Transmitting device and receiving device

The described transmitting and receiving devices address the challenge of maintaining appropriate data rates for multiplexed broadcast signals by using control units to separate and multiplex signals based on their rates, ensuring efficient and reliable broadcasting.

JP7658798B2Active Publication Date: 2025-04-08NIPPON HOSO KYOKAI
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2021085599
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2021-05-20
Publication Date
2025-04-08
Estimated Expiration
2041-05-20

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing STL/TTL technologies face challenges in ensuring the appropriate data rates of multiplexed first and second broadcast signals in transmission frames, particularly when their rates differ.

Method used

A transmitting device and receiving device are designed with control units that separate and multiplex broadcast signals based on their respective data rates, ensuring accurate ratio-based multiplexing and separation in predetermined units such as FEC blocks, bytes, or packets.

Benefits of technology

This configuration allows for the efficient multiplexing and separation of broadcast signals with different data rates, ensuring that their rates are maintained appropriately within transmission frames, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the broadcasting system.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To provide a transmission device and a receiving device capable of multiplexing two or more broadcast signals in a transmission frame while appropriately ensuring the rates of the two or more broadcast signals.SOLUTION: A transmission device that transmits a multiplexed transmission frame in which two or more broadcast signals are multiplexed includes a control unit that divides each of the two or more broadcast signals into predetermined units, and multiplexes the two or more broadcast signals that have been divided into the predetermined units on the basis of the rate ratio of each of the two or more broadcast signals.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transmitting device and a receiving device. [Background technology]

[0002] A transmission method is specified for a transmission frame in which a main signal and an SC (Service Channel) signal are multiplexed from a first device (e.g., a broadcasting station's studio or transmitting station) to a second device (e.g., a transmitting station). The main signal includes a first broadcast signal (e.g., a TS (Transport Stream) signal, a TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing. Configuration Control) signal, etc.) related to terrestrial digital television broadcasting and V-Low terrestrial multimedia broadcasting. In such a transmission method, the link between the first device and the second device is called an STL (Studio To Transmitter Link) or a TTL (Transmitter To Transmitter Link) (e.g., Non-Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] "Digital STL / TTL Transmission Method for Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting" Standard ARIB STD-B22 Version 2.1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, with the advancement of STL / TTL, a technology (advanced STL / TTL) for multiplexing a second broadcast signal related to the advanced terrestrial broadcasting system onto a transmission frame is being considered. It is assumed that a first broadcast signal and a second broadcast signal will be multiplexed onto a transmission frame used in the advanced STL / TTL.

[0005] Against this background, the inventors, after careful consideration, noticed that the first rate of the first broadcast signal and the second rate of the second broadcast signal are different, and discovered the need to appropriately guarantee the first rate and the second rate when multiplexing the first broadcast signal and the second broadcast signal into a transmission frame.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a transmitting device and a receiving device that enable multiplexing two or more broadcast signals into a transmission frame while appropriately ensuring the rates of the two or more broadcast signals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The transmitting device disclosed herein is a transmitting device that transmits a multiplex transmission frame in which two or more broadcast signals are multiplexed, and is equipped with a control unit that divides each of the two or more broadcast signals into predetermined units and multiplexes the two or more broadcast signals divided by the predetermined units based on the ratio of the rates of each of the two or more broadcast signals.

[0008] The disclosed receiving device is a receiving device that receives a multiplex transmission frame in which two or more broadcast signals are multiplexed, and is equipped with a control unit that separates the two or more broadcast signals, which are divided into predetermined units, based on the ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a transmitting device and a receiving device that are capable of multiplexing two or more broadcast signals into a transmission frame while appropriately ensuring the rates of the two or more broadcast signals. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a digital wireless transmission system 10 according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a transmission device 100 according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a receiving device 200 according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an FEC block according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the multiplexing section 130 according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a separation unit 230 according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a multiplexing section 150 according to the first modification. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a separator 250 according to the first modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratios of dimensions may differ from the actual ones.

[0012] Therefore, specific dimensions should be determined with reference to the following description. In addition, the drawings may of course include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios.

[0013] [Disclosure Summary] A transmitting device according to the disclosure outlines a transmitting device that transmits a multiplex transmission frame in which two or more broadcast signals are multiplexed, and includes a control unit that divides each of the two or more broadcast signals into predetermined units and multiplexes the two or more broadcast signals divided by the predetermined units based on a ratio of the rates of each of the two or more broadcast signals.

