in parentheses, the FEC signal is placed on carrier 11904 in the RF2 symbol, and then on carriers 11905 to 13440 in the RF1 symbol in that order.

[0070] The rest of this section is omitted as it would be repetitive, but for symbols at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2, the FEC signal is alternately placed on carriers within the RF1 symbol and carriers within the RF2 symbol, and after being placed on carrier 11904 within the RF2 symbol, it is placed in order on carriers 11905 to 13440 within the RF1 symbol, and this process is repeated.

[0071] In this way, in the inter-transmission path interleaver 112 of Figure 2, for each symbol at the same time in channel RF1 and channel RF2, the FEC signal input from the BICM unit 111 is alternately allocated to carriers in the symbol of channel RF1 and carriers in the symbol of channel RF2, and after being allocated to carrier 11904 in the symbol of channel RF2, it is allocated in order to carriers 11905 to 13440 in the symbol of channel RF1, and this process is repeated, thereby performing interleaving between transmission paths on a carrier-by-carrier basis according to the ratio of transmission capacities.

[0072] <Processing flow> FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the transmission process by the transmission device 10.

[0073] In step S 11 , the BICM unit 111 performs processing including FEC encoding on an input signal such as a packet or a stream, and outputs the resulting FEC signal to the inter-transmission path interleaver 112 .

[0074] In step S12, the inter-transmission channel interleaver 112 performs inter-transmission channel interleaving on the FEC signal input from the BICM unit 111, and outputs the inter-transmission channel interleaved signal to the interleave processing units 113-1 to 113-n. In this inter-transmission channel interleaving, the FEC signal is arranged in symbols at the same time on multiple transmission channels in a predetermined processing unit according to the ratio of the transmission capacities of the respective transmission channels. For example, the predetermined processing unit is a symbol unit (FIGS. 5 and 6), a segment unit (FIGS. 7 and 8), or a carrier unit (FIGS. 9 and 10).

[0075] In step S13, each of the interleave processing units 113-1 to 113-n performs interleaving processing such as time interleaving and frequency interleaving on the signal for each transmission path input from the interleaver between transmission paths 112, and outputs the signal after various interleaving processes to the frame configuration unit 114 corresponding to each transmission path.

[0076] In step S14, each of frame constructing units 114-1 to 114-n constructs a physical layer frame using the signal (data signal) input from interleaving processing unit 113 corresponding to each transmission path and the control information signal input from control information generating unit 115.

[0077] For example, the control information includes physical layer control information such as transmission control information (TMCC information) and auxiliary transmission control information (auxiliary data). The auxiliary transmission control information includes inter-transmission channel interleaving configuration information, which will be described in detail later, and includes information used when synchronizing and processing inter-transmission channel interleaved signals in inter-transmission channel deinterleaving. The inter-transmission channel interleaving configuration information includes transmission channel identification information indicating the order of the transmission channels and an FEC block pointer indicating the start position of an FEC block synchronized with another transmission channel. The inter-transmission channel interleaving configuration information may also include mode information indicating the mode of inter-transmission channel interleaving according to a predetermined processing unit (e.g., symbol unit, segment unit, or carrier unit) performed by the inter-transmission channel interleaver 112.

[0078] By performing the above processing, RF signals #1 to #n output from frame configuration units 114-1 to 114-n are transmitted via the first to nth transmission paths corresponding to each RF signal, and transmission is performed using the first to nth transmission paths as a single transmission path by channel bonding.

[0079] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the reception process by the receiving device 20.

[0080] In step S21, each of frame configuration units 211-1 to 211-n configures a physical layer frame from the RF signal input for each transmission path, and outputs the data signal included in the physical layer frame to the corresponding deinterleave processing unit 212. Here, the RF signal input for each transmission path to frame configuration unit 211 is transmitted using the first to n-th transmission paths as a single transmission path by channel bonding.

[0081] In step S22, each of the deinterleave processing units 212-1 to 212-n performs deinterleaving such as frequency deinterleaving and time deinterleaving on the signals input to each transmission path, and outputs the signals after various deinterleaving processes to the inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213.

[0082] In step S23, inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213 performs inter-transmission path deinterleaving on the signals input from each of deinterleave processing units 212-1 to 212-n, based on the control information input from control information acquisition unit 215, to return the signals to their original order in accordance with inter-transmission path interleaving (the processing of step S12 in FIG. 11). In this inter-transmission path deinterleaving, FEC signals arranged at symbols at the same time on multiple transmission paths are returned to their original order in predetermined processing units using inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information. For example, the predetermined processing unit is symbol unit (FIGS. 5 and 6), segment unit (FIGS. 7 and 8), or carrier unit (FIGS. 9 and 10). The inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information includes transmission path identification information, FEC block pointer, mode information, etc.

[0083] Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating deinterleaving in predetermined processing units by inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213. In Fig. 13, the horizontal axis represents time, and the signal (data signal) received for each transmission path identified by rf_id is shown.

[0084] 13, symbols in a symbol interval T are symbols of the same time. For example, in a symbol interval T, a symbol of a first transmission path (channel RF1) identified by rf_id = 0 and a symbol of a second transmission path (channel RF2) identified by rf_id = 1 are symbols of the same time. Inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213 returns signals 301-1 and 301-2 arranged in symbols of the same time to their original order in predetermined processing units.

[0085] At this time, the inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213 can recognize the order of the transmission paths by using transmission path identification information (rf_id). In this example, since rf_id = 0 is assigned to the first transmission path and rf_id = 1 is assigned to the second transmission path, the order of the transmission paths is the first transmission path, then the second transmission path. Furthermore, the inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213 can recognize the processing unit of the inter-transmission path interleaving (for example, symbol unit, segment unit, or carrier unit) by using mode information. However, if the processing unit of the inter-transmission path interleaving is fixed, the inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213 can recognize the fixed processing unit in advance, and therefore does not need to use mode information.

[0086] The inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213 can use an FEC block pointer that indicates the start position of an FEC block synchronized with another transmission path. Here, the start position of a physical layer frame (OFDM frame) and the start position of an FEC block may differ, and an FEC block may be arranged across physical layer frames. For example, the start position of an FEC block is the position of the first FEC block in a physical layer frame, and indicates the start position of a signal (FEC signal) at which the subsequent BICM unit 214 starts BICM-related processing (FEC decoding processing). By using the FEC block pointer, the inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213 can appropriately output to the BICM unit 214 a signal (FEC signal) of FEC blocks that has been correctly rearranged to its original order.

