Transmitter Identification in Single-Frequency DVB-T Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for identifying transmitters in single-frequency DVB-T broadcasting networks can only detect the most robust signal and provide limited information about other contributions, failing to selectively identify individual transmitters, which is crucial for network installation, monitoring, and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A method that assigns a unique identifier to each transmitter within the TPS carriers of digital terrestrial radio-television signals, allowing for the identification of all transmitters by analyzing the frequency responses of the transmission channels, without affecting the demodulation of audio/video/data streams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a unique identifier is assigned to each transmitter within the TPS carriers, then the ability to selectively identify individual transmitters is improved, but the complexity of the identification system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmitter identification capabilityVSAvoididentification system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The identification system segments the transmitter identification by assigning unique identifiers to individual transmitters within the TPS carrier structure. This allows the receiver to distinguish and identify specific transmitters rather than treating all signals as a single combined source, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable system complexity through structured segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by embedding unique identifier information specifically within the TPS carriers of each transmitter. This localized approach allows each transmitter to be individually identified without affecting the overall system structure, enabling precise transmitter identification while avoiding the need for a completely complex new identification system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Use of energy by moving object

If all transmitters use the same frequency in an SFN network, then spectral efficiency is improved, but the ability to distinguish between multiple signal sources deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidsignal source distinguishability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism by utilizing the TPS carriers as a medium to carry unique identifier information for each transmitter. This intermediary approach allows all transmitters to operate on the same frequency (maintaining spectral efficiency) while the TPS carriers mediate the transmission of identification information, preventing loss of signal source distinguishability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the TPS carrier content to include unique identifier parameters for each transmitter. This allows the system to maintain the same frequency parameters for all transmitters (preserving spectral efficiency) while changing the information parameters within the TPS carriers to enable signal source distinction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2721750B1Method and receiver for identification of broadcast transmitters, transmitting terrestrial digital broadcast signals
Publication Date: 2016.11.23 RAI-RADIOTELEVISIONE ITALIANA SPA
  • EP2721750B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2721750B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2721750B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A method is described for identifying transmitters (5-8) belonging to a single frequency network which transmit respective digital terrestrial radio-television signals, wherein each transmitter (5-8) transmits its own identifier coded in the service carriers of a plurality of N symbols (S40-S47) of a frame of the digital terrestrial radio-television signal, said method comprising the steps of: a) resolving, in the frequency domain and with respect to H, a linear system Y = X · H, wherein the indexes i and j vary between 1 and N, and wherein: - Y is a vector of N elements, wherein one element Yi of the vector Y represents a digital terrestrial radio-television signal acquired through a receiver (13) and relating to the i-th symbol of the plurality of N symbols of the frame; - X is a matrix having NxN size, wherein one element Xji of the matrix X represents a signal contribution that the receiver (13) would receive if the j-th transmitter were the only one to transmit on an ideal transmission channel the digital terrestrial radio-television signal relating to the i-th symbol; - H is a vector of N elements, wherein the element H, of the vector H represents the channel frequency response relating to the i-th transmitter; b) identifying each transmitter (5-8) through the respective identifier and the respective channel frequency response module.