Apparatus for transmitting media data via streaming service, apparatus for receiving media data via streaming service, method for transmitting media data via streaming service and method for receiving media data via streaming service

An apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, an apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, a method for transmitting broadcast signals, and a method for receiving broadcast signals are disclosed. A method for transmitting a broadcast signal includes: dividing the media data into a plurality of media data fractions; generating file formats including each of the media data fractions, wherein the generated file formats include a first file format and second file formats, wherein the first file format includes metadata of the entire media data for processing the media data fractions in the second file formats, wherein each of the second file formats include metadata of the media data fractions in the each of the second file formats; and transmitting the generated first and second file formats.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for transmitting media data via streaming service, an apparatus for receiving media data via streaming service and methods for transmitting and receiving media data via streaming service.

BACKGROUND ART

Transmission/reception (Tx/Rx) of IP-based broadcast signals has been extended in digital broadcast systems. Specifically, the importance of IP-based broadcast signal Tx/Rx environments has been emphasized in the mobile digital broadcast schemes, for example, DVB-NGH from among European broadcast standards or ATSC-MH from among North American standards. In addition, it is expected that a hybrid broadcast system designed to be interoperable with the broadcast network or the Internet network will be constructed in the next generation broadcast system.

Meanwhile, it will take a long time to fully switch from the legacy MPEG-2 TS based broadcast system to the IP broadcast system in terms of industrial or political aspects, and there is a need to develop a new broadcast system capable of simultaneously supporting IP and MPEG-2 TS schemes.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure of file format which is efficient when the media data is transmitted/received via streaming service, and which is suitable for the streaming service.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a file format that can be processed in legacy receiver/client that only can process the legacy type of file format.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for reducing overhead.

Technical Solution

The object of the present invention can be achieved by providing a method for transmitting media data via streaming service a broadcast signal including: dividing the media data into a plurality of media data fractions; generating file formats including each of the media data fractions, wherein the generated file formats include a first file format and second file formats, wherein the first file format includes metadata of the entire media data for processing the media data fractions in the second file formats, wherein each of the second file formats include metadata of the media data fractions in the each of the second file formats; and transmitting the generated first and second file formats.

Preferably, wherein the second file format further includes a type information group, and wherein the type information group includes information for identifying the second file format.

Preferably, wherein the type information group further includes a movie header information group, wherein the movie header information group includes information about the media data that the media data fraction in the second file format belongs, and wherein the information about the media data is used for processing the media data fraction in the second file format, without the metadata in the first file format.

Preferably, wherein the information about the media data includes creation time, modification time and duration of entire media that the media data represents.

Preferably, wherein the second file format further includes a index information group, and wherein the index information group includes information of the media data fraction, relative to the entire media.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for receiving media data via streaming service includes: receiving a first file format including a media data fraction and metadata for processing the media data fraction in the first file format, wherein the media data fraction includes data generated by dividing the media data; regenerating a second file format by using the metadata for processing the media data fraction in the received first file format, wherein the second file format includes metadata of the entire media data for processing the media data fractions in the first file format; parsing the regenerated second file format to obtain the metadata of the entire media data for processing the media data fraction in the first file format; parsing the received first file format to obtain the metadata for processing the media data fraction in the first file format; decoding the data of the media data fraction by using the obtained metadata from the first and second file formats; and displaying a part of media that the data of the media data fraction represents.

Preferably, wherein the metadata in the first file format further includes a type information group, and wherein the type information group includes information for identifying the received first file format.

Preferably, wherein the type information group further includes a movie header information group, wherein the movie header information group includes information about the entire media data that the media data fraction in the first file format belongs, and wherein the information in the movie header information group is used for regenerating the second file format.

Preferably, the information in the movie header information group includes creation time, modification time and duration of entire media that the media data represents.

Preferably, the metadata in the first file format further includes an index information group, and wherein the index information group includes information of the media data fraction, relative to the entire media.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for transmitting media data via streaming service. The apparatus for transmitting media data includes a dividing module for dividing the media data into a plurality of media data fractions; a file format generating module for generating file formats including each of the media data fractions, wherein the generated file formats include a first file format and second file formats, wherein the first file format includes metadata of the entire media data for processing the media data fractions in the second file formats, wherein each of the second file formats include metadata of the media data fractions in the each of the second file formats; and a transmitting module for transmitting the generated first and second file formats.

Preferably, the second file format further includes a type information group, and wherein the type information group includes information for identifying the second file format.

Preferably, the type information group further includes a movie header information group, wherein the movie header information group includes information about the media data that the media data fraction in the second file format belongs, and wherein the information about the media data is used for processing the media data fraction in the second file format, without the metadata in the first file format.

Preferably, the information about the media data includes creation time, modification time and duration of entire media that the media data represents.

Preferably, the second file format further includes a index information group, and wherein the index information group includes information of the media data fraction, relative to the entire media.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for receiving media data via streaming service. The apparatus for receiving media data includes a receiving module for receiving a first file format including a media data fraction and metadata for processing the media data fraction in the first file format, wherein the media data fraction includes data generated by dividing the media data; a regenerating module for regenerating a second file format by using the metadata for processing the media data fraction in the received first file format, wherein the second file format includes metadata of the entire media data for processing the media data fractions in the first file format; a parsing module for parsing the regenerated second file format to obtain the metadata of the entire media data for processing the media data fraction in the first file format, and for parsing the received first file format to obtain the metadata for processing the media data fraction in the first file format; a decoding module for decoding the data of the media data fraction by using the obtained metadata from the first and second file formats; and a displaying module for displaying a part of media that the data of the media data fraction represents.

Preferably, the metadata in the first file format further includes a type information group, and wherein the type information group includes information for identifying the received first file format.

Preferably, the type information group further includes a movie header information group, wherein the movie header information group includes information about the entire media data that the media data fraction in the first file format belongs, and wherein the information in the movie header information group is used for regenerating the second file format.

Preferably, the information in the movie header information group includes creation time, modification time and duration of entire media that the media data represents.

Preferably, the metadata in the first file format further includes an index information group, and wherein the index information group includes information of the media data fraction, relative to the entire media.

Advantageous Effects

As is apparent from the above description, the broadcast receiver according to the embodiments can process the proposed file format efficiently.

The legacy receiver can process the proposed file format, so the compatibility can be achieved.

In accordance with the embodiments, the streaming service can be provided with reduced overhead, and great efficiency.

BEST MODE

Although most terms of elements in this specification have been selected from general ones widely used in the art taking into consideration functions thereof in this specification, the terms may be changed depending on the intention or convention of those skilled in the art or the introduction of new technology. Some terms have been arbitrarily selected by the applicant and their meanings are explained in the following description as needed. Thus, the terms used in this specification should be construed based on the overall content of this specification together with the actual meanings of the terms rather than their simple names or meanings.

The term “signaling” in the present invention may indicate that service information (SI) that is transmitted and received from a broadcast system, an Internet system, and/or a broadcast/Internet convergence system. The service information (SI) may include broadcast service information (e.g., ATSC-SI and/or DVB-SI) received from the existing broadcast systems.

The term “broadcast signal” may conceptually include not only signals and/or data received from a terrestrial broadcast, a cable broadcast, a satellite broadcast, and/or a mobile broadcast, but also signals and/or data received from bidirectional broadcast systems such as an Internet broadcast, a broadband broadcast, a communication broadcast, a data broadcast, and/or VOD (Video On Demand).

The term “PLP” may indicate a predetermined unit for transmitting data contained in a physical layer. Therefore, the term “PLP” may also be replaced with the terms ‘data unit’ or ‘data pipe’ as necessary.

A hybrid broadcast service configured to interwork with the broadcast network and/or the Internet network may be used as a representative application to be used in a digital television (DTV) service. The hybrid broadcast service transmits, in real time, enhancement data related to broadcast A/V (Audio/Video) contents transmitted through the terrestrial broadcast network over the Internet, or transmits, in real time, some parts of the broadcast A/V contents over the Internet, such that users can experience a variety of contents.

The present invention aims to provide a method for encapsulating an IP packet, an MPEG-2 TS packet, and a packet applicable to other broadcast systems in the next generation digital broadcast system in such a manner that the IP packet, the MPEG-2 TS packet, and the packet can be transmitted to a physical layer. In addition, the present invention proposes a method for transmitting layer-2 signaling using the same header format.

The contents to be described hereinafter may be implemented by the device. For example, the following processes can be carried out by a signaling processor, a protocol processor, a processor, and/or a packet generator.

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for transmitting and receiving broadcast signals for future broadcast services. Future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention include a terrestrial broadcast service, a mobile broadcast service, a UHDTV service, etc. The apparatuses and methods for transmitting according to an embodiment of the present invention may be categorized into a base profile for the terrestrial broadcast service, a handheld profile for the mobile broadcast service and an advanced profile for the UHDTV service. In this case, the base profile can be used as a profile for both the terrestrial broadcast service and the mobile broadcast service. That is, the base profile can be used to define a concept of a profile which includes the mobile profile. This can be changed according to intention of the designer.

The present invention may process broadcast signals for the future broadcast services through non-MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) or MIMO according to one embodiment. A non-MIMO scheme according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a MISO (Multiple Input Single Output) scheme, a SISO (Single Input Single Output) scheme, etc.

While MISO or MIMO uses two antennas in the following for convenience of description, the present invention is applicable to systems using two or more antennas.

FIG. 1illustrates a structure of an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention can include an input formatting module1000, a coding & modulation module1100, a frame structure module1200, a waveform generation module1300and a signaling generation module1400. A description will be given of the operation of each module of the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals.

Referring toFIG. 1, the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention can receive MPEG-TSs, IP streams (v4/v6) and generic streams (GSs) as an input signal. In addition, the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals can receive management information about the configuration of each stream constituting the input signal and generate a final physical layer signal with reference to the received management information.

The input formatting module1000according to an embodiment of the present invention can classify the input streams on the basis of a standard for coding and modulation or services or service components and output the input streams as a plurality of logical data pipes (or data pipes or DP data). The data pipe is a logical channel in the physical layer that carries service data or related metadata, which may carry one or multiple service(s) or service component(s). In addition, data transmitted through each data pipe may be called DP data.

In addition, the input formatting module1000according to an embodiment of the present invention can divide each data pipe into blocks necessary to perform coding and modulation and carry out processes necessary to increase transmission efficiency or to perform scheduling. Details of operations of the input formatting module1000will be described later.

The coding & modulation module1100according to an embodiment of the present invention can perform forward error correction (FEC) encoding on each data pipe received from the input formatting module1000such that an apparatus for receiving broadcast signals can correct an error that may be generated on a transmission channel. In addition, the coding & modulation module1100according to an embodiment of the present invention can convert FEC output bit data to symbol data and interleave the symbol data to correct burst error caused by a channel. As shown inFIG. 1, the coding & modulation module1100according to an embodiment of the present invention can divide the processed data such that the divided data can be output through data paths for respective antenna outputs in order to transmit the data through two or more Tx antennas.

The frame structure module1200according to an embodiment of the present invention can map the data output from the coding & modulation module1100to signal frames. The frame structure module1200according to an embodiment of the present invention can perform mapping using scheduling information output from the input formatting module1000and interleave data in the signal frames in order to obtain additional diversity gain.

The waveform generation module1300according to an embodiment of the present invention can convert the signal frames output from the frame structure module1200into a signal for transmission. In this case, the waveform generation module1300according to an embodiment of the present invention can insert a preamble signal (or preamble) into the signal for detection of the transmission apparatus and insert a reference signal for estimating a transmission channel to compensate for distortion into the signal. In addition, the waveform generation module1300according to an embodiment of the present invention can provide a guard interval and insert a specific sequence into the same in order to offset the influence of channel delay spread due to multi-path reception. Additionally, the waveform generation module1300according to an embodiment of the present invention can perform a procedure necessary for efficient transmission in consideration of signal characteristics such as a peak-to-average power ratio of the output signal.

The signaling generation module1400according to an embodiment of the present invention generates final physical layer signaling information using the input management information and information generated by the input formatting module1000, coding & modulation module1100and frame structure module1200. Accordingly, a reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can decode a received signal by decoding the signaling information.

As described above, the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to one embodiment of the present invention can provide terrestrial broadcast service, mobile broadcast service, UHDTV service, etc. Accordingly, the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to one embodiment of the present invention can multiplex signals for different services in the time domain and transmit the same.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4illustrate the input formatting module1000according to embodiments of the present invention. A description will be given of each figure.

FIG. 2illustrates an input formatting module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2shows an input formatting module when the input signal is a single input stream.

Referring toFIG. 2, the input formatting module according to one embodiment of the present invention can include a mode adaptation module2000and a stream adaptation module2100.

As shown inFIG. 2, the mode adaptation module2000can include an input interface block2010, a CRC-8 encoder block2020and a BB header insertion block2030. Description 1.0 will be given of each block of the mode adaptation module2000.

The input interface block2010can divide the single input stream input thereto into data pieces each having the length of a baseband (BB) frame used for FEC (BCH/LDPC) which will be performed later and output the data pieces.

The CRC-8 encoder block2020can perform CRC encoding on BB frame data to add redundancy data thereto.

The BB header insertion block2030can insert, into the BB frame data, a header including information such as mode adaptation type (TS/GS/IP), a user packet length, a data field length, user packet sync byte, start address of user packet sync byte in data field, a high efficiency mode indicator, an input stream synchronization field, etc.

As shown inFIG. 2, the stream adaptation module2100can include a padding insertion block2110and a BB scrambler block2120. Description will be given of each block of the stream adaptation module2100.

If data received from the mode adaptation module2000has a length shorter than an input data length necessary for FEC encoding, the padding insertion block2110can insert a padding bit into the data such that the data has the input data length and output the data including the padding bit.

The BB scrambler block2120can randomize the input bit stream by performing an XOR operation on the input bit stream and a pseudo random binary sequence (PRBS).

FIG. 3illustrates an input formatting module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3shows a mode adaptation module3000of the input formatting module when the input signal corresponds to multiple input streams.

The mode adaptation module3000of the input formatting module for processing the multiple input streams can independently process the multiple input streams.

Referring toFIG. 3, the mode adaptation module3000for respectively processing the multiple input streams can include input interface blocks, input stream synchronizer blocks3100, compensating delay blocks3200, null packet deletion blocks3300, CRC-8 encoder blocks and BB header insertion blocks. Description will be given of each block of the mode adaptation module3000.

Operations of the input interface block, CRC-8 encoder block and BB header insertion block correspond to those of the input interface block, CRC-8 encoder block and BB header insertion block described with reference toFIG. 2and thus description thereof is omitted.

The input stream synchronizer block3100can transmit input stream clock reference (ISCR) information to generate timing information necessary for the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals to restore the TSs or GSs.

The compensating delay block3200can delay input data and output the delayed input data such that the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals can synchronize the input data if a delay is generated between data pipes according to processing of data including the timing information by the transmission apparatus.

The null packet deletion block3300can delete unnecessarily transmitted input null packets from the input data, insert the number of deleted null packets into the input data based on positions in which the null packets are deleted and transmit the input data.

FIG. 4illustrates an input formatting module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically,FIG. 4illustrates a stream adaptation module of the input formatting module when the input signal corresponds to multiple input streams.

The stream adaptation module of the input formatting module when the input signal corresponds to multiple input streams can include a scheduler4000, a 1-frame delay block4100, an in-band signaling or padding insertion block4200, a physical layer signaling generation block4300and a BB scrambler block4400. Description will be given of each block of the stream adaptation module.

The scheduler4000can perform scheduling for a MIMO system using multiple antennas having dual polarity. In addition, the scheduler4000can generate parameters for use in signal processing blocks for antenna paths, such as a bit-to-cell demux block, a cell interleaver block, a time interleaver block, etc. included in the coding & modulation module illustrated inFIG. 1.

The 1-frame delay block4100can delay the input data by one transmission frame such that scheduling information about the next frame can be transmitted through the current frame for in-band signaling information to be inserted into the data pipes.

The in-band signaling or padding insertion block4200can insert undelayed physical layer signaling (PLS)-dynamic signaling information into the data delayed by one transmission frame. In this case, the in-band signaling or padding insertion block4200can insert a padding bit when a space for padding is present or insert in-band signaling information into the padding space. In addition, the scheduler4000can output physical layer signaling-dynamic signaling information about the current frame separately from in-band signaling information. Accordingly, a cell mapper, which will be described later, can map input cells according to scheduling information output from the scheduler4000.

The physical layer signaling generation block4300can generate physical layer signaling data which will be transmitted through a preamble symbol of a transmission frame or spread and transmitted through a data symbol other than the in-band signaling information. In this case, the physical layer signaling data according to an embodiment of the present invention can be referred to as signaling information. Furthermore, the physical layer signaling data according to an embodiment of the present invention can be divided into PLS-pre information and PLS-post information. The PLS-pre information can include parameters necessary to encode the PLS-post information and static PLS signaling data and the PLS-post information can include parameters necessary to encode the data pipes. The parameters necessary to encode the data pipes can be classified into static PLS signaling data and dynamic PLS signaling data. The static PLS signaling data is a parameter commonly applicable to all frames included in a super-frame and can be changed on a super-frame basis. The dynamic PLS signaling data is a parameter differently applicable to respective frames included in a super-frame and can be changed on a frame-by-frame basis. Accordingly, the reception apparatus can acquire the PLS-post information by decoding the PLS-pre information and decode desired data pipes by decoding the PLS-post information.

The BB scrambler block4400can generate a pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) and perform an XOR operation on the PRBS and the input bit streams to decrease the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the output signal of the waveform generation block. As shown inFIG. 4, scrambling of the BB scrambler block4400is applicable to both data pipes and physical layer signaling information.

As shown inFIG. 4, the stream adaptation module can finally output the data pipes to the coding & modulation module.

FIG. 5illustrates a coding & modulation module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The coding & modulation module shown inFIG. 5corresponds to an embodiment of the coding & modulation module illustrated inFIG. 1.

As described above, the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention can provide a terrestrial broadcast service, mobile broadcast service, UHDTV service, etc.

Since QoS (quality of service) depends on characteristics of a service provided by the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention, data corresponding to respective services needs to be processed through different schemes. Accordingly, the coding & modulation module according to an embodiment of the present invention can independently process data pipes input thereto by independently applying SISO, MISO and MIMO schemes to the data pipes respectively corresponding to data paths. Consequently, the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention can control QoS for each service or service component transmitted through each data pipe.

Accordingly, the coding & modulation module according to an embodiment of the present invention can include a first block5000for SISO, a second block5100for MISO, a third block5200for MIMO and a fourth block5300for processing the PLS-pre/PLS-post information. The coding & modulation module illustrated inFIG. 5is an exemplary and may include only the first block5000and the fourth block5300, the second block5100and the fourth block5300or the third block5200and the fourth block5300according to design. That is, the coding & modulation module can include blocks for processing data pipes equally or differently according to design.

A description will be given of each block of the coding & modulation module.

The first block5000processes an input data pipe according to SISO and can include an FEC encoder block5010, a bit interleaver block5020, a bit-to-cell demux block5030, a constellation mapper block5040, a cell interleaver block5050and a time interleaver block5060.

The FEC encoder block5010can perform BCH encoding and LDPC encoding on the input data pipe to add redundancy thereto such that the reception apparatus can correct an error generated on a transmission channel.

The bit interleaver block5020can interleave bit streams of the FEC-encoded data pipe according to an interleaving rule such that the bit streams have robustness against burst error that may be generated on the transmission channel. Accordingly, when deep fading or erasure is applied to QAM symbols, errors can be prevented from being generated in consecutive bits from among all codeword bits since interleaved bits are mapped to the QAM symbols.

The bit-to-cell demux block5030can determine the order of input bit streams such that each bit in an FEC block can be transmitted with appropriate robustness in consideration of both the order of input bit streams and a constellation mapping rule.

In addition, the bit interleaver block5020is located between the FEC encoder block5010and the constellation mapper block5040and can connect output bits of LDPC encoding performed by the FEC encoder block5010to bit positions having different reliability values and optimal values of the constellation mapper in consideration of LDPC decoding of the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals. Accordingly, the bit-to-cell demux block5030can be replaced by a block having a similar or equal function.

The constellation mapper block5040can map a bit word input thereto to one constellation. In this case, the constellation mapper block5040can additionally perform rotation & Q-delay. That is, the constellation mapper block5040can rotate input constellations according to a rotation angle, divide the constellations into an in-phase component and a quadrature-phase component and delay only the quadrature-phase component by an arbitrary value. Then, the constellation mapper block5040can remap the constellations to new constellations using a paired in-phase component and quadrature-phase component.

In addition, the constellation mapper block5040can move constellation points on a two-dimensional plane in order to find optimal constellation points. Through this process, capacity of the coding & modulation module1100can be optimized. Furthermore, the constellation mapper block5040can perform the above-described operation using IQ-balanced constellation points and rotation. The constellation mapper block5040can be replaced by a block having a similar or equal function.

The cell interleaver block5050can randomly interleave cells corresponding to one FEC block and output the interleaved cells such that cells corresponding to respective FEC blocks can be output in different orders.

The time interleaver block5060can interleave cells belonging to a plurality of FEC blocks and output the interleaved cells. Accordingly, the cells corresponding to the FEC blocks are dispersed and transmitted in a period corresponding to a time interleaving depth and thus diversity gain can be obtained.

The second block5100processes an input data pipe according to MISO and can include the FEC encoder block, bit interleaver block, bit-to-cell demux block, constellation mapper block, cell interleaver block and time interleaver block in the same manner as the first block5000. However, the second block5100is distinguished from the first block5000in that the second block5100further includes a MISO processing block5110. The second block5100performs the same procedure including the input operation to the time interleaver operation as those of the first block5000and thus description of the corresponding blocks is omitted.

The MISO processing block5110can encode input cells according to a MISO encoding matrix providing transmit diversity and output MISO-processed data through two paths. MISO processing according to one embodiment of the present invention can include OSTBC (orthogonal space time block coding)/OSFBC (orthogonal space frequency block coding, Alamouti coding).

The third block5200processes an input data pipe according to MIMO and can include the FEC encoder block, bit interleaver block, bit-to-cell demux block, constellation mapper block, cell interleaver block and time interleaver block in the same manner as the second block5100, as shown inFIG. 5. However, the data processing procedure of the third block5200is different from that of the second block5100since the third block5200includes a MIMO processing block5220.

That is, in the third block5200, basic roles of the FEC encoder block and the bit interleaver block are identical to those of the first and second blocks5000and5100although functions thereof may be different from those of the first and second blocks5000and5100.

The bit-to-cell demux block5210can generate as many output bit streams as input bit streams of MIMO processing and output the output bit streams through MIMO paths for MIMO processing. In this case, the bit-to-cell demux block5210can be designed to optimize the decoding performance of the reception apparatus in consideration of characteristics of LDPC and MIMO processing.

Basic roles of the constellation mapper block, cell interleaver block and time interleaver block are identical to those of the first and second blocks5000and5100although functions thereof may be different from those of the first and second blocks5000and5100. As shown inFIG. 5, as many constellation mapper blocks, cell interleaver blocks and time interleaver blocks as the number of MIMO paths for MIMO processing can be present. In this case, the constellation mapper blocks, cell interleaver blocks and time interleaver blocks can operate equally or independently for data input through the respective paths.

The MIMO processing block5220can perform MIMO processing on two input cells using a MIMO encoding matrix and output the MIMO-processed data through two paths. The MIMO encoding matrix according to an embodiment of the present invention can include spatial multiplexing, Golden code, full-rate full diversity code, linear dispersion code, etc.

The fourth block5300processes the PLS-pre/PLS-post information and can perform SISO or MISO processing.

The basic roles of the bit interleaver block, bit-to-cell demux block, constellation mapper block, cell interleaver block, time interleaver block and MISO processing block included in the fourth block5300correspond to those of the second block5100although functions thereof may be different from those of the second block5100.

A shortened/punctured FEC encoder block5310included in the fourth block5300can process PLS data using an FEC encoding scheme for a PLS path provided for a case in which the length of input data is shorter than a length necessary to perform FEC encoding. Specifically, the shortened/punctured FEC encoder block5310can perform BCH encoding on input bit streams, pad 0s corresponding to a desired input bit stream length necessary for normal LDPC encoding, carry out LDPC encoding and then remove the padded 0s to puncture parity bits such that an effective code rate becomes equal to or lower than the data pipe rate.

The blocks included in the first block5000to fourth block5300may be omitted or replaced by blocks having similar or identical functions according to design.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the coding & modulation module can output the data pipes (or DP data), PLS-pre information and PLS-post information processed for the respective paths to the frame structure module.

FIG. 6illustrates a frame structure module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The frame structure module shown inFIG. 6corresponds to an embodiment of the frame structure module1200illustrated inFIG. 1.

The frame structure module according to one embodiment of the present invention can include at least one cell-mapper6000, at least one delay compensation module6100and at least one block interleaver6200. The number of cell mappers6000, delay compensation modules6100and block interleavers6200can be changed. A description will be given of each module of the frame structure block.

The cell-mapper6000can allocate cells corresponding to SISO-, MISO- or MIMO-processed data pipes output from the coding & modulation module, cells corresponding to common data commonly applicable to the data pipes and cells corresponding to the PLS-pre/PLS-post information to signal frames according to scheduling information. The common data refers to signaling information commonly applied to all or some data pipes and can be transmitted through a specific data pipe. The data pipe through which the common data is transmitted can be referred to as a common data pipe and can be changed according to design.

When the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention uses two output antennas and Alamouti coding is used for MISO processing, the cell-mapper6000can perform pair-wise cell mapping in order to maintain orthogonality according to Alamouti encoding. That is, the cell-mapper6000can process two consecutive cells of the input cells as one unit and map the unit to a frame. Accordingly, paired cells in an input path corresponding to an output path of each antenna can be allocated to neighboring positions in a transmission frame.

The delay compensation block6100can obtain PLS data corresponding to the current transmission frame by delaying input PLS data cells for the next transmission frame by one frame. In this case, the PLS data corresponding to the current frame can be transmitted through a preamble part in the current signal frame and PLS data corresponding to the next signal frame can be transmitted through a preamble part in the current signal frame or in-band signaling in each data pipe of the current signal frame. This can be changed by the designer.

The block interleaver6200can obtain additional diversity gain by interleaving cells in a transport block corresponding to the unit of a signal frame. In addition, the block interleaver6200can perform interleaving by processing two consecutive cells of the input cells as one unit when the above-described pair-wise cell mapping is performed. Accordingly, cells output from the block interleaver6200can be two consecutive identical cells.

When pair-wise mapping and pair-wise interleaving are performed, at least one cell mapper and at least one block interleaver can operate equally or independently for data input through the paths.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the frame structure module can output at least one signal frame to the waveform generation module.

FIG. 7illustrates a waveform generation module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The waveform generation module illustrated inFIG. 7corresponds to an embodiment of the waveform generation module1300described with reference toFIG. 1.

The waveform generation module according to an embodiment of the present invention can modulate and transmit as many signal frames as the number of antennas for receiving and outputting signal frames output from the frame structure module illustrated inFIG. 6.

Specifically, the waveform generation module illustrated inFIG. 7is an embodiment of a waveform generation module of an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals using m Tx antennas and can include m processing blocks for modulating and outputting frames corresponding to m paths. The m processing blocks can perform the same processing procedure. A description will be given of operation of the first processing block7000from among the m processing blocks.

The first processing block7000can include a reference signal & PAPR reduction block7100, an inverse waveform transform block7200, a PAPR reduction in time block7300, a guard sequence insertion block7400, a preamble insertion block7500, a waveform processing block7600, other system insertion block7700and a DAC (digital analog converter) block7800.

The reference signal insertion & PAPR reduction block7100can insert a reference signal into a predetermined position of each signal block and apply a PAPR reduction scheme to reduce a PAPR in the time domain. If a broadcast transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention corresponds to an OFDM system, the reference signal insertion & PAPR reduction block7100can use a method of reserving some active subcarriers rather than using the same. In addition, the reference signal insertion & PAPR reduction block7100may not use the PAPR reduction scheme as an optional feature according to broadcast transmission/reception system.

The inverse waveform transform block7200can transform an input signal in a manner of improving transmission efficiency and flexibility in consideration of transmission channel characteristics and system architecture. If the broadcast transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention corresponds to an OFDM system, the inverse waveform transform block7200can employ a method of transforming a frequency domain signal into a time domain signal through inverse FFT operation. If the broadcast transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention corresponds to a single carrier system, the inverse waveform transform block7200may not be used in the waveform generation module.

The PAPR reduction in time block7300can use a method for reducing PAPR of an input signal in the time domain. If the broadcast transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention corresponds to an OFDM system, the PAPR reduction in time block7300may use a method of simply clipping peak amplitude. Furthermore, the PAPR reduction in time block7300may not be used in the broadcast transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention since it is an optional feature.

The guard sequence insertion block7400can provide a guard interval between neighboring signal blocks and insert a specific sequence into the guard interval as necessary in order to minimize the influence of delay spread of a transmission channel. Accordingly, the reception apparatus can easily perform synchronization or channel estimation. If the broadcast transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention corresponds to an OFDM system, the guard sequence insertion block7400may insert a cyclic prefix into a guard interval of an OFDM symbol.

The preamble insertion block7500can insert a signal of a known type (e.g. the preamble or preamble symbol) agreed upon between the transmission apparatus and the reception apparatus into a transmission signal such that the reception apparatus can rapidly and efficiently detect a target system signal. If the broadcast transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention corresponds to an OFDM system, the preamble insertion block7500can define a signal frame composed of a plurality of OFDM symbols and insert a preamble symbol into the beginning of each signal frame. That is, the preamble carries basic PLS data and is located in the beginning of a signal frame.

The waveform processing block7600can perform waveform processing on an input baseband signal such that the input baseband signal meets channel transmission characteristics. The waveform processing block7600may use a method of performing square-root-raised cosine (SRRC) filtering to obtain a standard for out-of-band emission of a transmission signal. If the broadcast transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention corresponds to a multi-carrier system, the waveform processing block7600may not be used.

The other system insertion block7700can multiplex signals of a plurality of broadcast transmission/reception systems in the time domain such that data of two or more different broadcast transmission/reception systems providing broadcast services can be simultaneously transmitted in the same RF signal bandwidth. In this case, the two or more different broadcast transmission/reception systems refer to systems providing different broadcast services. The different broadcast services may refer to a terrestrial broadcast service, mobile broadcast service, etc. Data related to respective broadcast services can be transmitted through different frames.

The DAC block7800can convert an input digital signal into an analog signal and output the analog signal. The signal output from the DAC block7800can be transmitted through m output antennas. A Tx antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention can have vertical or horizontal polarity.

FIG. 8illustrates a structure of an apparatus for receiving broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus for receiving broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention can correspond to the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services, described with reference toFIG. 1. The apparatus for receiving broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention can include a synchronization & demodulation module8000, a frame parsing module8100, a demapping & decoding module8200, an output processor8300and a signaling decoding module8400. A description will be given of operation of each module of the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals.

The synchronization & demodulation module8000can receive input signals through m Rx antennas, perform signal detection and synchronization with respect to a system corresponding to the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals and carry out demodulation corresponding to a reverse procedure of the procedure performed by the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals.

The frame parsing module8100can parse input signal frames and extract data through which a service selected by a user is transmitted. If the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals performs interleaving, the frame parsing module8100can carry out deinterleaving corresponding to a reverse procedure of interleaving. In this case, the positions of a signal and data that need to be extracted can be obtained by decoding data output from the signaling decoding module8400to restore scheduling information generated by the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals.

The demapping & decoding module8200can convert the input signals into bit domain data and then deinterleave the same as necessary. The demapping & decoding module8200can perform demapping for mapping applied for transmission efficiency and correct an error generated on a transmission channel through decoding. In this case, the demapping & decoding module8200can obtain transmission parameters necessary for demapping and decoding by decoding the data output from the signaling decoding module8400.

The output processor8300can perform reverse procedures of various compression/signal processing procedures which are applied by the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals to improve transmission efficiency. In this case, the output processor8300can acquire necessary control information from data output from the signaling decoding module8400. The output of the output processor8300corresponds to a signal input to the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals and may be MPEG-TSs, IP streams (v4 or v6) and generic streams.

The signaling decoding module8400can obtain PLS information from the signal demodulated by the synchronization & demodulation module8000. As described above, the frame parsing module8100, demapping & decoding module8200and output processor8300can execute functions thereof using the data output from the signaling decoding module8400.

FIG. 9illustrates a synchronization & demodulation module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The synchronization & demodulation module shown inFIG. 9corresponds to an embodiment of the synchronization & demodulation module described with reference toFIG. 8. The synchronization & demodulation module shown inFIG. 9can perform a reverse operation of the operation of the waveform generation module illustrated inFIG. 7.

As shown inFIG. 9, the synchronization & demodulation module according to an embodiment of the present invention corresponds to a synchronization & demodulation module of an apparatus for receiving broadcast signals using m Rx antennas and can include m processing blocks for demodulating signals respectively input through m paths. The m processing blocks can perform the same processing procedure. A description will be given of operation of the first processing block9000from among the m processing blocks.

The first processing block9000can include a tuner9100, an ADC block9200, a preamble detector9300, a guard sequence detector9400, a waveform transform block9500, a time/frequency synchronization block9600, a reference signal detector9700, a channel equalizer9800and an inverse waveform transform block9900.

The tuner9100can select a desired frequency band, compensate for the magnitude of a received signal and output the compensated signal to the ADC block9200.

The ADC block9200can convert the signal output from the tuner9100into a digital signal.

The preamble detector9300can detect a preamble (or preamble signal or preamble symbol) in order to check whether or not the digital signal is a signal of the system corresponding to the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals. In this case, the preamble detector9300can decode basic transmission parameters received through the preamble.

The guard sequence detector9400can detect a guard sequence in the digital signal. The time/frequency synchronization block9600can perform time/frequency synchronization using the detected guard sequence and the channel equalizer9800can estimate a channel through a received/restored sequence using the detected guard sequence.

The waveform transform block9500can perform a reverse operation of inverse waveform transform when the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals has performed inverse waveform transform. When the broadcast transmission/reception system according to one embodiment of the present invention is a multi-carrier system, the waveform transform block9500can perform FFT. Furthermore, when the broadcast transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a single carrier system, the waveform transform block9500may not be used if a received time domain signal is processed in the frequency domain or processed in the time domain.

The time/frequency synchronization block9600can receive output data of the preamble detector9300, guard sequence detector9400and reference signal detector9700and perform time synchronization and carrier frequency synchronization including guard sequence detection and block window positioning on a detected signal. Here, the time/frequency synchronization block9600can feed back the output signal of the waveform transform block9500for frequency synchronization.

The reference signal detector9700can detect a received reference signal. Accordingly, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can perform synchronization or channel estimation.

The channel equalizer9800can estimate a transmission channel from each Tx antenna to each Rx antenna from the guard sequence or reference signal and perform channel equalization for received data using the estimated channel.

The inverse waveform transform block9900may restore the original received data domain when the waveform transform block9500performs waveform transform for efficient synchronization and channel estimation/equalization. If the broadcast transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a single carrier system, the waveform transform block9500can perform FFT in order to carry out synchronization/channel estimation/equalization in the frequency domain and the inverse waveform transform block9900can perform IFFT on the channel-equalized signal to restore transmitted data symbols. If the broadcast transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a multi-carrier system, the inverse waveform transform block9900may not be used.

FIG. 10illustrates a frame parsing module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The frame parsing module illustrated inFIG. 10corresponds to an embodiment of the frame parsing module described with reference toFIG. 8. The frame parsing module shown inFIG. 10can perform a reverse operation of the operation of the frame structure module illustrated inFIG. 6.

As shown inFIG. 10, the frame parsing module according to an embodiment of the present invention can include at least one block deinterleaver10000and at least one cell demapper10100.

The block deinterleaver10000can deinterleave data input through data paths of the m Rx antennas and processed by the synchronization & demodulation module on a signal block basis. In this case, if the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals performs pair-wise interleaving as illustrated inFIG. 8, the block deinterleaver10000can process two consecutive pieces of data as a pair for each input path. Accordingly, the block interleaver10000can output two consecutive pieces of data even when deinterleaving has been performed. Furthermore, the block deinterleaver10000can perform a reverse operation of the interleaving operation performed by the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals to output data in the original order.

The cell demapper10100can extract cells corresponding to common data, cells corresponding to data pipes and cells corresponding to PLS data from received signal frames. The cell demapper10100can merge data distributed and transmitted and output the same as a stream as necessary. When two consecutive pieces of cell input data are processed as a pair and mapped in the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, as shown inFIG. 6, the cell demapper10100can perform pair-wise cell demapping for processing two consecutive input cells as one unit as a reverse procedure of the mapping operation of the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals.

In addition, the cell demapper10100can extract PLS signaling data received through the current frame as PLS-pre & PLS-post data and output the PLS-pre & PLS-post data.

FIG. 11illustrates a demapping & decoding module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The demapping & decoding module shown inFIG. 11corresponds to an embodiment of the demapping & decoding module illustrated inFIG. 8. The demapping & decoding module shown inFIG. 11can perform a reverse operation of the operation of the coding & modulation module illustrated inFIG. 5.

The coding & modulation module of the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can process input data pipes by independently applying SISO, MISO and MIMO thereto for respective paths, as described above. Accordingly, the demapping & decoding module illustrated inFIG. 11can include blocks for processing data output from the frame parsing module according to SISO, MISO and MIMO in response to the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals.

As shown inFIG. 11, the demapping & decoding module according to an embodiment of the present invention can include a first block11000for SISO, a second block11100for MISO, a third block11200for MIMO and a fourth block11300for processing the PLS-pre/PLS-post information. The demapping & decoding module shown inFIG. 11is exemplary and may include only the first block11000and the fourth block11300, only the second block11100and the fourth block11300or only the third block11200and the fourth block11300according to design. That is, the demapping & decoding module can include blocks for processing data pipes equally or differently according to design.

A description will be given of each block of the demapping & decoding module.

The first block11000processes an input data pipe according to SISO and can include a time deinterleaver block11010, a cell deinterleaver block11020, a constellation demapper block11030, a cell-to-bit mux block11040, a bit deinterleaver block11050and an FEC decoder block11060.

The time deinterleaver block11010can perform a reverse process of the process performed by the time interleaver block5060illustrated inFIG. 5. That is, the time deinterleaver block11010can deinterleave input symbols interleaved in the time domain into original positions thereof.

The cell deinterleaver block11020can perform a reverse process of the process performed by the cell interleaver block5050illustrated inFIG. 5. That is, the cell deinterleaver block11020can deinterleave positions of cells spread in one FEC block into original positions thereof.

The constellation demapper block11030can perform a reverse process of the process performed by the constellation mapper block5040illustrated inFIG. 5. That is, the constellation demapper block11030can demap a symbol domain input signal to bit domain data. In addition, the constellation demapper block11030may perform hard decision and output decided bit data. Furthermore, the constellation demapper block11030may output a log-likelihood ratio (LLR) of each bit, which corresponds to a soft decision value or probability value. If the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals applies a rotated constellation in order to obtain additional diversity gain, the constellation demapper block11030can perform 2-dimensional LLR demapping corresponding to the rotated constellation. Here, the constellation demapper block11030can calculate the LLR such that a delay applied by the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals to the I or Q component can be compensated.

The cell-to-bit mux block11040can perform a reverse process of the process performed by the bit-to-cell demux block5030illustrated inFIG. 5. That is, the cell-to-bit mux block11040can restore bit data mapped by the bit-to-cell demux block5030to the original bit streams.

The bit deinterleaver block11050can perform a reverse process of the process performed by the bit interleaver5020illustrated inFIG. 5. That is, the bit deinterleaver block11050can deinterleave the bit streams output from the cell-to-bit mux block11040in the original order.

The FEC decoder block11060can perform a reverse process of the process performed by the FEC encoder block5010illustrated inFIG. 5. That is, the FEC decoder block11060can correct an error generated on a transmission channel by performing LDPC decoding and BCH decoding.

The second block11100processes an input data pipe according to MISO and can include the time deinterleaver block, cell deinterleaver block, constellation demapper block, cell-to-bit mux block, bit deinterleaver block and FEC decoder block in the same manner as the first block11000, as shown inFIG. 11. However, the second block11100is distinguished from the first block11000in that the second block11100further includes a MISO decoding block11110. The second block11100performs the same procedure including time deinterleaving operation to outputting operation as the first block11000and thus description of the corresponding blocks is omitted.

The MISO decoding block11110can perform a reverse operation of the operation of the MISO processing block5110illustrated inFIG. 5. If the broadcast transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention uses STBC, the MISO decoding block11110can perform Alamouti decoding.

The third block11200processes an input data pipe according to MIMO and can include the time deinterleaver block, cell deinterleaver block, constellation demapper block, cell-to-bit mux block, bit deinterleaver block and FEC decoder block in the same manner as the second block11100, as shown inFIG. 11. However, the third block11200is distinguished from the second block11100in that the third block11200further includes a MIMO decoding block11210. The basic roles of the time deinterleaver block, cell deinterleaver block, constellation demapper block, cell-to-bit mux block and bit deinterleaver block included in the third block11200are identical to those of the corresponding blocks included in the first and second blocks11000and11100although functions thereof may be different from the first and second blocks11000and11100.

