File Segmentation in Digital Broadcast Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital broadcast systems, particularly mobile satellite receivers, face challenges in transferring large files like software updates and maps without significantly impacting bandwidth, as they lack a back channel for acknowledgment and retransmission, and are prone to service outages due to obstructions and interference.
Innovation Solution
Files are partitioned into segments with headers indicating their number and uniqueness, allowing receivers to store and retransmit them over time intervals, enabling receivers to manage memory allocation and wake up for missing segments without a back channel, and using message identification codes to filter intended messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large files are transmitted via digital broadcast system, then file transfer capability is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides large files into smaller segments that can be transmitted intermittently within the broadcast stream. Each segment is identified by headers containing segment numbers and total segment counts, allowing receivers to assemble complete files over time without requiring continuous or high-bandwidth transmission.
2Reliability
If traditional packetized transmission with acknowledgment is used, then transmission reliability is improved, but system complexity increases due to back channel requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables receivers to autonomously track which segments they have received by storing segment numbers locally. When segments are retransmitted, receivers automatically identify and process only the missing segments without requiring broadcast station intervention or back channel communication, making the system self-managing.
3Productivity
If bandwidth is allocated for file transfer, then data transmission capability is improved, but broadcast program quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic retransmission of file segments at predetermined time intervals rather than continuous transmission. This allows the broadcast system to maintain primary program quality while periodically injecting file transfer data, with the broadcast station controlling when and how much bandwidth is allocated to file transfer versus programming content.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus are provided for implementing transfer of files to receivers in a digital broadcast system. The data files are partitioned into segments that are interspersed in a broadcast signal. Segment headers are provided to indicate the number of segments that constitute a corresponding data file and to uniquely identify each of segment in a data file. Receivers allocate memory to store segments for a selected data file based on data in the segment headers. The headers can be provided with data to address data files to selected receivers. Receivers are programmed to monitor the progress of storing segments of a selected data file during an initial broadcast and to use rebroadcasts to complete a file transfer.