Patent Abstract:
A method of interleaving data for transmission is provided wherein first and second interleaving patterns for arranging data symbols in a source data stream into first and second transmitted data streams are selected. Each of said data symbols has at least one bit. The first and second transmitted data streams are transmitted substantially simultaneously on separate transmission channels to at least one receiver. The first and second patterns are used to transmit the data symbols in the source data stream in a different order on the respective transmission channels to maximize recovery of the source data stream when the transmission channels are blocked. The selected interleaving patterns can involve reordering the data symbols throughout the first and second transmitted data streams using different reordering criteria. The reordering criteria can vary on a frame-by-frame basis if the source data stream is time division multiplexed. Complementary data can be sent on respective transmission channels.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/318,938 filed May 26, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,452 issued Nov. 28, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing cross-channel interleaving between at least two transmitted data streams. The present invention further relates to a method and apparatus for performing continuous cross-channel interleaving on two or more data streams.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Service outages can occur in systems which broadcast data, video, audio and other information using radio frequencies. These outages can prevent receivers, and particularly mobile receivers, from receiving the broadcast service altogether, or cause them to receive a signal so degraded that the service is rendered unacceptable. These outages are generally due to physical blockage of transmission paths between the transmitter and receiver (e.g., due to mountainous terrain or long tunnels) and multipath fading and reflection of the transmission path.  
           [0004]    Satellite broadcast systems can use two transmission channels to provide time and/or space diversity for mitigating service outages due to multipath, physical blockages and interference in mobile broadcast receivers. These time diversity systems, however, are disadvantageous for reasons which will be illustrated below in connection with FIG. 4. FIG. 1 depicts a satellite broadcast system  10  employing time diversity which comprises at least one geostationary satellite  12  for line of sight (LOS) satellite signal reception at receivers indicated generally at  14 . Another geostationary satellite  16  at a different orbital position is provided for time and/or space diversity purposes. The system  10  further comprises at least one terrestrial repeater  18  for retransmission of satellite signals in geographic areas where LOS reception is obscured by tall buildings, hills and other obstructions. The receivers  14  can be configured for dual-mode operation to receive both satellite signals and terrestrial signals and to combine or select one or both of the signals as the receiver output. However, it will be understood that, where the receivers are in a fixed location, it is sufficient for such receivers to operate by receiving signals from a single source and that is may reduce the cost and complexity of such receivers if they are designed for single mode operation.  
           [0005]    The satellite broadcast segment preferably includes the encoding of a broadcast channel into a time division multiplexed (TDM) bit stream. The TDM bit stream is modulated prior to transmission via a satellite uplink antenna. The terrestrial repeater segment comprises a satellite downlink antenna and a receiver/demodulator to obtain a baseband TDM bitstream. The digital baseband signal is applied to a terrestrial waveform modulator, and is then frequency translated to a carrier frequency and amplified prior to transmission.  
           [0006]    The problem associated with broadcast systems based on time diversity can be understood from FIGS.  2 - 4 . With reference to FIG. 2, a transmission channel  60  from a late satellite, for example, is delayed by a predetermined amount of time (e.g., ten 432 millisecond (ms) frames) with respect to the other channel  62 . Receivers are therefore configured to receive both transmission channels  60  and  62  and to add an identical delay to the channel  62  that was not earlier subjected to the predetermined amount of delay. With reference to FIG. 3, the two received streams  64  and  66  are then compared and combined as indicated at  68 . In optimal situations, the combined stream  68  is a continuous stream of the original broadcast, even though one or both of the channels  60  or  62  may not have been receivable during a temporary service outage. This is true if the data transmitted during the outage was successfully received from the other channel during the outage period or, in cases where both channels are blocked simultaneously, if the outage does not exceed the time delay between the channels. As an illustration of the latter situation, the signal blockage  70  that occurred in both of the two recovered bit streams  64  and  66  of FIG. 3 (i.e., the loss of frames  10  through  19  in channel  60  and loss of frames  20  through  29  in channel  62 ) is recovered in the combined recovered bit stream  68 . With reference to FIG. 4, problems in recovering the source data stream for channels  60  or  62  can occur when one of the satellite paths is completely blocked due to terrain, for example. The blocked signal  72  (i.e., frames  23  through  27 ) in the early satellite channel cannot be recovered from the late satellite channel, resulting in an audio mute interval  74 , as shown in the recovered data bit stream  68 . This audio mute interval  74  is an error interval that is too large to be mitigated by error concealment techniques. As stated previously, satellite broadcast systems can be reinforced using terrestrial repeaters. While a repeater can be used to provide for the transmission of the source data stream when LOS signal reception of a satellite channel is obstructed, repeaters represent a substantial additional system cost and are generally only implemented in urban centers and suburban areas. Accordingly, a need exists for a satellite broadcast system which provides error concealment in a single satellite coverage environment without requiring a terrestrial reinforcement system.  