[0014] The receiving device according to the disclosure outlines a receiving device that receives a multiplex transmission frame in which two or more broadcast signals are multiplexed, and includes a control unit that separates the two or more broadcast signals, which are separated into predetermined units, based on the ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals.

[0015] In the outline of the disclosure, a transmitting device multiplexes two or more broadcast signals separated by a predetermined unit based on the ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals. A receiving device separates the two or more broadcast signals separated by a predetermined unit based on the ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals. With this configuration, even in a case where the rates of the two or more broadcast signals are different, it is possible to multiplex two or more broadcast signals into a transmission frame while appropriately ensuring the rates of the two or more broadcast signals.

[0016] Although not particularly limited, the predetermined unit may be a unit constituted by an error correction block, a unit constituted by a byte, or a unit constituted by a packet.

[0017] [Embodiment] (Digital Radio Transmission System) A digital wireless transmission system according to an embodiment will be described below. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a digital wireless transmission system 10 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the digital wireless transmission system includes a transmitting device 100 and a receiving device 200.

[0018] In an embodiment, in a case where two or more broadcast signals having different rates are transmitted from the transmitting device 100, the present invention relates to a system for transmitting a multiplexed transmission frame in which two or more broadcast signals are multiplexed from the transmitting device 100 to the receiving device 200. The transmitting device 100 may multiplex and transmit two or more broadcast signals in the form of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) frame.

[0019] The location where the transmitting device 100 is installed may be a broadcasting station's studio or a transmitting station. The location where the receiving device 200 is installed may be a transmitting station. The link between the transmitting device 100 and the receiving device 200 may be called an STL (Studio To Transmitter Link) or a TTL (Transmitter To Transmitter Link). Hereinafter, the link between the transmitting device 100 and the receiving device 200 may be called an STL / TTL.

[0020] In the embodiment, the two or more broadcast signals include a first broadcast signal and a second broadcast signal. The rate of the second format for the second broadcast signal may be greater than the rate of the first format for the first broadcast signal. The broadcast signals may be referred to as program transmission signals.

[0021] The first broadcast signal may include broadcast signals related to terrestrial digital television broadcasting and V-Low terrestrial multimedia broadcasting, such as a TS (Transport Stream) signal, a TMCC (Transmission and Multiplexing. Configuration Control) signal, etc. The first broadcast signal may include an SC (Service Channel) signal, which is an auxiliary signal such as a control signal or a contact signal. The first system may be referred to as an ISDB-T (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial) system.

[0022] The second broadcast signal may include a second broadcast signal related to an advanced terrestrial broadcasting standard. The advanced terrestrial broadcasting standard may be an example of the second standard. The second broadcast signal may include a Service Channel (SC) signal.

[0023] Although not particularly limited, the first broadcast signal may be represented in the form of TS packets, and the rate of the TS packets may be 31 Mbps. The second broadcast signal may be represented in the form of IP packets, and the rate of the IP packets may be 50 Mbps. The IP packets may be read as program transmission signal packets.

[0024] (Transmitting device) A transmitting device according to an embodiment will be described below. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the transmitting device 100 according to an embodiment.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the transmitting device 100 includes a block construction unit 101, an energy dispersal unit 102, an outer code processing unit 103, an outer interleaver 105, an inner code processing unit 107, an inner interleaver 109, a mapping unit 110, a frame construction unit 111, a modulation unit 113, and a transmitting unit 115.

[0026] The block configuration unit 101 configures an error correction block. The error correction block is a block to which FEC (Forward Error Correction) is applied, and may be referred to as an FEC block. The FEC block may have a fixed length. In the embodiment, a case will be illustrated in which the block configuration unit 101 configures the FEC block of the first broadcast signal and the FEC block of the second broadcast signal separately. The FEC block of the first broadcast signal and the FEC block of the second broadcast signal may be fixed-length FEC blocks having the same length.

[0027] The energy dispersal unit 102 randomizes the bit sequence output from the block configuration unit 101 (i.e., the block header, the main signal (TS packet / IP packet), and the stuff bits if there are any before the BCH code parity of the FEC block) using a PN sequence generated using a generator polynomial of a predetermined dimension. Here, an initial value input to the generator polynomial is given for each FEC block. In other words, the PN sequence may be reset for each FEC block.