[0087] Processing is performed in the same manner for the next symbol interval and thereafter, and for example, signals including signal 302-1 arranged at symbols at the same time are returned to their original order in predetermined processing units. Note that although two transmission paths, the first transmission path and the second transmission path, have been exemplified, signals transmitted through each transmission path can also be processed in a synchronized manner using control information in the same manner in the case of three or more transmission paths including the n-th transmission path identified by rf_id = n-1.

[0088] 12, in step S24, the BICM unit 214 performs processing including FEC decoding on the signal input from the inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213, and outputs the resulting output signal. As a result of the above processing, a subsequent processing unit performs processing such as decoding using the output signal, and the resulting video data is output to a display, and audio data is output to a speaker.

[0089] <Other configuration examples> In the above description, the case where the input signal input to the transmitting unit 101 in the transmitting device 10 is one series of signals has been described, but input signals of multiple series of signals may also be input. Below, as another configuration example, a configuration where input signals of multiple series of signals are input to the transmitting unit 101 will be described.

[0090] Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing another example configuration of transmitting device 10 of Fig. 1. In Fig. 14, transmitting device 10 includes transmitting section 101 having BICM sections 111-A to 111-m, inter-transmission path interleaver 112, interleave processing sections 113-1 to 113-n, frame configuration sections 114-1 to 114-n, and control information generation section 115. Here, m is a number corresponding to the sequence of input signals. n is an integer of 2 or more, and is a number corresponding to the number of transmission paths when multiple transmission paths are used as a single transmission path.

[0091] Compared to the configuration of transmitting device 10 shown in Fig. 2, the configuration of transmitting device 10 shown in Fig. 14 is provided with BICM units 111-A to 111-m instead of BICM unit 111. That is, in transmitting device 10 shown in Fig. 14, input signals input from a plurality of series are input to BICM units 111-A to 111-m.

[0092] The BICM unit 111-A performs BICM-related processing on input signal A (data such as packets or streams) input thereto, and outputs the resulting signal to the inter-transmission path interleaver 112. This BICM-related processing includes FEC encoding, and outputs the resulting FEC signal (FEC signal of input signal A). Similarly to the BICM unit 111-A, the BICM units 111-B to 111-m perform BICM-related processing on each series of input signals (input signals B to m), and output the FEC signal of each series to the inter-transmission path interleaver 112.

[0093] Inter-transmission channel interleaver 112 performs inter-transmission channel interleaving on the FEC signals of each stream input from each of BICM units 111-A to 111-m. In this inter-transmission channel interleaving, the FEC signals of each stream are arranged on symbols at the same time on multiple transmission channels in a predetermined processing unit (for example, symbol unit, segment unit, or carrier unit) according to the ratio of the transmission capacities of the respective transmission channels. Inter-transmission channel interleaver 112 outputs the signals after inter-transmission channel interleaving to interleave processing units 113-1 to 113-n.

[0094] 14, the configurations of interleaving sections 113-1 to 113-n, frame configuration sections 114-1 to 114-n, and control information generation section 115 are the same as those shown in FIG. 2, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0095] Fig. 15 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of receiving device 20 of Fig. 1. In Fig. 15, receiving device 20 includes receiving unit 201 having frame configuration units 211-1 to 211-n, deinterleave processing units 212-1 to 212-n, inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213, BICM units 214-1 to 214-m, and control information acquisition unit 215. Here, n is an integer of 2 or more, and corresponds to the number of transmission paths when multiple transmission paths are used as one transmission path. m is a number corresponding to the sequence from which the output signal is output.

[0096] Compared to the configuration of receiving device 20 shown in Fig. 3, the configuration of receiving device 20 shown in Fig. 15 is provided with BICM units 214-1 to 214-m instead of BICM unit 214. That is, in receiving device 20 shown in Fig. 15, a plurality of series of output signals are output from BICM unit 214. In Fig. 15, the configurations of frame configuration units 211-1 to 211-n, deinterleaving processing units 212-1 to 212-n and control information acquisition unit 215 are the same as the configurations shown in Fig. 3, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0097] Based on the control information input from the control information acquisition unit 215, the inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213 performs inter-transmission path deinterleaving to restore the original order of the signals (signals corresponding to RF signals #1 to #n) input from the deinterleaving processing units 212-1 to 212-n, respectively, after the inter-transmission path interleaving performed by the inter-transmission path interleaver 112 of FIG. 14.

[0098] In this inter-transmission path deinterleaving, FEC signals of each sequence arranged in symbols at the same time on multiple transmission paths are restored to their original order in a predetermined processing unit (for example, symbol unit, segment unit, or carrier unit) using inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information. Inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213 outputs the signals after inter-transmission path deinterleaving to BICM units 214-1 to 214-m.

[0099] BICM unit 214-1 performs BICM-related processing on the signal (FEC signal) input from inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213, and outputs the resulting signal as output signal #1. BICM units 214-2 to 214-m, like BICM unit 214-1, perform BICM-related processing on the signal (FEC signal) input from inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213, and output the resulting signals as output signals #2 to #m. BICM-related processing here includes processing including FEC decoding, and the resulting output signal (data such as packets or streams) is output to a subsequent processing unit. Output signals #1 to #m correspond to input signals A to m. For ease of explanation, the following description will be given assuming that m is 2.

[0100] <Inter-transmission line IL: symbol unit> An example of inter-transmission path interleaving on a symbol-by-symbol basis by the inter-transmission path interleaver 112 in Fig. 14 will be described with reference to Fig. 16 and Fig. 17. In this example, when two input signal series, input signal A and input signal B, are input, an example will be described in which two transmission paths, channel RF1 and channel RF2, are used as one transmission path by channel bonding.

[0101] In Fig. 16, similarly to Fig. 5, when two transmission paths, channel RF1 and channel RF2, are regarded as one transmission path by channel bonding, rf_id = 0 is assigned to channel RF1 and rf_id = 1 is assigned to channel RF2, and the order of the transmission paths is channel RF1, channel RF2. In Fig. 16, similarly to Fig. 5, the hierarchical level (number of segments) to which channel bonding is applied differs between channel RF1 (35 segments) and channel RF2 (31 segments), and therefore the transmission capacity differs for each channel.