The MIMO decoding block11210can receive output data of the cell deinterleaver for input signals of the m Rx antennas and perform MIMO decoding as a reverse operation of the operation of the MIMO processing block5220illustrated inFIG. 5. The MIMO decoding block11210can perform maximum likelihood decoding to obtain optimal decoding performance or carry out sphere decoding with reduced complexity. Otherwise, the MIMO decoding block11210can achieve improved decoding performance by performing MMSE detection or carrying out iterative decoding with MMSE detection.

The fourth block11300processes the PLS-pre/PLS-post information and can perform SISO or MISO decoding. The fourth block11300can carry out a reverse process of the process performed by the fourth block5300described with reference toFIG. 5.

The basic roles of the time deinterleaver block, cell deinterleaver block, constellation demapper block, cell-to-bit mux block and bit deinterleaver block included in the fourth block11300are identical to those of the corresponding blocks of the first, second and third blocks11000,11100and11200although functions thereof may be different from the first, second and third blocks11000,11100and11200.

The shortened/punctured FEC decoder11310included in the fourth block11300can perform a reverse process of the process performed by the shortened/punctured FEC encoder block5310described with reference toFIG. 5. That is, the shortened/punctured FEC decoder11310can perform de-shortening and de-puncturing on data shortened/punctured according to PLS data length and then carry out FEC decoding thereon. In this case, the FEC decoder used for data pipes can also be used for PLS. Accordingly, additional FEC decoder hardware for the PLS only is not needed and thus system design is simplified and efficient coding is achieved.

The demapping & decoding module according to an embodiment of the present invention can output data pipes and PLS information processed for the respective paths to the output processor, as illustrated inFIG. 11.

FIGS. 12 and 13illustrate output processors according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 12illustrates an output processor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The output processor illustrated inFIG. 12corresponds to an embodiment of the output processor illustrated inFIG. 8. The output processor illustrated inFIG. 12receives a single data pipe output from the demapping & decoding module and outputs a single output stream. The output processor can perform a reverse operation of the operation of the input formatting module illustrated inFIG. 2.

The output processor shown inFIG. 12can include a BB scrambler block12000, a padding removal block12100, a CRC-8 decoder block12200and a BB frame processor block12300.

The BB scrambler block12000can descramble an input bit stream by generating the same PRBS as that used in the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for the input bit stream and carrying out an XOR operation on the PRBS and the bit stream.

The padding removal block12100can remove padding bits inserted by the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals as necessary.

The CRC-8 decoder block12200can check a block error by performing CRC decoding on the bit stream received from the padding removal block12100.

The BB frame processor block12300can decode information transmitted through a BB frame header and restore MPEG-TSs, IP streams (v4 or v6) or generic streams using the decoded information.

FIG. 13illustrates an output processor according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The output processor shown inFIG. 13corresponds to an embodiment of the output processor illustrated inFIG. 8. The output processor shown inFIG. 13receives multiple data pipes output from the demapping & decoding module. Decoding multiple data pipes can include a process of merging common data commonly applicable to a plurality of data pipes and data pipes related thereto and decoding the same or a process of simultaneously decoding a plurality of services or service components (including a scalable video service) by the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals.

The output processor shown inFIG. 13can include a BB descrambler block, a padding removal block, a CRC-8 decoder block and a BB frame processor block as the output processor illustrated inFIG. 12. The basic roles of these blocks correspond to those of the blocks described with reference toFIG. 12although operations thereof may differ from those of the blocks illustrated inFIG. 12.

A de-jitter buffer block13000included in the output processor shown inFIG. 13can compensate for a delay, inserted by the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for synchronization of multiple data pipes, according to a restored TTO (time to output) parameter.

A null packet insertion block13100can restore a null packet removed from a stream with reference to a restored DNP (deleted null packet) and output common data.

A TS clock regeneration block13200can restore time synchronization of output packets based on ISCR (input stream time reference) information.

A TS recombining block13300can recombine the common data and data pipes related thereto, output from the null packet insertion block13100, to restore the original MPEG-TSs, IP streams (v4 or v6) or generic streams. The TTO, DNT and ISCR information can be obtained through the BB frame header.

An in-band signaling decoding block13400can decode and output in-band physical layer signaling information transmitted through a padding bit field in each FEC frame of a data pipe.

The output processor shown inFIG. 13can BB-descramble the PLS-pre information and PLS-post information respectively input through a PLS-pre path and a PLS-post path and decode the descrambled data to restore the original PLS data. The restored PLS data is delivered to a system controller included in the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals. The system controller can provide parameters necessary for the synchronization & demodulation module, frame parsing module, demapping & decoding module and output processor module of the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals.

The above-described blocks may be omitted or replaced by blocks having similar r identical functions according to design.

FIG. 14illustrates a coding & modulation module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The coding & modulation module shown inFIG. 14corresponds to another embodiment of the coding & modulation module illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 5.

To control QoS for each service or service component transmitted through each data pipe, as described above with reference toFIG. 5, the coding & modulation module shown inFIG. 14can include a first block14000for SISO, a second block14100for MISO, a third block14200for MIMO and a fourth block14300for processing the PLS-pre/PLS-post information. In addition, the coding & modulation module can include blocks for processing data pipes equally or differently according to the design. The first to fourth blocks14000to14300shown inFIG. 14are similar to the first to fourth blocks5000to5300illustrated inFIG. 5.

However, the first to fourth blocks14000to14300shown inFIG. 14are distinguished from the first to fourth blocks5000to5300illustrated inFIG. 5in that a constellation mapper14010included in the first to fourth blocks14000to14300has a function different from the first to fourth blocks5000to5300illustrated inFIG. 5, a rotation & I/Q interleaver block14020is present between the cell interleaver and the time interleaver of the first to fourth blocks14000to14300illustrated inFIG. 14and the third block14200for MIMO has a configuration different from the third block5200for MIMO illustrated inFIG. 5. The following description focuses on these differences between the first to fourth blocks14000to14300shown inFIG. 14and the first to fourth blocks5000to5300illustrated inFIG. 5.

The constellation mapper block14010shown inFIG. 14can map an input bit word to a complex symbol. However, the constellation mapper block14010may not perform constellation rotation, differently from the constellation mapper block shown inFIG. 5. The constellation mapper block14010shown inFIG. 14is commonly applicable to the first, second and third blocks14000,14100and14200, as described above.

The rotation & I/Q interleaver block14020can independently interleave in-phase and quadrature-phase components of each complex symbol of cell-interleaved data output from the cell interleaver and output the in-phase and quadrature-phase components on a symbol-by-symbol basis. The number of number of input data pieces and output data pieces of the rotation & I/Q interleaver block14020is two or more which can be changed by the designer. In addition, the rotation & I/Q interleaver block14020may not interleave the in-phase component.

The rotation & I/Q interleaver block14020is commonly applicable to the first to fourth blocks14000to14300, as described above. In this case, whether or not the rotation & I/Q interleaver block14020is applied to the fourth block14300for processing the PLS-pre/post information can be signaled through the above-described preamble.

The third block14200for MIMO can include a Q-block interleaver block14210and a complex symbol generator block14220, as illustrated inFIG. 14.

The Q-block interleaver block14210can permute a parity part of an FEC-encoded FEC block received from the FEC encoder. Accordingly, a parity part of an LDPC H matrix can be made into a cyclic structure like an information part. The Q-block interleaver block14210can permute the order of output bit blocks having Q size of the LDPC H matrix and then perform row-column block interleaving to generate final bit streams.

The complex symbol generator block14220receives the bit streams output from the Q-block interleaver block14210, maps the bit streams to complex symbols and outputs the complex symbols. In this case, the complex symbol generator block14220can output the complex symbols through at least two paths. This can be modified by the designer.

The coding & modulation module according to another embodiment of the present invention, illustrated inFIG. 14, can output data pipes, PLS-pre information and PLS-post information processed for respective paths to the frame structure module.

FIG. 15illustrates a demapping & decoding module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The demapping & decoding module shown inFIG. 15corresponds to another embodiment of the demapping & decoding module illustrated inFIG. 11. The demapping & decoding module shown inFIG. 15can perform a reverse operation of the operation of the coding & modulation module illustrated inFIG. 14.

As shown inFIG. 15, the demapping & decoding module according to another embodiment of the present invention can include a first block15000for SISO, a second block11100for MISO, a third block15200for MIMO and a fourth block14300for processing the PLS-pre/PLS-post information. In addition, the demapping & decoding module can include blocks for processing data pipes equally or differently according to design. The first to fourth blocks15000to15300shown inFIG. 15are similar to the first to fourth blocks11000to11300illustrated inFIG. 11.

However, the first to fourth blocks15000to15300shown inFIG. 15are distinguished from the first to fourth blocks11000to11300illustrated inFIG. 11in that an I/Q deinterleaver and derotation block15010is present between the time interleaver and the cell deinterleaver of the first to fourth blocks15000to15300, a constellation mapper15010included in the first to fourth blocks15000to15300has a function different from the first to fourth blocks11000to11300illustrated inFIG. 11and the third block15200for MIMO has a configuration different from the third block11200for MIMO illustrated inFIG. 11. The following description focuses on these differences between the first to fourth blocks15000to15300shown inFIG. 15and the first to fourth blocks11000to11300illustrated inFIG. 11.

The I/Q deinterleaver & derotation block15010can perform a reverse process of the process performed by the rotation & I/Q interleaver block14020illustrated inFIG. 14. That is, the I/Q deinterleaver & derotation block15010can deinterleave I and Q components I/Q-interleaved and transmitted by the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals and derotate complex symbols having the restored I and Q components.

The I/Q deinterleaver & derotation block15010is commonly applicable to the first to fourth blocks15000to15300, as described above. In this case, whether or not the I/Q deinterleaver & derotation block15010is applied to the fourth block15300for processing the PLS-pre/post information can be signaled through the above-described preamble.

The constellation demapper block15020can perform a reverse process of the process performed by the constellation mapper block14010illustrated inFIG. 14. That is, the constellation demapper block15020can demap cell-deinterleaved data without performing derotation.

The third block15200for MIMO can include a complex symbol parsing block15210and a Q-block deinterleaver block15220, as shown inFIG. 15.

The complex symbol parsing block15210can perform a reverse process of the process performed by the complex symbol generator block14220illustrated inFIG. 14. That is, the complex symbol parsing block15210can parse complex data symbols and demap the same to bit data. In this case, the complex symbol parsing block15210can receive complex data symbols through at least two paths.

The Q-block deinterleaver block15220can perform a reverse process of the process carried out by the Q-block interleaver block14210illustrated inFIG. 14. That is, the Q-block deinterleaver block15220can restore Q size blocks according to row-column deinterleaving, restore the order of permuted blocks to the original order and then restore positions of parity bits to original positions according to parity deinterleaving.

As illustrated inFIG. 15, the demapping & decoding module according to another embodiment of the present invention can output data pipes and PLS information processed for respective paths to the output processor.

As described above, the apparatus and method for transmitting broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can multiplex signals of different broadcast transmission/reception systems within the same RF channel and transmit the multiplexed signals and the apparatus and method for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can process the signals in response to the broadcast signal transmission operation. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a flexible broadcast transmission and reception system.

FIG. 16is a conceptual diagram illustrating combinations of interleavers on the condition that Signal Space Diversity (SSD) is not considered.

When SSD is not considered, combinations of the interleavers may be denoted by four scenarios S1to S4. Each scenario may include a cell interleaver, a time interleaver, and/or a block interleaver.

The scope or spirit of the present invention is not limited to combinations of the above interleavers, and the present invention can provide a variety of additional combinations achieved by substitution, deletion, and/or addition of the interleavers. Combinations of the additional interleavers may be determined in consideration of system throughput, receiver operation, memory complexity, robustness, etc. For example, a new scenario achieved by omitting the cell interleaver from each of four scenarios may be additionally proposed. Although the additional scenario is not shown in the drawing, the additional scenario is within the scope or spirit of the present invention, and the operations of this additional scenario may be identical to the sum of operation of the individual constituent interleavers.

InFIG. 16, a diagonal time interleaver and a block time interleaver may correspond to the above-mentioned time interleavers. In addition, a pair-wise frequency interleaver may correspond to an interleaver corresponding to the above-mentioned block interleaver. The individual interleavers may be a legacy cell interleaver, a legacy time interleaver and/or a legacy block interleaver for use in the conventional art, or may be a new cell interleaver, a new time interleaver and/or a new block interleaver for use in the present invention. The four scenarios mentioned above may include a combination of the legacy interleavers and the new interleavers. The shaded interleavers shown inFIG. 16may denote the new interleavers or may denote the legacy interleavers having other roles or functions.

Table 4 shows various interleavers for use in the four scenarios. “Types” item define various types of the respective interleavers. For example, the cell interleavers may include a Type-A interleaver and/or a Type-B interleaver. The block time interleavers may include a Type-A interleaver and/or a Type-B interleaver. “Development Status” item may denote development states of types of the respective interleavers. For example, the Type-A cell interleaver may be a new cell interleaver, and the Type-B cell interleaver may be a conventional cell interleaver. “Interleaving Seed Variation” item may indicate whether the interleaving seed of each interleaver is changeable. “YES” item may indicate that the interleaving seed of each interleaver is changeable (i.e., YES). “Single Memory Deinterleaving” item may indicate whether a deinterleaver corresponding to each interleaver provides single memory deinterleaving. “YES” item may indicate single memory deinterleaving.

A Type-B cell interleaver may correspond to a frequency interleaver for use in the conventional art (T2, NGH). A Type-A block time interleaver may correspond to DVB-T2. A Type-B block time interleaver may correspond to an interleaver for use in DVB-NGH.

TABLE 2BlocksTypesKey PropertiesCell InterleaverType-ADifferent interleaving seed is applied forevery FEC blockPossible to use a single-memory at receiverType-Beven & odd interleaving seeds are applied toFEC blocks, in turnPossible to use a single-memory at receiver(pair-wise)•Different interleaving seed is applied for everyFrequencyOFDM symbolInterleaverPossible to use a single-memory at receiver

Table 2 shows a Type-A cell interleaver, a Type-B cell interleaver, and a frequency interleaver. As described above, the frequency interleaver may correspond to the above-mentioned block interleaver.

The basic operation of the cell interleaver shown in Table 1 is identical to those of Table 2. The cell interleaver may perform interleaving of a plurality of cells corresponding to one FEC block, and output the interleaving result. In this case, cells corresponding to individual FEC blocks may be output in different orders of the individual FEC blocks. The cell deinterleaver may perform deinterleaving from the locations of cells interleaved in one FEC block to the original locations of the cells. The cell interleaver and the cell deinterleaver may be omitted as described above, or may be replaced with other blocks/modules having the same or similar functions.

The Type-A cell interleaver is newly proposed by the present invention, and may perform interleaving by applying different interleaving seeds to individual FEC blocks. Specifically, cells corresponding to one FEC block may be interleaved at intervals of a predetermined time, and the interleaved resultant cells can be generated. The Type-A cell deinterleaver may perform deinterleaving using a single memory.

The Type-B cell interleaver may be implemented when the interleaver used as a frequency interleaver for use in the conventional art (T2, NGH) is used as the cell interleaver. The Type-B cell interleaver may perform interleaving of cells corresponding to one FEC block, and may output the interleaved cells. The Type-B cell interleaver may apply different interleaving seeds to an even FEC block and an odd FEC block, and then perform interleaving. Accordingly, the Type-B cell interleaver has a disadvantage in that different interleaving seeds are applied to individual FEC blocks as compared to the Type-A cell interleaver. The Type-B cell deinterleaver may perform deinterleaving using a single memory.

A general frequency interleaver may correspond to the above-mentioned block interleaver. The basic operation of the block interleaver (i.e., frequency interleaver) is identical to the above-described operations. The block interleaver may perform interleaving of cells contained in a transmission (Tx) block used as a unit of a transmission (Tx) frame so as to obtain an additional diversity gain. The pair-wise block interleaver may process two contiguous cells into one unit, and perform interleaving of the processed result. Accordingly, output cells of the pair-wise block interleaver may be two contiguous cells to be arranged contiguous to each other. The output cells may operate in the same manner as in two antenna paths, or may operate independently of each other.

The operations of a general block deinterleaver (frequency deinterleaver) may be identical to the basic operations of the above-mentioned block deinterleaver. The block deinterleaver may perform a reverse process of the block interleaver operation so as to recover the original data order. The block deinterleaver may perform deinterleaving of data in units of a transmission block (TB). If the pair-wise block interleaver is used by a transmitter, the block deinterleaver can perform deinterleaving by pairing two contiguous data pieces of each input path. If deinterleaving is performed by pairing the two contiguous data pieces, output data may be two contiguous data pieces. The block interleaver and the block deinterleaver may be omitted as described above, or may be replaced with other blocks/modules having the same or similar functions.

The pair-wise frequency interleaver may be a new frequency interleaver proposed by the present invention. The new frequency interleaver may perform modified operations of the basic operations of the above-mentioned block interleaver. The new frequency interleaver may operate by applying different interleaving seeds to respective OFDM symbols according to an embodiment. In accordance with another embodiment, OFDM symbols are paired so that interleaving may be performed on the paired OFDM symbols. In this case, different interleaving seeds may be applied to one OFDM symbol pair. That is, the same interleaving seeds may be assigned to the paired OFDM symbols. The OFDM symbol pair may be implemented by combining two contiguous OFDM symbols. Two data carriers of the OFDM symbol may be paired and interleaving may be performed on the paired data carriers.

A new frequency interleaver may perform interleaving using two memories. In this case, the even pair may be interleaved using a first memory, and the odd pair may be interleaved using a second memory. The pair-wise frequency deinterleaver may perform deinterleaving using a single memory. In this case, the pair-wise frequency deinterleaver may indicate a new frequency deinterleaver corresponding to a new frequency interleaver.

TABLE 3BlocksTypesKey PropertiesBlock TimeType-AColumn-wise writing and row-wise readingInterleaveroperationsActual interleaving depth of a single FEC block ismore than 2Possible to use a single-memory at receiverType-BColumn-wise writing and row-wise readingoperationsActual interleaving depth of a single FEC blockis 1Possible to use a single-memory at receiverDiagonalType-AColumn-wise writing and diagonal-wiseTimereading operationsInterleaverActual interleaving depth of a single FEC block ismore than 2Possible to use a single-memory at receiverType-BColumn-wise writing and diagonal-wisereading operationsActual interleaving depth of a single FEC blockis 1Possible to use a single-memory at receiver

Table 3 shows a Type-A block time interleaver, a Type-B block time interleaver, a Type-A diagonal time interleaver, and a Type-B diagonal time interleaver. The diagonal time interleaver and the block time interleaver may correspond to the above-mentioned time interleavers.

A general time interleaver may mix the cells corresponding to a plurality of FEC blocks, and output the mixed cells. Cells contained in each FEC block are scattered by a time interleaving depth through time interleaving, and the scattered cells can be transmitted. A diversity gain can be obtained through time interleaving. A general time deinterleaver may perform a reverse process of the time interleaver operation. The time deinterleaver may perform deinterleaving of cells interleaved in the time domain into the original locations of the cells. The time interleaver and the time deinterleaver may be omitted as described above, or may be replaced with other blocks/modules having the same or similar functions.

The block time interleaver shown in Table 3 may perform the operations similar to those of the time interleaver used in the conventional art (T2, NGH). The Type-A block time interleaver may indicate two or more interleavers, each of which has an interleaving depth with respect to one input FEC block. In addition, the type-B block time interleaver may indicate a specific interleaver which has an interleaving depth of 1 with respect to one input FEC block. In this case, the interleaving depth may indicate a column-wise writing period.

The diagonal time interleaver shown in Table 3 may be a new time interleaver proposed by the present invention. The diagonal time interleaver may perform the reading operation in a diagonal direction in a different way from the above-mentioned block time interleaver. That is, the diagonal time interleaver may store the FEC block in a memory by performing the column-wise writing operation, and may read the cells stored in the memory by performing the diagonal-wise reading operation. The number of memories used in the above-mentioned case may be set to 2 according to the present invention. The diagonal-wise reading operation may indicate the operation for reading the cells diagonally spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the interleaving array stored in the memory. Interleaving may be achieved through the diagonal-wise reading operation. The diagonal time interleaver may be called a twisted row-column block interleaver.

The Type-A diagonal time interleaver may indicate an interleaver having an interleaving depth of 2 or higher with respect to one input FEC block. In addition, the Type-B diagonal time interleaver may indicate an interleaver having an interleaving depth of 1 with respect to one input FEC block. In this case, the interleaving depth may indicate the column-wise writing period.

FIG. 17shows the column-wise writing operations of the block time interleaver and the diagonal time interleaver according to the present invention.

The column-wise writing operation of the Type-A block time interleaver and the Type-A diagonal time interleaver may have the interleaving depth of 2 or higher as shown inFIG. 17.

The column-wise writing operation of the Type-B block time interleaver and the Type-B diagonal time interleaver may have the interleaving depth of 1 as shown inFIG. 17. In this case, the interleaving depth may indicate the column-wise writing period.

FIG. 18is a conceptual diagram illustrating a first scenario S2from among combinations of the interleavers without consideration of a signal space diversity (SSD).

FIG. 18(a)shows the interleaving structure according to the first scenario. The interleaving structure of the first scenario may include a Type-B cell interleaver, a Type-A or Type-B diagonal time interleaver, and/or a pair-wise frequency interleaver. In this case, the pair-wise frequency interleaver may be the above-mentioned new frequency interleaver.

The Type-B cell interleaver may mix the cells corresponding to one FEC block at random, and output the mixed cells. In this case, the cells corresponding to each FEC block may be output in different orders of individual FEC blocks. The Type-B cell interleaver may perform interleaving by applying different interleaving seeds to odd input FEC blocks and even input FEC blocks as described above. The cell interleaving can be implemented by performing not only the writing operation for writing data in the memory, but also the reading operation for reading data from the memory.

The Type-A and Type-B diagonal time interleavers may perform the column-wise writing operation and the diagonal-wise reading operation for the cells belonging to a plurality of FEC blocks. Cells located at other locations within each FEC block through the diagonal time interleaving are scattered and transmitted within an interval as long as a diagonal interleaving depth, such that a diversity gain can be obtained.

Thereafter, the output of the diagonal time interleaver may be input to the pair-wise frequency interleaver after passing through other blocks/modules such as the above-mentioned cell mapper or the like. In this case, the pair-wise frequency interleaver may be a new frequency interleaver. Accordingly, the pair-wise frequency interleaver (new frequency interleaver) may provide an additional diversity gain by interleaving the cells contained in the OFDM symbol.

FIG. 18(b)shows the deinterleaving structure according to the first scenario. The deinterleaving structure of the first scenario may include a (pair-wise) frequency deinterleaver, a Type-A or Type-B diagonal time deinterleaver, and/or a Type-B cell deinterleaver. In this case, the pair-wise frequency deinterleaver may correspond to the above-mentioned new frequency deinterleaver. The pair-wise frequency deinterleaver may perform deinterleaving of data through a reverse process of the new frequency interleaver operation.

Thereafter, the output of the pair-wise frequency deinterleaver may be input to the Type-A and Type-B diagonal time deinterleavers after passing through other blocks/modules such as the above-mentioned cell demapper. The Type-A diagonal time deinterleaver may perform a reverse process of the Type-A diagonal time interleaver. The Type-B diagonal time deinterleaver may perform a reverse process of the Type-B diagonal time interleaver. In this case, the Type-A and Type-B diagonal time deinterleaver may perform time deinterleaving using a single memory.

The Type-B cell deinterleaver may perform deinterleaving from the locations of the cells interleaved in one FEC block to the original locations of the cells.

FIG. 19is a conceptual diagram of a second scenario S2from among combinations of the interleavers without consideration of a signal space diversity (SSD).

FIG. 19(a)shows the interleaving structure according to the second scenario. The interleaving structure of the second scenario may include a Type-A cell interleaver, a Type-A or Type-B block time interleaver, and/or a pair-wise frequency interleaver. In this case, the pair-wise frequency interleaver may be the above-mentioned new frequency interleaver.

The Type-A cell interleaver may perform interleaving by applying different interleaving seeds to respective input FEC blocks as described above.

The Type-A and Type-B block timer interleavers may perform interleaving of the cells belonging to a plurality of FEC blocks through the column-wise writing operation and the row-wise reading operation, as described above. Cells located at other locations within are scattered and transmitted within an interval as long as an interleaving depth, such that a diversity gain can be obtained.

Thereafter, the output of the block time interleaver may be input to the pair-wise frequency interleaver after passing through other blocks/modules such as the above-mentioned cell mapper or the like. In this case, the pair-wise frequency interleaver may be the above-mentioned new frequency interleaver. Accordingly, the pair-wise frequency interleaver (new frequency interleaver) may provide an additional diversity gain by interleaving the cells contained in the OFDM symbol.

FIG. 19(b)shows the deinterleaving structure according to the second scenario. The deinterleaving structure of the second scenario may include a (pair-wise) frequency deinterleaver, a Type-A or Type-B diagonal time deinterleaver, and/or a Type-A cell deinterleaver. In this case, the pair-wise frequency deinterleaver may correspond to the above-mentioned new frequency deinterleaver.

The pair-wise frequency deinterleaver may perform deinterleaving of data through a reverse process of the new frequency interleaver operation.

Thereafter, the output of the pair-wise frequency deinterleaver may be input to the Type-A and Type-B diagonal time deinterleavers after passing through other blocks/modules such as the above-mentioned cell demapper. The Type-A block time deinterleaver may perform a reverse process of the Type-A block time interleaver. The Type-B block time deinterleaver may perform a reverse process of the Type-B block time interleaver. In this case, the Type-A or Type-B block time deinterleaver may perform time deinterleaving using a single memory.

The Type-A cell deinterleaver may perform deinterleaving from the locations of the cells interleaved in one FEC block to the original locations of the cells.

FIG. 20is a conceptual diagram of a third scenario S3from among combinations of the interleavers without consideration of signal space diversity (SSD).

FIG. 20(a)shows the interleaving structure according to the third scenario. The interleaving structure of the third scenario may include a Type-A cell interleaver, a Type-A or Type-B diagonal time interleaver, and/or a pair-wise frequency interleaver. In this case, the pair-wise frequency interleaver may be the above-mentioned new frequency interleaver.

The operations of the Type-A cell interleaver, the Type-A and Type-B diagonal time interleaver, and the pair-wise frequency interleaver may be identical to those of the above-mentioned figures.

FIG. 19(b)shows the deinterleaving structure according to the third scenario. The deinterleaving structure of the third scenario may include a (pair-wise) frequency deinterleaver, a Type-A or Type-B diagonal time deinterleaver, and/or a Type-A cell deinterleaver. In this case, the pair-wise frequency deinterleaver may correspond to the above-mentioned new frequency deinterleaver.

The operations of the pair-wise frequency deinterleaver, the Type-A and Type-B diagonal time interleavers, and the Type-A cell deinterleaver may be identical to those of the above-mentioned figures.

FIG. 21is a conceptual diagram of a fourth scenario S4from among combinations of the interleavers without consideration of a signal space diversity (SSD).

FIG. 21(a)shows the interleaving structure according to the fourth scenario. The interleaving structure of the fourth scenario may include a Type-A or Type-B diagonal time interleaver and/or a pair-wise frequency interleaver. In this case, the pair-wise frequency interleaver may be the above-mentioned new frequency interleaver.

The operations of the Type-A and Type-B diagonal time interleavers and the pair-wise frequency deinterleaver may be identical to those of the above-mentioned figures.

FIG. 21(b)shows the deinterleaving structure according to the fourth scenario. The deinterleaving structure of the fourth scenario may include a (pair-wise) frequency deinterleaver and/or a Type-A or Type-B diagonal time deinterleaver. In this case, the pair-wise frequency deinterleaver may correspond to the above-mentioned new frequency deinterleaver.

The operations of the pair-wise frequency deinterleaver and the Type-A or Type-B diagonal time interleaver may be identical to those of the above-mentioned figures.

FIG. 22illustrates a structure of a random generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22illustrates the case in which the random generator generates an initial-offset value using a PP method.

The random generator according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a register32000and an XOR operator32100. In general, the PP method may randomly output values 1, . . . , 2n−1. Accordingly, the random generator according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform a register reset process in order to output 2nsymbol indexes including 0 and set a register initial value for a register shifting process.

The random generator according to an embodiment of the present invention may include different registers and XOR operators for respective primitive polynomials for the PP method.

Table 4 below shows primitive polynomials for the aforementioned PP method and a reset value and an initial value for the register reset process and the register shifting process.

Table 4 above shows a register reset value and register initial value corresponding to an nthprimitive polynomial (n=9, . . . , 15). As shown in Table 4 above, k=0 refers to a register reset value and k=1 refers to a register initial value. In addition, 2≦k≦2n−1 refers to shifted register values.

FIG. 23illustrates a random generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23illustrates a structure of the random generator when n of the nthprimitive polynomial of Table 4 above is 9 to 12.

FIG. 24illustrates a random generator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24illustrates a structure of the random generator when n of the nthprimitive polynomial of Table 4 above is 13 to 15.

FIG. 25illustrates a frequency interleaving process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25illustrates a frequency interleaving process when a single memory is applied to a broadcast signal receiver, if the number of all symbols is 10, the number of cells included in one symbol is 10, and p is 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25(a)illustrates output values of respective symbols, which is output using an RPI method. In particular, a first memory index value of each OFDM symbol, that is, 0, 7, 4, 1, 8 . . . may be set as an initial-offset value generated by the random generator of the aforementioned RPI. A number indicated in the interleaving memory index represents an order in which cells included in each symbol are interleaved and output.

FIG. 25(b)illustrates results obtained by interleaving cells of an input OFDM symbol in a symbol unit using the generated interleaving memory index.

FIG. 26is a conceptual diagram illustrating a frequency deinterleaving process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26illustrates a frequency deinterleaving process when a single memory is applied to a broadcast signal receiver and, that is, an embodiment in which the number of cells included in one symbol is 10.

The broadcast signal receiver (or a frame parsing module or a block interleaver) according to an embodiment of the present invention may generate a deinterleaving memory index via a process of sequentially writing symbols interleaved via the aforementioned frequency interleaving in an input order and output deinterleaved symbols via a reading process. In this case, the broadcast signal receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform a process of performing writing on a deinterleaving memory index on which the reading is performed.

FIG. 27illustrates a frequency deinterleaving process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27illustrates a deinterleaving process when the number of all symbols is 10, the number of cells included in one symbol is 10, and p is 3.

FIG. 27(a)illustrates symbols input to a single memory according to an embodiment of the present invention. That is, the single-memory input symbols shown inFIG. 27(a)refer to values stored in the single-memory according to each input symbol. In this case, the values stored in the single-memory according to each input symbol refer to a result obtained by sequentially writing currently input symbol cells while reading a previous symbol.

FIG. 27(b)illustrates a process of generation a deinterleaving memory index.

The deinterleaving memory index is an index used to deinterleave values stored in a single memory, and a number indicated in the deinterleaving memory index refers to an order in which cells included in each symbol are deinterleaved and output.

Hereinafter, the aforementioned frequency deinterleaving process will be described in terms of input symbols #0and #1among illustrated symbols.

The broadcast signal receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention sequentially writes input symbol #0in a single memory. Then the broadcast signal receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention may sequentially generate the aforementioned deinterleaving memory index in an order of0,3,6,9. . . in order to deinterleave input symbol #0.

Then the broadcast signal receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention reads input symbol #0written (or stored) in the single memory according to the generated deinterleaving memory index. The already written values do not have to be stored and thus a newly input symbol #1may be sequentially re-written.

Then the process of reading input symbol #1and the process of writing input symbol #1are completed, the deinterleaving memory index may be generated in order to deinterleave the written input symbol #1. In this case, since the broadcast signal receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention uses a single memory, interleaving cannot be performed using an interleaving pattern applied to each symbol applied in the broadcast signal transmitter. Then deinterleaving processing can be performed on input symbols in the same way.

FIG. 28illustrates a process of generating a deinterleaved memory index according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In particular,FIG. 28illustrates a method of generating a new interleaving pattern when interleaving cannot be performed using an interleaving pattern applied to each symbol applied in the broadcast signal transmitter since the broadcast signal receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention users a single memory.

FIG. 28(a)illustrates a deinterleaving memory index of a jthinput symbol andFIG. 28(b)illustrates the aforementioned process of generating a deinterleaving memory index together with Math Figures.

As shown inFIG. 28(b), according to an embodiment of the present invention, a variable of RPI of each input symbol is used.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a process of generating a deinterleaving memory index of input symbol #0uses p=3 and I0=0 as a variable of RPI like in the broadcast signal transmitter. According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the case of input symbol #1, p2=3×3 and I0=1 may be used as a variable of RPI, and in the case of input symbol #2, p3=3×3×3 and I0=7 may be used as a variable of RPI. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in the case of input symbol #3, p4=3×3×3×3 and I0=4 may be used as a variable of RPI.

That is, the broadcast signal receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention may change a value p of RPI and an initial offset value for each symbol and may effectively perform deinterleaving in order to deinterleave symbols stored in each single memory. In addition, a value p used in each symbol may be easily induced using exponentiation of p and initial offset values may be sequentially acquired using a mother interleaving seed. Hereinafter, a method of calculating an initial offset value will be described.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an initial offset value used in input symbol #0is defined as I0=0. An initial offset value used in input symbol #1is I0=1 that is the same as a seventh value generated in the deinterleaving memory index generation process of input symbol #0. That is, the broadcast signal receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention may store and use the value in the deinterleaving memory index generation process of input symbol #0.

An initial offset value used in input symbol #2is I0=7 that is the same as a fourth value generated in the deinterleaving memory index generation process of input symbol #1, and an initial offset value used in input symbol #3is I0=4 that is the same as a first value generated in the deinterleaving memory index generation process of input symbol #2.

Accordingly, the broadcast signal receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention may store and use a value corresponding to an initial offset value to be used in each symbol in a process of generating a deinterleaving memory index of a previous symbol.

As a result, the aforementioned method may be represented according to MathFIG. 1below.
πj−1(k)=(Ij−1+pj+1k)modNCell_NUM, fork=0, . . . ,NCell_NUM−1,j=0, . . . ,Nsym_NUM−1  [Math Figure 1]where Ij−1=πj-1−1(ω(j)) with I0−1=0Ij−1: the initial-offset value at the jthRPI for deinterleavingπj−1(k): deinterleaving output memory-index for the kthinput cell-index in the jthOFDM symbolπj−1(ω(j)): the ω(j)th deinterleaving output memory-index in the jthOFDM symbol

In this case, a position of a value corresponding to each initial offset value may be easily induced according to Math Figure 1 above.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the broadcast signal transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention may recognize two adjacent cells as one cell and perform frequency interleaving. This may be referred to as pair-wise interleaving. In this case, since two adjacent cells are considered as one cell and interleaving is performed, it is advantageous that a number of times of generating a memory index may be reduced in half.

FIG. 29illustrates a frequency interleaving process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29illustrates an interleaving method for improving frequency diversity performance using different relative primes including a plurality of OFDM symbols by the aforementioned frequency interleaver.

That is, as shown inFIG. 29, a relative prime value is changed every frame/super frame so as to further improve a frequency diversity performance, especially avoiding a repeated interleaving pattern.

The apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can output process the decoded DP data. More specifically, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can decompress a header in the each of the data packets in the decoded DP data according to a header compression mode and recombine the data packets. Details are as described inFIGS. 16 to 32.

FIG. 30illustrates a super-frame structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can sequentially transmit a plurality of super-frames carrying data corresponding to a plurality of broadcast services.

As shown inFIG. 30, frames17100of different types and a future extension frame (FEF)17110can be multiplexed in the time domain and transmitted in a super-frame17000. The apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can multiplex signals of different broadcast services on a frame-by-frame basis and transmit the multiplexed signals in the same RF channel, as described above. The different broadcast services may require different reception conditions or different coverages according to characteristics and purposes thereof. Accordingly, signal frames can be classified into types for transmitting data of different broadcast services and data included in the signal frames can be processed by different transmission parameters. In addition, the signal frames can have different FFT sizes and guard intervals according to broadcast services transmitted through the signal frames. The FEF17110shown inFIG. 30is a frame available for future new broadcast service systems.

The signal frames17100of different types according to an embodiment of the present invention can be allocated to a super-frame according to design. Specifically, the signal frames17100of different types can be repeatedly allocated to the super-frame in a multiplexed pattern. Otherwise, a plurality of signal frames of the same type can be sequentially allocated to a super-frame and then signal frames of a different type can be sequentially allocated to the super-frame. The signal frame allocation scheme can be changed by the designer.

Each signal frame can include a preamble17200, an edge data OFDM symbol17210and a plurality of data OFDM symbols17220, as shown inFIG. 30.

The preamble17200can carry signaling information related to the corresponding signal frame, for example, a transmission parameter. That is, the preamble carries basic PLS data and is located in the beginning of a signal frame. In addition, the preamble17200can carry the PLS data described with reference toFIG. 1. That is, the preamble can carry only basic PLS data or both basic PLS data and the PLS data described with reference toFIG. 1. The information carried through the preamble can be changed by the designer. The signaling information carried through the preamble can be referred to as preamble signaling information.

The edge data OFDM symbol17210is an OFDM symbol located at the beginning or end of the corresponding frame and can be used to transmit pilots in all pilot carriers of data symbols. The edge data OFDM symbol may be in the form of a known data sequence or a pilot. The position of the edge data OFDM symbol17210can be changed by the designer.

The plurality of data OFDM symbols17220can carry data of broadcast services.

Since the preamble17200illustrated inFIG. 30includes information indicating the start of each signal frame, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can detect the preamble17200to perform synchronization of the corresponding signal frame. Furthermore, the preamble17200can include information for frequency synchronization and basic transmission parameters for decoding the corresponding signal frame.

Accordingly, even if the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention receives signal frames of different types multiplexed in a super-frame, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals can discriminate signal frames by decoding preambles of the signal frames and acquire a desired broadcast service.

That is, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can detect the preamble17200in the time domain to check whether or not the corresponding signal is present in the broadcast signal transmission and reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Then, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can acquire information for signal frame synchronization from the preamble17200and compensate for a frequency offset. Furthermore, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can decode signaling information carried by the preamble17200to acquire basic transmission parameters for decoding the corresponding signal frame. Then, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can obtain desired broadcast service data by decoding signaling information for acquiring broadcast service data transmitted through the corresponding signal frame.

FIG. 31illustrates a preamble insertion block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The preamble insertion block illustrated inFIG. 31corresponds to an embodiment of the preamble insertion block7500described with reference toFIG. 7and can generate the preamble described inFIG. 30.

As shown inFIG. 31, the preamble insertion block according to an embodiment of the present invention can include a signaling sequence selection block18000, a signaling sequence interleaving block18100, a mapping block18200, a scrambling block18300, a carrier allocation block18400, a carrier allocation table block18500, an IFFT block18600, a guard insertion block18700and a multiplexing block18800. Each block may be modified or may not be included in the preamble insertion block by the designer. A description will be given of each block of the preamble insertion block.

The signaling sequence selection block18000can receive the signaling information to be transmitted through the preamble and select a signaling sequence suitable for the signaling information.

The signaling sequence interleaving block18100can interleave signaling sequences for transmitting the input signaling information according to the signaling sequence selected by the signaling sequence selection block18000. Details will be described later.

The mapping block18200can map the interleaved signaling information using a modulation scheme.

The scrambling block18300can multiply mapped data by a scrambling sequence.

The carrier allocation block18400can allocate the data output from the scrambling block18300to predetermined carrier positions using active carrier position information output from the carrier allocation table block18500.

The IFFT block18600can transform the data allocated to carriers, output from the carrier allocation block18400, into an OFDM signal in the time domain.

The guard insertion block18700can insert a guard interval into the OFDM signal.

The multiplexing block18800can multiplex the signal output from the guard insertion block18700and a signal c(t) output from the guard sequence insertion block7400illustrated inFIG. 7and output an output signal p(t). The output signal p(t) can be input to the waveform processing block7600illustrated inFIG. 7.

FIG. 32illustrates a preamble structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The preamble shown inFIG. 32can be generated by the preamble insertion block illustrated inFIG. 31.

The preamble according to an embodiment of the present invention has a structure of a preamble signal in the time domain and can include a scrambled cyclic prefix part19000and an OFDM symbol19100. In addition, the preamble according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an OFDM symbol and a scrambled cyclic postfix part. In this case, the scrambled cyclic postfix part may follow the OFDM symbol, differently from the scrambled prefix, and may be generated through the same process as the process for generating the scrambled cyclic prefix, which will be described later. The position and generation process of the scrambled cyclic postfix part may be changed according to design.

The scrambled cyclic prefix part19000shown inFIG. 32can be generated by scrambling part of the OFDM symbol or the whole OFDM symbol and can be used as a guard interval.

Accordingly, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can detect a preamble through guard interval correlation using a guard interval in the form of a cyclic prefix even when a frequency offset is present in a received broadcast signal since frequency synchronization cannot be performed.

In addition, the guard interval in the scrambled cyclic prefix form according to an embodiment of the present invention can be generated by multiplying (or combining) the OFDM symbol by a scrambling sequence (or sequence). Or the guard interval in the scrambled cyclic prefix form according to an embodiment of the present invention can be generated by scrambling the OFDM symbol with a scrambling sequence (or sequence), The scrambling sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention can be a signal of any type which can be changed by the designer.