[0028] The outer code processing unit 103 executes error correction coding using the outer code. A BCH code may be used as the outer code. In the following, a case where the outer code is a BCH code will be exemplified. The order of processing by the energy dispersal unit 102 and the outer code processing unit 103 may be reversed. In this case, the bit sequence randomized by the energy dispersal includes the block header, the main signal (TS packet / IP packet), stuff bits, and BCH code parity.

[0029] The outer interleaver 105 executes interleaving of the bit sequence or byte sequence output from the outer code processor 103. Interleaving is a process of changing the order of bits or bytes. The outer interleaver 105 may be omitted.

[0030] The inner code processing unit 107 executes error correction coding using the inner code. As the inner code, a low-density parity-check code (LDPC) may be used. In the following, a case where the inner code is an LDPC will be illustrated as an example.

[0031] The inner interleaver 109 executes interleaving of the sequence output from the inner code processor 107. The interleaving may include bit interleaving, which rearranges the order of bits. It may also include frequency interleaving, which rearranges the order in the frequency axis direction in units of the number of modulation bits, and time interleaving, which rearranges the order in the time axis direction in units of the number of modulation bits.

[0032] The mapping unit 110 performs mapping on the sequence output from the inner interleaver 109 in units of the number of modulation bits. As the modulation method, 64QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) may be used. As the modulation method, a modulation method other than 64QAM (for example, up to 4096QAM) may be used.

[0033] The frame configuration unit 111 configures a multiplexed transmission frame in which two or more broadcast signals are multiplexed. In the embodiment, the multiplexed transmission frame may include an FEC block of a first broadcast signal and an FEC block of a second broadcast signal. The multiplexed transmission frame may be an OFDM frame. In the case of an OFDM frame, the data mapped by the mapping unit 110 and the pilot, TMCC, AC (Auxiliary Channel), and Null carriers are combined to configure an OFDM symbol. Furthermore, an OFDM frame is configured with a predetermined number of symbols per OFDM frame.

[0034] The modulation unit 113 performs orthogonal modulation on the multiplexed transmission frame. In the case of an OFDM frame, the modulation unit 113 performs inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) and adds a guard interval (GI) before performing orthogonal modulation.

[0035] The transmitting unit 115 transmits the multiplexed transmission frame modulated by the modulating unit 113 to the receiving device 200. The transmitting unit 115 may have a function of converting an IF (Intermediate Frequency) signal into an RF (Radio Frequency) signal and amplifying the signal to a rated transmission power.

[0036] (Receiving device) The receiving device according to the embodiment will be described below. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the receiving device 200 according to the embodiment.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, the receiving device 200 includes a receiving unit 201, a demodulating unit 203, a frame processing unit 205, a demapping unit (likelihood calculation unit) 206, an inner deinterleaver 207, an inner code processing unit 209, an outer deinterleaver 211, an outer code processing unit 213, an energy despreading unit 214, and a block processing unit 215.

[0038] The receiving unit 201 receives the multiplexed transmission frame from the transmitting device 100. The receiving unit 201 may have a function of converting an RF signal into an IF signal. The receiving unit 201 may receive an OFDM frame as the multiplexed transmission frame.

[0039] The demodulation unit 203 performs orthogonal demodulation on the multiplexed transmission frame. In the case of an OFDM frame, after the orthogonal demodulation, GI removal and FFT processing are performed.

[0040] The frame processing unit 205 detects the beginning of the multiplexed transmission frame and synchronizes the multiplexed transmission frame. In the case of an OFDM frame, the frame processing unit 205 detects the beginning of the OFDM frame from information on the TMCC carrier that can be differentially demodulated, and extracts the OFDM symbol.

[0041] The demapping unit (likelihood calculation unit) 206 performs equalization of the propagation path, and then performs demapping on the data in accordance with the modulation method. When soft decision is performed, the likelihood is calculated.

[0042] The inner deinterleaver 207 performs deinterleaving in a procedure reverse to that of the inner interleaver 109. The deinterleaving may include bit deinterleaving, frequency deinterleaving, and time deinterleaving.

[0043] The inner code processor 209 performs error correction on the FEC block based on the LDPC code parity. The inner code processor 209 removes the LDPC code parity from the FEC block.

[0044] Outer deinterleaver 211 performs deinterleaving in the reverse procedure to that of outer interleaver 105 .

[0045] The outer code processor 213 performs error correction on the FEC block based on the BCH code parity. The outer code processor 213 removes the BCH code parity from the FEC block and any stuff bits following the BCH code parity of the FEC block.