[0102] In Fig. 16, similar to Fig. 5, the bold frames on the physical layer frames of channels RF1 and RF2 represent symbols at the same time, and signals are arranged in the order shown by the circled numbers. Fig. 17 shows an example of the segment numbers and signal arrangement order for symbols at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2 shown in Fig. 16. In Fig. 17 as well, the horizontal axis represents frequency (segments) and the vertical axis represents time (symbols).

[0103] 17, the circled numbers correspond to the circled numbers in Fig. 16, and the RF1 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 1 and the RF2 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 2 are considered to be symbols of the same time. Similarly, the RF1 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 3 and the RF2 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 4 are considered to be symbols of the same time. Furthermore, the RF1 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 5 and the RF2 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 6 are considered to be symbols of the same time.

[0104] 17, a solid-lined square within a dashed-lined square symbol indicates a segment, and the number within the square indicates the segment number. That is, channel RF1 is made up of 35 segments, and therefore 35 squares numbered 1 to 35 in order are lined up horizontally (some squares are omitted). Also, channel RF2 is made up of 31 segments, and therefore 31 squares numbered 1 to 31 in order are lined up horizontally (some squares are omitted).

[0105] The numbers in parentheses written above the squares representing the segments indicate the order of the signal arrangement. The numbers in parentheses are followed by "A" or "B," where "A" represents input signal A and "B" represents input signal B. Hereinafter, the FEC signal obtained by processing input signal A will be referred to as FEC signal A. The FEC signal obtained by processing input signal B will be referred to as FEC signal B.

[0106] For example, if we focus on the RF1 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 1 and the RF2 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 2, which are symbols at the same time, we get the following: Of FEC signals A and B, FEC signal A is placed in segments 1 to 35 in the order indicated by the numbers A1 to A35 in parentheses in the RF1 symbol, and then FEC signal B is placed in segments 1 to 31 in the order indicated by the numbers B1 to B31 in parentheses in the RF2 symbol.

[0107] Next, if we look at the next symbols at the same time, the RF1 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 3 and the RF2 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 4, we see the following: Of FEC signals A and B, FEC signal B is placed in segments 1 to 31 in the order indicated by the numbers B32 to B62 in parentheses in the RF1 symbol, and then FEC signal A is placed in the remaining segments 32 to 35 in the RF1 symbol in the order indicated by the numbers A36 to A39 in parentheses.Furthermore, FEC signal A is placed in segments 1 to 31 in the RF2 symbol in the order indicated by the numbers A40 to A70 in parentheses.

[0108] Furthermore, if we look at the next symbols at the same time, the RF1 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 5 and the RF2 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 6, we can see that FEC signal A is placed in segments 1 to 35 in the order indicated by the numbers A71, A72, ... in parentheses within the RF1 symbol, and then FEC signal B is placed in segments 1 to 31 in the order indicated by the numbers B63, B64, ... in parentheses within the RF2 symbol.

[0109] The rest of the description is omitted as it would be repetitive, but for symbols at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2, the process alternates between starting with input signal A (FEC signal A) and starting with input signal B (FEC signal B), and FEC signal A or FEC signal B is sequentially placed in segments 1 to 35 of channel RF1, and then sequentially placed in segments 1 to 31 of channel RF2.

[0110] 14, FEC signal A input from BICM unit 111-A and FEC signal B input from BICM unit 111-B are sequentially allocated to segments 1 to 35 of channel RF1 and then sequentially allocated to segments 1 to 31 of channel RF2, while alternating the start signal for each symbol at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2. This allows interleaving between transmission paths on a symbol-by-symbol basis according to the ratio of transmission capacities, even when input signals of multiple series including input signal A and input signal B are input.

[0111] <Inter-transmission line IL: segment unit> 18 to 21, an example of inter-transmission path interleaving in segment units by the inter-transmission path interleaver 112 of Fig. 14 will be described. In this example, when two input signal series, input signal A and input signal B, are input, the two transmission paths, channel RF1 and channel RF2, are used as one transmission path by channel bonding.

[0112] <<First example>> First, a first example of interleaving between transmission paths in units of segments will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0113] In Fig. 18, similarly to Fig. 7, when two transmission paths, channel RF1 and channel RF2, are regarded as one transmission path by channel bonding, rf_id = 0 is assigned to channel RF1 and rf_id = 1 is assigned to channel RF2, and the order of the transmission paths is channel RF1, channel RF2. In Fig. 18, similarly to Fig. 7, the hierarchical level (number of segments) to which channel bonding is applied differs between channel RF1 (35 segments) and channel RF2 (31 segments), and therefore the transmission capacity differs for each channel.

[0114] In Fig. 18, similar to Fig. 7, the bold frames on the physical layer frames of channels RF1 and RF2 represent symbols at the same time, and signals are arranged in the order shown by the circled numbers. Fig. 19 shows an example of the segment numbers and signal arrangement order for symbols at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2 shown in Fig. 18. In Fig. 19, the horizontal axis represents frequency (segments) and the vertical axis represents time (symbols).

[0115] 19, the circled numbers correspond to the circled numbers in Fig. 18, and the RF1 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 1 and the RF2 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 2 are considered to be symbols of the same time. Similarly, the RF1 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 3 and the RF2 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 4 are considered to be symbols of the same time. Furthermore, the RF1 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 5 and the RF2 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 6 are considered to be symbols of the same time.

[0116] 19, a solid square within a dashed square symbol indicates a segment, and the number within the square indicates the segment number. The number in parentheses above the square indicating the segment indicates the signal arrangement order.

[0117] For example, if we look at the RF1 symbol, indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 1, and the RF2 symbol, indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 2, which are symbols at the same time, we get the following: That is, as indicated by the numbers A1, B1, A2, ... in parentheses in the RF1 symbol, FEC signals A and B are alternately allocated to segments 1 to 35, and then as indicated by the numbers B18, A19, B19, ... in parentheses in the RF2 symbol, FEC signals B and FEC signals A are alternately allocated to segments 1 to 27. Furthermore, as indicated by the numbers B31, A32 to A35 in parentheses in the RF2 symbol, after FEC signal B is allocated to segment 27, FEC signal A is allocated consecutively to segments 28 to 31.

