System Physical Layer Pipe for Digital TV Channel Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital television systems, such as ATSC and DVB-T2, face challenges in sharing physical channels among multiple broadcasters, particularly in conveying important system information like Emergency Alert System messages and broadcaster identification, which is not efficiently addressed by existing standards.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves using a multi-carrier modulation system with Physical Layer Pipes (PLPs) to convey broadcaster identification and special messages, including Emergency Alert System messages, by assigning a System PLP that carries this information, allowing multiple broadcasters to share a physical channel without requiring cooperation at a higher level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple broadcasters share a physical channel using multi-carrier modulation with PLPs, then channel utilization efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to the need to convey broadcaster identification and service information
Solution Approach 1:
The physical channel is segmented into multiple Physical Layer Pipes (PLPs), each capable of carrying different broadcasters' services independently. This segmentation allows multiple broadcasters to share the same physical channel without interfering with each other, improving channel utilization efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through structured organization
Solution Approach 2:
A System PLP is introduced as an intermediary that carries broadcaster identification information and service information tables. This intermediary structure resolves the complexity issue by providing a centralized mechanism for conveying essential system information, allowing receivers to efficiently identify and access services from different broadcasters without increasing overall system complexity
2Reliability
If a System PLP is introduced to convey broadcaster identification and emergency alert information, then information delivery reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional signaling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The System PLP is configured in advance to carry essential information such as broadcaster identification and Emergency Alert System messages. By preparing this information structure beforehand, the system ensures reliable delivery of critical data while maintaining simple receiver operation through pre-organized information access
Solution Approach 2:
The System PLP serves multiple functions simultaneously: it conveys broadcaster identification information, carries service information tables, and transmits Emergency Alert messages. This multi-functionality improves information delivery reliability across different service types without requiring separate structures for each function, thereby avoiding increased device complexity
3Ease of manufacture
If DVB-SI information is used to map PLPs to content, then service information organization is improved, but adaptability decreases for non-DVB systems and multi-broadcaster scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using DVB-SI information to describe PLPs (as in traditional DVB systems), the patent inverts the approach by having PLPs carry their own service information tables and broadcaster identification data. This inversion improves adaptability to multi-broadcaster scenarios and non-DVB systems while maintaining ease of service information organization through self-describing PLP structures
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatuses are provided for transmitters and receivers for conveying and retrieving important system information carried in a multi-carrier modulation system for which the data stream is organized in multiple physical layer pipes (PLP). This is particularly important when broadcasters share the same physical channel. In one aspect of the present principles this is accomplished by assigning a PLP as a system PLP. The system PLP will carry information such as the mapping between a broadcaster and its PLPs and special messages like the Emergency Alert System and Amber Alert messages. In another aspect of the present principles, this information is carried in signaling data of the signal, instead of a PLP. In yet another aspect of the present principles, this is accomplished by a signaling parameter, which identifies the broadcaster associated with each PLP.