Hybrid Broadcast Receiver Memory Segmentation for Signal Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional broadcast receivers experience output muting due to unexpected changes in interleaver depths and time alignment of memory buffers when switching between terrestrial and satellite signal environments, leading to loss of data and buffer relocation issues.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid broadcast receiver is designed with a memory allocation strategy where terrestrial and satellite data are stored in distinct portions of the memory, with the unused portion located between them, allowing for incremental addressing to avoid buffer shifting and data loss, thereby preventing muting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If initial buffer size is increased to accommodate varying interleaver depths, then memory capacity is improved, but buffer relocation is required causing data loss and output muting
Solution Approach 1:
The memory is segmented into multiple independent buffer regions (first buffer region, second buffer region, third buffer region, fourth buffer region) arranged in a circular queue structure. Each buffer region can be independently allocated and managed, allowing the system to handle varying interleaver depths without requiring relocation of entire buffer structures. This segmentation enables flexible memory allocation while maintaining data integrity and avoiding output muting.
2Adaptability or versatility
If buffer size is dynamically adjusted after signal detection, then adaptability to different signal formats is improved, but buffer relocation causes loss of buffered data
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic buffer allocation within the circular queue structure, where buffer regions can be dynamically assigned and reassigned based on detected signal formats and interleaver depths. The circular queue mechanism with configurable buffer regions allows the receiver to adapt to different signal environments (terrestrial, satellite, hybrid) without requiring physical relocation of buffer data, thereby preventing data loss while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to memory management through the circular queue structure, where buffers wrap around in a cyclic manner. This allows the system to manage buffer allocation in time rather than space - when one buffer region is full, the system can allocate the next region in the circular sequence, effectively adding a time-based dimension to memory management that avoids spatial relocation and associated data loss.
3Device complexity
If contiguous memory allocation is used for simplicity, then device complexity is reduced, but buffer relocation is required when buffer size changes
Solution Approach 1:
The memory is divided into multiple discrete buffer regions (first, second, third, fourth buffer regions) within the circular queue structure. This segmentation allows the system to allocate and manage buffer spaces independently for different signal types and interleaver depths. The segmented approach maintains relative simplicity while providing the flexibility to adjust buffer sizes and allocations dynamically without requiring complex relocation operations.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
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AI summary
A hybrid broadcast receiver (20) and method (300) of operating a memory (28) in the receiver (20). The memory (28) is used to store received data being processed in the receiver (20). The receiver (20) is configured to receive both a terrestrial signal (12) broadcast by a terrestrial transmitter (14) and a satellite signal (16) broadcast by a satellite transmitter (18). Terrestrial data from the terrestrial signal (12) is stored in a terrestrial portion (30) of the memory (28) that includes a top end (36) or first location (52) of the memory (28). Satellite data from the satellite signal (16) is stored in a satellite portion (32) of the memory (28) that includes a bottom end (38) or last location of the memory (28).