[0046] The energy despreading unit 214 performs energy despreading in a procedure opposite to that of the energy dispersal unit 102. The target of energy despreading is the bit sequence output from the outer code processing unit 213 (i.e., the block header, the main signal (TS packet / IP packet), and the stuff bit if there is a stuff bit before the BCH code parity of the FEC block). Here, the initial value input to the generator polynomial is given for each FEC block. In other words, the PN sequence may be reset for each FEC block.

[0047] The block processing unit 215 separates the block header and the main signal (TS packets / IP packets) from the FEC block. Specifically, the block processing unit 215 extracts the TS packets from the FEC block of the first broadcast signal, and extracts the IP packets from the FEC block of the second broadcast signal.

[0048] (FEC block) The FEC block according to the embodiment will be described below. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the FEC block according to the embodiment.

[0049] As shown in Example 1 of Figure 4, an FEC block includes a block header, a main signal, stuff bits, a BCH code parity, and an LDPC code parity. The use of the block header is arbitrary. The type of the main signal of the FEC block may be described in the block header. As shown in Example 2 of Figure 4, the order of the BCH code parity and the stuff bits may be reversed.

[0050] Although not particularly limited, the size of the main signal (D) may vary according to the coding rate of the LDPC. ldpc ) may vary according to the LDPC coding rate. The number of TS packets or IP packets included in the main signal may vary according to the LDPC coding rate.

[0051] (Multiple Processing) The multiplexing process according to the embodiment will be described below. In the embodiment, a case will be described in which the first broadcast signal and the second broadcast signal are multiplexed in units of FEC blocks.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 5, the multiplexing unit 130 includes a buffer 131A, a buffer 131B, a stuff packet 132A, a stuff packet 132B, a switching unit 133A, a switching unit 133B, an FEC block constructing unit 134A, an FEC block constructing unit 134B, and a switching unit 135.

[0053] The multiplexing unit 130 is an example of a control unit that divides each of the two or more broadcast signals by the length of the main signal of the FEC block, which is a predetermined unit, and multiplexes the two or more broadcast signals divided by the predetermined unit based on the ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals. The multiplexing unit 130 is provided in the block configuration unit 101 of the transmitting device 100.

[0054] Buffer 131A is a buffer that stores the first broadcast signal. For example, buffer 131A stores TS packets having a rate of 31 Mbps.

[0055] Buffer 131B is a buffer that stores the second broadcast signal. For example, buffer 131B stores IP packets having a rate of 50 Mbps.

[0056] The stuff packet 132A is output when the first broadcast signal for constituting one TS packet is not stored in the buffer 131A.

[0057] The stuff packet 132B is output when the second broadcast signal for constituting one IP packet is not stored in the buffer 131B.

[0058] The switching unit 133A switches the source of the packets to be stored in the FEC block of the first broadcast signal. Specifically, the switching unit 133A switches the source for inputting the packets to the FEC block composition unit 134A between the buffer 131A and the stuff packet 132A.

[0059] The switching unit 133B switches the source of the packets to be stored in the FEC block of the second broadcast signal. Specifically, the switching unit 133B switches the source of inputting the packets to the FEC block composition unit 134B between the buffer 131B and the stuff packet 132B.

[0060] The FEC block constructing unit 134A constructs an FEC block of the first broadcast signal, stores block header information in the block header of the FEC block, and stores a predetermined unit of packets or stuff packets of the first broadcast signal output from the switching unit 133A in the main signal portion of the FEC block.

[0061] The FEC block constructing unit 134B constructs an FEC block of the second broadcast signal, stores block header information in the block header of the FEC block, and stores a predetermined unit of packets or stuff packets of the second broadcast signal output from the switching unit 133B in the main signal portion of the FEC block.

[0062] The switching unit 135 switches the source of the FEC block multiplexed into the multiplex transmission frame. Specifically, the switching unit 135 switches the source of the FEC block multiplexed into the multiplex transmission frame between the FEC block composition unit 134A and the FEC block composition unit 134B.

[0063] Here, switching unit 135 determines the allocation of the number of FEC blocks in the multiplex transmission frame based on the ratio of the rates of two or more broadcast signals (for example, "31:50" ≈ "3:5"), and switches the source of the FEC blocks. For example, switching unit 135 may switch the source of the FEC blocks so that five inputs of FEC blocks of the second broadcast signal are obtained for three inputs of FEC blocks of the first broadcast signal. Specifically, switching unit 135 may switch in the order of ABBABBAB, with A being the case when FEC block configuration unit 134A is selected, and B being the case when FEC block configuration unit 134B is selected.