The method of generating the guard interval in the scrambled cyclic prefix form according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages.

Firstly, a preamble can be easily detected by discriminating the guard interval from a normal OFDM symbol. As described above, the guard interval in the scrambled cyclic prefix form is generated by being scrambled by the scrambling sequence, distinguished from the normal OFDM symbol. In this case, if the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention performs guard interval correlation, the preamble can be easily detected since only a correlation peak according to the preamble is generated without a correlation peak according to the normal OFDM symbol.

Secondly, when the guard interval in the scrambled cyclic prefix form according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, a dangerous delay problem can be solved. For example, if the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals performs guard interval correlation when multi-path interference delayed by the duration Tu of the OFDM symbol is present, preamble detection performance may be deteriorated since a correlation value according to multiple paths is present at all times. However, when the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention performs guard interval correlation, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals can detect the preamble without being affected by the correlation value according to multiple paths since only a peak according to the scrambled cyclic prefix is generated, as described above.

Finally, the influence of continuous wave (CW) interference can be prevented. If a received signal includes CW interference, the signal detection performance and synchronization performance of the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals can be deteriorated since a DC component caused by CW is present at all times when the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals performs guard interval correlation. However, when the guard interval in the scrambled cyclic prefix form according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, the influence of CW can be prevented since the DC component caused by CW is averaged out by the scrambling sequence.

FIG. 33illustrates a preamble detector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The preamble detector shown inFIG. 33corresponds to an embodiment of the preamble detector9300included in the synchronization & demodulation module illustrated inFIG. 9and can detect the preamble illustrated inFIG. 30.

As shown inFIG. 33, the preamble detector according to an embodiment of the present invention can include a correlation detector20000, an FFT block20100, an ICFO (integer carrier frequency offset) estimator20200, a carrier allocation table block20300, a data extractor20300and a signaling decoder20500. Each block may be modified or may not be included in the preamble detector according to design. A description will be given of operation of each block of the preamble detector.

The correlation detector20000can detect the above-described preamble and estimate frame synchronization, OFDM symbol synchronization, timing information and FCFO (fractional frequency offset). Details will be described later.

The FFT block20100can transform the OFDM symbol part included in the preamble into a frequency domain signal using the timing information output from the correlation detector20000.

The ICFO estimator20200can receive position information on active carriers, output from the carrier allocation table block20300, and estimate ICFO information.

The data extractor20300can receive the ICFO information output from the ICFO estimator20200to extract signaling information allocated to the active carriers and the signaling decoder20500can decode the extracted signaling information.

Accordingly, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can obtain the signaling information carried by the preamble through the above-described procedure.

FIG. 34illustrates a correlation detector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The correlation detector shown inFIG. 34corresponds to an embodiment of the correlation detector illustrated inFIG. 33.

The correlation detector according to an embodiment of the present invention can include a delay block21000, a conjugate block21100, a multiplier, a correlator block21200, a peak search block21300and an FCFO estimator block21400. A description will be given of operation of each block of the correlation detector.

The delay block21000of the correlation detector can delay an input signal r(t) by the duration Tu of the OFDM symbol in the preamble.

The conjugate block21100can perform conjugation on the delayed signal r(t).

The multiplier can multiply the signal r(t) by the conjugated signal r(t) to generate a signal m(t).

The correlator block21200can correlate the signal m(t) input thereto and the scrambling sequence to generate a descrambled signal c(t).

The peak search block21300can detect a peak of the signal c(t) output from the correlator block21200. In this case, since the scrambled cyclic prefix included in the preamble is descrambled by the scrambling sequence, a peak of the scrambled cyclic prefix can be generated. However, OFDM symbols or components caused by multiple paths other than the scrambled cyclic prefix are scrambled by the scrambling sequence, and thus a peak of the OFDM symbols or components caused by multiple paths is not generated. Accordingly, the peak search block21300can easily detect the peak of the signal c(t).

The FCFO estimator block21400can acquire frame synchronization and OFDM symbol synchronization of the signal input thereto and estimate FCFO information from a correlation value corresponding to the peak.

As described above, the scrambling sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention can be a signal of any type and can be changed by the designer.

FIGS. 21 to 25illustrate results obtained when a chirp-like sequence, a balanced m-sequence, a Zadoff-Chu sequence and a binary chirp-like sequence are used as the scrambling sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Each figure will now be described.

FIG. 35shows graphs representing results obtained when the scrambling sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention is used.

The graph ofFIG. 35shows results obtained when the scrambling sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention is a chirp-like sequence. The chirp-like sequence can be calculated according to Math Figure 4.
ej2πk/80fork=0˜79,
ej2πk/144fork=80˜223,
ej2πk/272fork=224˜495,
ej2πk/528fork=496˜1023  [Math Figure 4]

As represented by Math Figure 4, the chirp-like sequence can be generated by connecting sinusoids of 4 different frequencies corresponding to one period.

As shown inFIG. 35, (a) is a graph showing waveforms of the chirp-like sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The first waveform22000shown in (a) represents a real number part of the chirp-like sequence and the second waveform22100represents an imaginary number part of the chirp-like sequence. The duration of the chirp-like sequence corresponds to 1024 samples and the averages of a real number part sequence and an imaginary number part sequence are 0.

As shown inFIG. 35, (b) is a graph showing the waveform of the signal c(t) output from the correlator block illustrated inFIGS. 20 and 21when the chirp-like sequence is used.

Since the chirp-like sequence is composed of signals having different periods, dangerous delay is not generated. Furthermore, the correlation property of the chirp-like sequence is similar to guard interval correlation and thus distinctly discriminated from the preamble of conventional broadcast signal transmission/reception systems. Accordingly, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can easily detect the preamble. In addition, the chirp-like sequence can provide correct symbol timing information and is robust to noise on a multi-path channel, compared to a sequence having a delta-like correlation property, such as an m-sequence. Furthermore, when scrambling is performed using the chirp-like sequence, it is possible to generate a signal having a bandwidth slightly increased compared to the original signal.

FIG. 36shows graphs representing results obtained when a scrambling sequence according to another embodiment of the present invention is used.

The graphs ofFIG. 36are obtained when the balanced m-sequence is used as a scrambling sequence. The balanced m-sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention can be calculated by Math Figure 5.
g(x)=x10+x8+x4+x3+1  [Math Figure 5]

The balanced m-sequence can be generated by adding a sample having a value of ‘+1’ to an m-sequence having a length corresponding to 1023 samples according to an embodiment of the present invention. The length of balanced m-sequence is 1024 samples and the average thereof is ‘0’ according to one embodiment. The length and average of the balanced m-sequence can be changed by the designer.

As shown inFIG. 36, (a) is a graph showing the waveform of the balanced m-sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention and (b) is a graph showing the waveform of the signal c(t) output from the correlator block illustrated inFIGS. 20 and 21when the balanced m-sequence is used.

When the balanced m-sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can easily perform symbol synchronization on a received signal since preamble correlation property corresponds to a delta function.

FIG. 37shows graphs representing results obtained when a scrambling sequence according to another embodiment of the present invention is used.

The graphs ofFIG. 37show results obtained when the Zadoff-Chu sequence is used as a scrambling sequence. The Zadoff-Chu sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention can be calculated by Math Figure 6.
e−jπuk(k+1)/1023fork=0˜1022,u=23  [Math Figure 6]

The Zadoff-Chu sequence may have a length corresponding to 1023 samples and u value of 23 according to one embodiment. The length and u value of the Zadoff-Chu sequence can be changed by the designer.

As shown inFIG. 37, (a) is a graph showing the waveform of the signal c(t) output from the correlator block illustrated inFIGS. 20 and 21when the Zadoff-Chu sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention is used.

As shown inFIG. 37, (b) is a graph showing the in-phase waveform of the Zadoff-Chu sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention and (c) is a graph showing the quadrature phase waveform of the Zadoff-Chu sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the Zadoff-Chu sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can easily perform symbol synchronization on a received signal since preamble correlation property corresponds to a delta function. In addition, the envelope of the received signal is uniform in both the frequency domain and time domain.

FIG. 38is a graph showing a result obtained when a scrambling sequence according to another embodiment of the present invention is used. The graph ofFIG. 38shows waveforms of a binary chirp-like sequence. The binary chirp-like sequence is an embodiment of the signal that can be used as the scrambling sequence according to the present invention.

The binary chirp-like sequence can be represented by Math Figure 7. The signal represented by Math Figure 7 is an embodiment of the binary chirp-like sequence.

The binary chirp-like sequence is a sequence that is quantized such that the real-number part and imaginary part of each signal value constituting the above-described chirp-like sequence have only two values of ‘1’ and ‘−1’. The binary chirp-like sequence according to another embodiment of the present invention can have the real-number part and imaginary part having only two signal values of ‘−0.707(−1 divided by square root of 2)’ and ‘0.707’(1 divided by square root of 2). The quantized value of the real-number part and imaginary part of the binary chirp-like sequence can be changed by the designer. In MathFIG. 7, i[k] represents the real-number part of each signal constituting the sequence and q[k] represents the imaginary part of each signal constituting the sequence.

The binary chirp-like sequence has the following advantages. Firstly, the binary chirp-like sequence does not generate dangerous delay since it is composed of signals having different periods. Secondly, the binary chirp-like sequence has correlation characteristic similar to guard interval correlation and thus provides correct symbol timing information compared to conventional broadcast systems and has higher noise resistance on a multi-path channel than a sequence having delta-like correlation characteristic such as m-sequence. Thirdly, when scrambling is performed using the binary chirp-like sequence, bandwidth is less increased compared to the original signal. Fourthly, since the binary chirp-like sequence is a binary level sequence, a receiver with reduced complexity can be designed when the binary chirp-like sequence is used.

In the graph showing the waveforms of the binary chirp-like sequence, a solid line represents a waveform corresponding to real-number parts and a dotted line represents a waveform corresponding to imaginary parts. Both the waveforms of the real-number parts and imaginary parts of the binary chirp-like sequence correspond to a square wave, differently from the chirp-like sequence.

FIG. 39is a graph showing a result obtained when a scrambling sequence according to another embodiment of the present invention is used. The graph shows the waveform of signal c(t) output from the above-described correlator block when the binary chirp-like sequence is used. In the graph, the peak may be a correlation peak according to cyclic prefix.

As described above with reference toFIG. 31, the signaling sequence interleaving block18100included in the preamble insertion block according to an embodiment of the present invention can interleave the signaling sequences for transmitting the input signaling information according to the signaling sequence selected by the signaling sequence selection block18000.

A description will be given of a method through which the signaling sequence interleaving block18100according to an embodiment of the present invention interleaves the signaling information in the frequency domain of the preamble.

FIG. 40illustrates a signaling information interleaving procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The preamble according to an embodiment of the present invention, described above with reference toFIG. 17, can have a size of 1K symbol and only 384 active carriers from among carriers constituting the 1K symbol can be used. The size of the preamble or the number of active carriers used can be changed by the designer. The signalling data carried in the preamble is composed of 2 signalling fields, namely S1and S2.

As shown inFIG. 40, the signaling information carried by the preamble according to an embodiment of the present invention can be transmitted through bit sequences of S1and bit sequences of S2.

The bit sequences of S1and the bit sequences of S2according to an embodiment of the present invention represent signaling sequences that can be allocated to active carriers to respectively carry signaling information (or signaling fields) included in the preamble.

Specifically, S1can carry 3-bit signaling information and can be configured in a structure in which a 64-bit sequence is repeated twice. In addition, S1can be located before and after S2. S2is a single 256-bit sequence and can carry 4-bit signaling information. The bit sequences of S1and S2are represented as sequential numbers starting from0according to an embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, the first bit sequence of S1can be represented as S1(0) and the first bit sequence of S2can be represented as S2(0), as shown inFIG. 40. This can be changed by the designer.

S1can carry information for identifying the signal frames included in the super-frame described inFIG. 30, for example, a signal frame processed according to SISO, a signal frame processed according to MISO or information indicating FE. S2can carry information about the FFT size of the current signal frame, information indicating whether or not frames multiplexed in a super-frame are of the same type or the like. Information that can be carried by S1and S2can be changed according to design.

As shown inFIG. 40, the signaling sequence interleaving block18100according to an embodiment of the present invention can sequentially allocate S1and S2to active carriers corresponding to predetermined positions in the frequency domain.

In one embodiment of the present invention, 384 carriers are present and are represented as sequential numbers starting from0. Accordingly, the first carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention can be represented as a(0), as shown inFIG. 40. InFIG. 40, uncolored active carriers are null carriers to which S1or S2is not allocated from among the 384 carriers.

As illustrated inFIG. 40, bit sequences of S1can be allocated to active carriers other than null carriers from among active carriers a(0) to a(63), bit sequences of S2can be allocated to active carriers other than null carriers from among active carriers a(64) to a(319) and bit sequences of S1can be allocated to active carriers other than null carriers from among active carriers a(320) to a(383).

According to the interleaving method illustrated inFIG. 40, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals may not decode specific signaling information affected by fading when frequency selective fading occurs due to multi-path interference and a fading period is concentrated on a region to which the specific signaling information is allocated.

FIG. 41illustrates a signaling information interleaving procedure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

According to the signaling information interleaving procedure illustrated inFIG. 41, the signaling information carried by the preamble according to an embodiment of the present invention can be transmitted through bit sequences of S1, bit sequences of S2and bit sequences of S3. The signalling data carried in the preamble is composed of 3 signalling fields, namely S1, S2and S3.

As illustrated inFIG. 41, the bit sequences of S1, the bit sequences of S2and the bit sequences of S3according to an embodiment of the present invention are signaling sequences that can be allocated to active carriers to respectively carry signaling information (or signaling fields) included in the preamble.

Specifically, each of S1, S2and S3can carry 3-bit signaling information and can be configured in a structure in which a 64-bit sequence is repeated twice. Accordingly, 2-bit signaling information can be further transmitted compared to the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 40.

In addition, S1and S2can respectively carry the signaling information described inFIG. 40and S3can carry signaling information about a guard length (or guard interval length). Signaling information carried by S1, S2and S3can be changed according to design.

As illustrated inFIG. 41, bit sequences of S1, S2and S3can be represented as sequential numbers starting from0, that is, S1(0), . . . . In the present embodiment of the invention, 384 carriers are present and are represented as sequential numbers starting from 0, that is, b(0), . . . . This can be modified by the designer.

As illustrated inFIG. 41, S1, S2and S3can be sequentially and repeatedly allocated to active carriers corresponding to predetermined positions in the frequency domain.

According to the interleaving method illustrated inFIG. 41, it is possible to transmit a larger amount of signaling information than the interleaving method illustrated inFIG. 40. Furthermore, even if frequency selective fading occurs due to multi-path interference, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals can uniformly decode signaling information since a fading period can be uniformly distributed in a region to which signaling information is allocated.

FIG. 42illustrates a signaling decoder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The signaling decoder illustrated inFIG. 42corresponds to an embodiment of the signaling decoder illustrated inFIG. 33and can include a descrambler27000, a demapper27100, a signaling sequence deinterleaver27200and a maximum likelihood detector27300. A description will be given of operation of each block of the signaling decoder.

The descrambler27000can descramble a signal output from the data extractor. In this case, the descrambler27000can perform descrambling by multiplying the signal output from the data extractor by the scrambling sequence. The scrambling sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention can correspond to one of the sequences described with reference toFIGS. 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25.

The demapper27100can demap the signal output from the descrambler27000to output sequences having a soft value.

The signaling sequence deinterleaver27200can rearrange uniformly interleaved sequences as consecutive sequences in the original order by performing deinterleaving corresponding to a reverse process of the interleaving process described inFIGS. 25 and 26.

The maximum likelihood detector27300can decode preamble signaling information using the sequences output from the signaling sequence deinterleaver27200.

FIG. 43is a graph showing the performance of the signaling decoder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The graph ofFIG. 43shows the performance of the signaling decoder as the relationship between correct decoding probability and SNR in the case of perfect synchronization, 1 sample delay, 0 dB and 270 degree single ghost.

Specifically, first, second and third curves28000respectively show the decoding performance of the signaling decoder for S1, S2and S3when the interleaving method illustrated inFIG. 40is employed, that is, S1, S2and S3are sequentially allocated to active carriers and transmitted. Fourth, fifth and sixth curves28100respectively show the decoding performance of the signaling decoder for S1, S2and S3when the interleaving method illustrated inFIG. 41is employed, that is, S1, S2and S3are sequentially allocated to active carriers corresponding to predetermined positions in the frequency domain in a repeated manner and transmitted. Referring toFIG. 43, it can be known that there is a large difference between signaling decoding performance for a region considerably affected by fading and signaling decoding performance for a region that is not affected by fading when a signal processed according to the interleaving method illustrated inFIG. 40is decoded. When a signal processed according to the interleaving method illustrated inFIG. 41is decoded, however, uniform signaling decoding performance is achieved for S1, S2and S3.

FIG. 44illustrates a preamble insertion block according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The preamble insertion block shown inFIG. 44corresponds to another embodiment of the preamble insertion block7500illustrated inFIG. 11.

As shown inFIG. 44, the preamble insertion block can include a Reed Muller encoder29000, a data formatter29100, a cyclic delay block29200, an interleaver29300, a DQPSK (differential quadrature phase shift keying)/DBPSK (differential binary phase shift keying) mapper29400, a scrambler29500, a carrier allocation block29600, a carrier allocation table block29700, an IFFT block29800, a scrambled guard insertion block29900, a preamble repeater29910and a multiplexing block29920. Each block may be modified or may not be included in the preamble insertion block according to design. A description will be given of operation of each block of the preamble insertion block.

The Reed Muller encoder29000can receive signaling information to be carried by the preamble and perform Reed Muller encoding on the signaling information. When Reed Muller encoding is performed, performance can be improved compared to signaling using an orthogonal sequence or signaling using the sequence described inFIG. 31.

The data formatter29100can receive bits of the signaling information on which Reed Muller encoding has been performed and format the bits to repeat and arrange the bits.

The DQPSK/DBPSK mapper29400can map the formatted bits of the signaling information according to DQPSK or DBPSK and output the mapped signaling information.

When the DQPSK/DBPSK mapper29400maps the formatted bits of the signaling information according to DBPSK, the operation of the cyclic delay block29200can be omitted. The interleaver29300can receive the formatted bits of the signaling information and perform frequency interleaving on the formatted bits of the signaling information to output interleaved data. In this case, the operation of the interleaver can be omitted according to design.

When the DQPSK/DBPSK mapper29400maps the formatted bits of the signaling information according to DQPSK, the data formatter29100can output the formatted bits of the signaling information to the interleaver29300through path I shown inFIG. 44.

The cyclic delay block29200can perform cyclic delay on the formatted bits of the signaling information output from the data formatter29100and then output the cyclic-delayed bits to the interleaver29300through path Q shown inFIG. 44. When cyclic Q-delay is performed, performance on a frequency selective fading channel is improved.

The interleaver29300can perform frequency interleaving on the signaling information received through paths I and Q and the cyclic Q-delayed signaling information to output interleaved information. In this case, the operation of the interleaver29300can be omitted according to design.

Math Figures 6 and 7 represent the relationship between input information and output information or a mapping rule when the DQPSK/DBPSK mapper29400maps the signaling information input thereto according to DQPSK and DBPSK.

As shown inFIG. 44, the input information of the DQPSK/DBPSK mapper29400can be represented as si[in] and sq[n] and the output information of the DQPSK/DBPSK mapper29400can be represented as mi[in] and mq[n].

The scrambler29500can receive the mapped signaling information output from the DQPSK/DBPSK mapper29400and multiply the signaling information by the scrambling sequence.

The carrier allocation block29600can allocate the signaling information processed by the scrambler29500to predetermined carriers using position information output from the carrier allocation table block29700.

The IFFT block29800can transform the carriers output from the carrier allocation block29600into an OFDM signal in the time domain.

The scrambled guard insertion block29900can insert a guard interval into the OFDM signal to generate a preamble. The guard interval according to one embodiment of the present invention can correspond to the guard interval in the scrambled cyclic prefix form described inFIG. 32and can be generated according to the method described inFIG. 32.

The preamble repeater29910can repeatedly arrange the preamble in a signal frame. The preamble according to one embodiment of the present invention can have the preamble structure described inFIG. 32and can be transmitted through one signal frame only once.

When the preamble repeater29910repeatedly allocate the preamble within one signal frame, the OFDM symbol region and scrambled cyclic prefix region of the preamble can be separated from each other. The preamble can include the scrambled cyclic prefix region and the OFDM symbol region, as described above. In the specification, the preamble repeatedly allocated by the preamble repeater29910can also be referred to as a preamble. The repeated preamble structure may be a structure in which the OFDM symbol region and the scrambled cyclic prefix region are alternately repeated. Otherwise, the repeated preamble structure may be a structure in which the OFDM symbol region is allocated, the scrambled prefix region is consecutively allocated twice or more and then the OFDM symbol region is allocated. Furthermore, the repeated preamble structure may be a structure in which the scrambled cyclic prefix region is allocated, the OFDM symbol region is consecutively allocated twice or more and then the scrambled cyclic prefix region is allocated. A preamble detection performance level can be controlled by adjusting the number of repetitions of the OFDM symbol region or scrambled cyclic prefix region and positions in which the OFDM symbol region and scrambled cyclic prefix region are allocated.

When the same preamble is repeated in one frame, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals can stably detect the preamble even in the case of low SNR and decode the signaling information.

The multiplexing block29920can multiplex the signal output from the preamble repeater29910and the signal c(t) output from the guard sequence insertion block7400illustrated inFIG. 7to output an output signal p(t). The output signal p(t) can be input to the waveform processing block7600described inFIG. 7.

FIG. 45illustrates a structure of signaling data in a preamble according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically,FIG. 45shows the structure of the signaling data carried on the preamble according to an embodiment of the present invention in the frequency domain.

As shown inFIG. 45, (a) and (b) illustrate an embodiment in which the data formatter29100described inFIG. 44repeats or allocates data according to code block length of Reed Muller encoding performed by the Reed Muller encoder29000.

The data formatter29100can repeat the signaling information output from the Reed Muller encoder29000such that the signaling information corresponds to the number of active carriers based on code block length or arrange the signaling information without repeating the same. (a) and (b) correspond to a case in which the number of active carriers is 384.

Accordingly, when the Reed Muller encoder29000performs Reed Muller encoding of a 64-bit block, as shown in (a), the data formatter29100can repeat the same data six times. In this case, if the first order Reed Muller code is used in Reed Muller encoding, the signaling data may be 7 bits.

When the Reed Muller encoder29000performs Reed Muller encoding of a 256-bit block, as shown in (b), the data formatter29100can repeat former 128 bits or later 124 bits of the 256-bit code block or repeat 128 even-numbered bits or 124 odd-numbered bits. In this case, if the first order Reed Muller code is used in Reed Muller encoding, the signaling data may be 8 bits.

As described above with reference toFIG. 44, the signaling information formatted by the data formatter29100can be processed by the cyclic delay block29200and the interleaver29300or mapped by the DQPSK/DBPSK mapper29400without being processed by the cyclic delay block29200and the interleaver29300, scrambled by the scrambler29500and input to the carrier allocation block29600.

As shown inFIG. 45, (c) illustrates a method of allocating the signaling information to active carriers in the carrier allocation block29600according to one embodiment. As shown in (c), b(n) represents carriers to which data is allocated and the number of carriers can be 384 in one embodiment of the present invention. Colored carriers from among the carriers shown in (c) refer to active carriers and uncolored carriers refer to null carriers. The positions of the active carriers illustrated inFIG. 45-(c) can be changed according to design.

FIG. 46illustrates a procedure of processing signaling data carried on a preamble according to one embodiment.

The signaling data carried on a preamble may include a plurality of signaling sequences. Each signaling sequence may be 7 bits. The number and size of signaling sequences can be changed by the designer.

In the figure, (a) illustrates a signaling data processing procedure according to an embodiment when the signaling data carried on the preamble is 14 bits. In this case, the signaling data carried on the preamble can include two signaling sequences which are respectively referred to as signaling1and signaling2. Signaling1and signaling2may correspond to the above-described signaling sequences S1and S2.

Each of signaling1and signaling2can be encoded into a 64-bit Reed Muller code by the above-described Reed Muller encoder. In the figure, (a) illustrates Reed Muller encoded signaling sequence blocks32010and32040.

The signaling sequence blocks32010and32040of the encoded signaling1and signaling2can be repeated three times by the above-described data formatter. In the figure, (a) illustrates repeated signaling sequence blocks32010,32020and32030of signaling1and repeated signaling sequence blocks32040,32050and32060of repeated signaling2. Since a Reed-Muller encoded signaling sequence block is 64 bits, each of the signaling sequence blocks of signaling1and signaling2, which are repeated three times, is 192 bits.

Signaling1and signaling2composed of 6 blocks32010,32020,32030,32040,32050and32060can be allocated to 384 carriers by the above-described carrier allocation block. In the figure (a), b(0) is the first carrier and b(1) and b(2) are carriers. 384 carriers b(0) to b(383) are present in one embodiment of the present invention. Colored carriers from among the carriers shown in the figure refer to active carriers and uncolored carriers refer to null carriers. The active carrier represents a carrier to which signaling data is allocated and the null carrier represents a carrier to which signaling data is not allocated. In this specification, active carrier can also be referred to as a carrier. Data of signaling1and data of signaling2can be alternately allocated to carriers. For example, the data of signaling1can be allocated to b(0), the data of signaling2can be allocated to b(7) and the data of signaling1can be allocated to b(24). The positions of the active carriers and null carriers can be changed by the designer.

In the figure, (b) illustrates a signaling data processing procedure when the signaling data transmitted through the preamble is 21 bits. In this case, the signaling data transmitted through the preamble can include three signaling sequences which are respectively referred to as signaling1, signaling2and signaling3. Signaling1, signaling2and signaling3may correspond to the above-described signaling sequences S1, S2and S3.

Each of signaling1, signaling2and signaling3can be encoded into a 64-bit Reed-Muller code by the above-described Reed-Muller encoder. In the figure, (b) illustrates Reed-Muller encoded signaling sequence blocks32070,32090and32110.

The signaling sequence blocks32070,32090and32110of the encoded signaling1, signaling2and signaling3can be repeated twice by the above-described data formatter. In the figure, (b) illustrates the repeated signaling sequence blocks32070and32080of signaling1, repeated signaling sequence blocks32090and32100of signaling2and repeated signaling sequence blocks32110and32120of signaling3. Since a Reed-Muller encoded signaling sequence block is 64 bits, each of the signaling sequence blocks of signaling1, signaling2and signaling3, which are repeated twice, is 128 bits.

Signaling1, signaling2and signaling3composed of 6 blocks32070,32080,32090,32100,32110and32120can be allocated to 384 carriers by the above-described carrier allocation block. In the figure (b), b(0) is the first carrier and b(1) and b(2) are carriers. 384 carriers b(0) to b(383) are present in one embodiment of the present invention. Colored carriers from among the carriers shown in the figure refer to active carriers and uncolored carriers refer to null carriers. The active carrier represents a carrier to which signaling data is allocated and the null carrier represents a carrier to which signaling data is not allocated. Data of signaling1, signaling2and data of signaling3can be alternately allocated to carriers. For example, the data of signaling1can be allocated to b(0), the data of signaling2can be allocated to b(7), the data of signaling3can be allocated to b(24) and the data of signaling1can be allocated to b(31). The positions of the active carriers and null carriers can be changed by the designer.

As illustrated in (a) and (b) of the figure, trade off between signaling data capacity and signaling data protection level can be achieved, by controlling the length of an FEC encoded signaling data block. That is, when the signaling data block length increases, signaling data capacity increases whereas the number of repetitions by the data formatter and the signaling data protection level decrease. Accordingly, various signaling capacities can be selected.

FIG. 47illustrates a preamble structure repeated in the time domain according to one embodiment.

As described above, the preamble repeater can alternately repeat data and a scrambled guard interval. In the following description, a basic preamble refers to a structure in which a data region follows a scrambled guard interval.

In the figure, (a) illustrates a structure in which the basic preamble is repeated twice in a case in which the preamble length is 4N. Since a preamble having the structure of (a) includes the basic preamble, the preamble can be detected even by a normal receiver in an environment having a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and detected using the repeated structure in an environment having a low SNR. The structure of (a) can improve decoding performance of the receiver since signaling data is repeated in the structure.

In the figure, (b) illustrates a preamble structure when the preamble length is 5N. The structure of (b) is started with data and then a guard interval and data are alternately allocated. This structure can improve preamble detection performance and decoding performance of the receiver since the data is repeated a larger number of times (3N) than the structure of (a).

In the figure, (c) illustrates a preamble structure when the preamble length is 5N. Distinguished from the structure of (b), the structure of (c) is started with the guard interval and then the data and the guard interval are alternately allocated. The structure of (c) has a smaller number (2N) of repetitions of data than the structure of (b) although the preamble length is identical to that of the structure of (b), and thus the structure of (c) may deteriorate decoding performance of the receiver. However, the preamble structure of (c) has an advantage that a frame is started in the same manner as a normal frame since the data region follows the scrambled guard interval.

FIG. 48illustrates a preamble detector and a correlation detector included in the preamble detector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 48illustrates an embodiment of the above-described preamble detector for the preamble structure of (b) in the above-described figure showing the preamble structure repeated in the time domain.

The preamble detector according to the present embodiment can include a correlation detector34010, an FFT block34020, an ICFO estimator34030, a data extractor34040and/or a signaling decoder34050.

The correlation detector34010can detect a preamble. The correlation detector34010can include two branches. The above-described repeated preamble structure can be a structure in which the scrambled guard interval and data region are alternatively assigned. Branch1can be used to obtain correlation of a period in which the scrambled guard interval is located prior to the data region in the preamble. Branch2can be used to obtain correlation of a period in which the data region is located prior to the scrambled guard interval in the preamble.

In the preamble structure of (b) in the above figure showing the preamble structure repeated in the time domain, in which the data region and scrambled guard interval are repeated, the period in which the scrambled guard interval is located prior to the data region appears twice and the period in which the data region is located prior to the scrambled guard interval appears twice. Accordingly,2correlation peaks can be generated in each of branch1and branch2. The2correlation branches generated in each branch can be summed. A correlator included in each branch can correlate the summed correlation peak with a scrambling sequence. The correlated peaks of branch1and branch2can be summed and a peak detector can detect the preamble position from the summed peak of branch1and branch2and perform OFDM symbol timing synchronization and fractional frequency offset synchronization.

The FFT block34020, ICFO estimator34030, data extractor34040and signaling decoder34050can operate in the same manner as the above-described corresponding blocks.

FIG. 49illustrates a preamble detector according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The preamble detector shown inFIG. 49corresponds to another embodiment of the preamble detector9300described inFIGS. 9 and 20and can perform operation corresponding to the preamble insertion block illustrated inFIG. 44.

As shown inFIG. 49, the preamble detector according to another embodiment of the present invention can include a correlation detector, an FFT block, an ICFO estimator, a carrier allocation table block, a data extractor and a signaling decoder31100in the same manner as the preamble detector described inFIG. 33. However, the preamble detector shown inFIG. 49is distinguished from the preamble detector shown inFIG. 33in that the preamble detector shown inFIG. 49includes a preamble combiner31000. Each block may be modified or omitted from the preamble detector according to design.

Description of the same blocks as those of the preamble detector illustrated inFIG. 33is omitted and operations of the preamble combiner31000and signaling decoder31100are described.

The preamble combiner31000can include n delay blocks31010and an adder31020. The preamble combiner31000can combine received signals to improve signal characteristics when the preamble repeater29910described inFIG. 44repeatedly allocate the same preamble to one signal frame.

As shown inFIG. 49, the n delay blocks31010can delay each preamble by p*n−1 in order to combine repeated preambles. In this case, p represents a preamble length and n represents the number of repetitions.

The adder31020can combine the delayed preambles.

The signaling decoder31100corresponds to another embodiment of the signaling decoder illustrated inFIG. 42and can perform reverse operations of the operations of the Reed Muller encoder29000, data formatter29100, cyclic delay block29200, interleaves29300, DQPSK/DBPSK mapper29400and scrambler29500included in the preamble insertion block illustrated inFIG. 44.

As shown inFIG. 49, the signaling decoder31100can include a descrambler31110, a differential decoder31120, a deinterleaver31130, a cyclic delay block31140, an I/Q combiner31150, a data deformatter31160and a Reed Muller decoder31170.

The descrambler31110can descramble a signal output from the data extractor.

The differential decoder31120can receive the descrambled signal and perform DBPSK or DQPSK demapping on the descrambled signal.

Specifically, when a signal on which DQPSK mapping has been performed in the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals is received, the differential decoder31120can phase-rotate a differential-decoded signal by π/4. Accordingly, the differential decoded signal can be divided into in-phase and quadrature components.

If the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals has performed interleaving, the deinterleaver31130can deinterleave the signal output from the differential decoder31120.

If the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals has performed cyclic delay, the cyclic delay block31140can perform a reverse process of cyclic delay.

The I/Q combiner31150can combine I and Q components of the deinterleaved or delayed signal.

If a signal on which DBPSK mapping has been performed in the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals is received, the I/Q combiner31150can output only the I component of the deinterleaved signal.

The data deformatter31160can combine bits of signals output from the I/Q combiner31150to output signaling information. The Reed Muller decoder31170can decode the signaling information output from the data deformatter31160.

Accordingly, the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals according to an embodiment of the present invention can acquire the signaling information carried by the preamble through the above-described procedure.

FIG. 50illustrates a preamble detector and a signaling decoder included in the preamble detector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 50shows an embodiment of the above-described preamble detector.

The preamble detector according to the present embodiment can include a correlation detector36010, an FFT block36020, an ICFO estimator36030, a data extractor36040and/or a signaling decoder36050.

The correlation detector36010, FFT block36020, ICFO estimator36030and data extractor36040can perform the same operations as those of the above-described corresponding blocks.

The signaling decoder36050can decode the preamble. The signaling decoder36050according to the present embodiment can include a data average module36051, a descrambler36052, a differential decoder36053, a deinterleaver36054, a cyclic delay36055, an I/Q combiner36056, a data deformatter36057and/or a Reed-Muller decoder36058.

The data average module36051can calculate the average of repeated data blocks to improve signal characteristics when the preamble has repeated data blocks. For example, if a data block is repeated three times, as illustrated in (b) of the above figure showing the preamble structure repeated in the time domain, the data average module36051can calculate the average of the 3 data blocks to improve signal characteristics. The data average module36051can output the averaged data to the next module.

The descrambler36052, differential decoder36053, deinterleaver36054, cyclic delay36055, I/Q combiner36056, data deformatter36057and Reed Muller decoder36058can perform the same operations as those of the above-described corresponding blocks.

FIG. 51is a view illustrating a frame structure of a broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The above-described cell mapper included in the frame structure module may locate cells for transmitting input SISO, MISO or MIMO processed DP data, cells for transmitting common DP data, and cells for transmitting PLS data in a signal frame according to scheduling information. Then, the generated signal frames may be sequentially transmitted.

A broadcast signal transmission apparatus and transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention may multiplex and transmit signals of different broadcast transception systems within the same RF channel, and a broadcast signal reception apparatus and reception method according to an embodiment of the present invention may correspondingly process the signals. Thus, a broadcast signal transception system according to an embodiment of the present invention may provide a flexible broadcast transception system.

Therefore, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may sequentially transmit a plurality of superframes delivering data related to broadcast service.

FIG. 51(a)illustrates a superframe according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 51(b)illustrates the configuration of the superframe according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated inFIG. 51(b), the superframe may include a plurality of signal frames and a non-compatible frame (NCF). According to an embodiment of the present invention, the signal frames are time division multiplexing (TDM) signal frames of a physical layer end, which are generated by the above-described frame structure module, and the NCF is a frame which is usable for a new broadcast service system in the future.

The broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may multiplex and transmit various services, e.g., UHD, Mobile and MISO/MIMO, on a frame basis to simultaneously provide the services in an RF. Different broadcast services may require different reception environments, transmission processes, etc. according to characteristics and purposes of the broadcast services.

Accordingly, different services may be transmitted on a signal frame basis, and the signal frames can be defined as different frame types according to services transmitted therein. Further, data included in the signal frames can be processed using different transmission parameters, and the signal frames can have different FFT sizes and guard intervals according to broadcast services transmitted therein.

Accordingly, as illustrated inFIG. 51(b), the different-type signal frames for transmitting different services may be multiplexed using TDM and transmitted within a superframe.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a frame type may be defined as a combination of an FFT mode, a guard interval mode and a pilot pattern, and information about the frame type may be transmitted using a preamble portion within a signal frame. A detailed description thereof will be given below.

Further, configuration information of the signal frames included in the superframe may be signaled through the above-described PLS, and may vary on a superframe basis.

FIG. 51(c)is a view illustrating the configuration of each signal frame. The signal frame may include a preamble, head/tail edge symbols EH/ET, one or more PLS symbols and a plurality of data symbols. This configuration is variable according to the intention of a designer.

The preamble is located at the very front of the signal frame and may transmit a basic transmission parameter for identifying a broadcast system and the type of signal frame, information for synchronization, etc. Thus, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may initially detect the preamble of the signal frame, identify the broadcast system and the frame type, and selectively receive and decode a broadcast signal corresponding to a receiver type.

The head/tail edge symbols may be located after the preamble of the signal frame or at the end of the signal frame. In the present invention, an edge symbol located after the preamble may be called a head edge symbol and an edge symbol located at the end of the signal frame may be called a tail edge symbol. The names, locations or numbers of the edge symbols are variable according to the intention of a designer. The head/tail edge symbols may be inserted into the signal frame to support the degree of freedom in design of the preamble and multiplexing of signal frames having different frame types. The edge symbols may include a larger number of pilots compared to the data symbols to enable frequency-only interpolation and time interpolation between the data symbols. Accordingly, a pilot pattern of the edge symbols has a higher density than that of the pilot pattern of the data symbols.

The PLS symbols are used to transmit the above-described PLS data and may include additional system information (e.g., network topology/configuration, PAPR use, etc.), frame type ID/configuration information, and information necessary to extract and decode DPs.

The data symbols are used to transmit DP data, and the above-described cell mapper may locate a plurality of DPs in the data symbols.

A description is now given of DPs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 52is a view illustrating DPs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, data symbols of a signal frame may include a plurality of DPs. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the DPs may be divided into type 1 to type 3 according to mapping modes (or locating modes) in the signal frame.

FIG. 52(a)illustrates type1 DPs mapped to the data symbols of the signal frame,FIG. 52(b)illustrates type2 DPs mapped to the data symbols of the signal frame, andFIG. 52(c)illustrates type3 DPs mapped to the data symbols of the signal frame.FIGS. 52(a) to 52(c)illustrate only a data symbol portion of the signal frame, and a horizontal axis refers to a time axis while a vertical axis refers to a frequency axis. A description is now given of the type1 to type3 DPs.

As illustrated inFIG. 52(a), the type1 DPs refer to DPs mapped using TDM in the signal frame.

That is, when the type1 DPs are mapped to the signal frame, a frame structure module (or cell mapper) according to an embodiment of the present invention may map corresponding DP cells in a frequency axis direction. Specifically, the frame structure module (or cell mapper) according to an embodiment of the present invention may map cells of DP0 in a frequency axis direction and, if an OFDM symbol is completely filled, move to a next OFDM symbol to continuously map the cells of DP0 in a frequency axis direction. After the cells of DP0 are completely mapped, cells of DP1 and DP2 may also be mapped to the signal frame in the same manner. In this case, the frame structure module (or cell mapper) according to an embodiment of the present invention may map the cells with an arbitrary interval between DPs.

Since the cells of the type1 DPs are mapped with the highest density on the time axis, compared to other-type DPs, the type1 DPs may minimize an operation time of a receiver. Accordingly, the type1 DPs are appropriate to provide a corresponding service to a broadcast signal reception apparatus which should preferentially consider power saving, e.g., a handheld or portable device which operates using a battery.

As illustrated inFIG. 52(b), the type2 DPs refer to DPs mapped using frequency division multiplexing (FDM) in the signal frame.

That is, when the type2 DPs are mapped to the signal frame, the frame structure module (or cell mapper) according to an embodiment of the present invention may map corresponding DP cells in a time axis direction. Specifically, the frame structure module (or cell mapper) according to an embodiment of the present invention may preferentially map cells of DP0 on the time axis at a first frequency of an OFDM symbol. Then, if the cells of DP0 are mapped to the last OFDM symbol of the signal frame on the time axis, the frame structure module (or cell mapper) according to an embodiment of the present invention may continuously map the cells of DP0 in the same manner from a second frequency of a first OFDM symbol.

Since the cells of the type2 DPs are transmitted with the widest distribution in time, compared to other-type DPs, the type2 DPs are appropriate to achieve time diversity. However, since an operation time of a receiver to extract the type2 DPs is longer than that to extract the type1 DPs, the type2 DPs may not easily achieve power saving. Accordingly, the type2 DPs are appropriate to provide a corresponding service to a fixed broadcast signal reception apparatus which stably receives power supply.

