ATSC 3.0 Receiver Feedback for Faster Channel Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Measurement of RF reception details in digital television is typically a manual process with limited data points, hindering the expansion of data collection from a large number of consumer receivers.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize ATSC 3.0 receivers to collect and analyze reception parameters, including antenna gains and implementation losses, to identify likely receivable channels and reduce channel scan time, leveraging machine learning models and network connectivity for data exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If manual measurement of RF reception details is used, then data collection process is simple, but the amount of available data is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Each receiver automatically measures and reports its own RF reception parameters (signal strength, noise floor, channel availability) to the server, eliminating the need for manual measurement while enabling large-scale data collection from multiple receivers
Solution Approach 2:
The server collects reception data from receivers and feeds back optimized channel scan results and likely receivable channel information to receivers, creating a closed-loop system that continuously improves reception performance
2Reliability
If receivers scan all possible channels, then complete channel coverage is achieved, but channel scan time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs preliminary analysis of reception data from multiple receivers to identify likely receivable channels before receivers begin their scan, allowing receivers to prioritize scanning of high-probability channels first
Solution Approach 2:
Receivers scan only the subset of channels identified as likely receivable based on reception data from other receivers, rather than scanning all possible channels, achieving sufficient channel coverage with reduced scan time
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for expanding and/or improving the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 television protocol. In an ATSC 3.0 environment, receivers (including consumer and professional receivers) have signal reception parameters and antenna factors available to them. These reception parameters, together with time and location data are transmitted to one or more servers that maintain databases of reception characteristics. This data is analyzed such that a set of likely receivable signals (based on reception parameters, date/time, location, geographical features, transmitter information, etc.) is identified. Receivers query the servers to receive information indicating the set of likely receivable signals to reduce channel scan time by scanning only or first for more-receivable channels. Also, difficult reception locations identified in the data collected by the servers are used in aggregate to guide RF improvements (e.g., adding SFN transmitters). Further, the data collected by the servers may provide data to be used to feed “MFN” data.