Broadcast Packet Delay Compensation for Channel-Bonded Receivers

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Solution Overview

Problem

In data transmission based on broadcasting schemes like ATSC3.0, the propagation delays of broadcast waves from different sending facilities to a receiving point vary, necessitating delay compensation to prevent erroneous operations, yet existing solutions require complex configurations.

Innovation Solution

A receiving apparatus and method that compensates for propagation delays by adding time information to broadcast packets, measuring delay differences, and adjusting packet arrival times to ensure synchronized processing of packets from multiple transmission paths, allowing for a simplified circuit configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If delay compensation is executed using conventional methods, then propagation delay differences are compensated, but the circuit configuration becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelay compensation accuracyVSAvoidcircuit configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential delay compensation function from complex conventional systems. By using a simple buffer memory to store packets and a counter to track delay differences, the invention isolates the core compensation mechanism from unnecessary circuitry, achieving delay compensation with minimal components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses time information (timestamps) copied into packets from sending facilities as a virtual representation of propagation delay characteristics. Instead of measuring actual physical delays with complex circuits, the system copies timing data into packet metadata and uses this copied information to control buffer operations, simplifying the physical circuit while maintaining compensation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If delay compensation is executed to prevent erroneous operations, then data transmission reliability is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service delay compensation where each receiving facility independently uses the time information embedded in packets it receives. The system serves itself by using the copied timestamps from transmitting facilities to automatically control buffer memory operations without requiring external coordination or complex processing control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-storing packets in buffer memory before they are needed for recombination. By anticipating delay differences and preparing packets in advance using the copied time information, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time delay measurement and adjustment mechanisms during packet processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3389216B1Receiver and data processing method
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3389216B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3389216B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3389216B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present technology relates to a receiving apparatus and a data processing method that can execute delay compensation with more simplified configuration. A receiving apparatus has a delay compensation block configured to delay, on the basis of time information included in a packet to be transmitted for each of a plurality of transmission paths including a broadcasting path, another packet to be transmitted by other transmission path than the reference transmission path with respect to a reference packet to be transmitted by a reference transmission path among the plurality of transmission paths to compensate a delay between the packets to be transmitted for each of the plurality of transmission paths. The present technology can be applied to television receivers having a channel bonding function, for example.