[0064] (Separation processing) The following describes the demultiplexing process according to the embodiment. In the embodiment, a case will be described in which the first broadcast signal and the second broadcast signal are demultiplexed in units of FEC blocks.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 6, the demultiplexer 230 has a switcher 231, an FEC block processor 232A, an FEC block processor 232B, a stuff packet remover 233A, and a stuff packet remover 233B.

[0066] The separator 230 is an example of a control unit that separates two or more broadcast signals separated by a predetermined unit based on the ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals. The separator 230 is provided in the block processing unit 215 of the receiving device 200.

[0067] The switching unit 231 switches the target of the FEC block separated from the multiplex transmission frame. Specifically, the switching unit 231 switches the target of the FEC block separated from the multiplex transmission frame between the FEC block processing unit 232A and the FEC block processing unit 232B.

[0068] Here, the switching unit 231 switches the target of the FEC block in a predetermined order based on the ratio of the rates of two or more broadcast signals (for example, "31:50" ≈ "3:5"). For example, the switching unit 231 may switch the source of the FEC block so that an output of five FEC blocks of the second broadcast signal is obtained for an output of three FEC blocks of the first broadcast signal. The switching unit 231 may identify the FEC block of the first broadcast signal and the FEC block of the second broadcast signal by checking the block header of the FEC block. The FEC block processing unit 232A extracts the first broadcast signal (TS packets) or stuff packets of the main signal from the FEC block of the first broadcast signal.

[0069] The FEC block processing unit 232B extracts the second broadcast signal (IP packets) of the main signal or stuff packets from the FEC block of the second broadcast signal.

[0070] The stuff packet remover 233A removes the stuff packets from the main signal output from the FEC block processor 232A, and extracts the first broadcast signal (TS packets).

[0071] The stuff packet remover 233B removes the stuff packets from the main signal output from the FEC block processor 232B, and extracts the second broadcast signal (IP packets).

[0072] (Action and Effects) In the embodiment, the transmitting device 100 multiplexes two or more broadcast signals divided into units each formed by an FEC block based on the ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals. The receiving device 200 separates two or more broadcast signals divided into units each formed by an FEC block based on the ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals. With this configuration, even if the rates of the two or more broadcast signals are different, it is possible to multiplex two or more broadcast signals into a transmission frame while appropriately ensuring the rates of the two or more broadcast signals.

[0073] [Change Example 1] Modification 1 of the embodiment will be described below. Differences from the embodiment will be mainly described below.

[0074] In the embodiment, multiplexing and demultiplexing of the first and second broadcast signals are performed in units of FEC blocks. In contrast, a case will be described in which multiplexing and demultiplexing of the first and second broadcast signals are performed in units of bytes.

[0075] (Multiple Processing) The following describes the multiplexing process according to Modification 1. In Modification 1, a case will be described in which the first broadcast signal and the second broadcast signal are multiplexed in units of bytes.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 7, the multiplexing unit 150 includes a buffer 151A, a buffer 151B, a stuff packet 152A, a stuff packet 152B, a switching unit 153A, a switching unit 153B, a switching unit 154, and an FEC block constructing unit 155.

[0077] The multiplexing unit 150 is an example of a control unit that divides each of the two or more broadcast signals into bytes, which are a predetermined unit, and multiplexes the two or more broadcast signals divided into the predetermined units based on the rate ratio of each of the two or more broadcast signals. The multiplexing unit 150 is provided in the block configuration unit 101 of the transmitting device 100.

[0078] Buffer 151A is a buffer that stores the first broadcast signal. For example, buffer 151A stores TS packets having a rate of 31 Mbps.

[0079] Buffer 151B is a buffer that stores the second broadcast signal. For example, buffer 151B stores IP packets having a rate of 50 Mbps.

[0080] The stuff packet 152A outputs a stuff packet when the first broadcast signal for constituting one TS packet is not stored in the buffer 131A. The stuff packet output from the stuff packet 152A may be considered as dummy data equivalent to the first broadcast signal.

[0081] The stuff packet 152B outputs a stuff packet when the second broadcast signal for constituting one IP packet is not stored in the buffer 131B. The stuff packet output from the stuff packet 152B may be considered as dummy data equivalent to the second broadcast signal.