Since cells of each type2 DP are concentrated on a specific frequency, a receiver in a frequency selective channel environment may have problem to receive a specific DP. Accordingly, after cell mapping, if frequency interleaving is applied on a symbol basis, frequency diversity may be additionally achieved and thus the above-described problem may be solved.

As illustrated inFIG. 52(c), the type3 DPs correspond to an intermediate form between the type1 DPs and the type2 DPs and refer to DPs mapped using time & frequency division multiplexing (TFDM) in the signal frame.

When the type3 DPs are mapped to the signal frame, the frame structure module (or cell mapper) according to an embodiment of the present invention may equally partition the signal frame, define each partition as a slot, and map cells of corresponding DPs in a time axis direction along the time axis only within the slot.

Specifically, the frame structure module (or cell mapper) according to an embodiment of the present invention may preferentially map cells of DP0 on the time axis at a first frequency of a first OFDM symbol. Then, if the cells of DP0 are mapped to the last OFDM symbol of the slot on the time axis, the frame structure module (or cell mapper) according to an embodiment of the present invention may continuously map the cells of DP0 in the same manner from a second frequency of the first OFDM symbol.

In this case, a trade-off between time diversity and power saving is possible according to the number and length of slots partitioned from the signal frame. For example, if the signal frame is partitioned into a small number of slots, the slots have a large length and thus time diversity may be achieved as in the type2 DPs. If the signal frame is partitioned into a large number of slots, the slots have a small length and thus power saving may be achieved as in the type1 DPs.

FIG. 53is a view illustrating type1 DPs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 53illustrates an embodiment in which the type1 DPs are mapped to a signal frame according to the number of slots. Specifically,FIG. 53(a)shows a result of mapping the type1 DPs when the number of slots is 1, andFIG. 53(b)shows a result of mapping the type1 DPs when the number of slots is 4.

To extract cells of each DP mapped in the signal frame, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention needs type information of each DP and signaling information, e.g., DP start address information indicating an address to which a first cell of each DP is mapped, and FEC block number information of each DP allocated to a signal frame.

Accordingly, as illustrated inFIG. 53(a), the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may transmit signaling information including DP start address information indicating an address to which a first cell of each DP is mapped (e.g., DP0_St, DP1_St, DP2_St, DP3_St, DP4_St), etc.

FIG. 53(b)shows a result of mapping the type1 DPs when the signal frame is partitioned into 4 slots. Cells of DPs mapped to each slot may be mapped in a frequency direction. As described above, if the number of slots is large, since cells corresponding to a DP are mapped and distributed with a certain interval, time diversity may be achieved. However, since the number of cells of a DP mapped to a single signal frame is not always divided by the number of slots, the number of cells of a DP mapped to each slot may vary. Accordingly, if a mapping rule is established in consideration of this, an address to which a first cell of each DP is mapped may be an arbitrary location in the signal frame. A detailed description of the mapping method will be given below. Further, when the signal frame is partitioned into a plurality of slots, the broadcast signal reception apparatus needs information indicating the number of slots to obtain cells of a corresponding DP. In the present invention, the information indicating the number of slots may be expressed as N_Slot. Accordingly, the number of slots of the signal frame ofFIG. 53(a)may be expressed as N_Slot=1 and the number of slots of the signal frame ofFIG. 53(b)may be expressed as N_Slot=4.

FIG. 54is a view illustrating type2 DPs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, cells of a type2 DP are mapped in a time axis direction and, if the cells of the DP are mapped to the last OFDM symbol of a signal frame on a time axis, the cells of the DP may be continuously mapped in the same manner from a second frequency of a first OFDM symbol.

As described above in relation toFIG. 53, even in the case of the type2 DPs, to extract cells of each DP mapped in the signal frame, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention needs type information of each DP and signaling information, e.g., DP start address information indicating an address to which a first cell of each DP is mapped, and FEC block number information of each DP allocated to a signal frame.

Accordingly, as illustrated inFIG. 54, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may transmit DP start address information indicating an address to which a first cell of each DP is mapped (e.g., DP0_St, DP1_St, DP2_St, DP3_St, DP4_St). Further,FIG. 54illustrates a case in which the number of slots is 1, and the number of slots of the signal frame ofFIG. 54may be expressed as N_Slot=1.

FIG. 55is a view illustrating type3 DPs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The type3 DPs refer to DPs mapped using TFDM in a signal frame as described above, and may be used when power saving is required while restricting or providing time diversity to a desired level. Like the type2 DPs, the type3 DPs may achieve frequency diversity by applying frequency interleaving on an OFDM symbol basis.

FIG. 55(a)illustrates a signal frame in a case when a DP is mapped to a slot, andFIG. 55(b)illustrates a signal frame in a case when a DP is mapped to two or more slots. BothFIGS. 55(a) and 55(b)illustrate a case in which the number of slots is 4, and the number of slots of the signal frame may be expressed as N_Slot=4.

Further, as illustrated inFIGS. 18 and 19, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may transmit DP start address information indicating an address to which a first cell of each DP is mapped (e.g., DP0_St, DP1_St, DP2_St, DP3_St, DP4_St).

InFIG. 55(b), time diversity different from that achieved inFIG. 55(a)may be achieved. In this case, additional signaling information may be needed.

As described above in relation toFIGS. 18 to 20, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may transmit signaling information including DP start address information indicating an address to which a first cell of each DP is mapped (e.g., DP0_St, DP1_St, DP2_St, DP3_St, DP4_St), etc. In this case, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may transmit only the start address information of DP0 which is initially mapped, and transmit an offset value based on the start address information of DP0 for the other DPs. If the DPs are equally mapped, since mapping intervals of the DPs are the same, a receiver may achieve start locations of the DPs using information about a start location of an initial DP, and an offset value. Specifically, when the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention transmits offset information having a certain size based on the start address information of DP0, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may calculate a start location of DP1 by adding the above-described offset information to the start address information of DP0. In the same manner, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may calculate a start location of DP2 by adding the above-described offset information twice to the start address information of DP0. If the DPs are not equally mapped, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may transmit the start address information of DP0 and offset values (OFFSET 1, OFFSET 2, . . . ) indicating intervals of the other DPs based on the start location of DP0. In this case, the offset values may be the same or different. Further, the offset value(s) may be included and transmitted in PLS signaling information or in-band signaling information to be described below with reference toFIG. 68. This is variable according to the intention of a designer.

A description is now given of a method for mapping a DP using resource blocks (RBs) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An RB is a certain unit block for mapping a DP and may be called a data mapping unit in the present invention. RB based resource allocation is advantageous in intuitively and easily processing DP scheduling and power saving control. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the name of the RB is variable according to the intention of a designer and the size of RB may be freely set within a range which does not cause a problem in bit-rate granularity.

The present invention may exemplarily describe a case in which the size of RB is a value obtained by multiplying or dividing the number of active carriers (NoA) capable of transmitting actual data in an OFDM symbol, by an integer. This is variable according to the intention of a designer. If the RB has a large size, resource allocation may be simplified. However, the size of RB indicates a minimum unit of an actually supportable bit rate and thus should be determined with appropriate consideration.

FIG. 56is a view illustrating RBs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 56illustrates an embodiment in which DP0 is mapped to a signal frame using RBs when the number of FEC blocks of DP0 is 10. A case in which the length of LDPC blocks is 64K and a QAM modulation value is 256QAM as transmission parameters of DP0, a FFT mode of the signal frame is 32K, and a scattered pilot pattern is PP32-2 (i.e., the interval of pilots delivering carriers is Dx=32, and the number of symbols included in a scattered pilot sequence is Dy=2) is described as an example. In this case, the size of FEC block corresponds to 8100 cells, and NoA can be assumed as 27584. Assuming that the size of RB is a value obtained by dividing NoA by 4, the size of RB corresponds to 6896 cells and may be expressed as L_RB=NoA/4.

In this case, when the size of FEC blocks and the size of RBs are compared on a cell basis, a relationship of the size of 10×FEC blocks=the size of 11×RBs+5144 cells is established. Accordingly, to map the 10 FEC blocks to a single signal frame on an RB basis, the frame structure module (or cell mapper) according to an embodiment of the present invention may map data of the 10 FEC blocks sequentially to the 11 RBs to map the 11 RBs to a current signal frame, and map the remaining data corresponding to the 5144 cells to a next signal frame together with next FEC blocks.

FIG. 57is a view illustrating a procedure for mapping RBs to frames according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically,FIG. 57illustrates a case in which contiguous signal frames are transmitted.

When a variable bit rate is supported, each signal frame may have a different number of FEC blocks transmittable therein.

FIG. 57(a)illustrates a case in which the number of FEC blocks to be transmitted in signal frame N is 10, a case in which the number of FEC blocks to be transmitted in signal frame N+1 is 9, and a case in which the number of FEC blocks to be transmitted in signal frame N+2 is 11.

FIG. 57(b)illustrates a case in which the number of RB to be mapped to signal frame N is 11, a case in which the number of RB to be mapped to signal frame N+1 is 11, and a case in which the number of RB to be mapped to signal frame N+2 is 13.

FIG. 57(c)shows a result of mapping the RBs to signal frame N, signal frame N+1 and signal frame N+2.

As illustrated inFIGS. 22(a) and 22(b), when the number of FEC blocks to be transmitted in signal frame N is 10, since the size of 10 FEC blocks equals to a value obtained by adding 5144 cells to the size of 11 RBs, the 11 RBs may be mapped to and transmitted in signal frame N as illustrated inFIG. 57(c).

In addition, as illustrated in the center ofFIG. 57(b), the remaining 5144 cells form an initial part of a first RB among 11 RBs to be mapped to signal frame N+1. Accordingly, since a relationship of 5144 cells+the size of 9 FEC blocks=the size of 11 RBs+2188 cells is established, 11 RBs are mapped to and transmitted in signal frame N+1 and the remaining 2188 cells form an initial part of a first RB among 13 RBs to be mapped to signal frame N+2. In the same manner, since a relationship of 2188 cells+the size of 11 FEC blocks=the size of 13 RBs+1640 cells is established, 13 RBs are mapped to and transmitted in signal frame N+2 and the remaining 1640 cells are mapped to and transmitted in a next signal frame. The size of FEC blocks is not the same as the size of NoA and thus dummy cells can be inserted. However, according to the method illustrated inFIG. 57, there is no need to insert dummy cells and thus actual data may be more efficiently transmitted. Further, time interleaving or processing similar thereto may be performed on RBs to be mapped to a signal frame before the RBs are mapped to the signal frame and This is variable according to the intention of a designer.

A description is now given of a method of mapping DPs to a signal frame on an RB basis according to the above-described types of the DPs.

Specifically, in the present invention, the RB mapping method is described by separating a case in which a plurality of DPs are allocated to all available RBs in a signal frame from a case in which the DPs are allocated to only some RBs. The present invention may exemplarily describe a case in which the number of DPs is 3, the number of RBs in a signal frame is 80, and the size of RB is a value obtained by dividing NoA by 4. This case may be expressed as follows.

Number of DPs, N_DP=3

Number of RBs in a signal frame, N_RB=80

Size of RB, L_RB=NoA/4

Further, the present invention may exemplarily describe a case in which DP0 fills 31 RBs, DP1 fills 15 RBs, and DP2 fills 34 RBs, as the case in which a plurality of DPs (DP0, DP1, DP2) are allocated to available RBs in a signal frame. This case may be expressed as follows.

In addition, the present invention may exemplarily describe a case in which DP0 fills 7 RBs, DP1 fills 5 RBs, and DP2 fills 6 RBs, as the case in which a plurality of DPs (DP0, DP1, DP2) are allocated to only some RBs in a signal frame. This case may be expressed as follows.

FIGS. 23 to 25illustrate RB mapping according to the types of DPs.

The present invention may exemplarily define the following values to describe an RB mapping rule according to the type of each DP.

L_Frame: Number of OFDM symbols in a signal frame

N_Slot: Number of slots in a signal frame

L_Slot: Number of OFDM symbols in a slot

N_RB_Sym: Number of RBs in an OFDM symbol

N_RB: Number of RBs in a signal frame

FIG. 58is a view illustrating RB mapping of type1 DPs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 58illustrates a single signal frame, and a horizontal axis refers to a time axis while a vertical axis refers to a frequency axis. A colored block located at the very front of the signal frame on the time axis corresponds to a preamble and signaling portion. As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of DPs may be mapped to a data symbol portion of the signal frame on a RB basis.

The signal frame illustrated inFIG. 58consists of 20 OFMD symbols (L_Frame=20) and includes 4 slots (N_Slot=4). Further, each slot includes 5 OFDM symbols (L_Slot=5) and each OFDM symbol is equally partitioned into 4 RBs (N_RB_Sym=4). Accordingly, a total number of RBs in the signal frame is L_Frame*N_RB_Sym which corresponds to 80.

Numerals indicated in the signal frame ofFIG. 58refer to the order of allocating RBs in the signal frame. Since the type1 DPs are sequentially mapped in a frequency axis direction, it can be noted that the order of allocating RBs is sequentially increased on the frequency axis. If the order of allocating RBs is determined, corresponding DPs may be mapped to ultimately allocated RBs in the order of time. Assuming that an address to which each RB is actually mapped in the signal frame (i.e., RB mapping address) is j, j may have a value from 0 to N_RB−1. In this case, if an RB input order is defined as i, i may have a value of 0, 1, 2, . . . , N_RB−1 as illustrated inFIG. 58. If N_Slot=1, since the RB mapping address and the RB input order are the same (j=i), input RBs may be sequentially mapped in ascending order of j. If N_Slot>1, RBs to be mapped to the signal frame may be partitioned and mapped according to the number of slots, N_Slot. In this case, the RBs may be mapped according to a mapping rule expressed as an equation illustrated at the bottom ofFIG. 58.

FIG. 59is a view illustrating RB mapping of type2 DPs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Like the signal frame illustrated inFIG. 58, a signal frame illustrated inFIG. 59consists of 20 OFMD symbols (L_Frame=20) and includes 4 slots (N_Slot=4). Further, each slot includes 5 OFDM symbols (L_Slot=5) and each OFDM symbol is equally partitioned into 4 RBs (N_RB_Sym=4). Accordingly, a total number of RBs in the signal frame is L_Frame*N_RB_Sym which corresponds to 80.

As described above in relation toFIG. 58, assuming that an address to which each RB is actually mapped in the signal frame (i.e., RB mapping address) is j, j may have a value from 0 to N_RB−1. Since the type2 DPs are sequentially mapped in a time axis direction, it can be noted that the order of allocating RBs is sequentially increased in a time axis direction. If the order of allocating RBs is determined, corresponding DPs may be mapped to ultimately allocated RBs in the order of time.

As described above in relation toFIG. 58, when an RB input order is defined as i, if N_Slot=1, since j=i, input RBs may be sequentially mapped in ascending order of j. If N_Slot>1, RBs to be mapped to the signal frame may be partitioned and mapped according to the number of slots, N_Slot. In this case, the RBs may be mapped according to a mapping rule expressed as an equation illustrated at the bottom ofFIG. 59.

The equations illustrated inFIGS. 58 and 59to express the mapping rules have no difference according to the types of DPs. However, since the type1 DPs are mapped in a frequency axis direction while the type2 DPs are mapped in a time axis direction, different RB mapping results are achieved due to the difference in mapping direction.

FIG. 60is a view illustrating RB mapping of type3 DPs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Like the signal frames illustrated inFIGS. 23 and 24, a signal frame illustrated inFIG. 60consists of 20 OFMD symbols (L_Frame=20) and includes 4 slots (N_Slot=4). Further, each slot includes 5 OFDM symbols (L_Slot=5) and each OFDM symbol is equally partitioned into 4 RBs (N_RB_Sym=4). Accordingly, a total number of RBs in the signal frame is L_Frame*N_RB_Sym which corresponds to 80.

An RB mapping address of the type3 DPs may be calculated according to an equation illustrated at the bottom ofFIG. 60. That is, if N_Slot=1, the RB mapping address of the type3 DPs is the same as the RB mapping address of the type2 DPs. The type2 and type3 DPs are the same in that they are sequentially mapped in a time axis direction but are different in that the type2 DPs are mapped to the end of a first frequency of the signal frame and then continuously mapped from a second frequency of a first OFDM symbol while the type3 DPs are mapped to the end of a first frequency of a slot and then continuously mapped from a second frequency of a first OFDM symbol of the slot in a time axis direction. Due to this difference, when the type3 DPs are used, time diversity may be restricted by L_Slot and power saving may be achieved on L_Slot basis.

FIG. 61is a view illustrating RB mapping of type1 DPs according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 61(a)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when type1 DP0, DP1 and DP2 are allocated to available RBs in a signal frame, andFIG. 61(b)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when each of type1 DP0, DP1 and DP2 is partitioned and allocated to RBs included in different slots in a signal frame. Numerals indicated in the signal frame refer to the order of allocating RBs. If the order of allocating RBs is determined, corresponding DPs may be mapped to ultimately allocated RBs in the order of time.

FIG. 61(a)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when N_Slot=1 and {DP0, DP1, DP2}={31,15,34}.

Specifically, DP0 may be mapped to RBs in a frequency axis direction according to the order of the RBs and, if an OFDM symbol is completely filled, move to a next OFDM symbol on the time axis to be continuously mapped in a frequency axis direction. Accordingly, if DP0 is mapped to RB0 to RB30, DP1 may be continuously mapped to RB31 to RB45 and DP2 may be mapped to RB46 to RB79.

To extract RBs to which a corresponding DP is mapped, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention needs type information of each DP (DP_Type) and the number of equally partitioned slots (N_Slot), and needs signaling information including DP start address information of each DP (DP_RB_St), FEC block number information of each DP to be mapped to a signal frame (DP_N_Block), start address information of an FEC block mapped in a first RB (DP_FEC_St), etc.

Accordingly, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may also transmit the above-described signaling information.

FIG. 61(b)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when N_Slot=4 and {DP0, DP1, DP2}={31,15,34}.

Specifically,FIG. 61(b)shows a result of partitioning DP0, DP1 and DP2 and then sequentially mapping the partitions of each DP to slots on an RB basis in the same manner as the case in which N_Slot=1. An equation expressing a rule for partitioning RBs of each DP is illustrated at the bottom ofFIG. 61. In the equation illustrated inFIG. 61, parameters s, N_RB_DP and N_RB_DP(s) may be defined as follows.

N_RB_DP: Number of RBs of a DP to be mapped to a signal frame

N_RB_DP(s): Number of RBs of a DP to be mapped to a slot of slot index s

According to an embodiment of the present invention, since N_RB_DP=31 for DP0, according to the equation illustrated inFIG. 61, the number of RBs of DP0 to be mapped to a first slot may be N_RB_DP(0)=8, the number of RBs of DP0 to be mapped to a second slot may be N_RB_DP(1)=8, the number of RBs of DP0 to be mapped to a third slot may be N_RB_DP(2)=8, and the number of RBs of DP0 to be mapped to a fourth slot may be N_RB_DP(3)=7. In the present invention, the numbers of RBs of DP0 partitioned to be mapped to the slots may be expressed as {8,8,8,7}.

In the same manner, DP1 may be partitioned into {4,4,4,3} and DP2 may be partitioned into {9,9,8,8}.

The RBs of each partition of a DP may be sequentially mapped in each slot using the method of the above-described case in which N_Slot=1. In this case, to equally fill all slots, the partitions of each DP may be sequentially mapped from a slot having a smaller slot index s among slots to which a smaller number of RBs of other DPs are allocated.

In the case of DP1, since RBs of DP0 are partitioned into {8,8,8,7} and mapped to the slots in the order of s=0,1,2,3, it can be noted that the smallest number of RBs of DP0 are mapped to the slot having a slot index s=3. Accordingly, RBs of DP1 may be partitioned into {4,4,4,3} and mapped to the slots in the order of s=3,0,1,2. In the same manner, since the smallest number of RBs of DP0 and DP1 are allocated to slots having slot index s=2 and 3 but s=2 is smaller, RBs of DP2 may be partitioned into {9,9,8,8} and mapped to the slots in the order of s=2,3,0,1.

FIG. 62is a view illustrating RB mapping of type1 DPs according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 62illustrates an embodiment in which the above-described RB mapping address of the type1 DPs is equally applied. An equation expressing the above-described RB mapping address is illustrated at the bottom ofFIG. 62. Although a mapping method and procedure inFIG. 62are different from those described above in relation toFIG. 61, since mapping results thereof are the same, the same mapping characteristics may be achieved. According to the mapping method ofFIG. 62, RB mapping may be performed using a single equation irrespective of the value of N_Slot.

FIG. 63is a view illustrating RB mapping of type1 DPs according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 63(a)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when type1 DP0, DP1 and DP2 are allocated to only some RBs in a signal frame, andFIG. 63(b)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when each of type1 DP0, DP1 and DP2 is partitioned and allocated to only some RBs included in different slots in a signal frame. Numerals indicated in the signal frame refer to the order of allocating RBs. If the order of allocating RBs is determined, corresponding DPs may be mapped to ultimately allocated RBs in the order of time.

FIG. 63(a)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when N_Slot=1 and {DP0, DP1, DP2}={7,5,6}.

Specifically, DP0 may be mapped to RBs in a frequency axis direction according to the order of the RBs and, if an OFDM symbol is completely filled, move to a next OFDM symbol on the time axis to be continuously mapped in a frequency axis direction. Accordingly, if DP0 is mapped to RB0 to RB6, DP1 may be continuously mapped to RB7 to RB11 and DP2 may be mapped to RB12 to RB17.

FIG. 63(b)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when N_Slot=4 and {DP0, DP1, DP2}={7,5,6}.

FIG. 63(b)illustrates embodiments in which RBs of each DP are partitioned according to the RB partitioning rule described above in relation toFIG. 61and are mapped to a signal frame. Detailed procedures thereof have been described above and thus are not described here.

FIG. 64is a view illustrating RB mapping of type2 DPs according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 64(a)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when type2 DP0, DP1 and DP2 are allocated to available RBs in a signal frame, andFIG. 64(b)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when each of type2 DP0, DP1 and DP2 is partitioned and allocated to RBs included in different slots in a signal frame. Numerals indicated in the signal frame refer to the order of allocating RBs. If the order of allocating RBs is determined, corresponding DPs may be mapped to ultimately allocated RBs in the order of time.

FIG. 64(a)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when N_Slot=1 and {DP0, DP1, DP2}={31,15,34}.

Since RBs of type2 DPs are mapped to the end of a first frequency of the signal frame and then continuously mapped from a second frequency of a first OFDM symbol, time diversity may be achieved. Accordingly, if DP0 is mapped to RB0 to RB19 on a time axis and then continuously mapped to RB20 to RB30 of the second frequency, DP1 may be mapped to RB31 to RB45 in the same manner and DP2 may be mapped to RB46 to RB79.

To extract RBs to which a corresponding DP is mapped, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention needs type information of each DP (DP_Type) and the number of equally partitioned slots (N_Slot), and needs signaling information including DP start address information of each DP (DP_RB_St), FEC block number information of each DP to be mapped to a signal frame (DP_N_Block), start address information of an FEC block mapped in a first RB (DP_FEC_St), etc.

Accordingly, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may also transmit the above-described signaling information.

FIG. 64(b)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when N_Slot=4 and {DP0, DP1, DP2}={31,15,34}.

A first signal frame ofFIG. 64(b)shows a result of performing RB mapping according to the RB partitioning rule described above in relation toFIG. 61, and a second signal frame ofFIG. 64(b)shows a result of performing RB mapping by equally applying the above-described RB mapping address of the type2 DPs. Although mapping methods and procedures of the above two cases are different, since mapping results thereof are the same, the same mapping characteristics may be achieved. In this case, RB mapping may be performed using a single equation irrespective of the value of N_Slot.

FIG. 65is a view illustrating RB mapping of type2 DPs according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 65(a)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when type2 DP0, DP1 and DP2 are allocated to only some RBs in a signal frame, andFIG. 65(b)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when each of type2 DP0, DP1 and DP2 is partitioned and allocated to only some RBs included in different slots in a signal frame. Numerals indicated in the signal frame refer to the order of allocating RBs. If the order of allocating RBs is determined, corresponding DPs may be mapped to ultimately allocated RBs in the order of time.

FIG. 65(a)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when N_Slot=1 and {DP0, DP1, DP2}={7,5,6}.

Specifically, DP0 may be mapped to RBs in a time axis direction according to the order of the RBs and, if DP0 is mapped to RB0 to RB6, DP1 may be continuously mapped to RB7 to RB11 and DP2 may be mapped to RB12 to RB17.

FIG. 65(b)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when N_Slot=4 and {DP0, DP1, DP2}={7,5,6}.

FIG. 65(b)illustrates embodiments in which RBs of each DP are partitioned according to the RB partitioning rule described above in relation toFIG. 61and are mapped to a signal frame. Detailed procedures thereof have been described above and thus are not described here.

FIG. 66is a view illustrating RB mapping of type3 DPs according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 66(a)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when each of type3 DP0, DP1 and DP2 is partitioned and allocated to RBs included in different slots in a signal frame, andFIG. 66(b)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when each of type3 DP0, DP1 and DP2 is partitioned and allocated to only some RBs included in a slot in a signal frame. Numerals indicated in the signal frame refer to the order of allocating RBs. If the order of allocating RBs is determined, corresponding DPs may be mapped to ultimately allocated RBs in the order of time.

FIG. 66(a)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when N_Slot=4 and {DP0, DP1, DP2}={31,15,34}.

A first signal frame ofFIG. 66(a)illustrates an embodiment in which the above-described RB mapping address of the type3 DPs is equally applied. A second signal frame ofFIG. 66(a)illustrates an embodiment in which, when the number of RBs of a DP is greater than that of a slot, time diversity is achieved by changing a slot allocation order. Specifically, the second signal frame ofFIG. 66(a)corresponds to an embodiment in which, when the number of RBs of DP0 allocated to a first slot of the first signal frame is greater than that of the first slot, the remaining RBs of DP0 are allocated to a third slot.

FIG. 66(b)illustrates an RB mapping order in a case when N_Slot=4 and {DP0, DP1, DP2}={7,5,6}.

Further, to extract RBs to which a corresponding DP is mapped, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention needs type information of each DP (DP_Type) and the number of equally partitioned slots (N_Slot), and needs signaling information including DP start address information of each DP (DP_RB_St), FEC block number information of each DP to be mapped to a signal frame (DP_N_Block), start address information of an FEC block mapped in a first RB (DP_FEC_St), etc.

Accordingly, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may also transmit the above-described signaling information.

FIG. 67is a view illustrating RB mapping of type3 DPs according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 67illustrates RB mapping in a case when N_Slot=1 and {DP0, DP1, DP2}={7,5,6}. As illustrated inFIG. 67, RBs of each DP may be mapped on an arbitrary block basis in a signal frame. In this case, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention needs additional signaling information as well as the above-described signaling information to extract RBs to which a corresponding DP is mapped.

As such, the present invention may exemplarily describe a case in which DP end address information of each DP (DP_RB_Ed) is additionally transmitted. Accordingly, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may map RBs of the DP on an arbitrary block basis and transmit the above-described signaling information, and the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may detect and decode the RBs of the DP mapped on an arbitrary block basis, using DP_RB_St information and DP_RB_Ed information included in the above-described signaling information. When this method is used, free RB mapping is enabled and thus DPs may be mapped with different RB mapping characteristics.

Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 67, RBs of DP0 may be mapped in a corresponding block in a time axis direction to achieve time diversity like type2 DPs, RBs of DP1 may be mapped in a corresponding block in a frequency axis direction to achieve the power saving effect like type1 DPs. Besides, RBs of DP2 may be mapped in a corresponding block in consideration of time diversity and power saving like type3 DPs.

Further, even in a case when RBs are not mapped in the whole corresponding block like DP1, the broadcast signal reception apparatus may accurately detect the locations of RBs to be acquired, using the above-described signaling information, e.g., DP_FEC_St information, DP_N_Block information, DP_RB_St information and DP_RB_Ed information, and thus a broadcast signal may be efficiently transmitted and received.

FIG. 68is a view illustrating signaling information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 68illustrates the above-described signaling information related to RB mapping according to DP types, and the signaling information may be transmitted using signaling through a PLS (hereinafter referred to as PLS signaling) or in-band signaling.

As illustrated inFIG. 68, the signaling information related to RB mapping according to DP types may include N_Slot information, DP_Type information, DP_N_Block information, DP_RB_St information, DP_FEC_St information and DP_N_Block information.

The signaling information transmitted through PLS signaling is the same as the signaling information transmitted through in-band signaling. However, a PLS includes information about all DPs included in a corresponding signal frame for service acquisition and thus the signaling information other than N_Slot information and DP_Type information may be defined within a DP loop for defining information about every DP. On the other hand, in-band signaling is used to acquire a corresponding DP and thus is transmitted for each DP. As such, in-band signaling is different from PLS signaling in that a DP loop for defining information about every DP is not necessary. A brief description is now given of the signaling information.

N_Slot information: Information indicating the number of slots partitioned form a signal frame, which may have the size of 2 bits. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the number of slots may be 1,2,4,8.

DP_Type information: Information indicating the type of a DP, which may be one of type 1, type 2 and type 3 as described above. This information is extensible according to the intention of a designer and may have the size of 3 bits.

DP_N_Block_Max information: Information indicating the maximum number of FEC blocks of a corresponding DP or a value equivalent thereto, which may have a size of 10 bits.

DP_RB_St information: Information indicating an address of a first RB of a corresponding DP, and the address of an RB may be expressed on an RB basis. This information may have a size of 8 bits.

DP_FEC_St information: Information indicating a first address of an FEC block of a corresponding DP to be mapped to a signal frame, and the address of an FEC block may be expressed on a cell basis. This information may have a size of 13 bits.

DP_N_Block information: Information indicating the number of FEC blocks of a corresponding DP to be mapped to a signal frame or a value equivalent thereto, which may have a size of 10 bits.

The above-described signaling information may vary name, size, etc. thereof according to the intention of a designer in consideration of the length of a signal frame, the size of time interleaving, the size of RB, etc.

Since PLS signaling and in-band signaling have a difference according to uses thereof as described above, for more efficient transmission, signaling information may be omitted for PLS signaling and in-band signaling as described below.

First, a PLS includes information about all DPs included in a corresponding signal frame. Accordingly, DPs are completely and sequentially mapped to the signal frame in the order of DP0, DP1, DP2, . . . , the broadcast signal reception apparatus may perform calculation to achieve DP_RB_St information. In this case, DP_RB_St information may be omitted.

Second, in the case of in-band signaling, the broadcast signal reception apparatus may acquire DP_FEC_St information of a next signal frame using DP_N_Block information of a corresponding DP. Accordingly, DP_FEC_St information may be omitted.

Third, in the case of in-band signaling, when N_Slot information, DP_Type information and DP_N_Block_Max information which influence mapping of a corresponding DP are changed, a 1-bit signal indicating whether the corresponding information is changed may be used, or the change may be signaled. In this case, additional N_Slot information, DP_Type information and DP_N_Block_Max information may be omitted.

That is, DP_RB_St information may be omitted in the PLS, and signaling information other than DP_RB_St information and DP_N_Block information may be omitted in in-band signaling. This is variable according to the intention of a designer.

FIG. 69is a graph showing the number of bits of a PLS according to the number of DPs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically,FIG. 69shows an increase in number of bits for PLS signaling in a case when signaling information related to RB mapping according to DP types is transmitted through a PLS, as the number of DPs is increased.

A dashed line refers to a case in which every related signaling information is transmitted (Default signaling), and a solid line refers to a case in which the above-described types of signaling information are omitted (Efficient signaling). As the number of DPs is increased, if certain types of signaling information are omitted, it is noted that the number of saved bits is linearly increased.

FIG. 70is a view illustrating a procedure for demapping DPs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in the top ofFIG. 70, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may transmit contiguous signal frames35000and35100. The configuration of each signal frame is as described above.

As described above, when the broadcast signal transmission apparatus maps DPs of different types to a corresponding signal frame on an RB basis and transmits the signal frame, the broadcast signal reception apparatus may acquire a corresponding DP using the above-described signaling information related to RB mapping according to DP types.

As described above, the signaling information related to RB mapping according to DP types may be transmitted through a PLS35010of the signal frame or through in-band signal35020.FIG. 70(a)illustrates signaling information related to RB mapping according to DP types, which is transmitted through the PLS35010, andFIG. 70(b)illustrates signaling information related to RB mapping according to DP types, which is transmitted through in-band signaling35020. In-band signaling35020is processed, e.g., coded, modulated, and time-interleaved, together with data included in the corresponding DP, and thus may be indicated as being included as parts of data symbols in the signal frame. Each type of signaling information has been described above and thus is not described here.

As illustrated inFIG. 70, the broadcast signal reception apparatus may acquire the signaling information related to RB mapping according to DP types, which is included in the PLS35010, and thus may demap and acquire DPs mapped to the corresponding signal frame35000. Further, the broadcast signal reception apparatus may acquire the signaling information related to RB mapping according to DP types, which is transmitted through in-band signaling35020, and thus may demap DPs mapped to the next signal frame35100.

FIG. 71is a view illustrating exemplary structures of three types of mother codes applicable to perform LDPC encoding on PLS data in an FEC encoder module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

PLS-pre data and PLS-post data output from the above-described PLS generation module4300are independently input to the BB scrambler module4400. In the following description, the PLS-pre data and the PLS-post data may be collectively called PLS data. The BB scrambler module4400may perform initialization to randomize the input PLS data. The BB scrambler module4400may initialize the PLS data located and to be transmitted in frame, on a frame basis.

If the PLS located and to be transmitted in frame includes information about a plurality of frames, the BB scrambler module4400may initialize the PLS data on a frame basis. An example thereof is the case of a PLS repetition frame structure to be described below. According to an embodiment of the present invention, PLS repetition refers to a frame configuration scheme for transmitting PLS data for a current frame and PLS data for a next frame together in the current frame. When PLS repetition is applied, the BB scrambler module4400may independently initialize the PLS data for the current frame and the PLS data for the next frame. A detailed description of PLS repetition will be given below.

The BB scrambler module4400may randomize the PLS-pre data and the PLS-post data initialized on a frame basis.

The randomized PLS-pre data and the PLS-post data are input to the coding & modulation module5300. The randomized PLS-pre data and the randomized PLS-post data may be respectively input to the FEC encoder modules5310included in the coding & modulation module5300. The FEC encoder modules5310may respectively perform BCH encoding and LDPC encoding on the input PLS-pre data and the PLS-post data. Accordingly, the FEC encoder modules5310may respectively perform LDPC encoding on the randomized PLS-pre data and the randomized PLS-post data input to the FEC encoder modules5310.

BCH parity may be added to the randomized PLS data input to the FEC encoder modules5310due to BCH encoding, and then LDPC encoding may be performed on the BCH-encoded data. LDPC encoding may be performed based on one of mother code types having different sizes in information portion (hereinafter, the size of information portion is called K_Idpc) according to the size of input data including BCH parity (hereinafter, the size of data input to an LDPC encoder module is called N_BCH). The FEC encoder module5310may shorten data of an information portion of an LDPC mother code corresponding to the difference36010in size between K_Idpc and N_BCH, to 0 or 1, and may puncture a part of data included in a parity portion, thereby outputting a shortened/punctured LDPC code. The LDPC encoder module may perform LDPC encoding on the input PLS data or the BCH-encoded PLS data based on the shortened/punctured LDPC code and output the LDPC-encoded PLS data.

Here, BCH encoding is omittable according to the intention of a designer. If BCH encoding is omitted, the FEC encoder module5310may generate an LDPC mother code by encoding the PLS data input to the FEC encoder module5310. The FEC encoder module5310may shorten data of an information portion of the generated LDPC mother code corresponding to the difference36010in size between K_Idpc and PLS data, to 0 or 1, and may puncture a part of data included in a parity portion, thereby outputting a shortened/punctured LDPC code. The FEC encoder module5310may perform LDPC encoding on the input PLS data based on the shortened/punctured LDPC code and output the LDPC-encoded PLS data.

FIG. 71(a)illustrates an exemplary structure of mother code type1. Here, mother code type1 has a code rate of 1/6.FIG. 71(b)illustrates an exemplary structure of mother code type2. Here, mother code type2 has a code rate of 1/4.FIG. 71(c)illustrates an exemplary structure of mother code type3. Here, mother code type3 has a code rate of 1/3.

As illustrated inFIG. 71, each mother code may include an information portion and a parity portion. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the size of data corresponding to an information portion3600of a mother code may be defined as K_Idpc. K_Idpc of mother code type1, mother code type2 and mother code type3 may be respectively called k_Idpc1, k_Idpc2 and k_Idpc3.

A description is now given of an LDPC encoding procedure performed by an FEC encoder module based on mother code type1 illustrated inFIG. 71(a). In the following description, encoding may refer to LDPC encoding.

When BCH encoding is applied, the information portion of the mother code may include BCH-encoded PLS data including BCH parity bits and input to the LDPC encoder module of the FEC encoder module.

When BCH encoding is not applied, the information portion of the mother code may include PLS data input to the LDPC encoder module of the FEC encoder module.

The size of the PLS data input to the FEC encoder module may vary according to the size of additional information (management information) to be transmitted and the size of data of transmission parameters. The FEC encoder module may insert “0” bits to the BCH-encoded PLS data. If BCH encoding is not performed, the FEC encoder module may insert “0” bits to the PLS data.

The present invention may provide three types of dedicated mother codes used to perform the above-described LDPC encoding according to another embodiment. The FEC encoder module may select a mother code according to the size of PLS data, and the mother code selected by the FEC encoder module according to the size of PLS data may be called a dedicated mother code. The FEC encoder module may perform LDPC encoding based on the selected dedicated mother code.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the size36000of K_Idpc1 of mother code type1 may be assumed as ½ of the size of K_Idpc2 of mother code type2 and ¼ of the size of K_Idpc3 of mother code type3. The relationship among the sizes of K_Idpc of mother code types is variable according to the intention of a designer. The designer may design a mother code having a small size of K_Idpc to have a low code rate. To maintain a constant signaling protection level of PLS data having various sizes, an effective code rate after shortening and puncturing should be lowered as the size of PLS data is small. To reduce the effective code rate, a parity ratio of a mother code having a small size of K_Idpc may be increased.

If the PLS data has an excessively large size and thus cannot be encoded based on one of a plurality of mother code types by the FEC encoder module, the PLS data may be split into a plurality of pieces for encoding. Here, each piece of the PLS data may be called fragmented PLS data. The above-described procedure for encoding the PLS data by the FEC encoder module may be replaced with a procedure for encoding each fragmented PLS data if the PLS data has an excessively large size and thus cannot be encoded based on one of a plurality of mother code types by the FEC encoder module.

When the FEC encoder module encodes mother code type1, to secure a signaling protection level in a very low signal to noise ratio (SNR) environment, payload splitting may be performed. The length of parity of mother code type1 may be increased due to a portion36020for executing a payload splitting mode. A detailed description of the mother code selection method and the payload splitting mode will be given below.

If the FEC encoder module encodes PLS data having various sizes based on a single mother code type having a large size of K_Idpc, a coding gain may be rapidly reduced. For example, when the above-described FEC encoder module performs shortening using a method for determining a shortening data portion (e.g., K_Idpc˜N_BCH), since K_Idpc is constant, small-sized PLS data is shortened more than large-sized PLS data.

To solve the above-described problem, the FEC encoder module according to an embodiment of the present invention may apply a mother code type capable of achieving an optimal coding gain among a plurality of mother code types differently according to the size of PLS data.

The FEC encoder module according to an embodiment of the present invention may restrict the size of a portion to be shortened by the FEC encoder module to achieve an optimal coding gain. Since the FEC encoder module restricts the size36010of a shortening portion to be shortened to a certain ratio of K_Idpc36000of each mother code, a coding gain of a dedicated mother code of each PLS data may be constantly maintained. The current embodiment shows an example in which shortening can be performed up to 50% of the size of K_Idpc. Accordingly, when the above-described FEC encoder module determines a shortening data portion as the difference between K_Idpc and N_BCH, if the difference between K_Idpc and N_BCH is greater than ½ of K_Idpc, the FEC encoder module may determine the size of a data portion to be shortened by the FEC encoder module as K_Idpc*½ instead of K_Idpc-N_BCH.

LDPC encoding procedures performed by the FEC encoder module based on mother code type2 and mother code type3 illustrated inFIGS. 36(b) and 36(c)may be performed in the same manner as the above-described LDPC encoding procedure performed by the FEC encoder module based on mother code type1 illustrated inFIG. 71(a).

The FEC encoder module may perform encoding based on an extended LDPC code by achieving an optimal coding gain by encoding PLS data having various sizes based on a single mother code.

However, a coding gain achievable when encoding is performed based on an extended LDPC code is approximately 0.5 dB lower than the coding gain achievable when encoding is performed based on dedicated mother codes optimized to different sizes of PLS data as described above. Thus, if the FEC encoder module according to an embodiment of the present invention encodes PLS data by selecting a mother code type structure according to the size of PLS data, redundancy data may be reduced and PLS signaling protection capable of ensuring the same reception performance may be designed.

FIG. 72is a flowchart of a procedure for selecting a mother code type used for LDPC encoding and determining the size of shortening according to another embodiment of the present invention.

A description is now given of a procedure for selecting a mother code type according to the size of PLS data (payload size) to be LDPC-encoded and determining the size of shortening by the FEC encoder module. The following description is assumed that all operations below are performed by the FEC encoder module.