[0118] Next, if we look at the next symbols at the same time, the RF1 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 3 and the RF2 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 4, we see the following: That is, as indicated by the numbers A36, B32, A37, ... in parentheses in the RF1 symbol, FEC signals A and B are alternately arranged in segments 1 to 35, and then as indicated by the numbers B49, A54, B50, ... in parentheses in the RF2 symbol, FEC signals B and FEC signals A are alternately arranged in segments 1 to 27. Furthermore, as indicated by the numbers B62, A67 to A70 in parentheses in the RF2 symbol, after FEC signal B is arranged in segment 27, FEC signal A is consecutively arranged in segments 28 to 31.

[0119] Furthermore, if we look at the next symbols at the same time, the RF1 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 5 and the RF2 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 6, we see that FEC signals A and B are alternately arranged in segments 1 to 35, as indicated by the numbers A71, B63, ... in parentheses within the RF1 symbol, and then FEC signals B and FEC signals A are alternately arranged in segments 1 to 27, as indicated by the numbers B80, A89, ... in parentheses within the RF2 symbol, and FEC signal A is then arranged consecutively in segments 28 to 31.

[0120] The rest of the description is omitted as it would be repetitive, but for each symbol at the same time on channel RF1 and channel RF2, starting from input signal A (FEC signal A), FEC signal A and FEC signal B are alternately placed in segments 1 to 35 in the RF1 symbol and segments 1 to 27 in the RF2 symbol, and then FEC signal A is placed consecutively in segments 28 to 31 in the RF2 symbol, and this process is repeated.

[0121] 14, when FEC signal A from BICM unit 111-A and FEC signal B from BICM unit 111-B are input, the start signal is always FEC signal A for each symbol at the same time on channel RF1 and channel RF2, and FEC signals A and B are alternately allocated to segments 1 to 35 in the RF1 symbol and segments 1 to 27 in the RF2 symbol, and FEC signal A is then continuously allocated to segments 28 to 31 in the RF2 symbol, and this process is repeated. In other words, for symbols at the same time, the beginning of the symbol always starts from rf_id = 0. As a result, even when input signals of multiple sequences including input signal A and input signal B are input, interleaving between transmission paths can be performed on a segment-by-segment basis according to the ratio of transmission capacities.

[0122] <<Second example>> Next, a second example of interleaving between transmission paths in segment units will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0123] In Fig. 20, similarly to Fig. 18, when two transmission paths, channel RF1 and channel RF2, are regarded as one transmission path by channel bonding, rf_id = 0 is assigned to channel RF1 and rf_id = 1 is assigned to channel RF2, and the order of the transmission paths is channel RF1, channel RF2. In Fig. 20, similarly to Fig. 18, the hierarchical level (number of segments) to which channel bonding is applied differs between channel RF1 (35 segments) and channel RF2 (31 segments), and therefore the transmission capacity differs for each channel.

[0124] In Fig. 20, similar to Fig. 18, the bold frames on the physical layer frames of channels RF1 and RF2 represent symbols at the same time, and signals are arranged in the order shown by the circled numbers. Fig. 21 shows an example of the segment numbers and signal arrangement order for symbols at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2 shown in Fig. 20. In Fig. 21, the horizontal axis represents frequency (segments) and the vertical axis represents time (symbols).

[0125] In Fig. 21, the circled numbers correspond to the circled numbers in Fig. 20, and the RF1 symbols indicated by dashed squares containing circled numbers 1, 3, and 5 and the RF2 symbols indicated by dashed squares containing circled numbers 2, 4, and 6 are symbols of the same time. In Fig. 21 as well, the solid squares within the dashed square symbols indicate segments, and the numbers within the squares indicate segment numbers.

[0126] For example, if we look at the RF1 symbol, indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 1, and the RF2 symbol, indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 2, which are symbols at the same time, we get the following: That is, as indicated by the numbers A1, B1, A2, ... in parentheses in the RF1 symbol, FEC signals A and B are alternately allocated to segments 1 to 35, and then as indicated by the numbers B18, A19, B19, ... in parentheses in the RF2 symbol, FEC signals B and FEC signals A are alternately allocated to segments 1 to 27. Furthermore, as indicated by the numbers B31, A32 to A35 in parentheses in the RF2 symbol, after FEC signal B is allocated to segment 27, FEC signal A is allocated consecutively to segments 28 to 31.

[0127] Next, if we look at the next symbols at the same time, the RF1 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 3 and the RF2 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 4, we see the following: That is, as indicated by the numbers B32, A36, B33, ... in parentheses in the RF1 symbol, FEC signals B and A are alternately arranged in segments 1 to 35, and then as indicated by the numbers A54, B49, A55, ... in parentheses in the RF2 symbol, FEC signals A and B are alternately arranged in segments 1 to 26. Furthermore, as indicated by the numbers B62, A66 to A70 in parentheses in the RF2 symbol, after FEC signal B is arranged in segment 26, FEC signal A is consecutively arranged in segments 27 to 31.

[0128] Furthermore, if we look at the next symbols at the same time, the RF1 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 5 and the RF2 symbol indicated by a dashed square containing the circled number 6, we see that FEC signals A and B are alternately arranged in segments 1 to 35 as indicated by the numbers A71, B63, ... in parentheses in the RF1 symbol, and then FEC signals B and FEC signals A are alternately arranged in segments 1 to 27 in the order indicated by the numbers B80, A89, ... in parentheses in the RF2 symbol, and then FEC signal A is consecutively arranged in segments 28 to 31.

[0129] The rest of the description is omitted as it would be repetitive, but for symbols at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2, FEC signals A and B are alternately arranged within the symbols of RF1 and RF2, with the symbols starting from input signal A (FEC signal A) and from input signal B (FEC signal B) being repeated (however, FEC signal A is arranged continuously at the end of the RF2 symbol).

[0130] 14, when FEC signal A from BICM unit 111-A and FEC signal B from BICM unit 111-B are input, FEC signal A and FEC signal B are alternately arranged within the symbols of RF1 and RF2 while alternating the start signal for each symbol at the same time on channel RF1 and channel RF2 (however, FEC signal A is arranged continuously at the end of the RF2 symbol), and this process is repeated. In other words, for symbols at the same time, the beginning of the symbols starts in the order of rf_id. As a result, even when input signals of multiple series including input signal A and input signal B are input, interleaving between transmission paths can be performed in segment units according to the ratio of transmission capacities.