[0082] The switching unit 153A switches the source of the packets to be stored in the FEC block. Specifically, the switching unit 153A switches the source for inputting the packets to the switching unit 154 between the buffer 151A and the stuff packet 152A.

[0083] The switching unit 153B switches the source of the packets to be stored in the FEC block. Specifically, the switching unit 153B switches the source for inputting the packets to the switching unit 154 between the buffer 151B and the stuff packet 152B.

[0084] The switching unit 154 switches the source of the data multiplexed into the FEC block in units of bytes. Specifically, the switching unit 154 switches the source of the data multiplexed into the FEC block between the switching unit 153A and the switching unit 153B.

[0085] Here, switching unit 154 switches the data source based on the ratio of the rates of two or more broadcast signals (for example, "31:50" ≒ "3:5"). For example, switching unit 154 may switch the data source so that 5 bytes of data of the second broadcast signal are input for 3 bytes of data of the first broadcast signal. Specifically, switching unit 154 may switch in the order of ABBABBAB, with A being the case when switching unit 153A is selected and B being the case when switching unit 153B is selected.

[0086] The FEC block constructing unit 155 constructs an FEC block in which the first broadcast signal and the second broadcast signal are multiplexed. The FEC block constructing unit 155 stores block header information in the block header of the FEC block, and stores the byte-by-byte signal output from the switching unit 154 in the main signal portion of the FEC block.

[0087] In the embodiment, since the FEC block of the first broadcast signal and the FEC block of the second broadcast signal are separate, the FEC block constructing unit processes in two systems. In contrast, in the first modification, since the first broadcast signal and the second broadcast signal are multiplexed into one FEC block, the FEC block constructing unit processes in one system.

[0088] (Separation processing) The following describes a separation process according to Modification 1. In Modification 1, a case will be described in which the first broadcast signal and the second broadcast signal are separated in units of bytes.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 8, the demultiplexer 250 includes an FEC block processor 251, a switch 252, a stuff packet remover 253A, and a stuff packet remover 253B.

[0090] The separator 250 is an example of a control unit that separates two or more broadcast signals separated by bytes, which are predetermined units, based on the ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals. The separator 250 is provided in the block processing unit 215 of the receiving device 200.

[0091] The FEC block processing unit 251 extracts, from the FEC block, the first broadcast signal (TS packets), the second broadcast signal (IP packets), and the main signal in which their stuff packets are multiplexed in byte units.

[0092] In the embodiment, the FEC block of the first broadcast signal and the FEC block of the second broadcast signal are separate, so the FEC block processing unit processes in two systems. In contrast, in the first modification, the first broadcast signal and the second broadcast signal are multiplexed into one FEC block, so the FEC block processing unit processes in one system.

[0093] The switching unit 252 switches the target of the data separated from the FEC block. Specifically, the switching unit 252 switches the target of the data separated from the FEC block between the processing unit for the first broadcast signal and the processing unit for the second broadcast signal.

[0094] Here, the switching unit 252 switches the data target in a predetermined order based on the ratio of the rates of two or more broadcast signals (for example, "31:50" ≈ "3:5"). For example, the switching unit 252 may switch the data target so that an output of 5 bytes of data of the second broadcast signal is obtained in response to an output of 3 bytes of data of the first broadcast signal.

[0095] (Action and Effects) In the first modification, the transmitting device 100 multiplexes two or more broadcast signals separated by units formed by bytes based on the ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals. The receiving device 200 separates two or more broadcast signals separated by units formed by bytes based on the ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals. With this configuration, even in a case where the rates of the two or more broadcast signals are different, it is possible to multiplex two or more broadcast signals into a transmission frame while appropriately ensuring the rates of the two or more broadcast signals.

[0096] In the first modification, the predetermined unit to which multiplexing or demultiplexing is applied is a unit formed by a byte. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress delays in the first broadcast signal or the second broadcast signal.

[0097] [Change Example 2] The following describes Modification 2 of the embodiment, focusing mainly on the differences from Modification 1.

[0098] In the first modification, multiplexing and demultiplexing of the first and second broadcast signals are performed in units of bytes. In contrast, a case will be described in which multiplexing and demultiplexing of the first and second broadcast signals are performed in units of packets (TS packets or IP packets).