It is checked whether an LDPC encoding mode is a normal mode or a payload splitting mode (S37000). If the LDPC encoding mode is a payload splitting mode, mother code1 may be selected irrespective of the size of PLS data and the size of shortening is determined based on the size of K_Idpc of mother code type1 (k_Idpc1) (S37060). A detailed description of the payload splitting mode will be given below.

If the LDPC encoding mode is a normal mode, the FEC encoder module selects a mother code type according to the size of PLS data. A description is now given of the procedure for selecting a mother code type in the normal mode by the FEC encoder module.

Num_Idpc refers to the number of fragmented PLS data which can be included in a single piece of PLS data. Isize_Idpc refers to the size of fragmented PLS data input to the FEC encoder module. Num_Idpc3 may be determined as a rounded-up value of a value obtained by dividing the size of input PLS data (payload size) by k_Idpc3 for encoding. The value of isize_Idpc3 may be determined as a rounded-up value of a value obtained by dividing the size of PLS data (payload size) by the determined num_Idpc3 (S37010). It is determined whether the value of isize_Idpc3 is in a range greater than k_Idpc2 and equal to or less than k_Idpc3 (S37020). If the size of isize_Idpc3 is in a range greater than k_Idpc2 and equal to or less than k_Idpc3, mother code type3 is determined. In this case, the size of shortening may be determined based on a difference value between k_Idpc3 and isize_Idpc3 (S37021).

If the value of isize_Idpc3 is not in a range greater than k_Idpc2 and equal to or less than k_Idpc3, a rounded-up value of a value obtained by dividing the size of PLS data (marked as “payload size” inFIG. 72) by k_Idpc2 is determined as num_Idpc2. The value of isize_Idpc2 may be determined as a rounded-up value of a value obtained by dividing the size of PLS data (payload size) by the determined num_Idpc2 (S37030). It is determined whether the value of isize_Idpc2 is in a range greater than k_Idpc1 and equal to or less than k_Idpc2 (S37040). If the value of isize_Idpc2 is in a range greater than k_Idpc1 and equal to or less than k_Idpc2, mother code type2 is determined. In this case, the size of shortening may be determined based on a difference value between k_Idpc2 and isize_Idpc2 (S37041).

If the value of isize_Idpc2 is in not a range greater than k_Idpc1 and equal to or less than k_Idpc2, a rounded-up value of a value obtained by dividing the size of PLS data (payload size) by k_Idpc1 is determined as num_Idpc1. The value of isize_Idpc1 may be determined as a rounded-up value of a value obtained by dividing the size of PLS data (payload size) by the determined num_Idpc1 (S37050). In this case, mother code type1 is determined and the size of shortening may be determined based on a difference value between k_Idpc1 and isize_Idpc1 (S37060).

The above-described num_Idpc and isize_Idpc may have different values according to the size of PLS data. However, k_Idpc1, k_Idpc2 and k_Idpc3 according to the mother code type are not influenced by the size of PLS data and have constant values.

FIG. 73is a view illustrating a procedure for encoding adaptation parity according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 73(a)illustrates an example of PLS data input to the FEC encoder module for LDPC encoding.

FIG. 73(b)illustrates an exemplary structure of an LDPC code after performing LDPC encoding and before performing shortening and puncturing.

FIG. 73(c)illustrates an exemplary structure of an LDPC code after performing LDPC encoding, shortening and puncturing (38010) (hereinafter referred to as a shortened/punctured LDPC code), which is output from the FEC encoder module.

FIG. 73(d)illustrates an exemplary structure of a code output by adding adaptation parity (38011) to the LDPC code which is LDPC-encoded, shortened and punctured by the FEC encoder module, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Here, a scheme for outputting the code by adding adaptation parity (38011) to the shortened/punctured LDPC code by the FEC encoder module is called an adaptation parity scheme.

To maintain a signaling protection level, the FEC encoder module may perform LDPC-encode and then shorten the PLS data, puncture (38010) some of parity bits, and thus output the shortened/punctured LDPC code. In a poor reception environment, the signaling protection level needs to be strengthened compared to the robustness constantly supported by a broadcast system, i.e., a constant target threshold of visibility (TOV). According to an embodiment of the present invention, to strengthen the signaling protection level, an LDPC code may be output by adding adaptation parity bits to the shortened/punctured LDPC code. The adaptation parity bits may be determined as some parity bits (38011) of the parity bits (38010) punctured after LDPC encoding.

FIG. 73(c)illustrates a basic target TOV in a case when an effective code rate is approximately 1/3. According to an embodiment of the present invention, if the FEC encoder module adds the adaptation parity bits (38011), actually punctured parity bits may be reduced. The FEC encoder module may adjust the effective code rate to approximately 1/4 by adding adaptation parity bits as illustrated inFIG. 73(d). According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mother code used for LDPC encoding may additionally include a certain number of parity bits to acquire the adaptation parity bits38011. Accordingly, the coding rate of a mother code used for adaptation parity encoding may be designed to be lower than the code rate of an original mother code.

The FEC encoder module may output the added parity (38011) included in the LDPC code by arbitrarily reducing the number of punctured parity bits. A diversity gain may be achieved by including the output added parity (38011) included in the LDPC code, in a temporally previous frame and transmitting the previous frame via a transmitter. The end of an information portion of a mother code is shortened and the end of a parity portion of the mother code is punctured inFIG. 73(b). However, this merely corresponds to an exemplary embodiment and the shortening and puncturing portions in the mother code may vary according to the intention of a designer.

FIG. 74is a view illustrating a payload splitting mode for splitting PLS data input to the FEC encoder module before LDPC-encoding the input PLS data according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the PLS data input to the FEC encoder module may be called payload.

FIG. 74(a)illustrates an example of PLS data input to the FEC encoder module for LDPC encoding.

FIG. 74(b)illustrates an exemplary structure of an LDPC code obtained by LDPC-encoding each split piece of payload. The structure of the LDPC code illustrated inFIG. 74(b)is the structure before performing shortening/puncturing.

FIG. 74(c)illustrates an exemplary structure of a shortened/punctured LDPC code output from the FEC encoder module according to another embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the shortened/punctured LDPC code illustrated inFIG. 74(c)is the structure of the shortened/punctured LDPC code output when a payload splitting mode is applied to the FEC encoder module.

Payload splitting is performed by the FEC encoder module to achieve the robustness strengthened compared to a constant target TOV for signaling.

As illustrated inFIG. 74(b), the payload splitting mode is a mode for splitting PLS data before LDPC encoding and performing LDPC encoding on each split piece of the PLS data by the FEC encoder module.

As illustrated inFIG. 74(c), in the payload splitting mode, the input PLS data may be encoded and shortened/punctured using only a mother code type having the lowest code rate among mother code types provided by the FEC encoder module (e.g., mother code type1 according to the current embodiment).

A method for selecting one of three mother code types based on the size of PLS data and performing LDPC encoding on the LDPC encoding based on the selected mother code type to adjust a signaling protection level by FEC encoder module has been described above. However, if a mother code type having the highest code rate is selected among mother code types provided by the FEC encoder module (e.g., mother code type3 according to the current embodiment), the signaling protection level may be restricted. In this case, the FEC encoder module may apply the payload splitting mode to the PLS data and LDPC-encode every piece of the PLS data using only a mother code type having the lowest code rate among mother code types provided by the FEC encoder module, thereby adjusting the signaling protection level to be low. When the payload splitting mode is used, the FEC encoder module may adjust the size of punctured data according to a strengthened target TOV after shortening.

According to the previous embodiment of the present invention, when the FEC encoder module does not use the payload splitting mode for LDPC encoding, the effective code rate of the shortened/punctured LDPC code was approximately 1/3. However, inFIG. 74(c), the effective code rate of the output LDPC code to which the payload splitting mode is applied by the FEC encoder module is approximately 11/60. Accordingly, the effective code rate of the output LDPC code to which the payload splitting mode is applied may be reduced.

The end of an information portion of an LDPC code is shortened and the end of a parity portion of the LDPC code is punctured inFIG. 74(b). However, this merely corresponds to an exemplary embodiment and the shortening and puncturing portions in the LDPC code may vary according to the intention of a designer.

FIG. 75is a view illustrating a procedure for performing PLS repetition and outputting a frame by the frame structure module1200according to another embodiment of the present invention.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, PLS repetition performed by the frame structure module corresponds to a frame structure scheme for including two or more pieces of PLS data including information about two or more frames in a single frame.

A description is now given of PLS repetition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 75(a)illustrates an exemplary structure of a plurality of pieces of PLS data encoded by the FEC encoder module.

FIG. 75(b)illustrates an exemplary structure of a frame including a plurality of pieces of encoded PLS data due to PLS repetition by the frame structure module.

FIG. 75(c)illustrates an exemplary structure of a current frame including PLS data of the current frame and PLS data of a next frame.

Specifically,FIG. 75(c)illustrates an exemplary structure of an nth frame (current frame) including PLS data (PLS n) of the nth frame and PLS data40000of an (n+1)th frame (next frame), and the (n+1)th frame (current frame) including PLS data (PLS n+1) of the (n+1)th frame and PLS data of an (n+2)th frame (next frame). A detailed description is now given ofFIG. 75.

FIG. 75(a)illustrates the structure in which PLS n for the nth frame, PLS n+1 for the (n+1)th frame, and PLS n+2 for the (n+2)th frame are encoded. The FEC encoder module according to another embodiment of the present invention may output an LDPC code by encoding static PLS signaling data and dynamic PLS signaling data together. PLS n including physical signaling data of the nth frame may include static PLS signaling data (marked as “stat”), dynamic PLS signaling data (marked as “dyn”), and parity data (marked as “parity”). Likewise, each of PLS n+1 and PLS n+2 including physical signaling data of the (n+1)th frame and the (n+2)th frame may include static PLS signaling data (marked as “stat”), dynamic PLS signaling data (marked as “dyn”), and parity data (marked as “parity”). InFIG. 75(a), I includes static PLS signaling data and dynamic PLS signaling data, and P includes parity data.

FIG. 75(b)illustrates an example of PLS formatting for splitting the data illustrated inFIG. 75(a)to locate the data in frames.

If PLS data transmitted by a transmitter is split according to whether the PLS data is changed for each frame and then transmitted by excluding redundancy data which is not changed in every frame, a receiver may have a higher PLS decoding performance. Accordingly, PLS n and PLS n+1 are mapped to the nth frame using PLS repetition, the frame structure module according to an embodiment of the present invention may split PLS n+1 to include the dynamic PLS signaling data of PLS n+1 and the parity data of PLS n+1 excluding the static PLS signaling data of PLS n+1 which is repeated from the static PLS signaling data of PLS n. A splitting scheme for transmitting PLS data of a next frame in a current frame by the frame structure module may be called PLS formatting.

Here, when the frame structure module splits PLS n+1 to be mapped to the nth frame, the parity data of PLS n+1 may be determined as a part of parity data (marked as “P”) illustrated inFIG. 75(a), and the size thereof can scalably vary. Parity bits of PLS data of a next frame to be transmitted in a current frame, which are determined by the frame structure module due to PLS formatting, may be called scalable parity.

FIG. 75(c)illustrates an example in which data split inFIG. 75(b)is located in the nth frame and the (n+1)th frame.

Each frame may include a preamble, PLS-pre, PLS and service data (marked as “Data n”). A description is now given of the detailed stricture of each frame illustrated inFIG. 75(c). The nth frame illustrated inFIG. 75(c)may include a preamble, PLS-pre, encoded PLS n, a part of encoded PLS n+140000, and service data (marked as “Data n”). Likewise, the (n+1)th frame may include a preamble, PLS-pre, encoded PLS n+140010, a part of encoded PLS n+2, and service data (marked as “Data n+1”). In the following description according to an embodiment of the present invention, a preamble may include PLS-pre.

PLS n+1 included in the nth frame is different from that included in the (n+1)th frame inFIG. 75(c). PLS n+140000included in the nth frame is split due to PLS formatting and does not include static PLS signaling data while PLS n+140010includes static PLS signaling data.

When scalable parity is determined, the frame structure module may maintain the robustness of PLS n+140000included in the nth frame in such a manner that a receiver can decode PLS n+1 included in the nth frame before receiving the (n+1)th frame and may consider a diversity gain achievable when PLS n+140000included in the nth frame and PLS n+140010included in the (n+1)th frame are decoded in the (n+1)th frame.

If parity bits of PLS n+140000included in the nth frame are increased, data (Data n+1) included in the (n+1)th frame may be rapidly decoded based on data achieved by decoding PLS n+140000included in the nth frame before the (n+1)th frame is received. On the other hand, scalable parity included in PLS n+140000may be increased and thus data transmission may be inefficient. Further, if small scalable parity of PLS n+140000is transmitted in the n frame to achieve a diversity gain for decoding PLS n+140010included in the (n+1)th frame, the effect of rapidly decoding service data (Dana n+1) included in the (n+1)th frame by previously decoding PLS n+140000included in the n frame before the (n+1)th frame is received may be reduced.

To achieve an improved diversity gain by a receiver, the frame structure module according to an embodiment of the present invention may determine the configuration of parity of PLS n+140000included in the nth frame to be different from that of parity of PLS n+140010included in the (n+1)th frame as much as possible in the PLS formatting procedure.

For example, if parity P of PLS n+1 includes 5 bits, the frame structure module may determine scalable parity of PLS n+1 which can be included in the nth frame as second and fourth bits and determine scalable parity of PLS n+1 which can be included in the (n+1)th frame as first, third and fifth bits. As such, if the frame structure module determines scalable parity bits not to overlap, a coding gain as well as a diversity gain may be achieved. According to another embodiment of the present invention, when the frame structure module performs PLS formatting, a diversity gain of a receiver may be maximized by soft-combining repeatedly transmitted information before LDPC decoding.

The frame structure illustrated inFIG. 75is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and may vary according to the intention of a designer. The order of PLS n and PLS n+140000in the nth frame merely an example and PLS n+140000may be located prior to PLS n according to the intention of a designer. This may be equally applied to the (n+1)th frame.

FIG. 76is a view illustrating signal frame structures according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Each of signal frames41010and41020illustrated inFIG. 76(a)may include a preamble P, head/tail edge symbols EH/ET, one or more PLS symbols PLS and a plurality of data symbols (marked as “DATA Frame N” and “DATA Frame N+1”). This is variable according to the intention of a designer. “T_Sync” marked in each signal frame ofFIGS. 41(a) and 41(b)refers to a time necessary to achieve stable synchronization for PLS decoding based on information acquired from a preamble by a receiver. A description is now given of a method for allocating a PLS offset portion by the frame structure module to ensure T_Sync time.

The preamble is located at the very front of each signal frame and may transmit a basic transmission parameter for identifying a broadcast system and the type of signal frame, information for synchronization, information about modulation and coding of a signal included in the frame, etc. The basic transmission parameter may include FFT size, guard interval information, pilot pattern information, etc. The information for synchronization may include carrier and phase, symbol timing and frame information. Accordingly, a broadcast signal reception apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention may initially detect the preamble of the signal frame, identify the broadcast system and the frame type, and selectively receive and decode a broadcast signal corresponding to a receiver type.

Further, the receiver may acquire system information using information of the detected and decoded preamble, and may acquire information for PLS decoding by additionally performing a synchronization procedure. The receiver may perform PLS decoding based on the information acquired by decoding the preamble.

To perform the above-described function of the preamble, the preamble may be transmitted with a robustness several dB higher than that of service data. Further, the preamble should be detected and decoded prior to the synchronization procedure.

FIG. 76(a)illustrates the structure of signal frames in which PLS symbols are mapped subsequently to the preamble symbol or the edge symbol EH. Since the receiver completes synchronization after a time corresponding to T_Sync, the receiver may not decode the PLS symbols immediately after the PLS symbols are received. In this case, a time for receiving one or more signal frames may be delays until the receiver decodes the received PLS data. Although a buffer may be used for a case in which synchronization is not completed before PLS symbols of a signal frame are received, a problem in which a plurality of buffers are necessary may be caused.

Each of signal frames41030and41040illustrated inFIG. 76(b)may also include the symbols P, EH, ET, PLS and DATA Frame N illustrated inFIG. 76(a).

The frame structure module according to another embodiment of the present invention may configure a PLS offset portion41031or41042between the head edge symbol EHand the PLS symbols PLS of the signal frame41030or41040for rapid service acquisition and data decoding. If the frame structure module configures the PLS offset portion41031or41042in the signal frame, the preamble may include PLS offset information PLS_offset. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the value of PLS_offset may be defined as the length of OFDM symbols used to configure the PLS offset portion.

Due to the PLS offset portion configured in the signal frame, the receiver may ensure T_Sync corresponding to a time for detecting and decoding the preamble.

A description is now given of a method for determining the value of PLS_offset.

The length of an OFDM symbol in the signal frame is defined as T_Symbol. If the signal frame does not include the edge symbol EH, the length of OFDM symbols including the PLS offset (the value of PLS_offset) may be determined as a value equal to or greater than a ceiling value (or rounded-up value) of T_Sync/T_Symbol.

If the signal frame includes the edge symbol EH, the length of OFDM symbols including PLS_offset may be determined as a value equal to or greater than (a ceiling value (or rounded-up value) of T_Sync/T_Symbol)−1.

Accordingly, the receiver may know of the structure of the received signal frame based on data including the value of PLS_offset which is acquired by detecting and decoding the preamble. If the value of PLS_offset is 0, it can be noted that the signal frame according to an embodiment of the present invention has a structure in which the PLS symbols are sequentially mapped subsequently to the preamble symbol. Alternatively, if the value of PLS_offset is 0 and the signal frame includes the edge symbol, the receiver may know of the signal frame has a structure in which the edge symbol and the PLS symbols are sequentially mapped subsequently to the preamble symbol.

The frame structure module may configure the PLS offset portion41031to be mapped to the data symbols DATA Frame N or the PLS symbols PLS. Accordingly, as illustrated inFIG. 76(b), the frame structure module may allocate data symbols to which data of a previous frame (e.g., Frame N−1) is mapped, to the PLS offset portion. Alternatively, although not shown inFIG. 76(b), the frame structure module may allocate PLS symbols to which PLS data of a next frame is mapped, to the PLS offset portion.

The frame structure module may perform one or more quantization operations on PLS_offset to reduce signaling bits of the preamble.

A description is now given of an example in which the frame structure module allocates 2 bits of PLS_offset to the preamble to be signaled.

If the value of PLS_offset is “00”, the length of the PLS offset portion is 0. This means that the PLS data is mapped in the signal frame immediately next to the preamble or immediately next to the edge symbol if the edge symbol is present.

If the value of PLS_offset is “01”, the length of the PLS offset portion is ¼*L_Frame. Here, L_Frame refers to the number of OFDM symbols which can be included in a frame.

If the value of PLS_offset is “10”, the length of the PLS offset portion is 2/4*L_Frame.

If the value of PLS_offset is “11”, the length of the PLS offset portion is ¾*L_Frame.

The above-described method for determining the value of PLS_offset and the length of the PLS offset portion by the frame structure module is merely an exemplary embodiment, and terms and values thereof may vary according to the intention of a designer.

As described above,FIG. 76illustrates a frame structure in a case when a time corresponding to a plurality of OFDM symbols (PLS_offset) is taken for synchronization after the preamble is detected and decoded. After the preamble is detected and decoded, the receiver may compensate integer frequency offset, fractional frequency offset and sampling frequency offset for a time for receiving a plurality of OFDM symbols (PLS_offset) based on information such as a continual pilot and a guard interval.

A description is now given of an effect achievable when the frame structure module according to an embodiment of the present invention ensures T_Sync by allocating the PLS offset portion to the signal frame.

If the signal frame includes the PLS offset portion, a reception channel scanning time and a service data acquisition time taken by the receiver may be reduced.

Specifically, PLS information in the same frame as the preamble detected and decoded by the receiver may be decoded within a time for receiving the frame, and thus the channel scanning time may be reduced. In future broadcast systems, various systems can transmit data in a physical frame using TDM and thus the complexity of channel scanning is increased. As such, if the structure of the signal frame to which the PLS offset portion is allocated according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, the channel scanning time may be reduced more.

Further, compared to the structure of the signal frame to which the PLS offset portion is not allocated (FIG. 76(a)), in the structure of the signal frame to which the PLS offset portion is allocated (FIG. 76(b)), the receiver may expect a service data acquisition time gain corresponding to the difference between the length of the signal frame and the length of the PLS_offset portion.

The above-described effect of allocating the PLS offset portion may be achieved in a case when the receiver cannot decode PLS data in the same frame as the received preamble symbol. If the frame structure module can be designed to decode the preamble and the edge symbol without allocating the PLS offset portion, the value of PLS_offset may be set to 0.

FIG. 77is a flowchart of a broadcast signal transmission method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

A broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may encode service data for transmitting one or more broadcast service components (S42000). The broadcast service components may correspond to broadcast service components for a fixed receiver and each broadcast service component may be transmitted on a frame basis. The encoding method is as described above.

Then, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may encode physical signaling data into an LDPC code based on shortening and puncturing. Here, the physical signaling data is encoded based on a code rate determined based on the size of physical signaling data (S42010). To determine the code rate and encode the physical signaling data by the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, as described above in relation toFIGS. 36 to 39, the LDPC encoder module may LDPC-encode input PLS data or BCH-encoded PLS data based on a shortened/punctured LDPC code and output the LDPC-encoded PLS data. LDPC encoding may be performed based on one of mother code types having different code rates according to the size of input physical signaling data including BCH parity.

Then, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may map the encoded service data onto constellations (S42020). The mapping method is as described above in relation toFIGS. 16 to 35.

Then, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention builds at least one signal frame including preamble data, the physical signaling data and the mapped service data (S42030). To build the signal frame by the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, as described above in relation toFIGS. 40 and 41, PLS repetition for including two or more pieces of physical signaling data including information about two or more frames in a single frame may be used. Further, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may configure an offset portion in a front part of physical signaling data for a current frame mapped to the signal frame, and map service data of a previous frame or physical signaling data of a next frame to the offset portion.

Then, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may modulate the built signal frame using OFDM (S42040).

Then, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may transmit one or more broadcast signals carrying the modulated signal frame (S42050).

FIG. 78is a flowchart of a broadcast signal reception method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The broadcast signal reception method ofFIG. 78corresponds to an inverse procedure of the broadcast signal transmission method described above in relation toFIG. 77.

The broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may receive one or more broadcast signals (S43000). Then, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may demodulate the received broadcast signals using OFDM (S43010).

Then, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may parse at least one signal frame from the demodulated broadcast signals. Here, the signal frame parsed from the broadcast signals may include preamble data, physical signaling data and service data (S43020). To build the signal frame by the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, as described above in relation toFIGS. 75 and 76, PLS repetition for including two or more pieces of physical signaling data including information about two or more frames in a single frame may be used. Further, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may configure an offset portion in a front part of physical signaling data for a current frame mapped to the signal frame, and map service data of a previous frame or physical signaling data of a next frame to the offset portion. Then, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may decode the physical signaling data based on LDPC. Here, the physical signaling data is a shortened/punctured LDPC code encoded based on a code rate determined based on the size of the physical signaling data (S43030). To determine the code rate and decode the physical signaling data, as described above in relation toFIGS. 71 to 74, the LDPC decoder module may LDPC-decode input PLS data or BCH-encoded PLS data based on a shortened/punctured LDPC code and output the LDPC-decoded PLS data. LDPC decoding may be performed based on different code rates according to the size of physical signaling data including BCH parity.

Then, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may demap the service data included in the signal frame (S43040).

Then, the broadcast signal reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may decode the service data for transmitting one or more broadcast service components (S43050).

FIG. 79illustrates a waveform generation module and a synchronization & demodulation module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 79(a)shows the waveform generation module according to another embodiment of the present invention. The waveform generation module may correspond to the aforementioned waveform generation module. The wave form generation module according to another embodiment may include a new reference signal insertion & PAPR reduction block. The new reference signal insertion & PAPR reduction block may correspond to the aforementioned reference signal insertion & PAPR reduction block.

The present invention provides a method for generating a continuous pilot (CP) pattern inserted into predetermined positions of each signal block. In addition, the present invention provides a method for operating CPs using a small-capacity memory (ROM). The new reference signal insertion & PAPR reduction block according to the present invention may operate according to the methods for generating and operating a CP pattern provided by the present invention.

FIG. 79(b)illustrates a synchronization & demodulation module according to another embodiment of the present invention. The synchronization & demodulation module may correspond to the aforementioned synchronization & demodulation module. The synchronization & demodulation module may include a new reference signal detector. The new reference signal detector may correspond to the aforementioned reference signal detector.

The new reference signal detector according to the present invention may perform operation of a receiver using CPs according to the method for generating and operating CPs, provided by the present invention. CPs may be used for synchronization of the receiver. The new reference signal detector may detect a received reference signal to aid in synchronization or channel estimation of the receiver. Here, synchronization may be performed through coarse auto frequency control (AFC), fine AFC and/or common phase error correction (CPE).

At a transmitter, various cells of OFDM symbols may be modulated through reference information. The reference information may be called a pilot. Pilots may include a SP (scattered pilot), CP (continual pilot), edge pilot, FSS (frame signaling symbol) pilot, FES (frame edge symbol) pilot, etc. Each pilot may be transmitted at a specific boosted power level according to pilot type or pattern.

The CP may be one of the aforementioned pilots. A small quantity of CPs may be randomly distributed in OFDM symbols and operated. In this case, an index table in which CP position information is stored in a memory may be efficient. The index table may be referred to as a reference index table, a CP set, a CP group, etc. The CP set may be determined depending on FFT size and SP pattern.

CPs may be inserted into each frame. Specifically, CPs can be inserted into symbols of each frame. The CPs may be inserted in a CP pattern according to the index table. However, the size of the index table may increase as the SP pattern is diversified and the number of, active carriers (NOC) increases.

To solve this problem, the present invention provides a method for operating CPs using a small-capacity memory. The present invention provides a pattern reversal method and a position multiplexing method. According to these methods, storage capacity necessary for the receiver can be decreased.

The design concept of a CP pattern may be as follows. The number of active data carriers (NOA) in each OFDM symbol is held constant. The constant NOA may conform to a predetermined NOC (or FFT mode) and SP pattern.

The CP pattern can be changed based on NOC and SP pattern to check the following two conditions: reduction of signaling information; and simplification of interaction between a time interleaver and carrier mapping.

Subsequently, CPs to be positioned in an SP-bearing carrier and a non-SP-bearing carrier can be fairly selected. This selection process may be carried out for a frequency selective channel. The selection process may be performed such that the CPs are randomly distributed with roughly even distribution over a spectrum. The number of CP positions may increase as the NOC increases. This may serve to preserve overhead of the CPs.

The pattern reversal method will now be briefly described. A CP pattern that can be used in an NOC or SP pattern may be generated based on the index table. CP position values may be arranged into an index table based on the smallest NOC. The index table may be referred to as a reference index table. Here, the CP position values may be randomly located. For a larger NOC, the index table can be extended by reversing the distribution pattern of the index table. Extension may not be achieved by simple repetition according to a conventional technique. Cyclic shifting may precede reversal of the distribution pattern of the index table according to an embodiment. According to the pattern reversal method, CPs can be operated even with a small-capacity memory. The pattern reversal method may be applied to NOC and SP modes. In addition, according to the pattern reversal method, CP positions may be evenly and randomly distributed over the spectrum. The pattern reversal method will be described in more detail later.

The position multiplexing method will now be briefly described. Like the pattern reversal method, a CP pattern that can be used in the NOC or SP pattern may be generated based on the index table. First, position values for randomly positioning CPs may be aligned into an index table. This index table may be referred to as a reference index table. The index table may be designed in a sufficiently large size to be used for/applied to all NOC modes. Then, the index table may be multiplexed through various methods such that CP positions are evenly and randomly distributed over the spectrum for an arbitrary NOC. The position multiplexing method will be described in more detail later.

FIG. 80illustrates definition of a CP bearing SP and a CP not bearing SP according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A description will be given of a random CP position generator prior to description of the pattern reversal method and the position multiplexing method. The pattern reversal method and the position multiplexing method may require the random CP position generator.

Several assumptions may be necessary for the random CP position generator. First, it can be assumed that CP positions are randomly selected by a PN generator at a predetermined NOC. That is, it can be assumed that the CP positions are randomly generated using a PRBS generator and provided to the reference index table. It can be assumed that the NOA in each OFDM symbol is constantly maintained. The NOA in each OFDM symbol may be constantly maintained by appropriately selecting CP bearing SPs and CP not bearing SPs.

InFIG. 80, uncolored portions represent CP not bearing SPs and colored portions represent CP bearing SPs.

FIG. 81shows a reference index table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The reference index table shown inFIG. 81may be a reference index table generated using the aforementioned assumptions. The reference index table considers 8K FFT mode (NOC: 6817) and SP mode (Dx:2, Dy:4). The index table shown inFIG. 81(a)may be represented as a graph shown inFIG. 81(b).

FIG. 82illustrates the concept of configuring a reference index table in CP pattern generation method #1using the position multiplexing method.

A description will be given of CP pattern generation method #1using the position multiplexing method.

When a reference index table is generated, the index table can be divided into sub index tables having a predetermined size. Different PN generators (or different seeds) may be used for the sub index tables to generate CP positions.FIG. 82shows a reference index table considering 8, 16 and 32K FFT modes. That is, in the case of 8K FFT mode, a single sub index table can be generated by PN1. In the case of 16K FFT mode, two sub index tables can be respectively generated by PN1and PN2. The CP positions may be generated based on the aforementioned assumptions.

For example, when the 16K FFT mode is supported, CP position values obtained through a PN1and PN2generator can be sequentially arranged to distribute all CP positions. When the 32K FFT mode is supported, CP position values obtained through a PN3and PN4generator can be additionally arranged to distribute all CP positions.

Accordingly, CPs can be evenly and randomly distributed over the spectrum. In addition, a correlation property between CP positions can be provided.

FIG. 83illustrates a method for generating a reference index table in CP pattern generation method #1using the position multiplexing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, CP position information may be generated in consideration of an SP pattern with Dx=3 and Dy=4. In addition, the present embodiment may be implemented in 8K/16K/32K FFT modes (NOC: 1817/13633/27265).

CP position values may be stored in a sub index table using the 8K FFT mode as a basic mode. When 16K or higher FFT modes are supported, sub index tables may be added to the stored basic sub index table. Values of the added sub index tables may be obtained by adding a predetermined value to the stored basic sub index table or shifting the basic sub index table.

CP position values provided to the ends of sub index tables PN1, PN2and PN3may refer to values, necessary when the corresponding sub index tables are extended. That is, the CP position values may be values for multiplexing. The CP position values provided to the ends of the sub index tables are indicated by ovals inFIG. 83.

The CP position values v provided to the ends of the sub index tables may be represented as follows.
v=i·Dx·Dy[Math Figure 11]

Here, v can be represented as an integer multiple i of Dx·Dy. When the 8K FFT mode is applied, the last position value of sub index table PN1may not be applied. When the 16K FFT mode is applied, the last position value of sub index table PN1is applied whereas the last position value of sub index table PN2may not be applied. Similarly, when the 32K FFT mode is applied, all the last position values of sub index tables PN1, PN2and PN3may be applied.

In CP pattern generation method #1using the position multiplexing method, the aforementioned multiplexing rule can be represented by the following equation. The following equation may be an equation for generating CP positions to be used in each FFT mode from a predetermined reference index table.

Math Figure 12 may be an equation for generating CP position values to be used in each FFT mode based on the predetermined reference index table. Here, CP_8/16/32K respectively denote CP patterns in 8K, 16K and 32K FFT modes and PN_1/2/3/4 denote sub index table names. SPN_1/2/3/4respectively represent the sizes of sub index tables PN1, PN2, PN3and PN4and α1/2/3represent shifting values for evenly distributing added CP positions.

In CP_8K(k) and CP_16K(k), k is limited to SPN1−1 and SPN12−1. Here, −1 is added since the last CP position value v is excluded, as described above.

FIG. 84illustrates the concept of configuring a reference index table in CP pattern generation method #2using the position multiplexing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

CP pattern generation method #2using the position multiplexing method will now be described.

CP pattern generation method #2using the position multiplexing method may be performed in a manner that a CP pattern according to FFT mode is supported. CP pattern generation method #2may be performed in such a manner that PN1, PN2, PN3and PN4are multiplexed to support a CP suited to each FFT mode. Here, PN1, PN2, PN3and PN4are sub index tables and may be composed of CP positions generated by different PN generators. PN1, PN2, PN3and PN4may be assumed to be sequences in which CP position values are distributed randomly and evenly. While the reference index table may be generated through a method similar to the aforementioned CP pattern generation method #1using the position multiplexing method, a detailed multiplexing method may differ from CP pattern generation method #1.

A pilot density block can be represented as Nblk. The number of allocated pilot density blocks Nblkmay depend on FFT mode in the same bandwidth. That is, one pilot density block Nblkmay be allocated in the case of 8K FFT mode, two pilot density blocks Nblkmay be allocated in the case of 16K FFT mode and four pilot density blocks Nblkmay be allocated in the case of 32K FFT mode. PN1to PN4may be multiplexed in an allocated region according to FFT mode to generate CP patterns.

PN1to PN4may be generated such that a random and even CP distribution is obtained. Accordingly, the influence of an arbitrary specific channel may be mitigated. Particularly, PN1can be designed such that corresponding CP position values are disposed in the same positions in physical spectrums of 8K, 16K and 32K. In this case, a reception algorithm for synchronization can be implemented using simple PN1.

In addition, PN1to PN4may be designed such that they have excellent cross correlation characteristics and auto correlation characteristics.

In the case of PN2in which CP positions are additionally determined in the 16K FFT mode, the CP positions can be determined such that PN2has excellent auto correlation characteristics and even distribution characteristics with respect to the position of PN1determined in the 8K FFT mode. Similarly, in the case of PN3and PN4in which CP positions are additionally determined in the 32K FFT mode, the CP positions can be determined such that auto correlation characteristics and even distribution characteristics are optimized based on the positions of PN1and PN2determined in 16K FFT mode.

CPs may not be disposed in predetermined portions of both edges of the spectrum. Accordingly, it is possible to mitigate loss of some CPs when an integral frequency offset (ICFO) is generated.

FIG. 85illustrates a method for generating a reference index table in CP pattern generation method #2using the position multiplexing method.

PN1can be generated in case of the 8K FFT mode, PN1and PN2can be generated in case of the 16K FFT mode and PN1, PN2, PN3and PN4can be generated in case of the 32K FFT mode. The generation process may be performed according to a predetermined multiplexing rule.

FIG. 85illustrates that two pilot density blocks Nblkin case of the 16K FFT mode and four pilot density blocks Nblkin case of the 32K FFT mode can be included in a region which can be represented by a single pilot density block Nblkon the basis of the 8K FFT mode. PNs generated according to each FFT mode can be multiplexed to generate a CP pattern.

In the case of 8K FFT mode, a CP pattern can be generated using PN1. That is, PN1may be a CP pattern in the 8K FFT mode.

In the case of 16K FFT mode, PN1can be positioned in the first pilot density block (first Nblk) and PN2can be disposed in the second pilot density block (second NIA) to generate a CP pattern.

In the case of 32K FFT mode, PN1can be disposed in the first pilot density block (first Nblk), PN2can be disposed in the second pilot density block (second NIA), PN3can be disposed in the third pilot density block (third Nblk) and PN4can be disposed in the fourth pilot density block (fourth NIA) to generate a CP pattern. While PN1, PN2, PN3and PN4are sequentially disposed in the present embodiment, PN2may be disposed in the third pilot density block (third NIA) in order to insert CPs into similar positions of the spectrum as in the 16K FFT mode.

In CP pattern generation method #2using the position multiplexing method, the aforementioned multiplexing rule can be represented by the following equation. The following equation may be an equation for generating CP positions to be used in each FFT mode from a predetermined reference index table.

Math Figure 13 may be an equation for generating CP position values to be used in each FFT mode based on the predetermined reference index table. Here, CP_8/16/32K respectively denote CP patterns in 8K, 16K and 32K FFT modes and PN1to PN4denote sequences. These sequences may be four pseudo random sequences. In addition, ceil(X), ceiling function of X, represents a function outputting a minimum value from among integers equal to or greater than X and mod(X,N) is a modulo function capable of outputting a remainder obtained when X is divided by N.

For the 16K FFT mode and the 32K FFT mode, sequences PN1to PN4may be multiplexed in offset positions determined according to each FFT mode. In the above equation, offset values may be represented by modulo operation values of predetermined integer multiples of basic NA. The offset values may be different values.

FIG. 86illustrates a method for generating a reference index table in CP pattern generation method #3using the position multiplexing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, PN1to PN4may be assumed to be sequences in which CP position values are distributed randomly and evenly. In addition, PN1to PN4may be optimized to satisfy correlation and even distribution characteristics for 8K, 16K and 32K, as described above.

The present embodiment may relate to a scattered pilot pattern for channel estimation. In addition, the present embodiment may relate to a case in which distance Dx in the frequency direction is 8 and distance Dy in the time direction is 2. The present embodiment may be applicable to other patterns.

As described above, PN1can be generated in the case of 8K FFT mode, PN1and PN2can be generated in the case of 16K FFT mode and PN1, PN2, PN3and PN4can be generated in the case of 32K FFT mode. The generation process may be performed according to a predetermined multiplexing rule.

FIG. 86shows that two pilot density blocks Nblkin case of the 16K FFT mode and four pilot density blocks Nblkin case of the 32K FFT mode can be included in a region which can be represented by a single pilot density block Nblkon the basis of the 8K FFT mode.

PNs generated according to each FFT mode can be multiplexed to generate a CP pattern. In each FFT mode, CPs may be disposed overlapping with SPs (SP bearing) or disposed not overlapping with SPs (non-SP bearing). In the present embodiment, a multiplexing rule for SP bearing or non-SP bearing CP positioning can be applied in order to dispose pilots in the same positions in the frequency domain.

In the case of SP bearing, PN1to PN4may be disposed such that CP positions are distributed randomly and evenly for an SP offset pattern. Here, PN1to PN4may be sequences forming an SP bearing set. PN1to PN4may be positioned according to the multiplexing rule for each FFT mode. That is, in the case of 16K FFT mode, PN2added to PN1can be disposed in positions other than an SP offset pattern in which PN1is positioned. A position offset with respect to PN2may be set such that PN2is positioned in positions other than the SP offset pattern in which PN1is positioned or PN2may be disposed in a pattern determined through a relational expression. Similarly, in the case of 32K FFT mode, PN3and PN4may be configured to be disposed in positions other than SP offset patterns in which PN1and PN2are positioned.

In case of non-SP bearing, PN1to PN4may be positioned according to a relational expression. Here, PN1to PN4may be sequences forming a non-SP bearing set.

In CP pattern generation method #3using the position multiplexing method, the aforementioned multiplexing rule can be represented by the following equations. The following equations may be equations for generating CP positions to be used in each FFT mode from a predetermined reference index table.

The above equations may be equations for generating CP position values to be used in each FFT mode based on the predetermined reference index table. Here, CP_8/16/32K respectively denote CP patterns in 8K, 16K and 32K FFT modes and respectively denote SP bearing CP patterns in 8K, 16K and 32K FFT modes. CPnonsp_8/16/32K respectively represent non-SP bearing CP patterns in 8K, 16K and 32K FFT modes and PN1sp, PN2sp, PN3spand PN4sprepresent sequences for SP bearing pilots. These sequences may be four pseudo random sequences. These sequences may be included in an SP being set. PN1nonsp, PN2nonsp, PN3nonspand PN4nonspdenote sequences for non-SP bearing pilots. These sequences may be four pseudo random sequences and may be included in a non-SP bearing set. In addition, α16K, α132K, α232K, β16K, β132Kand β232Krepresent CP position offsets.

Respective SP bearing CP patterns can be generated using PN1sp, PN2sp, PN3spand PN4sp, as represented by Math Figure 14. Respective non-SP bearing patterns can be generated using PN1nonsp, PN2nonsp, PN3nonspand PN4nonsp, as represented by Math Figure 15. As represented by Math Figure 16, the CP pattern of each FFT mode can be composed of an SP bearing CP pattern and a non-SP bearing CP pattern. That is, an SP bearing CP index table can be added to a non-SP bearing CP index table to generate a reference index table. Consequently, CP insertion can be performed according to the non-SP bearing CP index table and the SP bearing CP index table. Here, non-SP bearing CP position values may be called a common CP set and SP bearing CP position values may be called an additional CP set.

CP position offsets may be values predetermined for multiplexing, as described above. The CP position offsets may be allocated to the same frequency irrespective of FFT mode or used to correct CP characteristics.

FIG. 87illustrates the concept of configuring a reference index table in CP pattern generation method #1using the pattern reversal method.

CP pattern generation method #1using the pattern reversal method will now be described.

As described above, when the reference index table is generated, the table can be divided into sub index tables having a predetermined size. The sub index tables may include CP positions generated using different PN generators (or different seeds).

In the pattern reversal method, two sub index tables necessary in the 8K, 16K and 32K FFT modes can be generated by two different PN generators. Two sub index tables additionally necessary in the 32K FFT mode can be generated by reversing the pre-generated two sub index tables.

That is, when the 16K FFT mode is supported, CP positions according to PN1and PN2can be sequentially arranged to obtain a CP position distribution. When the 32K FFT mode is supported, however, CP positions according to PN1and PN2can be reversed to obtain a CP position distribution.

