Middleware PLP Selection via LMT Extraction in ATSC 3.0 Tuners
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Solution Overview
Problem
ATSC 3.0 broadcast receivers face limitations in processing multiple Physical Layer Pipes (PLPs) due to hardware resource constraints, requiring an efficient method to determine which PLPs to demodulate for service provision, especially when more than four PLPs are present in a broadcast.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of middleware processes that enable the tuner device to access and process specific PLPs by utilizing Link Mapping Tables (LMTs) encapsulated in IP packets, allowing middle and upper-level software to control the selection and processing of PLPs, thereby optimizing the handling of PLPs in ATSC 3.0 broadcasts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If receivers process more PLPs to provide comprehensive service, then service completeness is improved, but hardware resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the tuner device demodulate all PLPs and extract LMT information before service selection is finalized. This allows middleware to make informed decisions about which PLPs to process based on pre-collected mapping data, avoiding the need to continuously monitor all PLPs simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the Link Mapping Table (LMT) information from the broadcast signal to enable middleware to identify and select only the necessary PLPs for service provision. By extracting this mapping data, the system can separate the function of PLP identification from the function of PLP processing, allowing hardware resources to be allocated only to selected PLPs.
2Device complexity
If receivers limit PLP processing to four PLPs maximum, then hardware resource consumption is reduced, but service completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the PLP processing function into two distinct stages: (1) the tuner device segments and demodulates all PLPs to extract LMT information, and (2) the middleware segments and selects only the necessary PLPs based on service requirements. This segmentation allows the hardware to handle multiple PLPs initially while only processing the essential ones for service provision.
Solution Approach 2:
The Link Mapping Table (LMT) acts as an intermediary data structure between the broadcast signal and the service selection process. It provides the middleware with the information needed to make intelligent decisions about PLP selection, enabling the system to optimize hardware resource usage by processing only the PLPs required for the selected service.
3Adaptability or versatility
If receivers process all PLPs to ensure comprehensive service coverage, then service completeness is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary extraction of LMT information from all PLPs before final service selection is made. This preliminary action allows the middleware to quickly identify which PLPs are needed for the selected service, avoiding the time-consuming process of fully processing all PLPs when fewer are actually required.
Solution Approach 2:
By extracting only the essential LMT mapping information from each PLP rather than processing the complete PLP data, the system reduces processing time while maintaining the ability to identify and select the necessary PLPs for service provision.
4Productivity
If receivers use efficient PLP selection methods, then processing efficiency is improved, but control flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The LMT serves as an intermediary that provides structured mapping information between broadcast PLPs and service requirements. This intermediary data structure enables efficient PLP selection algorithms while maintaining control flexibility, as the middleware can use the LMT information to implement various selection strategies based on service requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The LMT extraction and processing mechanism is designed to be universally applicable across different service types and broadcast configurations. This universal approach maintains processing efficiency while providing control flexibility, as the same LMT-based framework can adapt to different service selection requirements without requiring specialized processing for each scenario.
Data Source
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AI summary
A reception apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to receive IP packets that include signaling information originating from an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) broadcast stream received by a tuner device, the broadcast stream including a plurality of physical layer pipes (PLPs), each PLP containing a plurality of ATSC link-layer protocol (ALP) packets. The processing circuitry is configured to extract the signaling information from the IP packets, the signaling information including a link mapping table (LMT) and at least one low level signaling (LLS) table. The LMT is identified based on a predetermined IP address and port designated to indicate the presence of the LMT. The processing circuitry is further configured to retrieve, based on the extracted LMT and extracted at least one LLS table, audio and visual content corresponding to a service associated with the broadcast stream.