[0099] Here, the TS packets constituting the first broadcast signal may have a fixed length (e.g., 204 bytes). The IP packets constituting the second broadcast signal may have a fixed length (e.g., 1500 bytes). The length (number of bytes) of the TS packets may be different from the length (number of bytes) of the IP packets, but the ratio between the length of the TS packets and the length of the IP packets may be determined in advance or by TMCC.

[0100] Basically, in Modification Example 2, the "bytes" explained in Modification Example 1 should be read as "packets." However, the above-mentioned switching unit 154 and switching unit 252 may also operate as follows.

[0101] The switching unit 154 switches the data source based on the ratio of the rates of two or more broadcast signals (e.g., "31:50" ≈ "3:5"). For example, the switching unit 154 switches the data source based on the ratio of the length of the first broadcast signal (TS packets) and the length of the second broadcast signal (IP packets) so that the ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals is maintained.

[0102] Similarly, the switching unit 252 switches the data source based on the ratio of the rates of two or more broadcast signals (e.g., "31:50" ≈ "3:5"). For example, the switching unit 252 switches the data source based on the ratio of the length of the first broadcast signal (TS packets) and the length of the second broadcast signal (IP packets) so that the ratio of the rates of the two broadcast signals is maintained.

[0103] In a second modification, the switching unit 252 may identify the TS packets of the first broadcast signal and the IP packets of the second broadcast signal by checking the packet headers of the packets (TS packets or IP packets).

[0104] [Other embodiments] Although the present invention has been described by the above disclosure, the description and drawings forming a part of this disclosure should not be understood as limiting the present invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0105] In the above disclosure, a case where two broadcast signals are multiplexed into a multiplex transmission frame is exemplified. However, the above disclosure is not limited thereto. The above disclosure may be applied to a case where three or more broadcast signals are multiplexed into a multiplex transmission frame.

[0106] In the above disclosure, the predetermined unit to which multiplexing or demultiplexing is applied is exemplified as a unit consisting of FEC blocks, a unit consisting of bytes, and a unit consisting of packets. However, the above disclosure is not limited thereto. The predetermined unit to which multiplexing or demultiplexing is applied may be any unit capable of maintaining the ratio of the respective rates of two or more broadcast signals.

[0107] Although not particularly mentioned in the above disclosure, a program may be provided that causes a computer to execute each process performed by the transmitting device 100 and the receiving device 200. The program may also be recorded in a computer-readable medium. Using the computer-readable medium, it is possible to install the program in a computer. Here, the computer-readable medium on which the program is recorded may be a non-transient recording medium. The non-transient recording medium is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM.

[0108] Alternatively, a chip may be provided that is configured by a memory that stores a program for executing each process performed by the transmitting device 100 and the receiving device 200, and a processor that executes the program stored in the memory. [Explanation of symbols]

[0109] 10...digital wireless transmission system, 100...transmitting device, 101...block configuration section, 102...energy dispersal section, 103...outer code processing section, 105...outer interleaver, 107...inner code processing section, 109...inner interleaver, 110...mapping section, 111...frame configuration section, 113...modulation section, 115...transmitting section, 130...multiplexing section, 131...buffer, 132...stuff packet, 133...switching section, 134...FEC block configuration section, 135...switching section, 150...multiplexing section, 151...buffer, 152...stuff packet, 153...switching section, 154...switching unit, 155...FEC block construction unit, 200...receiving device, 201...receiving unit, 203...demodulation unit, 205...frame processing unit, 206...demapping unit (likelihood calculation unit), 207...inner deinterleaver, 209...inner code processing unit, 211...outer deinterleaver, 213...outer code processing unit, 214...energy despreading unit, 215...block processing unit, 230...separation unit, 231...switching unit, 232...FEC block processing unit, 233...stuff packet removal unit, 250...separation unit, 251...FEC block processing unit, 252...switching unit, 253...stuff packet removal unit

Claims

1. A transmitting device for transmitting a multiplex transmission frame in which two or more broadcast signals are multiplexed, comprising: A transmitting device comprising: a control unit that divides each of the two or more broadcast signals into units each consisting of a byte, and multiplexes the two or more broadcast signals divided into units each consisting of a byte into a main signal portion of an error correction block based on a ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals.

2. A receiving device for receiving a multiplex transmission frame in which two or more broadcast signals are multiplexed, comprising: A receiving device comprising a control unit that separates the two or more broadcast signals, each divided into units consisting of bytes, from a main signal portion of an error correction block based on a ratio of the rates of the two or more broadcast signals.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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