[0131] <Inter-transmission line IL: Carrier unit> An example of inter-transmission path interleaving on a carrier-by-carrier basis by the inter-transmission path interleaver 112 in Fig. 14 will be described with reference to Fig. 22 and Fig. 23. In this example, when two input signal series, input signal A and input signal B, are input, the two transmission paths, channel RF1 and channel RF2, are used as one transmission path by channel bonding.

[0132] In Fig. 22, similarly to Fig. 9, when two transmission paths, channel RF1 and channel RF2, are regarded as one transmission path by channel bonding, rf_id = 0 is assigned to channel RF1 and rf_id = 1 is assigned to channel RF2, and the order of the transmission paths is channel RF1, channel RF2. In Fig. 22, similarly to Fig. 9, the hierarchical level (number of segments) to which channel bonding is applied differs between channel RF1 (35 segments) and channel RF2 (31 segments), and therefore the transmission capacity differs for each channel.

[0133] In Fig. 22, similar to Fig. 9, the bold frames on the physical layer frames of channels RF1 and RF2 represent symbols at the same time, and signals are arranged in the order shown by the circled numbers. Fig. 23 shows an example of the carrier numbers and signal arrangement order for symbols at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2 shown in Fig. 22. In Fig. 23, the horizontal axis represents frequency (segments) and the vertical axis represents time (symbols). Here, an example is shown in which one segment has 384 carriers.

[0134] In Fig. 23, the circled numbers correspond to the circled numbers in Fig. 22, and the RF1 symbols indicated by dashed squares containing circled numbers 1 and 3 and the RF2 symbols indicated by dashed squares containing circled numbers 2 and 4 are symbols at the same time. In Fig. 23, as in Fig. 10, the solid squares within the dashed square symbols indicate carriers, and the numbers within the squares indicate the carrier numbers. The numbers in parentheses above the squares indicating carriers indicate the order of signal allocation.

[0135] For example, if we look at the RF1 symbol, which is indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 1, and the RF2 symbol, which is indicated by a dashed square containing a circled number 2, which are symbols at the same time, we get the following: That is, as indicated by the numbers A1, B1, A2, ... in parentheses in the RF1 symbol, FEC signal A and FEC signal B are alternately allocated to carriers 1 to 13440, and then as indicated by the numbers A6721, B6721, A6722, ... A11904, B11904 in parentheses in the RF2 symbol, FEC signal A and FEC signal B are alternately allocated to carriers 1 to 10368. Furthermore, as indicated by the numbers A11905, A11906, . . . A13439, A13440 in parentheses within the RF2 symbol, after FEC signal B is allocated to carrier 10368, FEC signal A is allocated consecutively to carriers 10369 to 11904.

[0136] The rest of the procedure is omitted as it would be repetitive, but for each symbol at the same time on channels RF1 and RF2, starting with input signal A (FEC signal A), FEC signal A and FEC signal B are alternately allocated to carriers 1 to 13440 in the RF1 symbol and carriers 1 to 10368 in the RF2 symbol, and then FEC signal A is allocated consecutively to carriers 10369 to 11904 in the RF2 symbol, and this process is repeated.

[0137] 14, when FEC signal A from BICM unit 111-A and FEC signal B from BICM unit 111-B are input, the inter-transmission path interleaver 112 always sets FEC signal A as the start signal for each symbol at the same time on channel RF1 and channel RF2, alternately allocating FEC signals A and B to carriers 1 to 13440 in the RF1 symbol and carriers 1 to 10368 in the RF2 symbol, and then repeatedly allocating FEC signal A continuously to carriers 10369 to 11904 in the RF2 symbol. This allows interleaving between transmission paths on a carrier-by-carrier basis according to the ratio of transmission capacities, even when input signals of multiple series including input signal A and input signal B are input.

[0138] <Details of control information> The control information generated by the control information generator 115 in the transmitting device 10 will now be described in detail. The control information includes physical layer control information such as transmission control information and transmission control auxiliary information. The transmission control auxiliary information includes inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information. The inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information includes information used when synchronizing and processing signals after inter-transmission path interleaving in inter-transmission path deinterleaving. For example, the inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information includes transmission path identification information, an FEC block pointer, and mode information.

[0139] FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of the syntax of the transmission control auxiliary information.

[0140] The 8-bit number_of_aux_data indicates the number of auxiliary transmission control information. Within the loop corresponding to the number indicated by number_of_aux_data, an 8-bit aux_data_type and an 8-bit aux_data_size are placed. The aux_data_type indicates the type that identifies the auxiliary transmission control information. For example, the value 2 is assigned to the inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information as a type indication. The aux_data_size indicates the size of the auxiliary transmission control information.

[0141] When aux_data_type = 2, aux_cil_configuration() is placed in the loop. aux_cil_configuration() is inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information. Examples of the syntax of inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information are shown in Figures 25 and 26.

[0142] In the following description, among the signals (channel signals) constituting the channel bonding, a signal transmitted on the same channel as the target inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information is referred to as the "own signal."Furthermore, among the signals (channel signals) constituting the channel bonding, a signal transmitted on a channel different from the target inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information is referred to as the "other signal."

[0143] FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a first example of the syntax of the inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information.

[0144] The 16-bit network_id indicates the network ID of the own signal. The 3-bit subframe indicates the subframe number of the own signal. The 3-bit layer indicates the layer number of the own signal. The 3-bit num_rf indicates the number of transmission paths that make up the channel bonding. The 3-bit rf_id is transmission path identification information that indicates the RF ID of the own signal. The value of rf_id indicates the order of the transmission paths that make up the channel bonding.

[0145] The 4-bit interleave_mode is mode information indicating the mode of interleaving between transmission paths. The value of interleave_mode changes depending on the processing unit of interleaving. For example, if a value of 0 is specified, it is symbol-based; if a value of 1 is specified, it is segment-based (the beginning of the symbol starts from rf_id = 0); if a value of 2 is specified, it is segment-based (the beginning of the symbol starts in the order of rf_id); and if a value of 3 is specified, it is carrier-based. Values ​​4 to 15 are reserved.

[0146] The 16-bit fec_block_pointer is a pointer (FEC block pointer) that indicates the start position of the FEC block that is synchronized with other transmission paths. Within the loop corresponding to the number indicated by num_rf, a 16-bit cil_network_id, a 3-bit cil_subframe, a 3-bit cil_layer, a 3-bit cil_rf_id, and a 6-bit cil_num_seg are placed.

