Digital Broadcast Receiver Silent State Detection and Service Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital broadcast receivers face issues with periodic or continuous silent states due to broadcasting standard violations or unintended interruptions, leading to lowered sound quality and potential abrupt volume output when users mistakenly increase volume.
Innovation Solution
A digital broadcast receiver with silent state detection and switching capabilities, automatically switching to another broadcast signal with the same content when a silent state is detected, thereby maintaining sound quality and preventing user complications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the digital broadcast receiver uses FIC-based abnormality determination, then it can detect normal broadcasting signals, but it fails to detect silent states caused by broadcasting standard violations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection process into multiple stages: FIC-based initial detection, followed by audio signal-based silent state detection. This multi-level segmentation allows the system to first use the simpler FIC method for normal cases, then apply the more complex audio analysis only when needed, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection mechanism that bridges FIC-based detection and audio output. The silent state detection unit acts as an intermediary layer that monitors the audio signal between the tuner and the audio output unit, detecting silent states that FIC-based methods miss while maintaining the existing FIC detection framework.
2Reliability
If the receiver automatically switches broadcast signals upon detecting silent states, then sound quality is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the tuner unit continuously receive and buffer multiple broadcast signals in advance. When a silent state is detected, the system can immediately switch to a pre-received alternative signal without requiring complex real-time searching or processing, thus maintaining sound quality while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic switching mechanism serves itself by using the same tuner unit to both detect silent states and provide alternative signals. The tuner continuously monitors broadcast signals and maintains a buffer of alternative content, allowing the system to self-manage the switching process without requiring additional dedicated hardware for signal acquisition.
3Loss of information
If the receiver notifies users of silent states with warning sounds, then users are informed of the issue, but the operation becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the notification function from the main audio signal processing path. Instead of mixing warning sounds with program audio, the system separates the silent state notification into a distinct visual alert mechanism displayed on the display unit. This extraction allows users to be informed of silent states without adding auditory complexity or requiring additional operational steps.
4Reliability
If error correction is attempted on received data with broadcasting standard violations, then data integrity is improved, but silent states still occur periodically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the error correction process adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts the level of error correction applied based on the severity and type of broadcasting standard violation detected. For minor errors, aggressive correction is applied; for severe violations that would cause periodic silent states, the system switches to alternative signal reception, dynamically optimizing data integrity while minimizing silent state duration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A digital broadcast receiver includes an RF unit (22), an analog-to-digital converter (24), and a decoder (26) that receive a broadcast signal and that perform a certain audio reproduction operation; a silent state detection unit (28) that detects a silent state in a reproduced audio signal; and a service switching unit (62) that switches, upon detection of a silent state by the silent state detection unit (28), a received service to a service that has the same content and that is included in another ensemble.