Accordingly, a CP index table in the 32K FFT mode can include a CP index table in the 16K FFT mode. In addition, the CP index table in the 16K FFT mode can include a CP index table in the 8K FFT mode. According to an embodiment, the CP index table in the 32K FFT mode may be stored and the CP index tables in the 8K and 16K FFT modes may be selected/extracted from the CP index table in the 32K FFT mode to generate the CP index tables in the 8K and 16K FFT modes.

According to the aforementioned pattern reversal method, CP positions can be distributed evenly and randomly over the spectrum. In addition, the size of a necessary reference index table can be reduced compared to the aforementioned position multiplexing method. Furthermore, memory storage capacity necessary for the receiver can be decreased.

FIG. 88illustrates a method for generating a reference index table in CP pattern generation method #1using the pattern reversal method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, CP position information may be generated in consideration of an SP pattern with Dx=3 and Dy=4. In addition, the present embodiment may be implemented in 8K/16K/32K FFT modes (NOC: 1817/13633/27265).

CP position values may be stored in a sub index table using the 8K FFT mode as a basic mode. When 16K or higher FFT modes are supported, sub index tables may be added to the stored basic sub index table. Values of the added sub index tables may be obtained by adding a predetermined value to the stored basic sub index table or shifting the basic sub index table.

The 32K FFT mode index table can be generated using sub index tables obtained by reversing sub index tables of PN1and PN2.

CP position values provided to the ends of sub index tables PN1and PN2may refer to values necessary when the corresponding sub index tables are extended. That is, the CP position values may be values for multiplexing. The CP position values provided to the ends of the sub index tables are indicated by ovals inFIG. 83.

The CP position values v provided to the ends of the sub index tables may be represented as follows.
v=i·Dx·Dy[Math Figure 17]

Here, v can be represented as an integer multiple i of Dx·Dy. When the 8K FFT mode is applied, the last position value of sub index table PN1may not be applied. When the 16K FFT mode is applied, the last position value of sub index table PN1is applied whereas the last position value of sub index table PN2may not be applied.

The index table for the 32K FFT mode can be generated using the index table for the 16K FFT mode and an index table obtained by reversing the index table for the 16K FFT mode. Accordingly, the last position value of sub index table PN1can be used twice and the last position value of sub index table PN2can be used only once.

In the extension of a sub index table, extension according to v may be necessary or unnecessary according to embodiment. That is, there may be an embodiment of extending/reversing a sub index table without v.

In CP pattern generation method #1using the pattern reversal method, the aforementioned multiplexing rule can be represented by the following equation. The following equation may be an equation for generating CP positions to be used in each FFT mode from a predetermined reference index table.

A CP pattern in each FFT mode can be generated according to Math Figure 18. Here, symbols may be the same as the above-described ones. β denotes an integer closest to the NOA of the 8K FFT mode. That is, when the NOA is 6817, β may be 6816.

In CP_8K(k), CP_16K(k) and CP_32K(k), k may be respectively limited to SpN1−1, SPN12−1, SPN121−1 and SPN1212−1. Here, −1 is added since the last CP position value v may be excluded according to situation, as described above. In Math Figure 18,

(β-PN⁢⁢1⁢(k-SPN⁢⁢12+1)),(β-PN⁢⁢2⁢(k-SPN⁢⁢121+1))
in a box represents pattern reversal.

FIG. 89illustrates the concept of configuring a reference index table in CP pattern generation method #2using the pattern reversal method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

CP pattern generation method #2using the pattern reversal method will now be described.

As described above, when the reference index table is generated, the table can be divided into sub index tables having a predetermined size. The sub index tables may include CP positions generated using different PN generators (or different seeds).

Two sub index tables necessary in the 8K, 16K and 32K FFT modes can be generated by two different PN generators, as described above. Two sub index tables additionally necessary in the 32K FFT mode can be generated by reversing the pre-generated two sub index tables. However, CP pattern generation method #2using the pattern reversal method can generate two necessary sub index tables by cyclic-shifting patterns and then reversing the patterns rather than simply reversing the previously generated two sub index tables. Reversing operation may precede cyclic shifting operation according to embodiment. Otherwise, simple shifting instead of cyclic shifting may be performed according to embodiment.

Accordingly, a CP index table in the 32K FFT mode can include a CP index table in the 16K FFT mode. In addition, the CP index table in the 16K FFT mode can include a CP index table in the 8K FFT mode. According to an embodiment, the CP index table in the 32K FFT mode may be stored and the CP index tables in the 8K and 16K FFT modes may be selected/extracted from the CP index table in the 32K FFT mode to generate the CP index tables in the 8K and 16K FFT modes.

As described above, when the 16K FFT mode is supported, CP position values according to PN1and PN2can be sequentially arranged to obtain a CP position distribution. However, according to CP pattern generation method #2using the pattern reversal method, CP position values according to PN1and PN2can be cyclically shifted and then reversed to obtain a CP position distribution when the 32K FFT mode is supported.

According to CP pattern generation method #2using the pattern reversal method, CP positions can be distributed evenly and randomly over the spectrum. In addition, the size of a necessary reference index table can be reduced compared to the aforementioned position multiplexing method. Furthermore, memory storage capacity necessary for the receiver can be decreased.

In CP pattern generation method #2using the pattern reversal method, the aforementioned multiplexing rule can be represented by the following equation. The following equation may be an equation for generating CP positions to be used in each FFT mode from a predetermined reference index table.

A CP pattern in each FFT mode can be generated according to Math Figure 19. Here, symbols may be the same as the above-described ones. β denotes an integer closest to the NOA of the 8K FFT mode. That is, when the NOA is 6817, β may be 6816. γ1/2is a cyclic shift value.

In CP_8K(k), CP_16K(k) and CP_32K(k), k may be respectively limited to SPN1−1, SPN12−1, SPN121−1 and SPN1212−1. Here, −1 is added since the last CP position value v may be excluded according to situation, as described above. In Math Figure 19,

The CP pattern can be generated by a method other than aforementioned CP pattern generation methods. According to other embodiments, a CP set (CP pattern) of certain FFT size can be generated from a CP set of other FFT size, organically and dependently. In this case, a whole CP set or a part of the CP set can be base of generation process. For example, a CP set of 16K FFT mode can be generated by selecting/extracting CP positions from a CP set of 32K FFT mode. In same manner, a CP set of 8K FFT mode can be generated by selecting/extracting CP positions from a CP set of 32K FFT mode.

According to other embodiments, CP set can include SP bearing CP positions and/or non SP bearing CP positions. Non SP bearing CP positions can be referred to as common CP set. SP bearing CP positions can be referred to as additional CP set. That is, CP set can include a common CP set and/or an additional CP set. A case that only a common CP set is included in the CP set can be referred to as normal CP mode. A case that the CP set includes both a common CP set and an additional CP set can be referred to as extended CP mode.

Values of common CP sets can be different based on FFT size. According to embodiments, the common CP set can be generated by aforementioned Pattern reversal method and/or Position multiplexing method.

Values of additional CP sets can be different based on transmission methods, such as SISO or MIMO. In situation that additional robustness is needed, such as mobile reception, or for any other reasons, additional CP positions can be added to the CP set, by adding an additional CP set.

Consequently, CP insertion can be performed according to the CP set (reference index table).

As described above, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment or the above-mentioned waveform transform block7200may insert pilots into a signal frame generated from a frame structure module1200, and may OFDM-modulate broadcast signals using transmission (Tx) parameters. Tx parameters according to the embodiment may also be called OFDM parameters.

The present invention proposes Tx parameters that can satisfy a spectrum mask reference contained in a transmission (Tx) band for the next generation broadcast transmission/reception (Tx/Rx) system, can maximize Tx efficiency, and can be applied to a variety of Rx scenarios.

FIG. 90shows a table illustrating information related to a reception mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A Table shown inFIG. 90may include a network configuration according to a reception mode of the next generation broadcast Tx/Rx system.

As described above, the reception modes according to the embodiment can be classified into a Fixed Rooftop environment and a Handheld portable environment, and a representative channel for each environment can be decided.

In addition, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to the embodiment can decide the transmission (Tx) mode according to the above-mentioned reception mode. That is, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to the embodiment may process broadcast service data using the non-MIMO schemes (MISO and SISO schemes) or the MIMO scheme according to the broadcast service characteristics (i.e., according to the reception mode). Accordingly, the broadcast signal for each Tx mode may be transmitted and received through a Tx channel corresponding to the corresponding processing scheme.

In this case, according to one embodiment of the present invention, broadcast signals of individual Tx modes can be identified and transmitted in units of a signal frame. In addition, each signal frame may include a plurality of OFDM symbols. Each OFDM symbol may be comprised of the above-mentioned preamble (or preamble symbols) and a plurality of data symbols configured to transmit data corresponding to a broadcast signal.

A left column of the Table shown inFIG. 90shows the above-mentioned three reception modes.

In case of the fixed rooftop environment, the broadcast signal reception apparatus may receive broadcast signals through the rooftop antenna located at the height of 10 ms or higher above the ground. Accordingly, since a direct path can be guaranteed, a Rician channel is representatively used, the Rician channel is less affected by Doppler, and the range of a delay spread may be limited according to the use of a directional antenna.

In case of the handheld portable environment and the handheld mobile environment, the broadcast signal reception apparatus may receive broadcast signals through the omni-directional antenna located at the height of 1.5 m or less above the ground. In this case, a Rayleigh channel may be representatively used as the Tx channel environment based on reflected waves, and may obtain the range of a delay spread of a channel longer than the directional antenna.

In case of the handheld portable environment, a low-level Doppler environment can be supported as the indoor/outdoor reception environments in consideration of mobility such as an adult walking speed. The handheld portable environment shown inFIG. 90can be classified into the fixed environment and the pedestrian environment.

On the other hand, the handheld mobile environment must consider not only the walking speed of a receiving user, but also the moving speed of a vehicle, a train, etc. such that the handheld mobile environment can support the high Doppler environment.

A right column of the Table shown inFIG. 90shows the network configuration for each reception mode.

The network configuration may indicate the network structure. The network configuration according to the embodiment can be classified into a Multi Frequency Network (MFN) composed of a plurality of frequencies and a Single Frequency Network (SFN) composed of a single frequency according to a frequency management method within the network.

MFN may indicate a network structure for transmitting a broadcast signal using many frequencies in a wide region. A plurality of transmission towers located at the same region or a plurality of broadcast signal transmitters may transmit the broadcast signal through different frequencies. In this case, the delay spread caused by a natural echo may be formed by a topography, geographic features, etc. In addition, the broadcast signal receiver is designed to receive only one radio wave, such that the reception quality can be determined according to the magnitude of a received radio wave.

SFN may indicate a network structure in which a plurality of broadcast signal transmitters located at the same region can transmit the same broadcast signal through the same frequency. In this case, the maximum delay spread of a transmission (Tx) channel becomes longer due to the additional man-made echo. In addition, the reception (Tx) quality may be affected not only by a mutual ratio between a radio wave to be received and a radio wave of the jamming frequency, but also by a delay time, etc.

When deciding the Tx parameters, the guard interval value may be decided in consideration of the maximum delay spread of the Tx channel so as to minimize the inter symbol interference. The guard interval may be a redundant data additionally inserted into the transmitted broadcast signal, such that it is necessary to design the entire symbol duration to minimize the loss of SNR in consideration of the entire Tx power efficiency.

FIG. 91shows a bandwidth of the broadcast signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 91, the bandwidth of the broadcast signal is identical to a waveform transform bandwidth, the waveform transform bandwidth may include a channel bandwidth and a spectrum mask, and the channel bandwidth may include a signal bandwidth. The transmission (Tx) parameters according to the embodiment need to satisfy the spectrum mask requested for minimizing interference of a contiguous channel within the corresponding channel bandwidth allocated to the next generation broadcast Tx/Rx system, and need to be designed for maximizing the Tx efficiency within the bandwidth of the corresponding broadcast signal. In addition, a plurality of carriers can be used when the above-mentioned waveform generation module1300converts input signals, the Tx parameters may coordinate or adjust the spacing among subcarriers according to the number of subcarriers used in the waveform transform bandwidth, the length of an entire symbol in a time domain is decided, and a transmission (Tx) mode appropriate for the Rx scenario of the next generation broadcast Tx/Rx system is classified, such that the Tx parameters can be designed according to the Rx scenario.

FIG. 92shows tables including Tx parameters according to the embodiment.

FIG. 92(A)is a Table that shows guard interval values to be used as Tx parameters according to the above-mentioned reception mode and the network configuration.FIG. 92(B)is a Table that shows vehicle speed values to be used as Tx parameters according to the above-mentioned reception mode and the network configuration.

As described above, the guard interval may be designed in consideration of the maximum delay spread based on the network configuration and the Rx antenna environment according to the reception (Rx) scenario.

The vehicle speed used as the Tx parameter may be designed and decided in consideration of the network configuration and the Rx antenna environment according to Rx scenario categories types.

In order to implement the optimal design of the next generation broadcast Tx/Rx system, the present invention provides a method for establishing the guard interval (or elementary guard interval) and the vehicle speed, and optimizing Tx parameters using the optimization scaling factor.

Symbols (or OFDM symbols) contained in the signal frame according to the embodiment may be transmitted for a specific duration. In addition, each symbol may include not only a guard interval region corresponding to the useful part corresponding to the active symbol duration length, but also the guard interval. In this case, the guard interval region may be located ahead of the useful part.

The guard intervals (a) and (b) shown inFIG. 92(A)may show exemplary guard intervals applicable to the next generation broadcast Tx/Rx system. In more detail, the guard interval (a) shows one embodiment in which the elementary guard interval is set to 25 μs, and the guard interval (b) shows another embodiment in which the elementary guard interval is set to 30 μs. In the above-mentioned embodiments, the optimization scaling factor for implementing optimization based on a network structure while simultaneously optimizing Tx efficiency of Tx signals and SNR damage is set to Lalpha1, Lalpha2, Lbeta1, or Lbeta2.

As shown inFIG. 92(B), the vehicle speed according to the embodiment may be set to quasi static, <Vp_a1km/h, <Vp_b1km/h, Vm_a1km/h˜Vm_a2km/h, or Vm_b1km/h˜Vm_b2km/h according to the above-mentioned reception modes.

The vehicle speed (a) shown inFIG. 92(B)shows an example of the vehicle speed applicable to the next generation broadcast Tx/Rx system according to the embodiment.

In accordance with this embodiment, the elementary vehicle speed may be set to ‘quasi-static’, ‘3 km/h’, and ‘3 km/h˜200 km/h’ according to the respective reception scenarios, and the optimization scaling factor for implementing optimization based on the network structure and optimizing Tx efficiency of Tx signals and time-variant channel estimation may be set to Valpha1, Valpha2, Vbeta1, and Vbeta1.

The following equation may be used to decide an effective signal bandwidth (hereinafter referred to as eBW) of the optimized Tx signals according to the present invention
eBW={Nwaveform_scaling×(Npilotdensity×NeBW)+α}×Fs(Hz)  [Math Figure 20].

In Math Figure 20, Nwaveform_scalingmay denote a waveform scaling factor, Npilotdensitymay denote a pilot density scaling factor, NeBWmay denote an effective signal bandwidth scaling factor, and α may denote an additional bandwidth factor. In addition, Fs may denote a sampling frequency.

In order to decide the effective signal bandwidth (eBW) optimized for a spectrum mask based on a channel bandwidth, the present invention may use the above-mentioned factors as the optimization parameters (or optimum parameters). Specifically, according to the equation of the present invention, Tx efficiency of Tx parameters can be maximized by coordinating the waveform transform bandwidth (sampling frequency). The individual factors shown in Equation will hereinafter be described in detail.

The waveform scaling factor is a scaling value depending upon a bandwidth of a carrier to be used for waveform transform. The waveform scaling factor according to the embodiment may be set to an arbitrary value proportional to the length of nonequispaced fast Fourier transform (NFFT) in case of OFDM.

The pilot density scaling factor may be established according to a predetermined position of a reference signal inserted by a reference signal insertion and PAPR reduction block7100, and may be established by the density of the reference signal.

The effective signal bandwidth scaling factor may be set to an arbitrary value that can satisfy a specification of a spectrum mask contained in the Tx channel bandwidth and at the same time can maximize the bandwidth of the Tx signals. As a result, the optimum eBW can be designed.

The additional bandwidth factor may be set to an arbitrary value for coordinating additional information and structures needed for the Tx signal bandwidth. In addition, the additional bandwidth factor may be used to improve the edge channel estimation throughput of spectrums through reference signal insertion.

Number of Carrier (NoC) may be a total number of carriers transmitted through the signal bandwidth, and may be denoted by an equation contained in a brace of the equation.

The broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to the present invention may use Tx parameters that are capable of optimizing the effective signal bandwidth (eBW) according to the number of subcarriers used for transform. In addition, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to the present invention can use the above-mentioned effective signal bandwidth scaling factor as a transmission (Tx) parameter capable of optimizing the effective signal bandwidth (eBW).

The effective signal bandwidth (eBW) scaling factor is extended in units of a pilot density of a predetermined reference signal, such that the eBW scaling factor may be set to a maximum value optimized for the spectrum mask. In this case, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to the present invention coordinates the waveform transform bandwidth (i.e., sampling frequency) of vague parts capable of being generated according to the pilot density unit, such that the eBW scaling factor for the spectrum mask can be decided.

FIG. 93shows a table including Tx parameters capable of optimizing the effective signal bandwidth (eBW) according to the embodiment.

The Tx parameters shown inFIG. 93can satisfy the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) spectrum mask for the 6 MHz channel bandwidth, and can optimize the effective signal bandwidth (eBW) of the next generation broadcast system based on the OFDM scheme.

FIG. 93(A)shows Tx parameters (See Example A) established with respect to the guard interval (a) and the vehicle speed (a).FIG. 93(B)shows Tx parameters (See Example B) established with respect to the guard interval (b) and the vehicle speed (b).

FIG. 93(A′) shows a table indicating an embodiment of a GI duration for combination of FFT and GI modes established by the concept ofFIG. 93(A).FIG. 93(B′) shows a table indicating an embodiment of a GI duration for combination of FFT (NFFT) and GI modes established by the concept ofFIG. 93(B).

Although the Tx parameters shown inFIGS. 93(A) and 93(B)are established for three FFT modes (i.e., 8K, 16K and 32K FFT modes), it should be noted that the above Tx parameters can also be applied to other FFT modes (i.e., 1K/2K/4K/64K FFT modes) as necessary. In addition,FIG. 93(A)andFIG. 93(B)show various embodiments of the optimization scaling factors applicable to the respective FFT modes.

The broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to the embodiment can insert the reference signal into the time and frequency domains in consideration of the Tx parameters shown in (A) and (B), the reception scenario, and the network configuration, and the reference signal can be used as additional information for synchronization and channel estimation.

The broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to the embodiment may establish the density (Npilotdensity) of a reference signal and the optimized eBW in consideration the ratio of a channel estimation range of the guard interval. In addition, the waveform scaling factor according to the embodiment may be determined in proportion to the FFT size for each FFT mode.

If a total number of the remaining carriers other than a null carrier used as a guard band during IFFT is decided by the waveform transform scheme, the broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to the embodiment may coordinate the waveform transform bandwidth (i.e., sampling frequency) so as to determine a maximum signal bandwidth not exceeding the spectrum mask. The sampling frequency may decide the optimized signal bandwidth, and may be sued to decide the OFDM symbol duration and the subcarrier spacing. Accordingly, the sampling frequency may be determined in consideration of not only the guard interval, a Tx channel of the vehicle speed, and the reception scenario, but also the Tx signal efficiency and the SNR damage. InFIG. 93, (A) shows an embodiment in which ‘Fs’ is set to 221/32 MHz, and (B) shows an embodiment in which ‘Fs’ is set to (1753/256) MHz.

‘fc’ inFIGS. 93(A) and 93(B)may denote the center frequency of the RF signal, and ‘Tu’ may denote an active symbol duration.

FIG. 94shows a table including Tx parameters for optimizing the effective signal bandwidth (eBW) according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 94(A)shows a table indicating the same Tx parameters (See Example A) as inFIG. 93(A).FIG. 94(B)shows another embodiment of the Table ofFIG. 93(B). Table ofFIG. 94(B)shows Tx parameters (See Example B-1) established with respect to the guard interval (b) and the vehicle speed (b).

FIG. 94(A′) shows a table indicating an embodiment of a GI duration for combination of FFT and GI modes established by the concept ofFIG. 94(A).FIG. 94(B′) shows a table indicating an embodiment of a GI duration for combination of FFT and GI modes established by the concept ofFIG. 94(B).

Although the Tu value of the center column ofFIG. 94(B)is changed to 2392.6 differently from the concept ofFIG. 93(B), the remaining functions and values of the respective Tx parameters shown inFIG. 94are identical to those ofFIG. 93, and as such a detailed description thereof will herein be omitted for convenience of description.

FIG. 95shows a Table including Tx parameters for optimizing the effective signal bandwidth (eBW) according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 95(A)shows a Table indicating another embodiment of the concept ofFIG. 94(B). In more detail,FIG. 95(A)is a Table including Tx parameters (See Example B-2) in case that ‘Fs’ is set to 219/32 MHz.FIG. 95(B)shows a Table indicating an embodiment of a GI duration for combination of FFT and GI modes established by the concept ofFIG. 95(A).

Tx parameters shown inFIG. 95(A)has a lower eBW value whereas they have higher values of fc and Tu, differently from the Tx parameters shown inFIG. 94(B). In this case, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the eBW value may be set to a specific value that is capable of being established as a factor with respect to the channel bandwidth.

FIG. 96shows Tx parameters according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As can be seen fromFIG. 96(A), when establishing the scaling factor and the Fs value corresponding to a channel bandwidth of 5, 7, or 8 MHz, the resultant scaling factor can be obtained by the product (multiplication) of a scaling factor having been calculated on the basis of the 6 MHz Fs value. The scaling factor may correspond to the rate of the channel bandwidth.

FIG. 96(B)is a Table including Tx parameters capable of optimizing the effective signal bandwidth (eBW) shown inFIGS. 93 to 95.

In more detail, a Table located at an upper part ofFIG. 96(B)shows Tx parameters corresponding to the 5, 6, 7, 8 MHz channel bandwidths ofFIGS. 93(A) and 94(B).

The table located at the center part ofFIG. 96(B)shows Tx parameters corresponding to the 5, 6, 7, 8 MHz channel bandwidths of the example (B-1) ofFIG. 94.

The table located at the lower part ofFIG. 96(B)shows Tx parameters corresponding to the channel bandwidth shown in the example (B-2) ofFIG. 95.

Referring to the second row ofFIG. 96(A), the Fs value corresponding to each channel bandwidth in the upper end ofFIG. 96(B)is calculated by the product of the scaling factor having been calculated on the basis of the 6 MHz Fs value.

Referring to the third row ofFIG. 96(A), the Fs value corresponding to each channel bandwidth in the center part ofFIG. 96(B)is calculated by the product of the scaling factor having been calculated on the basis of the 6 MHz Fs value. Referring to the third row ofFIG. 96(A), the Fs value corresponding to each channel bandwidth in the lower part ofFIG. 96(B)is calculated by the product of the scaling factor having been calculated on the basis of the 6 MHz Fs value.

FIG. 97is a graph indicating Power Spectral Density (PSD) of a transmission (Tx) signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 97shows the Power Spectral Density (PSD) calculated using the above-mentioned Tx parameters when the channel bandwidth is set to 6 MHz.

The left graph ofFIG. 97(A)shows the PSD of the Tx signal optimized for the FCC spectrum mask of the example (A) ofFIGS. 93 and 94. The right graph ofFIG. 97(A)shows the enlarged result of some parts of the left graph.

The left graph ofFIG. 97(B)shows the PSD of the Tx signal optimized for the FCC spectrum mask of the example (B) ofFIG. 93. The right graph ofFIG. 97(B)shows the enlarged result of some parts of the left graph.

As shown in the right graph of (A) and (B), individual graphs show not only lines for designating the FCC spectrum mask specification, but also lines indicating PSD of the Tx signal derived using Tx parameters corresponding to 8K, 16K and 32K.

In order to optimize the Tx signal efficiency as shown inFIG. 97, the PSD of each Tx signal need not exceed a threshold value of the spectrum mask at a breakpoint of the target spectrum mask. In addition, a band of the PSD of an out-of-band emission Tx signal may be limited by a baseband filter as necessary.

FIG. 98is a table showing information related to the reception mode according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 98shows another embodiment of the Table showing information related to the reception mode ofFIG. 90. Table ofFIG. 98shows a network configuration, an FFT value (NFFT), a guard interval, and a vehicle speed, that correspond to each reception mode. The guard interval and the vehicle speed ofFIG. 98are identical to those ofFIG. 92.

Since the fixed rooftop environment corresponds to a time-variant Tx channel environment, it is less affected by Doppler, such that a large-sized FFT such as 16K, 32K, etc. can be used. In addition, data transmission can be carried out in a manner that a higher data Tx efficiency can be achieved in the redundancy ratio such as the guard interval, the reference signal, etc. appropriate for the network configuration.

In case of the handheld portable environment, a low-level Doppler environment can be supported as the indoor/outdoor reception environments in consideration of mobility such as an adult walking speed, and FFT such as 8K, 16K, 32K, etc. capable of supporting a high frequency sensitivity can be used.

The handheld mobile environment must consider not only the walking speed of a receiving user, but also the moving speed of a vehicle, a train, etc. such that the handheld mobile environment can support the high Doppler environment, and can use 4K-, 8K-, and 16K-FFT capable of supporting a relatively low frequency sensitivity.

The guard interval according to an embodiment of the present invention may be established to support the same-level coverage in consideration of the network configuration for each reception.

The following description proposes the pilot pattern used as a reference signal for Tx channel estimation and the pilot mode for the same Tx channel estimation on the basis of the above embodiments of the above-mentioned Tx parameters.

The broadcast signal transmission apparatus or the above-mentioned waveform transform block7200according to the embodiment can insert a plurality of pilots into a signal frame generated from the frame structure module1200, and can OFDM-modulate the broadcast signals using the Tx parameters. Various cells contained in the OFDM symbol may be modulated using reference information (i.e., pilots). In this case, the pilots may be used to transmit information known to the broadcast signal receiver, and the individual pilots may be transmitted at a power level specified by a pilot pattern.

The pilots according to the embodiment of the present invention may be used for frame synchronization, frequency and time synchronization, channel estimation, etc.

The pilot mode according to the embodiment of the present invention may be specific information for indicating pilots which reduce overhead of Tx parameters and are established to transmit the optimized broadcast signal. The above-mentioned pilot pattern and pilot mode may equally be applied to the above-mentioned reception mode and network configuration. In addition, the pilot pattern and pilot mode according to the embodiment can be applied to data symbols contained in the signal frame.

FIG. 99shows the relationship between a maximum channel estimation range and a guard interval according to the embodiment.

As described above, Math Figure 20 is used to decide the effective signal bandwidth (eBW) of the Tx signal, and may use the pilot density scaling factor as an optimization parameter. In this case, Math Figure 20 may be decided by optimizing time- and frequency-arrangement of the pilot signal for SISO channel estimation, a pilot density related to data efficiency, and Dx and Dy values.

The pilot density may correspond to the product of a distance between pilots of the time and frequency domains, and pilot overhead occupied by pilots of the symbol may correspond to an inverse number of the pilot density.

Dx may denote a distance between pilots in a frequency domain, and Dy may denote a distance between pilots in a time domain. Dy may be used to decide the maximum tolerable Doppler speed. Accordingly, Dy may be set to a specific value that is optimized in consideration of the vehicle speed decided according to Rx scenario categories.

As described above, the pilot density may be used to decide the pilot overhead, and the Dx and Dy values may be decided in consideration of the Tx channel state and the Tx efficiency.

The maximum channel estimation range (TChEst) shown inFIG. 99may be decided by dividing the Tx parameter (Tu) by the Dx value.

The guard interval having a predetermined length, the pre-echo region, and the post-echo region may be contained in the maximum channel estimation range.

The ratio of a given guard interval and a maximum channel estimation range may indicate a margin having a channel estimation range for estimating the guard interval. If the margin value of the channel estimation range exceeds the guard interval length, values exceeding the guard interval length may be assigned to the pre-echo region and the post-echo region. The pre-echo region and the post-echo region may be used to estimate the channel impulse response exceeding the guard interval length, and may be used as a region to be used for estimation and compensation of a timing error generable in a synchronization process. However, if the margin is increased in size, the pilot overhead is unavoidably increased so that Tx efficiency can be reduced.

FIGS. 100 and 101show Tables in which pilot parameters depending on the guard intervals (A) and (B) and the vehicle speed are defined, and the tables shown inFIGS. 100 and 101will hereinafter be described in detail.

FIG. 100shows a Table in which pilot parameters are defined according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 100shows the pilot parameters according to the guard interval (A) and the vehicle speed.FIG. 100(A)is a table indicating pilot patterns for use in the SISO and MIXO Tx channels,FIG. 100(B)shows the configuration of a pilot pattern for use in the SISO and MIXO Tx channels, andFIG. 100(C)is a table indicating the configuration of a pilot pattern for use in the MIXO Tx channel.

In more detail,FIG. 100(A)shows the pilot pattern decided for each pilot density value and the Dx and Dy values defined in each of the SISO and MIXO Tx channels. The pilot pattern according to this embodiment may be denoted by PP5-4in which a first number denotes the Dx value and a second number denotes the Dy value. If the Dx value in the same pilot density is reduced, the pilot pattern can support a longer delay spread. If the Dy value is reduced, the pilot pattern can adaptively cope with a faster Doppler environment.

FIG. 100(B)andFIG. 100(C)show Tables including the guard interval duration and the pilot pattern configuration depending on the FFT value. In more detail, numbers shown in the first row of each table shown in (B) and (C) may denote the guard interval duration. The first column may denote FFT (NFFT) values described inFIGS. 93 to 96. However, althoughFIGS. 100(B) and 100(C)equally show the configuration of the pilot pattern for use in the MIXO case, there is a difference inFIGS. 100(B) and 100(C)in thatFIG. 100(B)shows the MIXO-1 pilot pattern having a larger pilot overhead, andFIG. 100(C)shows the MIXO-2 pilot pattern having a lower mobility.

The duration of the guard interval shown inFIGS. 100(B) and 100(C)is conceptually identical to the guard interval length shown inFIG. 99. In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention, 25 μs, 50 μs, 100 μs, 200 μs, and 400 μs values may be used in consideration of the maximum delay spread, and the FFT size may be set to 8K, 16K and 32K.

As can be seen from (A), the Dx value may be set to 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, or 160 in consideration of the guard interval duration and the FFT size. In this case, an elementary Dx value (5) acting as a basic value may be defined as a changeable value depending on each Tx mode, and may be established in consideration of about 20% of the margin value of the above-mentioned channel estimation range. In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the margin value of the channel estimation range may be coordinated or adjusted using the Lalpha1value in MFN and using the Lalpha2value in SFN as shown inFIGS. 92(A) and 92(B).

The Dy value may be established according to a reception (Rx) scenario and the Tx mode dependent upon the Rx scenario. Accordingly, the Dy value may be assigned different values according to the SISO or MIXO Tx channel. As shown in the drawing, Dy may be set to 2, 4 or 8 in case of the SISO Tx channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The MIXO Tx channel is classified into the MIXO-1 version having large pilot overhead and the MIXO-2 version having lower mobility, such that the Dy value can be established in different ways according to individual versions.

The MIXO-1 version having large overhead increases the pilot overhead, so that I can support the same maximum delay spread and the same maximum mobile speed in the same network configuration as in the SISO Tx channel. In this case, the Dy value may be set to 2, 4 or 8 in the same manner as in the SISO Tx channel. That is, the MIXO-1 Tx channel can be applied not only to the above-mentioned handheld portable environment but also the handheld mobile environment.

The MIXO-2 version having low mobility is designed to guarantee the same coverage and capacity as in the SISO Tx channel although the MIXO-2 version has a little damage in terms of the mobile speed support. In this case, the Dy value may be set to 4, 8, or 16.

FIG. 101shows a Table in which pilot parameters of another embodiment are defined.

In more detail,FIG. 101shows the pilot parameters according to the guard interval (B) and the vehicle speed.FIG. 101(A)is a table indicating pilot patterns for use in the SISO and MIXO Tx channels,FIG. 101(B)shows the configuration of a pilot pattern for use in the SISO and MIXO Tx channels, andFIG. 101(C)is a table indicating the configuration of a pilot pattern for use in the MIXO Tx channel.

Functions and contents of the pilot parameters shown inFIG. 101are identical to those ofFIG. 100, and as such a detailed description thereof will herein be omitted for convenience of description.

The structure and location of pilots for MIXO (MISO, MIMO) Tx channel estimation may be established through the above-mentioned pilot patterns. The nulling encoding and the Hadamard encoding scheme may be used as the pilot encoding scheme for isolating each Tx channel according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The following Math Figure 21 may be used to indicate the nulling encoding scheme.

The nulling encoding scheme has no channel interference in estimating respective channels, the channel estimation error can be minimized, and an independent channel can be easily estimated in the case of using symbol timing synchronization. However, since the pilot gain must be amplified to derive a channel estimation gain, the influence of Inter Channel Interference (ICI) of contiguous data caused by the pilot based on a time-variant channel is relatively high. In addition, if the pilots to be allocated to individual channels according to the pilot arrangement have different locations, the SNR of effective data may be changed per symbol. The MIXO-1 pilot pattern according to the above-mentioned embodiment may also be effectively used even in the nulling encoding scheme, and a detailed description thereof will hereinafter be described in detail.

The following equation may be used to indicate the nulling encoding scheme.

In case of the Hadamard encoding scheme, the Hadamard encoding scheme can perform channel estimation through simple linear calculation, and can obtain a gain caused by the noise average effect as compared to the nulling encoding scheme. However, the channel estimation error encountered in the process for obtaining an independent channel may unexpectedly affect other channels, and there may occur ambiguity in the symbol timing synchronization using pilots.

The broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention may establish the above-mentioned two encoding schemes described as the MIXO pilot encoding scheme according to the reception (Rx) scenario and the Tx channel condition in response to a predetermined mode. The broadcast signal reception apparatus according to the embodiment may perform channel estimation through a predetermined mode.

FIG. 102shows the SISO pilot pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The pilot pattern shown inFIG. 102indicates the SISO pilot pattern for use in the case in which the pilot density ofFIG. 101is set to 32.

As described above, the pilots may be inserted into a data symbol region of the signal frame. InFIG. 102, a horizontal axis of the pilot pattern may denote a frequency axis, and a vertical axis thereof may denote a time axis. In addition, pilots successively arranged at both ends of the pilot pattern may indicate reference signals that are inserted to compensate for distortion at the edge of a spectrum generated by channel estimation.

In more detail,FIG. 102(A)shows an exemplary pilot pattern denoted by PP4-8,FIG. 102(B)shows an exemplary pilot pattern denoted by PP8-4, andFIG. 102(C)shows an exemplary pilot pattern denoted by PP16-2. In other words, as can be seen fromFIG. 102(A), pilots may be periodically input in units of 4 carriers on the frequency axis, and each pilot may be input in units of 8 symbols on the time axis.FIG. 102(B)andFIG. 102(C)may also illustrate the pilot patterns having been input in the same manner.

The pilot pattern of another pilot density shown inFIG. 101may be denoted by coordination of the Dx and Dy values.

FIG. 103shows the MIXO-1 pilot pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The pilot pattern ofFIG. 103shows the MIXO-1 pilot pattern for use in the case that the pilot density ofFIG. 101is set to 32. The pilot pattern ofFIG. 103is used in the case that two Tx antennas exist.

As described above, a horizontal axis of the pilot pattern may denote a frequency axis, and a vertical axis of the pilot pattern may denote a time axis. The pilots successively arranged at both edges of the pilot pattern may be reference signals that have been inserted to compensate for distortion at a spectrum edge encountered in the channel estimation process.

In more detail, (A) may denote an exemplary case in which the pilot pattern is denoted by PP4-8, (B) may denote an exemplary case in which the pilot pattern is denoted by PP8-4, and (C) may denote an exemplary case in which the pilot pattern is denoted by PP16-2.

In order to discriminate among the individual MIXO Tx channels, pilots transmitted to the respective Tx channels may be arranged contiguous to each other in the frequency domain according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the number of pilots allocated to two Tx channels within one OFDM symbol is set to the same number.

As shown in the drawing, the MIXO-1 pilot pattern according to an embodiment has an advantage in that a data signal is arranged at the next position of a channel estimation pilot even when a reference signal for synchronization estimation is arranged, so that correlation between signals is reduced at the same carrier and the synchronization estimation throughput is not affected by the reduced correlation.

In case of the MIXO-1 pilot pattern according to an embodiment, even when the broadcast signal transmission apparatus performs pilot encoding using the above-mentioned nulling encoding scheme, broadcast signals having the same Tx power can be transmitted to the individual Tx antennas, such that the broadcast signals can be transmitted without additional devices or modules for compensating for variation of Tx signals. That is, in case of using the MIXO-1 pilot pattern according to an embodiment, the MIXO-1 pilot pattern is not affected by the pilot encoding scheme, and pilot power is coordinated by the pilot encoding scheme, such that the channel estimation throughput of the broadcast signal reception apparatus can be maximized.

The pilot pattern of another pilot density shown inFIG. 101may be denoted by coordination of the Dx and Dy values.

FIG. 104shows the MIXO-2 pilot pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The pilot pattern ofFIG. 104shows the MIXO-2 pilot pattern for use in the case that the pilot density ofFIG. 101is set to 32. The pilot pattern ofFIG. 104is used in the case that two Tx antennas exist.

As described above, a horizontal axis of the pilot pattern may denote a frequency axis, and a vertical axis of the pilot pattern may denote a time axis. The pilots successively arranged at both edges of the pilot pattern may be reference signals that have been inserted to compensate for distortion at a spectrum edge encountered in the channel estimation process.

In more detail, (A) may denote an exemplary case in which the pilot pattern is denoted by PP4-16, (B) may denote an exemplary case in which the pilot pattern is denoted by PP8-8, and (C) may denote an exemplary case in which the pilot pattern is denoted by PP16-4.

As described above, the MIXO-2 pilot pattern is designed to cut the supported mobility in half, instead of supporting the same capacity, the same pilot overhead, and the same coverage as those of the SISO Tx channel.

Tx channels are semi-statically used in the reception scenario in which the UHDTV service must be supported so that the serious problem does not occur. The MIXO-2 pilot pattern according to an embodiment can be used to maximize the data Tx efficiency in the reception scenario in which the UHDTV service must be supported.

The pilot pattern of another pilot density shown inFIG. 101may be denoted by coordination of the Dx and Dy values.

FIG. 105illustrates a MIMO encoding block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The MIMO encoding scheme according to an embodiment of the present invention is optimized for broadcasting signal transmission. The MIMO technology is a promising way to get a capacity increase but it depends on channel characteristics. Especially for broadcasting, the strong LOS component of the channel or a difference in the received signal power between two antennas caused by different signal propagation characteristics can make it difficult to get capacity gain from MIMO. The MIMO encoding scheme according to an embodiment of the present invention overcomes this problem using a rotation-based pre-coding and phase randomization of one of the MIMO output signals. MIMO encoding can be intended for a 2×2 MIMO system requiring at least two antennas at both the transmitter and the receiver.

MIMO processing can be required for the advanced profile frame, which means all DPs in the advanced profile frame are processed by the MIMO encoder (or MIMO encoding module). MIMO processing can be applied at DP level. Pairs of the Constellation Mapper outputs NUQ (e1,iand e2,i) can be fed to the input of the MIMO Encoder. Paired MIMO Encoder output (g1,iand g2,i) can be transmitted by the same carrier k and OFDM symbol I of their respective TX antennas.

The illustrated diagram shows the MIMO Encoding block, where i is the index of the cell pair of the same XFECBLOCK and Ncells is the number of cells per one XFECBLOCK.

FIG. 106shows a MIMO encoding scheme according to one embodiment of the present invention.

If MIMO is used, a broadcast/communication system may transmit more data. However, channel capacity of MIMO may be changed according to channel environment. In addition, if Tx and Rx antennas are different in terms of power or if correlation between channel is high, MIMO performance may deteriorate.

If dual polar MIMO is used, two components may reach a receiver at different power ratios according to propagation property of vertical/horizontal polarity. That is, if dual polar MIMO is used, power imbalance may occur between vertical and horizontal antennas. Here, dual polar MIMO may mean MIMO using vertical/horizontal polarity of an antenna.

In addition, correlation between channel components may increase due to LOS environment between Tx and Rx antennas.

The present invention proposes a MIMO encoding/decoding technique for solving problems occurring upon using MIMO, that is, a technique suitable for a correlated channel environment or a power imbalanced channel environment. Here, the correlated channel environment may be an environment in which channel capacity is lowered and system operation is interrupted if MIMO is used.

In particular, in a MIMO encoding scheme, a PH-eSM PI method and a full-rate full-diversity (FRFD) PH-eSM PI method are proposed in addition to an existing PH-eSM method. The proposed methods may be MIMO encoding methods considering complexity of a receiver and a power imbalanced channel environment. These two MIMO encoding schemes have no restriction on the antenna polarity configuration.