[0147] cil_network_id indicates the network ID of the other signal. cil_subframe indicates the subframe number of the other signal. cil_layer indicates the layer number of the other signal. cil_rf_id is transmission path identification information that indicates the RF ID of the other signal. The value of cil_rf_id indicates the order of the transmission paths that make up the channel bonding. cil_num_seg indicates the number of segments of the other signal. Note that one bit is reserved within this loop for future expansion.

[0148] Fig. 26 is a diagram showing a second example of the syntax of the inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information. The syntax in Fig. 26 differs from the syntax in Fig. 25 in that 4 bits of interleave_mode are removed and 4 bits are reserved. For example, if the processing unit of inter-transmission path interleaving is fixed, there is no need to notify the receiving device 20 of the inter-transmission path interleaving mode, and therefore the information of interleave_mode may be deleted from the inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information.

[0149] Fig. 27 is a diagram explaining the FEC block pointer. Here, an example is shown in which two input signal series, input signal A and input signal B, are input, and two transmission paths, a first transmission path (channel RF1) and a second transmission path (channel RF2), are used as one transmission path by channel bonding. In Fig. 27, of the vertically arranged squares, the left column of squares indicates input signal A, and the right column of squares indicates input signal B.

[0150] As shown in the exemplary configuration of the transmitting device 10 in Fig. 14, input signal A is input to the BICM unit 111-A and converted into an FEC block signal (FEC signal A), and input signal B is input to the BICM unit 111-B and converted into an FEC block signal (FEC signal B). At this time, as indicated by dashed lines 321 and 322 in Fig. 27, the start positions of the FEC blocks (signals) in input signals A and B are synchronized, with the start positions being the same. Then, with the start positions synchronized, the inter-transmission path interleaver 112 performs inter-transmission path interleaving, so that FEC signal A and FEC signal B are allocated to symbols at the same time in the first transmission path and the second transmission path in a predetermined processing unit.

[0151] At this time, in the transmitting device 10, the transmitting unit 101 transmits inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information, including an FEC block pointer indicating the start position of the FEC block of input signal A, in a physical layer frame. Here, the start positions of the FEC blocks in input signals A and B are at the same time, and since the FEC blocks are transmitted in order from the first transmission path, the start positions are indicated by the FEC block pointer. As a result, in the receiving device 20, the receiving unit 201 (inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213) can synchronize and correctly rearrange the signals by using the FEC block pointer. Therefore, the receiving unit 201 can correctly receive the original signal.

[0152] 18 and 19, the FEC block pointer indicates, for example, the following position. That is, as shown in FIG. 19, in this inter-transmission path interleaving, for each symbol at the same time on channel RF1 and channel RF2, the start signal is always FEC signal A, and FEC signals A and B are alternately allocated to segments 1 to 35 in the RF1 symbol and segments 1 to 27 in the RF2 symbol, and further, FEC signal A is continuously allocated to segments 28 to 31 in the RF2 symbol, and this process is repeated. In this case, the FEC block pointer can indicate, for example, the square corresponding to the number A2 in parentheses in the RF1 symbol indicated by the dashed square containing the circled number 1 in FIG. 19, i.e., the position of FEC signal A allocated to segment 3. This allows inter-transmission path deinterleaver 213 to recognize that FEC signal A allocated to segment 3 is the start position of the FEC block of input signal A.

[0153] The control information generator 115 is not limited to being provided in the transmitting device 10, but may also be provided in another device such as a broadcast server. In this case, the transmitting device 10 may acquire control information provided from the other device, store it in a memory or the like, and read it out as needed. Furthermore, the inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information may be transmitted over at least one of the transmission paths, as well as over all of the multiple transmission paths. The inter-transmission path interleaving configuration information is not limited to being included in the transmission control auxiliary information (Auxiliary data), but may also be included in the transmission control information (TMCC information).

[0154] As described above, in the present disclosure, when the transmitting device 10 and the receiving device 20 use multiple transmission paths as a single transmission path by channel bonding, the transmitting side performs inter-transmission path interleaving, and the receiving side performs inter-transmission path deinterleaving to return the inter-transmission path interleaved signals to their original order, control information including information used when synchronously processing the inter-transmission path interleaved signals (e.g., transmission path identification information, FEC block pointer, mode information) is transmitted. This allows the receiving side to reliably perform inter-transmission path deinterleaving using the control information.

[0155] Furthermore, in the present disclosure, when multiple transmission paths with different transmission capacities are used as a single transmission path through channel bonding, interleaving between the transmission paths is performed by arranging FEC block signals in symbols at the same time on the multiple transmission paths in a predetermined processing unit (e.g., symbol unit, segment unit, carrier unit) according to the ratio of the transmission capacities. As a result, even if the transmission capacities of the multiple transmission paths are different, channel bonding allows appropriate transmission and reception as a single transmission path, thereby enabling more flexible broadcasting services to be realized. Furthermore, since transmission is performed using multiple different transmission paths, it is possible to achieve improved reception characteristics through frequency diversity.

[0156] <Modification> In the above description, a method employing channel bonding when multiple transmission paths are used as a single transmission path has been described. However, other methods, such as MIMO (Multi-Input Multi-Output), may also be employed. When MIMO is employed, RF signals (RF signals #1 and #2) output from the transmitting unit 101 in the transmitting device 10 are output in different polarization planes (e.g., two orthogonal polarizations, such as horizontal polarization and vertical polarization) and transmitted via the MIMO transmission path. The RF signals transmitted via the MIMO transmission path are received via a receiving antenna for polarized waves, and in the receiving device 20, the receiving unit 201 processes the RF signals (RF signals #1 and #2) received via the receiving antenna for polarized waves. Furthermore, although the above description describes the case where there are two RF signals and two FEC signals, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, by replacing the pattern A, B, A, B, with A, B, C, A, B, C, the present disclosure can be similarly applied to the case where there are three or more signals. Furthermore, A, B, C, A, B, C, ··· may be A, B, C, B, C, A, ··· or may be some other pattern.

[0157] In this specification, inter-transmission path interleaving may be considered as re-multiplexing signals between transmission paths, and the above-mentioned "inter-transmission path interleaving" may be read as "re-multiplexing." Furthermore, inter-transmission path deinterleaving may be considered as combining signals after re-multiplexing to return them to their original order, and the above-mentioned "inter-transmission path deinterleaving" may be read as "combining."

