Broadcast Frame Tuning Time Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional time-frequency slicing systems face challenges in guaranteeing sufficient tuning time between RF channels for single-tuner reception, especially when no constraints are set for service bit rates, leading to complex slot allocation processes and inability to optimize reception of common services like teletext with audio and video.
Innovation Solution
Introducing additional tuning time that can be inserted before or after pilot symbols, using padding bits and guard periods, or representing tuning time as a complete TF frame to ensure consistent tuning time, allowing for simple scheduling and transmission of low-bit rate services without restrictions on bit rate variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional time-frequency slicing scheduling is used to multiplex services over multiple RF channels, then the number of services provided and statistical multiplexing gain are increased, but sufficient tuning time cannot be guaranteed between TF frames and reception with a single hopping-tuner cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The TF frame structure is segmented to include dedicated tuning time slots between service data transmissions. The frame is divided into data portions and tuning time portions, allowing the receiver to switch RF channels during designated intervals without missing service data. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by structuring transmission frames to explicitly accommodate channel switching requirements while maintaining high service multiplexing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Tuning time is allocated in advance within the TF frame structure, before the receiver needs to receive data on a different RF channel. The scheduler pre-positions tuning time slots between slots on different RF channels, ensuring the receiver has sufficient time to complete frequency switching before the next data reception is required. This preliminary allocation of tuning time guarantees reliable reception with hopping-tuners.
2Adaptability or versatility
If slot allocation is performed without constraints on service bit rates, then flexibility in service provisioning is improved, but the scheduling becomes complex and cannot guarantee sufficient tuning time
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of TF frame structure to include mandatory tuning time slots, which simplifies the scheduling constraints. By structuring frames with explicit tuning time portions, the scheduler can allocate services more flexibly without complex calculations, as the tuning time requirements are built into the frame structure itself. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by making the scheduling process simpler while maintaining service flexibility.
3Productivity
If tuning time is not explicitly allocated in the TF frame structure, then the frame structure remains simple and capacity is maximized, but reception cannot be guaranteed when channel switching is required
Solution Approach 1:
The TF frame structure provides self-service by automatically incorporating tuning time slots as an integral part of its design. Rather than requiring external scheduling complexity to manage tuning time, the frame structure itself contains designated portions for channel switching. This self-including tuning time ensures reliable reception while maintaining frame capacity, as the tuning time is efficiently integrated rather than added as separate overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is provided for ensuring that time for tuning to another RF channel between two TF frames in TF slicing exists while reception with a single hopping-tuner is enabled, and reception for terminals can be guaranteed when transmitting and receiving common services. An additional time for tuning is introduced for TF-sliced services, where the time for tuning can be inserted either before of after the P1& P2 symbols, and the symbols allocated for the tuning time can also be used for transmission of low-bit rate services. Alternatively, additional padding bits and a guard period can be added in the event that slots or slot fragments exceed a cyclic transfer border upon time shifting. Alternatively still, the tuning time is represented by a complete TF frame, where the complete TF frame carries services other than those in the first TF frame, so that a service is transmitted in every second TF frame and a receiver can perform tuning during the TF frames which do not carry the service.