Mobile TV Broadcast Cross-Layer Control for Vehicular Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile reception of digital television signals using the ATSC standard is difficult or impossible, especially at vehicular speeds, due to the challenges in transmitting and receiving digital television signals effectively in mobile environments.
Innovation Solution
A digital television broadcast system that dynamically configures its transmission and reception parameters based on channel characteristics and user instructions, using cross-layer control to adjust video codecs, audio codecs, image resolution, and error correction, allowing for improved mobile reception by optimizing communication layers in both the transmission system and mobile devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the ATSC standard is used for digital television transmission, then high definition quality and multiple virtual channels are achieved, but mobile reception becomes difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration of communication layers based on receiver mobility state. The system transitions from static ATSC 8-VSB configuration to adaptive configuration that adjusts video/audio codecs, error correction, and transmission parameters according to whether the receiver is stationary, pedestrian, or vehicular. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by maintaining HD quality for stationary receivers while optimizing for mobile conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes multiple transmission parameters including video codec (MPEG-2, H.264, VC-1), audio codec (AC-3, AAC), error correction codes, and packet structure based on the detected mobility state. These parameter changes enable the system to maintain acceptable video quality and audio synchronization while adapting to the challenging conditions of mobile reception, thereby resolving the contradiction between HD quality and mobile reliability.
2Productivity
If digital television signals are transmitted using standard ATSC modulation, then transmission efficiency is maintained, but reception stability in mobile environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the combination of forward error correction codes (Reed-Solomon, convolutional, LDPC) and modulation schemes based on mobility state. For vehicular receivers, the system applies more robust error correction and potentially lower-order modulation to maintain reception stability, while stationary receivers receive standard ATSC modulation for optimal transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmitter pre-configures multiple communication layer settings and error correction schemes before transmission. The appropriate configuration is selected and applied based on the receiver's mobility state, allowing the system to prepare optimal reception parameters in advance rather than attempting to adapt during real-time transmission, thereby maintaining both efficiency and stability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the transmission system is configured for stationary receivers, then transmission quality is optimized, but adaptability to mobile devices is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission system is designed to serve multiple receiver types (stationary, pedestrian, vehicular) through a single unified platform. The system universally supports multiple video/audio codecs, error correction schemes, and packet structures, allowing it to adapt its configuration based on the specific receiver type while maintaining optimized transmission quality for each category.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the receiver regarding its mobility state and reception conditions to dynamically adjust transmission parameters. This feedback mechanism enables the transmitter to optimize quality for each receiver type while maintaining broad adaptability across different devices and mobility scenarios.
4Reliability
If error correction is increased to improve mobile reception, then reception reliability improves, but transmission bandwidth efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different levels of error correction to different portions of the transmission stream based on the mobility state and importance of the data. Critical audio synchronization data and video essential streams receive higher error correction protection, while less critical data uses standard protection. This local differentiation maintains reception reliability for essential content while preserving bandwidth efficiency overall.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the error correction parameters (code rate, block size, interleaving depth) based on the receiver's mobility state. For stationary receivers, minimal error correction is applied to maximize bandwidth efficiency. For mobile receivers, especially vehicular, more robust error correction is applied to ensure reception reliability, with the parameter changes automatically adapting to the specific mobile scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital television broadcast system with transmission and/or reception of digital television signals for improved mobile reception. The communication layers in the transmit and receive portions of the transmission system can be dynamically modified, e.g., based on usage patterns or current channel characteristics. The transmission system also provides for cross layer control, whereby parameters in various of the communication layers are analyzed to determine appropriate updates to the system configuration.