[0158] In the above explanation, ISDB-T and its next-generation system have been described as broadcasting systems for terrestrial digital television broadcasting, but the present disclosure may be applied to other broadcasting systems as well. Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to terrestrial broadcasting (terrestrial broadcasting), and may be applied to broadcasting systems such as broadcasting satellites (BS), communications satellites, or cable broadcasting (CATV: Common Antenna Television).

[0159] In the above description, the receiving device 20 has been described as a fixed receiver such as a television receiver or a set-top box (STB), but the fixed receiver may also include electronic devices such as a recorder, a game console, a PC (Personal Computer), etc. Furthermore, the receiving device 20 is not limited to a fixed receiver, and may also include electronic devices such as mobile receivers such as smartphones, mobile phones, and tablet computers, in-vehicle devices mounted in vehicles such as in-vehicle televisions, and wearable computers such as head-mounted displays (HMDs).

[0160] In addition, in a transmission system to which the present disclosure is applied, a communication server having various functions connected to a communication line such as the Internet may be provided, so that a receiving device 20 having communication functions can access the communication server via the communication line to perform two-way communication, and receive and process various data such as content and applications.

[0161] <Computer configuration> The above-described series of processes can be executed by hardware or software. When the series of processes is executed by software, a program constituting the software is installed in a computer. Fig. 28 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer that executes the above-described series of processes by a program.

[0162] In the computer, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1001, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1002, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 1003 are interconnected by a bus 1004. An input / output interface 1005 is further connected to the bus 1004. An input unit 1006, an output unit 1007, a storage unit 1008, a communication unit 1009, and a drive 1010 are connected to the input / output interface 1005.

[0163] The input unit 1006 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, etc. The output unit 1007 includes a display, a speaker, etc. The storage unit 1008 includes a hard disk, a non-volatile memory, etc. The communication unit 1009 includes a network interface, etc. The drive 1010 drives a removable recording medium 1011 such as a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a magneto-optical disk.

[0164] In a computer configured as described above, the CPU 1001 loads a program recorded in the ROM 1002 or memory unit 1008 into the RAM 1003 via the input / output interface 1005 and the bus 1004 and executes it, thereby performing the above-mentioned series of processes.

[0165] The program executed by the computer (CPU 1001) can be provided by being recorded on a removable recording medium 1011 such as a package medium, for example. The program can also be provided via a wired or wireless transmission medium such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting.

[0166] In a computer, the program can be installed in the storage unit 1008 via the input / output interface 1005 by inserting the removable recording medium 1011 into the drive 1010. The program can also be received by the communication unit 1009 via a wired or wireless transmission medium and installed in the storage unit 1008. Alternatively, the program can be installed in advance in the ROM 1002 or the storage unit 1008.

[0167] Here, in this specification, the processing performed by a computer according to a program does not necessarily have to be performed chronologically in the order described in the flowchart. In other words, the processing performed by a computer according to a program also includes processing executed in parallel or individually (for example, parallel processing or object-based processing). Furthermore, the program may be processed by one computer (processor), or may be processed in a distributed manner by multiple computers.

[0168] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the effects described in this specification are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting, and other effects may also be obtained.

[0169] The present disclosure can also be configured as follows.

[0170] (1) an interleaver that performs interleaving among a plurality of transmission paths when the plurality of transmission paths are used as a single transmission path for a forward error correction (FEC) block; A frame constructor that constructs a physical layer frame for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and the control information signal. Equipped with The control information includes information used when synchronously processing the interleaved signals included in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path in deinterleaving, which returns the interleaved signals to their original order. Transmitting device. (2) The control information includes transmission path identification information indicating the order of the transmission paths and a pointer indicating the start position of an FEC block synchronized with another transmission path. The transmitting device according to (1) above. (3) The interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in predetermined processing units into symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths in accordance with the ratio of transmission capacities of the respective transmission paths. The transmitting device according to (2) above. (4) The interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in units of symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths. The transmitting device according to (3) above. (5) The interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in segments at symbols at the same time on the multiple transmission paths. The transmitting device according to (3) above. (6) The interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in carrier units into symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths. The transmitting device according to (3) above. (7) The control information further includes mode information indicating the interleaving mode corresponding to the predetermined processing unit. The transmitting device according to any one of (3) to (6). (8) a generator for generating the FEC blocks based on an input packet or stream, The packets or streams are input from one or more sequences. The transmitting device according to any one of (1) to (7). (9) The multiple transmission paths are used as one transmission path by channel bonding. The transmitting device according to any one of (1) to (8). (10) The transmitting device For a forward error correction (FEC) block, when a plurality of transmission paths are used as one transmission path, interleaving is performed among the plurality of transmission paths; The physical layer frame is constructed for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and the control information signal. Including, The control information includes information used when synchronously processing the interleaved signals included in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path in deinterleaving, which returns the interleaved signals to their original order. Sending method. (11) an interleaver that performs interleaving among a plurality of transmission paths when the plurality of transmission paths are used as a single transmission path for a forward error correction (FEC) block; A frame constructor that constructs a physical layer frame for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and the control information signal. a deinterleaver that performs deinterleaving to return the interleaved signals included in the physical layer frames to their original order based on the control information included in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path from a transmitting device comprising: The control information includes information used when, in the deinterleaving, synchronizing and processing the interleaved signal included in the physical layer frame transmitted for each transmission path. Receiving device. (12) The control information includes transmission path identification information indicating the order of the transmission paths and a pointer indicating the start position of an FEC block synchronized with another transmission path. The receiving device according to (11) above. (13) the interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in predetermined processing units to symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths in accordance with a ratio of transmission capacities for each of the transmission paths; The deinterleaver returns the signals of the FEC blocks arranged at the same time symbols in the plurality of transmission paths to their original order in the predetermined processing units using the transmission path identification information and the pointers. The receiving device according to (12) above. (14) the interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in units of symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths; The deinterleaver restores the FEC block signals arranged at the same time symbols on the plurality of transmission paths to their original order on a symbol-by-symbol basis. The receiving device according to (13) above. (15) the interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in segments to symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths; The deinterleaver returns the signals of the FEC blocks arranged at the same time symbols on the plurality of transmission paths to their original order in segments. The receiving device according to (13) above. (16) the interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in carrier units to symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths; The deinterleaver returns the signals of the FEC blocks arranged at the same time symbols on the plurality of transmission paths to their original order on a carrier-by-carrier basis. The receiving device according to (13) above. (17) the control information further includes mode information indicating a mode of the interleaving corresponding to the predetermined processing unit; The deinterleaver returns the signals of the FEC blocks arranged at symbols at the same time in the plurality of transmission paths to their original order in the predetermined processing unit by using the transmission path identification information, the pointer, and the mode information. The receiving device according to any one of (13) to (16). (18) the transmitting device further includes a generating unit that generates the FEC block based on an input packet or stream; The packets or streams are input from one or more sequences. The receiving device according to any one of (11) to (17). (19) The multiple transmission paths are used as one transmission path by channel bonding. The receiving device according to any one of (11) to (18). (20) The receiving device an interleaver that performs interleaving among a plurality of transmission paths when the plurality of transmission paths are used as a single transmission path for a forward error correction (FEC) block; A frame constructor that constructs a physical layer frame for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and the control information signal. and performing deinterleaving to return the interleaved signals included in the physical layer frames to their original order based on the control information included in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path from a transmitting device comprising: The control information includes information used when, in the deinterleaving, synchronizing and processing the interleaved signal included in the physical layer frame transmitted for each transmission path. Receiving method. [Explanation of symbols]