The PH-eSM PI method can provide capacity increase with relatively low complexity increase at the receiver side. The PH-eSM PI method may be referred to as a full-rate spatial multiplexing (FR-SM), FR-SM method, a FR-SM encoding process, etc. In the PH-eSM PI method, rotation angle is optimized to overcome power imbalance with complexity of O (M2). In the PH-eSM PI method, it is possible to effectively cope with spatial power imbalance between Tx antennas.

The FRFD PH-eSM PI method can provide capacity increase and additional diversity gain with a relatively great complexity increase at the receiver side. The FRFD PH-eSM PI method may be referred to as a full-rate full-diversity spatial multiplexing (FRFD-SM), an FRFD-SM method, FRFD-SM encoding process, etc. In the FRFD PH-eSM PI method, additional Frequency diversity gain is achieved by adding complexity of O (M4). In the FRFD PH-eSM PI method, unlike the PH-eSM PI method, it is possible to effectively cope not only with power imbalance between Tx antennas and but also with power imbalance between carriers.

In addition, the PH-eSM PI method and the FRFD PH-eSM PI method may be MIMO encoding schemes applied to symbols mapped to non-uniform QAM, respectively. Here, mapping to non-uniform QAM may mean that constellation mapping is performed using non-uniform QAM. Non-uniform QAM may be referred to as NU QAM, NUQ, etc. PH-eSM PI method and FRFD PH-eSM PI method can also be applied to symbols mapped onto either QAM (uniform QAM) or Non-uniform constellation. The MIMO encoding scheme applied to symbols mapped to non-uniform QAM may have better BER performance than the MIMO encoding scheme applied to symbols mapped to QAM (uniform QAM) per code rate in a power imbalanced situation. However, with certain code rate and bit per channel use, applying MIMO encoding to symbols mapped onto QAM performs better.

In addition, the PH-eSM method may also be applied to non-uniform QAM. Therefore, the present invention further proposes a PH-eSM method applied to symbols mapped to non-uniform QAM.

Hereinafter, constellation mapping will be described.

This constellation mapping is applied only for DPs. The constellation mapping for PLS1and PLS2can be different.

QAM-16 and NUQs are square shaped, while NUCs have arbitrary shape. When each constellation is rotated by any multiple of 90 degrees, the rotated constellation overlaps with its original one. This ‘rotation-sense’ symmetric property makes the capacities and the average powers of the real and imaginary components equal to each other. Both NUQs and NUCs are defined specifically for each code rate and the particular one used is signaled by the parameter DP_MOD in PLS2. The constellation shapes for each code rate mapped onto the complex plane will be described below. Hereinafter, the PH-eSM method and the PH-eSM PI method will be described. A MIMO encoding equation used for the PH-eSM method and the PH-eSM PI method is expressed as follows.

That is, the above equation may be expressed as X=PS. Here, S1and S2may denote a pair of input symbols. Here, P may denote a MIMO encoding matrix. Here, X1and X2may denote paired MIMO encoder outputs subjected to MIMO encoding.

In the above equation, ejφ(q)may be expressed as follows.

According to another embodiment, the MIMO encoding equation used for the PH-eSM method and the PH-eSM PI method may be expressed as follows.

The PH-eSM PI method can include two steps. The first step can be multiplying the rotation matrix with the pair of the input symbols for the two TX antenna paths, and the second step can be applying complex phase rotation to the symbols for TX antenna2.

The signals X1and X2to be transmitted may be generated using two transmitted symbols (e.g., QAM symbols) S1and S2. In case of a transmission and reception system using OFDM, X1(f1), X2(f2) may be carried on a frequency carrier f1to be transmitted. X1may be transmitted via a Tx antenna1and X2may be transmitted via a Tx antenna2. Accordingly, even when power imbalance is present between two Tx antennas, efficient transmission with minimum loss is possible.

At this time, if the PH-eSM method is applied to symbols mapped to QAM, a value a may be determined according to QAM order as follows. This may be a value a when the PH-eSM method is applied to symbols mapped to uniform QAM.

At this time, if the PH-eSM PI method is applied to symbols mapped to QAM, a value a may be determined according to QAM order as follows. This may be a value a when the PH-eSM PI method is applied to symbols mapped to QAM (uniform QAM).

At this time, the value a may enable a broadcast/transmission system to obtain good BER performance when considering Euclidean distance and Hamming distance if X1and X2are received through a fully correlated channel and are decoded. In addition, the value a may enable the broadcast/communication system to obtain good BER performance when considering Euclidean distance and Hamming distance if X1and X2are independently decoded at the receiver side (that is, if S1and S2are decoded using X1and S1and S2are decoded using X2).

The PH-eSM PI method is different from the PH-eSM method in that the value a is optimized in a power imbalanced situation. That is, in the PH-eSM PI method, a rotation angle value is optimized in a power imbalance situation. In particular, when the PH-ESM PI method is applied to symbols mapped to non-uniform QAM, the value a may be optimized as compared to the PH-eSM method.

The above-described value a is merely exemplary and may be changed according to embodiment.

The receiver used for the PH-eSM method and the PH-eSM PI method may decode a signal using the above-described MOMI encoding equation. At this time, the receiver may decode a signal using ML, Sub-ML (Sphere) decoding, etc.

Hereinafter, an FRFD PH-eSM PI method will be described. The MIMO encoding equation used for the FRFD PH-eSM PI method is as follows.

By using two antennas X1and X2, it is possible to obtain spatial diversity. In addition, by utilizing two frequencies f1and f2, it is possible to obtain frequency diversity.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a MIMO encoding scheme used for the FRFD PH-eSM PI method may be expressed as follows.

The FRFD PH-eSM PI method can take two pairs of NUQ symbols (or Uniform QAM symbols or NUC symbols) as input to provide two pairs of MIMO output symbols.

The FRFD PH-eSM PI method requires more decoding complexity of a receiver but may have better performance. According to the FRFD PH-eSM PI method, a transmitter generates signals X1(f1), X2(f1), X1(f2) and X2(f2) to be transmitted using four transmit symbols S1, S2, S3, S4. At this time, the value a may be equal to the value a used for the above-described PH-eSM PI method. This may be a value a when the FRFD PH-eSM method is applied to symbols mapped to QAM (uniform QAM).

The MIMO encoding equation of the FRFD PH-eSM PI method may use frequency carriers f1and f2unlike the MIMO encoding equation of the above-described PH-eSM PI method. Therefore, the FRFD PH-eSM PI method may efficiently cope not only with power imbalance between Tx antennas but also with power imbalance between carriers.

In association with MIMO encoding, a structure for additionally obtaining frequency diversity may include Golden code, etc. The FRFD PH-eSM PI method according to the present invention can obtain frequency diversity with complexity lower than that of Golden code.

FIG. 107is a diagram showing a PAM grid of an I or Q side according to non-uniform QAM according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The above-described PH-eSM PI and FRFD PH-eSM PI methods are applicable to symbols mapped to non-uniform QAM. Non-uniform QAM is a modulation scheme which obtains higher capacity by adjusting a PAM grid value per SNR unlike QAM (uniform QAM). It is possible to obtain more gain by applying MIMO to symbols mapped to non-uniform QAM. In this case, the encoding equations of the PH-eSM PI and FRFD PH-eSM PI methods are not changed but a new value “a” may be necessary when the PH-eSM PI and FRFD PH-eSM PI methods are applied to symbols mapped to non-uniform QAM. This new value “a” may be obtained using the following equation.

This new value “a” may be a value a when the PH-eSM PI and FRFD PH-eSM PI methods are applied to symbols mapped to non-uniform QAM.

As shown in this figure, the PAM grid of the I or Q side used for non-uniform QAM is defined and the new value “a” may be obtained using a largest value Pmand a second largest value Pm-1of this grid. A signal transmitted via the Tx antenna may be suitably decoded using this new value “a” alone.

In the equation for generating the new value “a”, b denotes a sub-constellation separation factor. By adjusting the value b, a distance between sub-constellations present in a MIMO encoded signal may be adjusted. In case of non-uniform AM, since a distance between constellations (or a distance between sub-constellations) is changed, a variable b may be necessary. Examples of the value b may include

22.
This value may be obtained by Hamming distance and Euclidean distance based on a point having highest power on a constellation and points adjacent thereto.

In case of non-uniform QAM, since a grid value optimized per SNR (or code-rate of FEC) is used, the sub-constellation separation factor “b” may also use a value optimized per SNR (or code-rate of FEC). That is, capacity of constellation transmitted after MIMO encoding may be analyzed according to the value “b” and the SNR (or code-rate of FEC) to find the value “B” for providing maximum capacity at a specific SNR (target SNR).

For example, if NU-16 QAM+NU-16 QAM MIMO and P={1, 3.7}, the new value “a” may be computed by

a=22⁢(3.7-1)+3.7.
At this time, the value b is set to

For example, NU-64 QAM+NU-64 QAM MIMO and P={1, 3.27, 5.93, 10.27}, the new value “a” may be computed by

a=22⁢(10.27-5.93)+10.27.
At this time, the value b is set to

a=22⁢(11.385-8.48014)+11.385.
At this time, the value b is set to

As described above, the PH-eSM PI and FRFD PH-eSM PI methods may be applied to symbols mapped to non-uniform QAM. Similarly, the PH-eSM method may also be applied to symbols mapped to non-uniform QAM. In this case, the value “a” may be determined according to the PH-eSM method. An equation for determining the value “a” is as follows.

This new value “a” may be a value a when the PH-eSM method is applied to symbols mapped to non-uniform QAM.

b is a sub-constellation separation factor as described above. As described above, the value “b” may be optimized to suit each SNR (or code-rate of FEC) by analyzing capacity of the encoded constellation.

For example, if NU-16 QAM+NU-16 QAM MIMO and P={1, 3.7}, the new value “a” may be computed by

a=22⁢(3.7-1)+3.7+122⁢(3.7-1)+3.7-1.
At this time, the value b is set to

For example, if NU-64 QAM+NU-64 QAM MIMO and P={1, 3.27, 5.93, 10.27}, the new value “a” may be computed by

a=22⁢(10.27-5.93)+10.27+122⁢(10.27-5.93)+10.27-1.
At this time, the value b is set to

a=22⁢(11.385-8.48014)+11.385+122⁢(11.385-8.48014)+11.385-1.
At this time, the value b is set to

Hereinafter, a method of determining NU-QAN and MIMO encoding parameter “a” in the MIMO encoding method (the PH-eSM PI method and the FRFD PH-eSM PI method) applied to symbols mapped to NU-QAM optimized per SNR (or code-rate of FEC) will be described.

In order to apply the PH-eSM PI method and the FRFD PH-eSM PI method to symbols mapped to NU-QAM per SNR (or code-rate of FEC), the following two elements should be considered. First, in order to obtain shaping gain, NU-QAM optimized per SNR should be found. Second, the MIMO encoding parameter “a” should be determined in each NU-QAM optimized per SNR.

The MIMO encoding scheme (the PH-eSM PI method and the FRFD PH-eSM PI method), NU-QAM and MIMO encoding parameter suitable for each SNR may be determined through capacity analysis as follows. Here, capacity may mean BICM capacity. The process of determining a NU-QAM and MIMO encoding parameter suitable for each SNR may be performed in consideration of correlated channel and power imbalanced channel.

If computation for capacity analysis at MIMO channel is acceptable, it is possible to determine NU-QAM for optimized MIMO, which provides maximum capacity at a target SNR.

If computation is not acceptable, NU-QAM for MIMO may be determined using NU-QAM optimized for SISO. First, with respect to NU-QAM optimized for SISO per SNR (or code-rate of FEC), BER performance comparison may be performed in a non-power imbalanced MIMO channel environment. Through BER performance comparison, NU-QAM for MIMO may be determined from NU-QAM (FEC code rate 5/15, 6/15, . . . . 13/15) optimized for SISO. For example, constellation for MIMO at code-rate 5/15 of 12 bpcu (NU-64QAM+NU-64QAM) may be set to NU-64QAM corresponding to SISO code-rate 5/15. In addition, for example, constellation of MIMO FEC code rate 6/15 may be constellation of SISO FEC code rate 5/15. That is, constellation of SISO FEC code rate 5/15 may suitable for MIMO FEC code rate 6/15.

Once NU-QAM is determined, the MIMO encoding parameter “a” optimized per SNR may be determined at a power imbalanced MIMO channel through capacity analysis based on the determined NU-QAM. For example, in the 12 bpcu and 5/15 code rate environment, the value a may be 0.1571.

Hereinafter, measurement for performance of MIMO encoding according to the value a will be described. For performance measurement, BICM capacity may be measured. Through this operation, the value a capable of maximizing BICM capacity is determined.

BICM capacity may be expressed by the following equations.

Here, Y may be expressed as follows.

That is, Y=HPIX+n. Here, n may be AWGN. X may be expressed by X=PS as described above. BICM capacity may assume AWGN and individually identically distributed (IID) input. In addition, φ may mean a uniform random variable U(0, π). In order to consider a correlated channel environment and a power imbalanced channel environment which may occur upon using MIMO, HPIof the above-described equation may be assumed. At this time, an alpha value is a power imbalance (PI) factor and may be PI 9 dB: 0.354817, PI 6 dB: 0.501187 or PI 3 dB: 0.70711 according to PI. Here, Mjε{constellation set|bi=j}.

Through this equation, BICM capacity according to the value a may be measured to determine an optimal value a.

That is, the method for determining the MIMO encoding parameter may include two steps as follows.

Step 1. Through BER performance comparison for constellation of SISO FEC code rate, NU-QAM having optimal performance of MIMO FEC code-rate to be found is selected.

Step 2. Based on NU-QAM obtained in Step 1, an encoding parameter “a” having optimal performance may be determined through the above-described BICM capacity analysis.

The value a according to constellation per code rate is shown in the following table. This is merely an example of the value a according to the present invention.

The PH-eSM PI method can be applied for 8 bpcu and 12 bpcu with 16K and 64K FECBLOCK. PH-eSM PI method can use the MIMO encoding parameters defined in the above table for each combination of a value of bits per channel use and code rate of an FECBLOCK. Detailed constellations corresponding to the illustrated MIMO parameter table are described below.

The above table shows constellation and MIMO encoding parameter a optimized per code rate. For example, in case of 12 bpcu and code rate of 6/15 of MIMO encoding, constellation of NUQ-64 which is used in case of code rate of 5/15 of SISO encoding may be used. That is, in case of 12 bpcu and code rate of 6/15 of MIMO encoding, constellation of code rate of 5/15 of SISO encoding may be an optimal value. At this time, the value “a” may be 0.1396.

For the 10 bpcu MIMO case; PH-eSM PI method can use the MIMO encoding parameters defined in the above table. These parameters are especially useful when there is a power imbalance between horizontal and vertical transmission (e.g. 6 dB in current U.S. Elliptical pole network). The QAM-16 can be used for the TX antenna of which the transmission power is deliberately attenuated. Detailed constellations corresponding to the illustrated MIMO parameter table are described below.

The FRFD PH-eSM PI method can use the MIMO encoding parameters of the PH-eSM PI method defined in the above tables for each combination of a value of bit per channel use and code rate of an FECBLOCK.

The values “a” of the above table may be determined in consideration of Euclidean distance and Hamming distance and are optimal in code rate and constellation. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain excellent BER performance.

FIG. 108is a diagram showing MIMO encoding input/output when the PH-eSM PI method is applied to symbols mapped to non-uniform 64 QAM according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Even when the FRFD PH-eSM PI according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied to symbols mapped to non-uniform QAM, an input/output diagram similar to this figure may be obtained. If the above-described new value “a” and the encoding matrix of the MIMO encoding equation are used, the constellation shown in this figure may be obtained by the MIMO encoder input and output.

In the MIMO encoder output of this figure, sub-constellations may be located. At this time, a distance between sub-constellations may be determined by the above-described sub-constellation separation factor “b”. The MIMO encoded constellations may maintain a non-uniform property.

FIG. 109is a graph for comparison in performance of MIMO encoding schemes according to the embodiment of the present invention.

This graph shows comparison in capacity between MIMO encoding schemes in an 8-bpcu/outdoor environment. The PH-eSM PI and FRFD PH-eSM PI methods of the present invention exhibit better performance than an existing MIMO encoding scheme (GC, etc.) in terms of capacity. This means that more efficient transmission is possible in the same environment as compared with other MIMO techniques.

FIG. 110is a graph for comparison in performance of MIMO encoding schemes according to the embodiment of the present invention.

This graph shows comparison in capacity according to MIMO encoding schemes in an 8-bpcu/outdoor/HPI9 environment. The PH-eSM PI and FRFD PH-eSM PI methods of the present invention exhibits better performance than an existing MIMO encoding scheme (SM, GC, PH-eSM, etc.) in terms of capacity. This means that more efficient transmission is possible in the same environment as compared with other MIMO techniques.

FIG. 111is a graph for comparison in performance of MIMO encoding schemes according to the embodiment of the present invention.

This graph shows comparison in BER according to MIMO encoding schemes in an 8-bpcu/outdoor/random BI, TI environment. The PH-eSM PI and FRFD PH-eSM PI methods of the present invention exhibits better performance than an existing MIMO encoding scheme (GC, etc.) in terms of BER. This means that more efficient transmission is possible in the same environment as compared with other MIMO techniques.

FIG. 112is a graph for comparison in performance of MIMO encoding schemes according to the embodiment of the present invention.

This graph shows comparison in BER according to MIMO encoding schemes in an 8-bpcu/outdoor/HPI9/random BI, TI environment. BER Performance of the PH-eSM PI and FRFD PH-eSM PI methods of the present invention is better than that of existing MIMO encoding (SM, GC, PH-eSM, etc.) in terms of capacity. This means that more efficient transmission is possible in the same environment as compared other MIMO techniques.

FIG. 113is a diagram showing an embodiment of QAM-16 according to the present invention.

This figure shows a constellation shape of QAM-16 on a complex plane. This figure shows the constellation shape of QAM-16 for all code rates.

FIG. 114is a diagram showing an embodiment of NUQ-64 for 5/15 code rate according to the present invention.

This figure shows the constellation shape of QAM-64 for 5/15 code rate on a complex plane.

FIG. 115is a diagram showing an embodiment of NUQ-64 for 6/15 code rate according to the present invention.

This figure shows the constellation shape of QAM-64 for 6/15 code rate on a complex plane.

FIG. 116is a diagram showing an embodiment of NUQ-64 for 7/15 code rate according to the present invention.

This figure shows the constellation shape of QAM-64 for 7/15 code rate on a complex plane.

FIG. 117is a diagram showing an embodiment of NUQ-64 for 8/15 code rate according to the present invention.

This figure shows the constellation shape of QAM-64 for 8/15 code rate on a complex plane.

FIG. 118is a diagram showing an embodiment of NUQ-64 for 9/15 and 10/15 code rates according to the present invention.

This figure shows the constellation shape of QAM-64 for 9/15 and 10/15 code rates on a complex plane.

FIG. 119is a diagram showing an embodiment of NUQ-64 for 11/15 code rate according to the present invention.

This figure shows the constellation shape of QAM-64 for 11/15 code rate on a complex plane.

FIG. 120is a diagram showing an embodiment of NUQ-64 for 12/15 code rate according to the present invention.

This figure shows the constellation shape of QAM-64 for 12/15 code rate on a complex plane.

FIG. 121is a diagram showing an embodiment of NUQ-64 for 13/15 code rate according to the present invention.

This figure shows the constellation shape of QAM-64 for 13/15 code rate on a complex plane.

FIG. 122is a view illustrating a null packet deletion block16000according to another embodiment of the present invention.

An upper part ofFIG. 122is a view illustrating another embodiment of the mode adaptation module of the input formatting module described above in relation toFIG. 3, and a lower part ofFIG. 122is a view illustrating specific blocks of the null packet deletion block16000included in the mode adaptation module.

As described above, the mode adaptation module of the input formatting module for processing multiple input streams may independently process the input streams.

As illustrated inFIG. 122, the mode adaptation module for processing each of the multiple input streams may include a pre-processing block (splitter), input interface blocks, input stream synchronizer blocks, compensating delay blocks, header compression blocks, null data reuse blocks, null packet deletion blocks, and BB frame header insertion blocks. Operations of the input interface blocks, the input stream synchronizer blocks, the compensating delay blocks and the BB frame header insertion blocks are the same as those described above in relation toFIG. 3and thus detailed descriptions thereof are omitted here.

The pre-processing block may split the input TS, IP, GS streams into multiple service or service component (audio, video, etc.) streams. In addition, the header compression block may compress a header of an input signal based on a header compression mode. The null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may delete input null packets and insert information about the number of deleted null packets based on positions thereof, before transmission. Some TS input streams or split TS streams may have a large number of null-packets present in order to accommodate VBR (variable bit-rate) services in a CBR TS stream. In this case, in order to avoid unnecessary transmission overhead, null-packets can be identified and not transmitted. In the receiver, removed null-packets can be re-inserted in the exact place where they were originally by reference to a deleted DNP field that is inserted in the transmission, thus guaranteeing constant bit-rate and avoiding the need for time-stamp (PCR) updating.

As illustrated in the lower part ofFIG. 122, the null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a PCR packet check block16100, a PCR region check block16200, a null packet detection block16300and a null packet spreading block16400. A description is now given of operation of each block.

The PCR packet check block16100may determine whether input TS packets include a PCR for synchronizing a decoding timing. In the present invention, a TS packet including a PCR may be called a PCR packet.

If the position of a PCR is detected as a result of determination, the PCR packet check block16100may change the positions of null packets without changing the position of the PCR.

The PCR region check block16200may check a TS packet including a PCR packet and determine whether null packets exist within a range of the same cycle (i.e., PCR region). In the present invention, a period for determining whether a PCR is included may be called a null packet position reconfigurable region.

The null packet detection block16300may check null packets included between input TS packets.

The null packet spreading block16400may spread null packets within PCR region information output from the PCR region check block16200.

The present invention proposes a method for collecting null packets and a method for distributing null packets as examples of a method for changing the positions of null packets.

FIG. 123is a view illustrating a null packet insertion block17000according to another embodiment of the present invention.

An upper part ofFIG. 123is a view illustrating another embodiment of the output processor described above in relation toFIG. 13, and a lower part ofFIG. 123is a view illustrating specific blocks of the null packet insertion block17000included in the output processor.

The output processor illustrated inFIG. 123may perform a reverse procedure of the operation performed by the mode adaptation module described above in relation toFIG. 122.

As illustrated inFIG. 123, the output processor according to an embodiment of the present invention may include BB frame header parser blocks, null packet insertion blocks, null data regenerator blocks, header de-compression blocks, de-jitter buffer blocks, a TS clock regeneration block and a TS recombining block. Operations of the blocks correspond to reverse procedures of those of the blocks ofFIG. 122and thus detailed descriptions thereof are omitted here.

The null packet insertion block17000illustrated in the lower part ofFIG. 123may perform a reverse procedure of the above-described operation performed by the null packet deletion block16000ofFIG. 122.

As illustrated inFIG. 123, the null packet insertion block17000may include a DNP check block17100, a null packet insertion block17200and a null packet generator block17300.

The DNP check block17100may check DNP and acquire information about the number of deleted null packets. The null packet insertion block17200may receive the information about the number of deleted null packets output from the DNP check block17100and insert the deleted null packets. In this case, the null packets to be inserted may be previously generated by the null packet generator block17300.

FIG. 124is a view illustrating a null packet spreading method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 124(a)illustrates TS packets before the null packet spreading method is used, andFIG. 124(b)illustrates TS packets after the null packet spreading method is used.

FIG. 124(c)illustrates Math Figures which express DNP1and DNP2based on the null packet spreading method.

As illustrated inFIG. 124(a), the null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may determine whether input TS packets include a PCR for synchronizing a decoding timing. That is, if null packet position reconfigurable region information is acquired, a broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may count a total number of null packets (NNP) included in a corresponding period and a total number of data packets (NTSP) to be transmitted. As illustrated inFIG. 124(a), the total number of data packets is 8 and the total number of null packets corresponds to 958. AVRnP refers to an average number of null packets spreadable between the data packets within the corresponding period. As illustrated inFIG. 124(a), AVRnP of the corresponding period is 119.75.

After that, the null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may spread null packets within output PCR region information. That is, if null packets are deleted, DNP indicating the number of null packets is inserted to a position from which the null packets are deleted. The broadcast signal transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform null packet spreading by calculating DNP1and DNP2.FIG. 124(b)illustrates null packets spread based on DNP1and DNP2. DNP1may be calculated using DNP values inserted to correspond to 1 to NTSP−1 TS packets and the total number of data packets (NTSP) to be transmitted, based on the Math Figure illustrated inFIG. 124(c). DNP1may have an integer value of the above-described average number of null packets.

In addition, DNP2may be calculated as a remainder not processed by DNP1, based on the Math Figure illustrated inFIG. 124(c). DNP2may have a value greater than or equal to the value of DNP1and may be inserted before the last TS packet or at the end of the null packet position reconfigurable region.

The null packet spreading method illustrated inFIG. 124may be more effective to solve the above-described problem in a case when the maximum DNP value for null packets generated due to TS packet splitting exceeds 300.

FIG. 125is a view illustrating a null packet offset method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

If the number of null packets is excessively large, the number can exceed the maximum DNP value even when the null packet spreading method described above in relation toFIG. 124is used.

That is, when an input TS stream is split as illustrated inFIG. 125(a), multiple null packets may be generated. Specifically, in a case when multiple TS streams are combined into a big TS stream, when a single TS stream is split based on component levels, or when and a big TS stream is split into video packets and audio packets as in UD service, null packets may be periodically inserted. TS input streams or split TS streams having consecutive TS packets and deleted null packets may be mapped into a payload of BB frame. The BB frame includes a BB frame header and the payload.

In this case, as described above, if the number of null packets is large as illustrated inFIG. 125(b), the value of DNP can be equal to or greater than 290 in some cases.

Accordingly, as illustrated inFIG. 125(c), the null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may determine TS packets to be inserted into the payload of the BB frame and determine the most basic DNP value as DNP-offset.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, DNP-offset is the minimum number of DNPs belonging to the same BBF. DNP-offset can be transmitted through the BB frame header. As such, the number of DNPs inserted in front of a TS packet may be reduced to implement efficient TS packet transmission, and a larger number of null packets may be deleted.

Accordingly, as illustrated inFIG. 125(c), the value of DNP-offset is 115, and the first DNP has a value of 0 while the second DNP has a value of 175 obtained by subtracting 115 from an original value 290. The same principle can also be applied sequentially to the other DNPs.

FIG. 126is a flowchart illustrating a null packet spreading method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may parse input TS packets for analysis (S20000). In this case, the null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may parse the TS packets in units of the above-described null packet position reconfigurable region.

After that, the null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may determine whether PCR information exists in a corresponding null packet position reconfigurable region (S20100). In this case, the null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may determine the presence of PCR information by checking a PCR flag of an adaptation field in a header of an input TS packet.

If a PCR value exists as a result of determination, the null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may initialize a counter and related values for null packet spreading (S20200), and count the number of input data TS packets and the number of null packets (S20300). After that, the null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may determine whether a PCR packet exists (S20400). If a PCR value is not present as a result of determination, the null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may continue to count the number of null packets and the number of data TS packets (S20300).

If a PCR value exists as a result of determination, the null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform null packet spreading (S20500). In this case, the null packet deletion block16000according to an embodiment of the present invention may calculate the above-described DNP1and DNP2values, and may use the above-described null packet offset method if a corresponding value exceeds the maximum DNP value.

FIG. 127shows a parity check matrix of a QC-IRA (quasi-cyclic irregular repeat accumulate) LDPC code.

The above-described LDPC encoder may encode a parity of an LDPC encoding block using the parity check matrix.

The parity check matrix according to the present invention is a parity check matrix of the QC-IRA LDPC code and may have the form of a quasi-cyclic matrix called an H matrix and be represented as Hqc.

(a) shows a parity check matrix according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in (a), the parity check matrix is a matrix having a horizontal size of Q×(K+M) and a vertical size of Q×M and may include an information part and a parity part. The information part may include a matrix having a horizontal size of Q×K and a vertical size of Q×M and the parity part may include a matrix having a horizontal size of Q×M and a vertical size of Q×M. In this case, an LDPC code rate corresponds to K/(K+M).

The parity check matrix according to an embodiment of the present invention may include randomly distributed 1s and 0s and 1 may be referred to as an “edge”. The position of 1 in the parity check matrix, that is, the position of each edge may be represented in the form of a circulant shifted identity matrix per submatrix having a horizontal size of Q and a vertical size of Q. That is, a submatrix can be represented as a Q×Q circulant-shifted identity matrix including only 1 and 0. Specifically, the submatrix according to an embodiment of the present invention is represented as identity matrices Ixincluding I0, I1, I2, {hacek over ( )}I1. . . , which have different positions of 1s according to the number of circulant shifts. The number of submatrices according to an embodiment of the present invention may be (K+M)×M.

(b) shows the circulant-shifted identity matrices Ixwhich represent submatrices according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The subscript x of Ixindicates the number of left-circulant shifts of columns of a circulant-shifted identity matrix. That is, I1represents an identify matrix in which columns are circulant-shifted to the left once and I2represents an identity matrix in which columns are circulant-shifted to the left twice. IQwhich is an identity matrix circulant-shifted Q times corresponding to the total number of columns, Q, may be the same matrix as I0due to circulant characteristic thereof.

I0+2represents a submatrix corresponding to a combination of two circulant-shifted identity matrices. In this case, the submatrix corresponds to a combination of the identity matrix I0and an identity matrix circulant-shifted twice.

{hacek over ( )}I1represents a circulant-shifted identity matrix in which the edge of the last column of the corresponding submatrix, that is, 1 has been removed while corresponding to the submatrix I1.

The parity part of the parity check matrix of the QC-IRA LDPC code may include only submatrices I0and {hacek over ( )}I1and the position of submatrices I0may be fixed. As shown in (a), submatrices I0may be distributed in a diagonal direction in the parity part.

An edge in the parity check matrix represents that the corresponding row (checksum node) and the corresponding column (variable node) are physically connected. In this case, the number of 1s included in each column (variable node) may be referred to as a degree and columns may have the same degree or different degrees. Accordingly, the number, positions and value x of identity matrices Ixthat represent edges grouped per submatrix are important factors in determining QC-IRA LDPC encoding performance and unique values may be determined per code rate.

(c) shows a base matrix of the parity check matrix according to an embodiment of the present invention. The base matrix represents only the number and positions of identity matrices Ixas specific numbers, ignoring the value x of Ix. As shown in (c), a base matrix may have a horizontal size of K+M and a vertical size of M and be represented as Hbase. When Ixis not a matrix corresponding to a combination of submatrices, the position of the corresponding submatrix may be represented as 1. When a submatrix is represented as I0+2, this submatrix is a matrix corresponding to a combination of two circulant-shifted identity matrices and thus the submatrix needs to be discriminated from a submatrix represented as one circulant-shifted identity matrix. In this case, the position of the submatrix may be represented as 2 which is the number of the combined circulant-shifted identity matrices. In the same manner, the position of a submatrix corresponding to a combination of N circulant-shifted identity matrices can be represented as N.

FIG. 128shows a process of encoding the QC-IRA LDPC code according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The QC-IRA LDPC code may be encoded per submatrix, distinguished from conventional sequential encoding, to reduce processing complexity.

(a) shows arrangement of a QC-IRA parity check matrix in a QC form. The QC-IRA parity check matrix may be divided into 6 regions A, B, C, D, E and T when arranged in the QC form. When a Q×K information vector s, a parity vector p1having a length of Q and a parity vector p2having a length of Q×(M−1) are used, a codeword x can be represented as x={s, p1, p2}.

When the efficient encoding equation of Richardson is used, the codeword x can be obtained by directly acquiring p1and p2from the parity check matrix arranged in the QC form. The efficient encoding equation of Richardson is as follows.
φ=−ET−1B+D
p1T=−φ−1(−ET−1A+C)sT
p2T=−T−1(AsT+Bp1T)  [Math Figure 36]

(b) shows matrices φ and φ−1derived according to the efficient encoding equation.

As shown in (b), φ−1can be represented as a left low triangular (sub) matrix. The parity vector p2can be obtained by calculating s and p1according to the above-described equation. When the QC-IRA parity check matrix is encoded according to the efficient encoding equation of Richardson, at least Q parity nodes can be simultaneously processed in parallel according to characteristics of a Q×Q submatrix.

FIGS. 129 to 132illustrate a process of sequentially encoding the QC-IRA LDPC code according to an embodiment of the present invention. This sequentially encoding may correspond to the above mentioned LDPC encoding.

FIG. 129illustrates a parity check matrix permutation process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(a) shows a QC-IRA LDPC parity check matrix H1arranged in QC form. As shown in (a), a parity part of the matrix H1may include submatrices distributed in a stepped form, which corresponds to the above-described QC-IRA LDPC parity check matrix. To easily perform sequential encoding, rows and columns of the matrix H1are moved such that the matrix H1is modified into a matrix H2according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(b) shows the modified matrix H2. As shown in (b), a parity part of the matrix H2may include a dual diagonal matrix. In this case, an applied row and column permutation equation is as follows.
ry=(rxmodQ)M+└rx/Q┘ where rx=0, 1, 2, . . . , QM−1
Cγ={((cx−QK)modQ}M+└(cx−QK)/Q┘+QKwhere cx=QK,QK+1, . . . , Q(K+M)−1  [Math Figure 37]

According to the above permutation equation, the rx-th row of the matrix H1can be moved to the ry-th row of the matrix H2and the cx-th column of the matrix H1can be moved to the cy-th column of the matrix H2. In this case, column permutation can be applied only to a parity processing period (QK≦cx≦Q(K+M)−1) and LDPC code characteristics can be maintained even if permutation is applied.

FIG. 130is a table showing addresses of parity check matrix according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The table shown in theFIG. 130represents a parity check matrix (or matrix H) having a codeword length of 16200 and a code rate of 11/15. The table represents addresses of 1 in the parity check matrix. In this case, the table according to an embodiment of the present invention can be referred to as addresses of a parity check matrix.

In the table of (a), i indicates the blocks generated when the length of the matrix H or codeword by the length of a submatrix. A submatrix according to an embodiment of the present invention is a 360×360 matrix having a codeword length of 16200, and thus the number of blocks can be 45 obtained by dividing 16200 by 360. The each block can be sequentially indicated from 0. Accordingly, i can have a value in the range of 0 to 44. Also, i can indicate information bit corresponding to first column in each block.

(b) shows the positions (or addresses) of 1s (or edges) in the first column in each block.

The matrix H can be represented as H(r,c) using all rows and columns thereof. The following equation 38 is used to derive H(r,c).

In the equation, X(i,j) represents the j-th value of the i-th line in the table. Specifically, x(0,0)=295, x(0,1)=364 and x(1,0)=176, which correspond to the positions of rows having 1 (or addresses of 1) corresponding to i-th line of the matrix H. In this case, maximum values of r and c can be 4319 and 16199, respectively.

The performance of the LDPC code may depend on distribution of degrees of nodes of the parity check matrix, the girth according to the positions of 1s or edges of the parity check matrix, cycle characteristic, connection between check nodes and variable nodes, etc. The matrix H shown optimizes node degree distribution in the case of the codeword of 16200, Q=360 and code rate=11/15 and optimizes the positions of is or edges under the condition of optimized degree distribution, Q and code rate.

The matrix H configured according to the table has the above-described QC-IRA LDPC structure. Hqccan be obtained using H(r,c) derived using the equation and a base matrix Hbasecan be derived from Hqc.

In addition, the matrix H according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a matrix H in a different from, which has the same degree distribution as the lengths of x(i) (or degrees of corresponding variable nodes) of the table shown inFIG. 130. Furthermore, when a transmitter performs encoding using the corresponding matrix H, the above-described efficient encoding for QC-IRA LDPC can be employed.

Accordingly, a transmitting side can implement an encoder having high encoding performance, low complexity and high throughput and a receiving side can perform parallel decoding up to 360 level using Q and effectively design a receiver with high throughput using the proposed matrix H.

The following table shows degree distribution.

TABLE 7Variable node degree1232(# of variable node)/Q72612

When i is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the numbers of 1s in the 0-th block to 6th block are all 12. Accordingly, when the variable node degree is 12, the number of blocks having the same degree is represented as 7. When i corresponds to 33 to 44, the numbers of 1s in the thirty-third to forty-fourth block are 2. Accordingly, when the variable node degree is 2, the number of blocks having the same degree is 12. As described above, since the parity part of the matrix H includes only submatrices represented as I0diagonally distributed in a stepped form, the variable node degree is always 2. Hence, blocks having a variable node degree of 2 can be regarded as blocks corresponding to the parity part. The number of actual variable nodes corresponding to each variable node degree can be obtained by multiplying the number of blocks shown in the table by Q of the submatrix.

FIG. 131is a table showing addresses of parity check matrix according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The table shown inFIG. 131shows the matrix H2obtained by modifying the matrix H1.

In sequential encoding, edges used in a parity processing period are typically represented by an equation and thus the edges can be omitted from the table. That is, 12 blocks having a degree of 2 corresponding to the parity part are not represented in the table.

Since the property of the matrix is maintained even if the matrix is modified, as described above, node degree characteristic, cycle, girth, connection between check nodes and variable nodes, etc. are maintained. Accordingly, the equal encoding performance can be obtained and sequential encoding can be performed using the matrix H2according to the table.

FIG. 132illustrates a method for sequentially encoding the QC-IRA LDPC code according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the parity check matrix is modified into the matrix H2through the above-described permutation process, sequential encoding can be performed through updating of each parity checksum using information bits of a codeword and checksum updating between parity checksums.

As shown inFIG. 132, the codeword can be represented using QK information bits and QM parity checksums. The information bits can be represented as izaccording to position and parity checksums can be represented as ps.

A parity checksum update process through the information bits can be represented by the following equation 39.

Here, izrepresents a z-th information bit and pwdenotes a parity checksum that needs to be updated using iz. Equation (1) represents that parity checksum pwcorresponding to the w-th row is updated through an XOR operation performed on the z-th information and parity checksum pw. According to equation (2), the position of w is calculated using the above-described table representing the matrix H2. Here, v denotes a number corresponding to each row in the table representing the matrix H2. As described above, a row in the table representing the matrix H2corresponds to the position of a block generated when the length of the matrix H or codeword is divided by the submatrix length. Accordingly, the information processing period shown inFIG. 132is divided by the submatrix length Q and then the numbers of rows corresponding to every Q-th izare read. Upon completion of checksum update using the information bits of the information processing period, checksum update of the parity processing period can be performed. Checksum update of the parity processing period may be represented by the following equation 40.
ps=ps⊕ps−1wheres=1, 2, . . . ,QM−1  [Math Figure 40]

When S is 0, parity checksum corresponds to parity p0and parity values from p1to pQM-1can be sequentially derived through XOR operations performed on the parity values and parity values immediately prior thereto.

FIG. 133illustrates an LDPC decoder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The LDPC decoder700according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a variable node update block710, a check node update block720, a barrel shift block730and a check sum block740. Each block will now be described.

The variable node block710may update each variable node of the matrix H using an input of the LDPC decoder and a message delivered through edges from the check node block.

The check node block720may update a check node of the matrix H using a message transmitted through edges from a variable node. A node update algorithm according to an embodiment of the present invention may include sum product algorithm, belief-propagation algorithm, min-sum algorithm, modified min-sum algorithm, etc. and may be changed according to designer. In addition, since connection between variable nodes and check nodes is represented in the form of a Q×Q circulant identity matrix due to characteristics of QC-IRA LDPC, Q messages between variable nodes and the check node block can be simultaneously processed in parallel. The barrel shift block730may control circulant connection.

The check sum block740is an optional block which hard-decides a decoding message for each variable node update and performs parity checksum operation to reduce the number of decoding iterations necessary for error correction. In this case, the LDPC decoder700according to an embodiment of the present invention can output a final LDPC decoding output through soft decision even if the check sum block740hard-decides the decoding message.

Hereinafter, a frequency interleaving procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The purpose of the block interleaver6200in the present invention, which operates on a single OFDM symbol, is to provide frequency diversity by randomly interleaving data cells received from the frame structure module1200. In order to get maximum interleaving gain in a single signal frame (or frame), a different interleaving-seed is used for every OFDM symbol pair comprised of two sequential OFDM symbols.

The block interleaver6200may interleave cells in a transport block as a unit of a signal frame to acquire additional diversity gain. The block interleaver6200according to an embodiment of the present invention may be referred to as a frequency interleaver, which can be changed according to a designer's intention. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the block interleaver6200may apply different interleaving seeds to at least one OFDM symbol or apply different interleaving seeds to a frame including a plurality of OFDM symbols.

In the present invention, the aforementioned frequency interleaving method may be referred to as random frequency interleaving (random FI).

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the random FI may be applied to a super-frame structure including a plurality of signal frames with a plurality of OFDM symbols.

As described above, a broadcast signal transmitting apparatus or a frequency interleaver therein according to an embodiment of the present invention may apply different interleaving seeds (or interleaving patterns) for at least one OFDM symbol, that is, for each OFDM symbol or each of pair-wise OFDM symbols and perform the random FI, thereby acquiring frequency diversity. In addition, the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may apply different interleaving seed for each respective signal frame and perform the random FI, thereby acquiring additional frequency diversity.

