Inband Channel Remapping Pre-Notification for Tuner Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telecommunication systems face delays and increased hardware costs when users' channels are remapped to different frequencies, as receiving devices must search all frequencies for a new Virtual Channel Table (VCT) after channel movement, often taking several minutes and requiring additional hardware for out-of-band frequency tuning.
Innovation Solution
Transmission of a channel remapping pre-notification (RPN) message before channel movement allows receiving devices to store and use this information to identify new frequencies for moved channels, reducing the need to search all frequencies and avoiding the necessity of a second tuner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If receiving devices search all frequencies for a new VCT after channel movement, then the device can find the updated channel mapping, but the search time increases to several minutes
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits a channel remapping pre-notification message before actually moving the channels to new frequencies. This allows receiving devices to store the remapping information in advance and use it immediately when needed, eliminating the need to search all frequencies after channel movement occurs. The pre-notification mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing timely information about channel location changes before they happen.
2Reliability
If receiving devices use a second tuner tuned to out-of-band frequency for VCT reception, then the device can continuously monitor for VCT updates, but hardware costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a channel remapping pre-notification message as an intermediary carrier that transmits channel mapping information on the same in-band frequency as the program data. This eliminates the need for a separate out-of-band frequency channel and second tuner, while still providing reliable VCT update notification. The pre-notification message acts as a mediator that conveys channel location information without requiring additional hardware.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the head-end stops transmitting VCTs on frequency Y after channel movement to frequency Z, then frequency Y can be reassigned for other uses, but receiving devices must search for VCT on other frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The head-end transmits the channel remapping pre-notification message before stopping VCT transmission on frequency Y and before actually moving channels to frequency Z. This allows receiving devices to store the remapping information in advance and immediately use it when frequency Y is reassigned or VCT transmission stops. The pre-notification ensures devices don't need to search for VCT on other frequencies, resolving the contradiction between frequency reuse and search time.
Data Source
AI summary
A channel remapping pre-notification (RPN) message is transmitted in each of multiple frequencies prior to movement of data associated with one or more virtual channels to one or more different frequencies. The RPN message is also sent prior to transmission of a Virtual Channel Table (VCT) reflecting channel movement. If a receiving device is unable to find data associated with a selected channel subsequent to the channel movement, the stored RPN information can be used to identify a new frequency for that selected channel.