[0171] 10 transmitting device, 20 receiving device, 101 transmitting section, 111, 111-A to 111-m BICM section, 112 inter-transmission path interleaver, 113-1 to 113-n interleave processing section, 114-1 to 114-n frame structuring section, 115 control information generating section, 201 receiving section, 211-1 to 211-n frame structuring section, 212-1 to 212-n deinterleave processing section, 213 inter-transmission path deinterleaver, 214, 214-1 to 214-m BICM section, 215 control information acquiring section

Claims

1. an interleaver that performs interleaving among a plurality of transmission paths when the plurality of transmission paths are used as a single transmission path for a forward error correction (FEC) block; A frame constructor that constructs a physical layer frame for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and the control information signal. Equipped with The control information includes information used when synchronously processing the interleaved signals included in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path in deinterleaving, which returns the interleaved signals to their original order. Transmitting device.

2. The control information includes transmission path identification information indicating the order of the transmission paths and a pointer indicating the start position of an FEC block synchronized with another transmission path. The transmitting device according to claim 1 .

3. The interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in predetermined processing units into symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths in accordance with the ratio of transmission capacities of the respective transmission paths. The transmitting device according to claim 2 .

4. The interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in units of symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths. The transmitting device according to claim 3 .

5. The interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in segments at symbols at the same time on the multiple transmission paths. The transmitting device according to claim 3 .

6. The interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in carrier units into symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths. The transmitting device according to claim 3 .

7. The control information further includes mode information indicating the interleaving mode corresponding to the predetermined processing unit. The transmitting device according to claim 3 .

8. a generator for generating the FEC blocks based on an input packet or stream, The packets or streams are input from one or more sequences. The transmitting device according to claim 1 .

9. The multiple transmission paths are used as one transmission path by channel bonding. The transmitting device according to claim 1 .

10. The transmitting device For a forward error correction (FEC) block, interleaving is performed among a plurality of transmission paths when the plurality of transmission paths are used as one transmission path; The physical layer frame is constructed for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and the control information signal. Including, The control information includes information used when synchronously processing the interleaved signals included in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path in deinterleaving, which returns the interleaved signals to their original order. Sending method.

11. an interleaver that performs interleaving among a plurality of transmission paths when the plurality of transmission paths are used as a single transmission path for a forward error correction (FEC) block; A frame constructor that constructs a physical layer frame for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and the control information signal. a deinterleaver that performs deinterleaving to return the interleaved signals included in the physical layer frames to their original order based on the control information included in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path from a transmitting device comprising: The control information includes information used when, in the deinterleaving, synchronizing and processing the interleaved signal included in the physical layer frame transmitted for each transmission path. Receiving device.

12. The control information includes transmission path identification information indicating the order of the transmission paths and a pointer indicating the start position of an FEC block synchronized with another transmission path.

12. The receiving device according to claim 11.

13. the interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in predetermined processing units to symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths in accordance with a ratio of transmission capacities for each of the transmission paths; The deinterleaver returns the signals of the FEC blocks arranged at the same time symbols in the plurality of transmission paths to their original order in the predetermined processing units using the transmission path identification information and the pointers.

13. The receiving device according to claim 12.

14. the interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in units of symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths; The deinterleaver restores the FEC block signals arranged at the same time symbols on the plurality of transmission paths to their original order on a symbol-by-symbol basis.

14. The receiving device according to claim 13.

15. the interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in segments to symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths; The deinterleaver returns the signals of the FEC blocks arranged at the same time symbols on the plurality of transmission paths to their original order in segments.

14. The receiving device according to claim 13.

16. the interleaver arranges the signals of the FEC block in carrier units to symbols at the same time on the plurality of transmission paths; The deinterleaver returns the signals of the FEC blocks arranged at the same time symbols on the plurality of transmission paths to their original order on a carrier-by-carrier basis.

14. The receiving device according to claim 13.

17. the control information further includes mode information indicating a mode of the interleaving corresponding to the predetermined processing unit; The deinterleaver returns the signals of the FEC blocks arranged at symbols at the same time in the plurality of transmission paths to their original order in the predetermined processing unit by using the transmission path identification information, the pointer, and the mode information.

14. The receiving device according to claim 13.

18. the transmitting device further includes a generating unit that generates the FEC block based on an input packet or stream; The packets or streams are input from one or more sequences.

12. The receiving device according to claim 11.

19. The multiple transmission paths are used as one transmission path by channel bonding.

12. The receiving device according to claim 11.

20. The receiving device an interleaver that performs interleaving among a plurality of transmission paths when the plurality of transmission paths are used as a single transmission path for a forward error correction (FEC) block; A frame constructor that constructs a physical layer frame for each transmission path using the interleaved signal and the control information signal. and performing deinterleaving to return the interleaved signals included in the physical layer frames to their original order based on the control information included in the physical layer frames transmitted for each transmission path from a transmitting device comprising: The control information includes information used when, in the deinterleaving, synchronizing and processing the interleaved signal included in the physical layer frame transmitted for each transmission path. Receiving method.

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