Accordingly, a broadcast transmitting apparatus or a frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may have a ping-pong frequency interleaver structure that perform frequency interleaving in units of one pair of consecutive OFDM symbols (pair-wise OFDM symbol) using two memory banks. Hereinafter, an interleaving operation of the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may be referred to as pair-wise symbol FI (or pair-wise FI) or ping-pong FI (ping-pong interleaving). The aforementioned interleaving operation corresponds to an embodiment of the random FI, which can be changed according to a designer's intention.

Even-indexed pair-wise OFDM symbols and odd pair-wise OFDM symbols may be intermittently interleaved via different FI memory banks. In addition, the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may simultaneously perform reading and writing operations on one pair of consecutive OFDM symbols input to each memory bank using an arbitrary interleaving seed. A detailed operation will be described below.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, as a logical frequency interleaving operation for logically and effectively interleaving all OFDM symbols in a super-frame, an interleaving seed is basically changed in units of one pair of OFDM symbols.

In this case, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the interleaving seed may be generated by an arbitrary random generator or a random generator formed by a combination of various random generators. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, various interleaving seeds may be generated by cyclic-shifting one main interleaving seed in order to effectively change an interleaving seed. In this case, a cyclic-shifting rule may be hierarchically defined in consideration of OFDM symbol and signal frame units. This can be changed according to a designer's intention, which will be described in detail.

A broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform an inverse procedure of the aforementioned random frequency interleaving. In this case, the broadcast signal receiving apparatus or a frequency deinterleaver thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention may not use a ping-pong structure using a double-memory and may perform deinterleaving on consecutive input OFDM symbols via a single-memory. Accordingly, memory use efficiency can be enhanced. In addition, reading and writing operations are still required, which is called as a single-memory deinterleaving operation. Such a deinterleaving scheme is very efficient in a memory-use aspect.

FIG. 134is a view illustrating an operation of a frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 134illustrates the basic operation of the frequency interleaver using two memory banks at the transmitter, which enables a single-memory deinterleaving at the receiver.

As described above, the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform a ping-pong interleaving operation.

Typically, ping-pong interleaving operation is accomplished by means of two memory banks. In the proposed FI operation, two memory banks are for each pair-wise OFDM symbol.

The maximum memory ROM (Read Only Memory) size for interleaving is approximately two times to a maximum FFT size. At a transmit side, the ROM size increase is rather less critical, compared to a receiver side.

As described above, odd pair-wise OFDM symbols and odd pair-wise OFDM symbols may be intermittently interleaved via different FI memory-banks. That is, the second (odd-indexed) pair-wise OFDM symbol is interleaved in the second bank, while the first (even-indexed) pair-wise OFDM symbol is interleaved in the first bank and so on. For each pair-wise OFDM symbol, a single interleaving seed is used. Based on the interleaving seed and reading-writing (or writing-reading) operation, two OFDM symbols are sequentially interleaved.

Reading-writing operations according to an embodiment of the present invention are simultaneously accomplished without a collision. Writing-reading operations according to an embodiment of the present invention are simultaneously accomplished without a collision.

FIG. 134illustrates an operation of the aforementioned frequency interleaver. As illustrated inFIG. 134, the frequency interleaver may include a demux16000, two memory banks, a memory bank-A16100and a memory bank-B16200, and a demux16300.

First, the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform a demultiplexing processing to the input sequential OFDM symbols for the pair-wise OFDM symbol FI. Then the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention performs a reading-writing FI operation in each memory bank A and B with a single interleaving seed. As shown inFIG. 134, two memory banks are used for each OFDM symbol pair. Operationally, the first (even-indexed) OFDM symbol pair is interleaved in memory bank-A, while the second (odd-indexed) OFDM symbol pair is interleaved in memory bank-B and so on, alternating between A and B.

Then the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform a multiplexing processing to ping-pong FI outputs for sequential OFDM symbol transmission.

FIG. 135illustrates a basic switch model for MUX and DEMUX procedures according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 135illustrates simple operations the DEMUX and MUX applied input and output of memory-bank-A/-B in the aforementioned ping-pong FI structure.

The DEMUX and MUX may control the input sequential OFDM symbols to be interleaved, and the output OFDM symbol pair to be transmitted, respectively. Different interleaving seeds are used for every OFDM symbol pair.

Hereinafter, reading-writing operations of frequency interleaving according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

A frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may select or use a single interleaving see and use the interleaving seed in writing and reading operations for the first and second OFDM symbols, respectively. That is, the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may use the one selected arbitrary interleaving seed in an operation of writing a first OFDM symbol of a pair-wise OFDM symbol, and use a second OFDM symbol in a reading operation, thereby achieving effective interleaving. Virtually, it seems like that two different interleaving seeds are applied to two OFDM symbols, respectively.

Details of the reading-writing operation according to an embodiment of the present invention are as follows:

For the first OFDM symbol, the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform random writing into memory (according to an interleaving seed) and perform then linear reading. For the second OFDM symbol, the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform linear writing into memory, (affected by the linear reading operation for the first OFDM symbol), simultaneously. Also, the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform then random reading (according to an interleaving seed).

As described above, the broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may continuously transmit a plurality of frames on the time axis. In the present invention, a set of signal frames transmitted for a predetermined period of time may be referred to as a super-frame. Accordingly, one super-frame may include N signal frames and each signal frame may include a plurality of OFDM symbols.

FIG. 136is a view illustrating a concept of frequency interleaving applied to a single super-frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may change interleaving seed every pair-wise OFDM symbol in a single signal frame (symbol index reset) and change interleaving seed to be used in a single signal frame by every frame (frame index reset). Consequently, the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may change interleaving seed in a super-frame (super-frame index reset).

Accordingly, the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present may logically and effectively interleave all OFDM symbols in a super-frame.

FIG. 137is a view illustrating logical operation mechanism of frequency interleaving applied to a single super-frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 137illustrates logical operation mechanism of a frequency interleaver and related parameter thereof, for effectively changing interleaving seeds to be used the one super-frame described with reference toFIG. 136.

As described above, in the present invention, various interleaving seeds may be effectively generated by cyclic-shifting one main interleaving seed by as much as an arbitrary offset. As illustrated inFIG. 137, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned offset may be differently generated for each frame and each of pair-wise OFDM symbol to generate different interleaving seeds. Hereinafter, the logical operation mechanism will be described.

As illustrated in a lower block ofFIG. 137, a frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may randomly generate a frame offset for each signal frame using an input frame index. The frame offset according to an embodiment of the present invention may be generated by a frame offset generator included in a frequency interleaver. In this case, when super-frame index is reset, a frame offset applied to each frame is generated for each signal frame in each super-frame identified according to a super-frame index.

As illustrated in a middle block ofFIG. 137, a frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may randomly generate a symbol offset to be applied to each OFDM symbol included in each signal frame using an input symbol index. The symbol offset according to an embodiment of the present invention may be generated by a symbol offset generator included in a frequency interleaver. In this case, when a frame index is reset, a symbol offset for each symbol is generated for symbols in each signal frame identified according to a frame index. In addition, the frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may generate various interleaving seeds by cyclic-shifting a main interleaving seed on each OFDM symbol by as much as a symbol offset.

Then, as illustrated in an upper block ofFIG. 137, a frequency interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform random FI on cells included in each OFDM symbol using an input cell index. A random FI parameter according to an embodiment of the present invention may be generated by a random FI generator included in the frequency interleaver.

FIG. 138illustrates math figures of logical operation mechanism of frequency interleaving applied to a single super-frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In detail,FIG. 138illustrates a correlation of the aforementioned frame offset parameter, symbol offset, parameter, and random FI applied to a cell included in each OFDM. As illustrated inFIG. 138, an offset to be used in an OFDM symbol may be generated through a hierarchical structure of the aforementioned frame offset generator and the aforementioned symbol offset generator. In this case, the frame offset generator and the symbol offset generator may be designed using a arbitrary random generator.

FIG. 139illustrates an operation of a memory bank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, two memory banks according to an embodiment of the present invention may apply an arbitrary interleaving seed generated via the aforementioned procedure to each pair-wise OFDM symbol. In addition, each memory bank may change interleaving seed every pair-wise OFDM symbol.

FIG. 140illustrates a frequency deinterleaving procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform an inverse procedure of the aforementioned frequency interleaving procedure.FIG. 140illustrates single-memory deinterleaving (FDI) for input sequential OFDM symbols.

Basically, frequency deinterleaving operation follows to the inverse processing of frequency interleaving operation. For a single-memory use, no further processing is required.

When pair-wise OFDM symbols illustrated in a left portion ofFIG. 140are input, the broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may perform the aforementioned reading and writing operation using a single memory, as illustrated in a right portion ofFIG. 140. In this case, the broadcast signal receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may generate a memory-index and perform frequency deinterleaving (reading and writing) corresponding to an inverse procedure of frequency interleaving (writing and reading) performed by a broadcast signal transmitting apparatus. The benefit is inherently caused by the proposed pair-wise ping-pong interleaving architecture.

FIG. 141illustrates a conventional file format #1.

A file format may refer to a data structure for data transmission in multimedia transmission technology. Data may be transmitted in the file format. In addition, data may be stored in various storage media in the file format.

The file format may include media information and/or boxes. A box may be a data unit including media related meta data. Boxes may form a hierarchical structure. Meta data in boxes may be classified through the hierarchical structure. The file format may have a form suitable for storage/transmission of large-capacity media data according to the hierarchical structure of meta data. In addition, the file format may have a configuration through which a user can easily access media information such as moving to a specific point of media content.

Respective parts of the conventional file format #1will now be described. Boxes included in the conventional file format #1may be referred to as “mandatory boxes”. The mandatory boxes can include information needed for processing file format #2, which will be described later.

A box ‘ftyp’ may contain information about a configuration version of data transmitted in the file format. Here, ‘ftyp’ may refer to file type and compatibility. A decoder may obtain information through which corresponding data can be identified with reference to the box ‘ftyp’.

A box ‘moov’ may be a box including media related information and meta data. The box ‘moov’ may function as a container for all meta data. The box ‘moov’ may be a box of a highest layer from among meta data related boxes. Only one box ‘moov’ may be present in the file format.

A box ‘mvhd’ may include media related information of data transmitted in the file format. That is, the box ‘mvhd’ may contain information such as media creation time, modification time, time scale, duration, etc. of corresponding media information. Here, ‘mvhd’ may refer to a movie header. The box ‘mvhd’ may be a sub-box of the box ‘moov’.

A box ‘trak’ may include access information about media data and a streaming protocol with respect to the data transmitted in the file format. The box ‘trak’ may function as a container for personal track or stream related information.

A box ‘tkhd’ may contain information related to a corresponding track represented by the box ‘trak’. That is, the box ‘tkhd’ may include information such as creation time, modification time, track ID, etc. of the corresponding track. The box ‘tkhd’ may be a sub-box of the box ‘trak’.

A box ‘mdia’ may function as a container for media data related information. In addition, the box ‘mdia’ may contain media data access related information. The box ‘mdia’ may be a sub-box of the box ‘trak’.

A box ‘mdat’ may refer to actual media data. ‘mdat’ may mean media data and function as a container for the actual media data.

FIG. 142illustrates a conventional file format #2.

The conventional file format #2may be a file format modified to be suited to a streaming service. Here, streaming may be provided through various transmission media (RTP, HTTP, RF, etc.). The conventional file format #2may be a file format for segmenting and transmitting media data.

To use the conventional file format #2at a receiving side, the receiving side needs to receive the conventional file format #1first. Upon completion of reception and analysis of the conventional file format #1, segmented data transmitted through the conventional file format #2can be used.

Respective parts of the conventional file format #2will now be described.

A box ‘styp’ may contain information for identifying data of the segmented file format, that is, the file format #2. Here, ‘styp’ may refer to a segment type. The box ‘styp’ may have the same format as the box ‘ftyp’ of the aforementioned file format #1.

A box ‘moof’ may contain media related information and meta data of data transmitted through the file format #2. The box ‘moof’ may be a highest box from among meta data related boxes of the file format. Here, ‘moof’ may refer to movie fragments.

A box ‘mfhd’ may contain information related to correlation of a plurality of segmented file formats. The box ‘mfhd’ may include sequence numbers and indicate the order of segmented data of the file format using a sequence number. In addition, whether omitted segmented data is present may be recognized using the box ‘mfhd’. The box ‘mfhd’ may be a sub-box of the aforementioned box ‘moof’.

A box ‘traf’ may contain information about a corresponding track fragment. That is, the box ‘traf’ may provide related meta data such that samples in a track can be decoded and reproduced. The box ‘traf’ may be a sub-box of the aforementioned box ‘moof’. Here, ‘traf’ may mean a track fragment.

A box ‘tfhd’ may contain header information of the corresponding track fragment. The box ‘tfhd’ may provide information such as a default sample size, duration, offset, ID, etc. with respect to the samples of the track fragment indicated by the box ‘traf’. Here, ‘tfhd’ may mean a track fragment header. The box ‘tfhd’ may be a sub-box of the aforementioned box ‘traf’.

A box ‘trun’ may contain information related to the corresponding track fragment. The box ‘trun’ may include information such as a duration, size, reproduction time, etc. per sample. Here, ‘trun’ may refer to track fragment run. The box ‘trun’ may be a sub-box of the aforementioned box ‘traf’.

‘mdat’ may refer to actual media data as described above.

To use the conventional file format #2at the receiving side, the receiving side needs to receive the conventional file format #1, as described above. Upon completion of reception and analysis of the conventional file format #1, segmented data transmitted through the file format #2can be used.

However, data transmission using the conventional file formats #1and #2is inefficient. Particularly, in provision of a streaming service through an existing transmission medium, the aforementioned file formats #1and #2have information unnecessary for transmission. Accordingly, transmission using file formats #1and #2is inefficient in reception, data processing, reproduction processing and the like.

FIG. 143illustrates a procedure for reproducing media data using conventional file formats.

A server may transmit media information to a client using the aforementioned file formats. The server may segment the media information and transmit the segmented media information through a plurality of file formats. Here, segmented data may be included in file format1, file format2, . . . , file format N and transmitted. In this document, a receiver can refer to a client, or it can refer to a receiving module in a client.

The server may include meta data such as the box ‘ftyp’, box ‘moov’ and the like in file format1(PF010). That is, file format1(PF010) may correspond to the conventional file format #1. File format1may include conventional mandatory boxes.

The server may include segmented data in file format2, file format3, . . . , file format N (PF020). File format2, file format3, . . . , file format N (PF020) may correspond to the conventional file format #2. That is, file format2, file format3, . . . , file format N (FF020) may include the box ‘styp’, box ‘moof’ and the like.

These file formats may be segmented and transmitted through various transmission networks such as RTP, HTTP and RF networks. The file formats may be sequentially transmitted in order of file format1, file format2, . . . , file format N.

The case of client1will now be described. Client1corresponds to a case in which a receiver module sequentially receives data from file format1. File format1may include mandatory boxes as described above. In this case, a buffer may store file formats and a file format parser may parse the file formats. A decoder performs decoding and media data is reproduced through a renderer.

The case of client2will now be described. Client2corresponds to a case in which the receiver module has not received file format1. File format1may include mandatory boxes as described above. In this case, the file format parser cannot analyze file format2, file format3, . . . since information provided by file format1cannot be obtained. Accordingly, client2cannot reproduce media data.

FIG. 144illustrates a stream format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Above-described conventional file formats are suitable for media consumption using storage media. According to the conventional file formats, a client device can consume media data of other file formats only when mandatory boxes such as the box ‘ftyp’, box ‘moov’ and the like are present. Accordingly, when media data is transmitted using a transmission medium, particularly, a real-time transmission (streaming) service, a file format (the aforementioned file format #1) including mandatory boxes needs to be transmitted along with the media data. This file format is transmitted at a specific interval or transmitted whenever media data is transmitted. This conventional scheme generates overhead with respect to unnecessary information. In addition, the conventional scheme is inefficient since other file formats (file format #2) can be consumed only when a file format such as the file format #1is received.

The present invention suggests a method for efficiently using media data transmitted through a transmission medium. The present invention suggests a method for immediately consuming segmented media information by minimizing unnecessary information and inserting information necessary for a streaming service in the box ‘styp’ in media data transmission.

The present invention suggests a stream format which is a file format suitable for real-time transmission (streaming). In addition, the present invention suggests a configuration of the stream format and a stream format processing scheme. Furthermore, the present invention proposes a method for processing the suggested stream format in the same manner as the manner of processing conventional file formats, using a file format translator. That is, compatibility with an existing decoder can be provided.

The stream format suggested by the present invention may be a file format from which information unnecessary for real-time transmission has been eliminated. A file format suitable for real-time transmission can be newly defined by removing unnecessary information.

The stream format according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the shown boxes. A box having meta data may be added as necessary. The box ‘styp’ (segment type) of the stream format may have elements of the box ‘mvhd’ (movie header). Accordingly, a receiver can be aware of information about all media simply by receiving the stream format. Here, the box ‘mvhd’ may be one of the mandatory boxes of the aforementioned file format #1.

Respective parts of the stream format according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

The box ‘styp’ may correspond to the box ‘styp’ of the aforementioned file format #2. The box ‘styp’ may include information about all media. The whole media may refer to complete media information of media before segmentation. Here, ‘styp’ may mean a segment type. The box ‘styp’ may include a brand ID @majorbrand, version of a version brand identifier @majorversion and a last box list of the corresponding brand @compatible brand. When a corresponding file format is the stream format, the brand ID may have a value of stfm (stream format) (@majorbrand==“stfm”). The box ‘styp’ may include the box ‘mvhd’ as described above. The styp box can be referred to as type information box.

The box ‘mvhd’ may include elements of the box ‘mvhd’ of the aforementioned file format #1. The box ‘mvhd’ of the stream format may include information such as @creation time of the whole media, @modification time, @time scale, @duration, width and height of the media. The receiver can be aware of information about the whole media without receiving a file such as the file format #1including mandatory boxes, through the box ‘mvhd’. The stream format can have a file structure suitable for real-time transmission through the box ‘mvhd’. The mvhd box can be referred to as movie header information box.

A box ‘sidx’ may include information about partial media with respect to the whole media. Here, the partial media may be referred to as a segment. ‘sidx’ may mean a segment index. The box ‘sidx’ may have segment information in contrast to the whole media with reference to the box ‘styp’. The box ‘sidx’ may include information such as @reference ID, @time scale of a segment, @earliest presentation time, @first offset, @reference count, @reference type, @subsegment duration, @start with SAP (Stream Access Point), @SAP type and @SAP delta time. Information included in the box ‘sidx’ may be changed according to embodiment. Reference ID of “vide” may indicate that media is video and reference ID of “soud” may indicate that media is audio. The box ‘sidx’ may be included in the stream format or periodically according to designer since the box ‘sidx’ includes information about the whole media. The sidx box can be referred to as index information box.

The box ‘moof’ may correspond to the box ‘moof’ of the aforementioned file format #2. The box ‘moof’ may include meta data regarding segmented media. ‘moof’ may be a movie fragment. The box ‘moof’ may be a highest box from among meta data related boxes with respect to the segmented media. This may be changed according to embodiment.

A box ‘tfhd’ may correspond to the box ‘tfhd’ box of the aforementioned file format #2. The box ‘tfhd’ may include default information about media included in the stream format. The default information may include @track ID, @base data offset, @sample description, @default sample duration, @default sample size, @default sample flag, etc. Information included in the box ‘tfhd’ may be changed according to embodiment. ‘tfhd’ may mean a track fragment header.

A box ‘trun’ may correspond to the box ‘trun’ of the aforementioned file format #2. When media sample values included in ‘mdat’ have different composition information, the box ‘trun’ may include information about different samples. The box ‘trun’ may include information such as @sample count, @data offset, @first sample flags, @sample duration, @sample size, @sample flag, @sample composition time offset, @sample reproduction time, etc. The box ‘trun’ may be optionally present and omitted according to embodiment.

‘mdat’ may correspond to ‘mdat’ of the aforementioned file format #2. ‘mdat’ is not shown in the figure. ‘mdat’ may include actual media information as described above. The actual media information of ‘mdat’ may be consecutive binary information. The actual media information may be composed of partially concentrated samples (e.g. frames), which are decodable units.

The stream format may include elements of the box ‘mvhd’ in the box ‘styp’, as described above. Accordingly, the receiver can reproduce independently segmented media data only using the stream format without receiving boxes such as the box ‘ftyp’ and box ‘moov’, distinguished from the aforementioned cases using the conventional file formats.

The stream format may be transmitted through transmission media such as RTP, HTTP and RF and transmission media through which the stream format can be transmitted are not limited.

FIG. 145illustrates a procedure of processing the stream format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Video/audio media data transmitted through the aforementioned stream format may be processed as follows.

A receiver may receive media data in the stream format (SF010). Then, the receiver analyzes the received stream format. The receiver may parse the box ‘styp’ (SF020).

Here, it may be determined whether @majorbrand included in the box ‘styp’ corresponds to stfm. If @majorbrand does not correspond to “stfm”, then the corresponding file format is not the stream format. Accordingly, the corresponding file format can be processed according to a method of processing other conventional media file formats (SF040). If @majorbrand corresponds to ‘stfm’, then the corresponding file format is the stream format. Accordingly, the next stage for processing the stream format can be performed.

When the corresponding file format corresponds to the stream format, the receiver may obtain information about whole media, such as @majorversion, @creation time, @duration and @timescale from the box ‘styp’ and the box ‘mvhd’ in the box ‘styp’. The receiver can reproduce media data included in the stream format according to the whole media information even when the receiver has not received a file format such as the aforementioned file format #1.

Then, the receiver may parse the box ‘sidx’ (SF050). The receiver may obtain @reference ID from the box ‘sidx’. Media time can be confirmed through @reference ID and thus composition of video/audio can be recognized. Accordingly, a configuration of a media decoder to be used can be predicted. In addition, it is possible to check whether random access using the stream format is available through @start with SAP, @SAP type and @SAP delta time of the stream format, obtained by parsing the box ‘sidx’.

The receiver may analyze the box ‘tfhd’ by parsing the same (SF060). The receiver can recognize information about the media composed by the stream format by analyzing the box ‘tfhd’ which is a lower layer of the box ‘moof’. The box ‘tfhd’ may provide track ID information including actual media data of video/audio. In addition, the box ‘tfhd’ may provide information about @base data offset, @sample description, @default sample duration, @default sample size and @default sample flag of the media.

The receiver may determine whether the box ‘trun’ is present under the box ‘moof’ (SF070). As described above, the box ‘trun’ may be optionally present.

As described above, the box ‘trun’ may include information such as the total number of samples included in the stream format, duration, size and reproduction time per sample. Data of ‘mdat’ may be segmented by the size indicated by the box ‘trun’ and distinguished on a sample basis. The receiver may perform decoding and reproduction when each sample arrives at operating time of the decoder and renderer using @sample duration and @sample composition time offset of each sample. Accordingly, synchronization of media can be achieved.

When the box ‘trun’ is present, media sample values of ‘mdat’ may have different composition information. The stream format may be processed according to information about different samples of the box ‘trun’. The receiver may divide the data of ‘mdat’ by @sample size to compose samples (SF080). Each sample may be transmitted to the decoder at an interval corresponding to @sample duration (SF090). Depending on embodiments, composing samples and delivering samples to the decoder can be regarded as a part of decoding process.

When the box ‘trun’ is not present, the receiver may divide the data of ‘mdat’ by @default sample size of the box ‘tfhd’ to compose samples (SF100). These samples may be sent to the decoder at an interval corresponding to @default sample duration of the box ‘tfhd’ (SF110). Depending on embodiments, composing samples and delivering samples to the decoder can be regarded as a part of decoding process, as described above.

The receiver may check @reference ID of each sample (SF120). Video coding or audio coding may be performed according to @reference ID (SF130). As described above, @reference ID of “vide” indicates that media is video and @reference ID of “soud” indicates that media is audio. Decoding may be performed in the decoder of the receiver.

Samples decoded through the decoder may be rendered by the renderer to be reproduced (SF140).

FIG. 146illustrates a procedure of reproducing media data using the stream format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A server may transmit media information to a client, as described above. The server may segment the media information and transmit the segment media information through a plurality of file formats. Here, segmented data may be included in file format1, file format2, . . . , file format N and transmitted.

Here, the server may include mandatory boxes such as ‘ftyp’ and ‘moov’ in file format1(SFP010). That is, file format1may have the same structure as the aforementioned file format #1. Another file format including mandatory boxes may be used according to embodiment.

The server may include the segmented data in file format2, file format3, . . . , file format N using the aforementioned stream format (SFP020). File format2, file format3, . . . , file format N may be sequentially referred to as stream format1, stream format2, . . . , stream format N−1.

The stream formats may be sent to client1using a conventional transmission medium. Various transmission networks such as RTP, HTTP and RF networks may be used to transmit the stream formats. The stream format can be transmitted through a conventional transmission medium without using a transmission network for the stream format.

A receiver of client1may sequentially receive stream format1, stream format2, The received stream formats may be sequentially sent to a buffer and stored therein. A stream format parser may analyze the stream formats even when mandatory box values of file format1have not been received.

Each stream format may be independently parsed and decoded by a decoder. A renderer may render data sent thereto. Through this processing procedure, media data transmitted through the stream format can be reproduced.

FIG. 147illustrates a procedure of processing the stream format using a file format translator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The file format translator according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a module for enabling the aforementioned stream format to be processed in a conventional client. The file format translator can support compatibility such that a client capable of processing conventional file formats can also process the stream format.

A server FFT010may transmit media data according to the aforementioned stream format to a client FFT020. The stream format is transmitted and processed as described above.

A file format storage FFT030of the server may have media data to be transmitted. The file format storage may segment the media data and compose the media data in the same structure as the stream format.

The server may send stream formats to the client. The stream formats may be transmitted through RF, RTP, HTTP and the like, as described above. The data to be transmitted may be sent through RF using an RF generator. In addition, the data to be transmitted may be sent through IP via an RTP generator, a UDP generator and an IP generator or via an HTTP generator, a TCP generator and the IP generator.

The client may receive the sent data. The client may receive the data transmitted through RF using a tuner and a demodulator and transmit the received data to the next module. The data transmitted through IP may be received through an IP receiver and transmitted to the next module via a UDP parser and an RTP parser or via a TCP parser and an HTTP parser. A transmission method is not limited to the illustrated methods and various methods may be used according to embodiments.

A stream format buffer FFT040may temporarily store the transmitted stream formats. Received data may be stored sequentially or according to a predetermined rule. The stream format buffer may function as a buffer for the file format translator. The stream format buffer may transmit the stored stream formats to the file format translator. The stream format buffer may be omitted according to embodiment.

The file format translator FFT050is a module for providing compatibility to existing client devices in processing of stream formats. The file format translator may reconstruct a stream format sent thereto into a conventional file format. The file format translator may reconstruct all received stream formats or only the first stream format according to embodiment. The process of the file format translator can be referred to as translating, regenerating, or reconstructing.

Information included in each stream format may be used for reconstruction. The file format translator may reconstruct the stream format with reference to information included in the boxes ‘styp’ and ‘mvhd’ of the stream format and information such as @majorbrand, @majorversion, @creation time, etc. Omitted mandatory boxes such as ‘ftyp’ and ‘moov’ can be regenerated using the aforementioned information. When values for regeneration are not present, the file format translator may fill vacant values with NULL.

A file format buffer FFT060may temporarily store the stream format reconstructed in the conventional file format. The file format buffer may function as a buffer for a file format parser. The file format buffer may send file formats stored therein to the file format parser. The file format buffer may be omitted according to embodiment.

The file format parser, an A/V decoder and a renderer may process file formats to reproduce media data. The parser, decoder and renderer are modules for processing conventional file formats and need not be modified for stream formats since the stream formats have been reconstructed into conventional file formats by the file format translator.

Here, the file format parser may confirm mandatory boxes such as ‘ftyp’ and ‘moov’, regenerated in the same format as a conventional file format, and perform media analysis using the boxes ‘styp’, ‘moof’ and the like. Consequently, media data transmitted through the stream format can be processed in a conventional client device. Details are as described above.

FIG. 148illustrates a procedure of reproducing media data using a file format translator.

As described above, a server may include data in file format1, file format2, . . . , file format N and transmit the data. Here, file format2, file format3, . . . , file format N may be stream formats. File format2, file format3, . . . , file format N may be sequentially referred to as stream format1, stream format2, . . . , stream format N−1.

As described above, stream formats may be transmitted to client1using a conventional transmission medium. That is, various transmission networks such as RTP, HTTP and RF networks can be used.

The receiver of client1may sequentially receive stream format1, stream format2, . . . and transmit the received stream formats to the aforementioned stream format buffer. The stream format buffer may function as a buffer for the file format translator.

The file format translator may reconstruct the stream format into a conventional file format. The reconstruction procedure may be performed using information of the stream format. The file format translator may support compatibility with conventional file formats through the procedure of reconstructing the stream format into a conventional file format.

The file format buffer may temporarily store the reconstructed stream format and/or stream formats. The file format buffer may function as a buffer for the file format parser. As described above, the file format translator may reconstruct only the first stream format from among the received stream formats into a conventional file format. The file format buffer may temporarily store reconstructed file format1, stream format1, stream format2, . . . according to embodiment. Reconstructed file format1may include mandatory boxes such as ‘ftyp’ and ‘moov’, which are regenerated by the file format translator.

The file format parser may receive data from the file format buffer and parse the data. The file format parser may analyze mandatory boxes included in the reconstructed file format1. Then, the file format part may analyze the additionally received stream format1, stream format2, . . . . Subsequently, data may be reproduced through the decoder and the renderer. In this embodiment, the stream format1can be the stream format, which is used for regenerating the file format1.

FIG. 149illustrates a media data access and decoding request procedure using the stream format according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Values of boxes included in the aforementioned stream format and information included in the boxes are shown in the figure. For example, @majorbrand has a value of ‘stfm’ and @majorversion has a value of ‘0’.

The receiver can be aware of information about whole media by analyzing the boxes and information of the aforementioned stream format and access specific media data. In addition, the receiver can request the decoder to perform decoding using the information.

The receiver processes data of the stream format as described above. The operation of the receiver to process the data of the stream format will now be described in association with the values shown in the figure.

The receiver may recognize information about the whole media by analyzing the box ‘styp’. That is, the receiver can obtain information about the whole media in the original form of segmented data of the stream format. Information about creation/modification time, duration, resolution, time scale, etc. of the whole media may be included in the box ‘mvhd’ in the box ‘styp’. In the present embodiment, it can be known that 1000 ticks are generated per second through @timescale. That is, an internal clock signal of the stream format can be composed of 1000 ticks per second. In addition, it can be known that the whole media has resolution of 1920×1080 through values of @width and @height.

The receiver may recognize information about segmented media data included in the stream format by analyzing the box ‘sidx’. The receiver may be aware of information about segmented data included in the stream format using information of the box ‘sidx’ in contrast to the whole media. As described above, the box ‘sidx’ may include a temporal position of segmented media data with respect to the whole media time, type of the segmented media data, SAP related information and the like. In addition, the box ‘sidx’ may provide information for the receiver to move an arbitrary time during streaming. In the present embodiment, it can be known that the current stream format includes video data through @reference ID. In addition, it is possible to check whether media can be reproduced through the stream format when the receiver starts to receive the stream format using @SAP type and @SAP delta time.

The box ‘moof’ may include information about samples of segmented media data included in the stream format, as described above. Accordingly, media samples can be decoded and reproduced at the receiver. As described above, the box ‘moof’ may include the box ‘tfhd’ and/or the box ‘trun’.

The box ‘tfhd’ is a lower layer of the box ‘mod’ and may include information such as a default sample size, default sample duration and default data offset per media type. When the box ‘trun’ is omitted in the box ‘moof’, the size and duration of each sample correspond to default values. Accordingly, media data can be segmented into the default sample size starting from the default data offset. The receiver may insert a sample into the decoder to request the decoder to perform decoding whenever the sample becomes the default sample size.

When the box ‘trun’ is present, information such as a size, duration, and reproduction time per sample, included in the box ‘trun’, can be obtained. The receiver can recognize sample information of the stream format using the information. In the present embodiment, samples may have different sizes since the box ‘trun’ is present.

In the present embodiment, it can be known that the number of samples of the stream format is 100 through @sample count. It can be known that a sample can be composed from the first data from among data of ‘mdat’ without an offset since @data offset is 0. In addition, it can be known that first 6-byte data from among bitstream data of ‘mdat’ is a data unit of the first sample through @sample size. Furthermore, it can be known that the data of ‘mdat’ is segmented into 3 bytes and 4 bytes to compose the second and third samples. Samples composed in this manner can be consecutively and sequentially transmitted to the decoder and decoded thereby.

Reproduction time of decoded samples may be known through @sample composition time offset. The reproduction time can be recognized on a tick basis. For example, the first, second and third samples need to be reproduced at 0th, 41stand 82ndticks from among 1000 ticks. In addition, reproduction durations of decoded samples can be recognized through @sample duration on a tick basis. That is, the first, second and third samples need to be respectively maintained for 41, 42 and 42 ticks.

That is, while the internal clock signal ticks 1000 times for first one second of the duration of the whole media, 246,291 seconds, the decoded first, second and third samples can be sequentially reproduced for first 41 ticks, next 42 ticks and next 42 ticks, respectively.

FIG. 150illustrates an example of transmitting the stream format through an RTP packet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In transmission of the stream format through the RTP packet, some information of the stream format can be assigned to the RTP packet. Accordingly, some information can be recognized at a transmission level.

For example, information indicating that data is ISOBMFF can be described in payload data of the RTP packet. In addition, a value of sequence Num of the RTP packet may be allocated according to @sequence number of the box ‘mfhd’ included in the stream format.

Furthermore, Timestamp of the RTP packet may indicate a time when transmission is actually performed by a transmitter. In this case, it can be known that transmission is performed at 48000, 96000 and 144000. The receiver may parse the RTP packet and detect decoding and reproduction time of samples using the boxes ‘tfhd’ and ‘trun’ of the stream format. Samples are decoded and reproduced through the aforementioned procedure.

FIG. 151illustrates a method of transmitting media data via streaming service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The method includes dividing the media data, generating file formats, and/or transmitting the generated file formats.

In step of dividing the media data, the above-described server can divide media data. The media data can be the data representing entire media, that the server wants to provide via streaming service. The media data can be divided inito a plurality of media data fractions, to generate file formats, as described above. The file formats can be either a file format #1or a stream format, described above. The media data fractions are parts of the entire media data.

In step of generating file formats, the above-described server can generate file formats. The file formats can be either a file format #1or a stream format, described above. The server can generate one file format #1and a number of stream formats, to transmit the entire media data. As described above, the file formats can deliver the divided media data.

The first file format may correspond to the file format #1, and the second file format may correspond to the stream format. The first file format may include metadata of the entire media data. The metadata of the entire media data may correspond to mandatory boxes in the file format #1. The mandatory box can be used for processing the media data fractions in the stream formats. The each of the second file formats can include metadata of the media data fractions in the each of the second file formats. The metadata in the second file format may correspond to boxes in the stream format. The boxes in the stream format are described above.

In step of the transmitting the generated file formats, the above-described server can transmit the generated first and second file formats. The file formats and stream formats can be delivered to clients, in various ways, such as RTP, IP, HTTP, RF, etc.

In a method of transmitting media data via streaming service, according to other embodiment of the present invention, the second file format further includes a type information group. As described above, the type information group may refer to a styp box in the stream format. The type information group may include information for identifying the stream format, as described above.

In a method of transmitting media data via streaming service, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the type information group further includes a movie header information group. As described above, the movie header information group may refer to a mvhd box. The mvhd box in the stream format is included in the styp box. This technical feature make the regenerating (translating) process more efficient, due to the styp box may be the first one to be checked in the receiver side. The movie header information group may include information about the media data that the media data fraction in the second file format belongs. The mvhd box can include information about the entire media data, that the media data fraction comes from. The information about the media data can be used for processing the media data fraction in the second file format, without the metadata in the first file format. As described above, the stream format can have information about the entire media, so that the receiver doesn't have to receive the file format #1to process the stream format. Due to this technical feature, the streaming service can be provided efficiently, and the server doesn't have to transmit the file format #1periodically. Therefore, low overhead regarding transmitting media data can be achieved.

In a method of transmitting media data via streaming service, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the mvhd box in the stream format can include creation time, modification time and duration of entire media that the media data represents. These information may correspond to above described @creation time, @modification time, and @duration, respectively, in the mvhd box in stream format.

In a method of transmitting media data via streaming service, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the second file format further includes a index information group. The index information group may correspond to above described sidx box in stream format. The index information group includes information of the media data fraction, relative to the entire media. With sidx box, the receiver can have information that how the media data fraction in the stream format is related to the entire media.

The above-described steps can be omitted or replaced by steps executing similar or identical functions according to design.

FIG. 152illustrates a method of receiving media data via streaming service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The method includes receiving a first file format, regenerating a second file format, parsing the file formats, decoding the data of the media data fraction and/or displaying a part of media.

In step of the receiving a first file format, a client can receive file formats delivered from the server or any kind of service provider, via streaming service. As described above, file formats can be delivered in various ways, such as RTP, IP, HTTP, RF, etc. In this step, the first file format may correspond to the stream format. This embodiment refers to situation that the receiver receives stream format first, without receiving any file formats including mandatory boxes before. The first file format, which is a stream format, can include a media data fraction, and metadata for processing the media data fraction. The media data fraction is generated by dividing the entire media data. The metadata for processing the media data fraction refers to metadata in the stream format, as described above.

In step of regenerating a second file format, the above described file format translator can regenerate the second file format with information in the first file format. This step may correspond to the file format translator regenerating a file format #1, with information in the stream format, as described above. The second file format can be built by using the mvhd box in the stream format. The regenerating process is necessary for receiver, to know the entire media, that the media data fraction belongs. The receiver can decode properly with the information in the file format #1, which is generated by the file format translator. The regenerating process is described above, in great details.

In step of parsing the file formats, the above described parser in the receiver(client) can parse the file formats. The parser can parse the second file format (the file format #1) first, and then parse the first file format (the stream format). By parsing the file formats, the metadata in the first and second file formats can be obtained.

In step of decoding the data of the media data fraction, the above described decoder in the receiver(client) can decode the media data fraction. In decoding process, the obtained metadata can be used. Without receiving a file format #1, the decoding process can be done by receiving the stream format.

In step of displaying a part of media, the receiver (client) can display the media. A part of media that the received media data fraction has information for, can be displayed. The displaying process can be done by audio or video displaying module in the receiver. Next part of media can be displayed when the next stream format is processed.

In a method of receiving media data via streaming service, according to other embodiment of the present invention, the first file format further includes a type information group. As described above, the type information group may refer to a styp box in the stream format. The type information group may include information for identifying the stream format, as described above.

In a method of receiving media data via streaming service, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the type information group further includes a movie header information group. As described above, the movie header information group may refer to a mvhd box. The mvhd box in the stream format is included in the styp box. This technical feature make the regenerating (translating) process more efficient, due to the styp box may be the first one to be checked in the receiver side. The movie header information group may include information about the media data that the media data fraction in the first file format belongs. The mvhd box can include information about the entire media data, that the media data fraction comes from. The information about the media data can be used for processing the media data fraction in the first file format. As described above, the stream format can have information about the entire media, so that the receiver doesn't have to receive the file format #1to process the stream format. Due to this technical feature, the streaming service can be provided efficiently, and the server doesn't have to transmit the file format #1periodically. Therefore, low overhead regarding transmitting media data can be achieved.

In a method of receiving media data via streaming service, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the mvhd box in the stream format can include creation time, modification time and duration of entire media that the media data represents. These information may correspond to above described @creation time, @modification time, and @duration, respectively, in the mvhd box in stream format.

In a method of receiving media data via streaming service, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the first file format further includes a index information group. The index information group may correspond to above described sidx box in stream format. The index information group includes information of the media data fraction, relative to the entire media. With sidx box, the receiver can have information that how the media data fraction in the stream format is related to the entire media.

The above-described steps can be omitted or replaced by steps executing similar or identical functions according to design.

Although the description of the present invention is explained with reference to each of the accompanying drawings for clarity, it is possible to design new embodiment(s) by merging the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings with each other. And, if a recording medium readable by a computer, in which programs for executing the embodiments mentioned in the foregoing description are recorded, is designed in necessity of those skilled in the art, it may belong to the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

An apparatus and method according to the present invention may be non-limited by the configurations and methods of the embodiments mentioned in the foregoing description. And, the embodiments mentioned in the foregoing description can be configured in a manner of being selectively combined with one another entirely or in part to enable various modifications.

In addition, a method according to the present invention can be implemented with processor-readable codes in a processor-readable recording medium provided to a network device. The processor-readable medium may include all kinds of recording devices capable of storing data readable by a processor. The processor-readable medium may include one of ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tapes, floppy discs, optical data storage devices, and the like for example and also include such a carrier-wave type implementation as a transmission via Internet. Furthermore, as the processor-readable recording medium is distributed to a computer system connected via network, processor-readable codes can be saved and executed according to a distributive system.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Both apparatus and method inventions are mentioned in this specification and descriptions of both of the apparatus and method inventions may be complementarily applicable to each other.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is available in a series of broadcast signal provision fields. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.