           [0007]    Another approach for minimizing the effect of noise bursts and fading in a data transmission system involves spreading source bits over time in a data stream using interleaving. An interleaver is generally implemented using a block structure or a convolutional structure.  
           [0008]    Using a block structure, a matrix of predetermined size is selected (e.g., m rows and n columns). An input data stream is read into a shift register matrix. The bits in the data stream fill consecutive matrix rows with data folding into the next row as each row is filled. The separation of data elements in a column is therefore n bits, which corresponds to the interleaving depth being used. The data elements in each column are then coded and transmitted by row. The received bits are applied to an identical shift register matrix at the decoder. Data elements are decoded per column prior to being read out per row. When a noise burst occurs to all bits in a single row of an interleaved word (i.e., for n*c seconds wherein c is the bit period), only one bit of the coded word is corrupted. The n bits of the affected row can be corrected individually.  
           [0009]    Unlike a block interleaver, which interleaves blocks of data independently of each other, a convolutional interleaver is a feed-forward type of coder which continuously produces an output. A block interleaver, on the other hand, assembles and stores blocks of bits prior to interleaving. Block interleavers have disadvantages. A block interleaver cannot fully decode a received data stream until all of the m*n bits, as set forth in the previous example, arrive at the receiver and are de-interleaved. The size of the matrix therefore is an important consideration. A need therefore exists for an interleaving method which operates on a continuous data stream, which allows for relatively simple de-interleaving at the decoder, and which is not subject to the problems associated with block interleaving.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method for interleaving a data stream for transmission is provided which overcomes a number of disadvantages associated with existing interleaving methods and realizes a number of advantages, particularly in multiple satellite broadcast systems during periods of single satellite coverage. The interleaving method of the present invention involves generating two or more interleaved channels from a source data stream. The broadcast signals from these channels are transmitted at the same time, but the data in the broadcast signals are interleaved separately.  
           [0011]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the separately interleaved data can correspond to frames in a time division multiplexed data stream, to code blocks or to sub-frames.  
           [0012]    In accordance with the present invention, the interleaved channels comprise the same data, although the data is arranged differently between the channels. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the interleaved channels are provided with complementary data rather than identical data. The complementary data from the respective channels can be recovered to reconstruct the original data stream. If part of the complementary data is lost during transmission, techniques such as smoothing, concealment algorithms, interpolation, error correction algorithms, or other methods can be used to conceal loss of complementary data. For example, the interleaved channels can comprise right and left stereo signals, respectively. The data stream can be divided into complementary data in other ways such as providing treble and bass signals, or another frequency division of signals, to separate channels. Odd and even numbered frames in the data stream can be provided to respective ones of the interleaved channels. Different portions of the sine wave characterizing the data stream can be applied to different interleaved channels.  
           [0013]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the interleaving method of the present invention is used to generate two satellite channels from a source data stream. A receiver is provided to receive the two satellite channels, to de-interleave the respective cross-channel, interleaved satellite channels, and to combine the recovered data streams. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily comprehended from the following detailed description when read in connection with the appended drawings, which form a part of this original disclosure, and wherein:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 depicts a digital broadcast system for transmitting satellite signals and terrestrial signals;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 depicts frames in a late satellite signal which are time-delayed with respect to frames in an early satellite signal in a conventional time diversity satellite broadcast system;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 illustrates the recovered and combined bit streams in a conventional time diversity satellite broadcast system;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 depicts a recovered data stream in a conventional time diversity satellite system in which one satellite signal is completely obstructed and another satellite signal is temporarily blocked;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 illustrates a frequency plan for satellite signals and terrestrial signals in a broadcast system;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 illustrates two continuous, cross-channel, interleaved data streams in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 illustrates a recovered data stream when the two data transmission channels depicted in FIG. 6 are completely obstructed and momentarily blocked, respectively;  
         [0022]    FIGS.  8 - 15  depict an interleaver circuit constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention for creating continuous, cross-channel, interleaved data streams during respective clock cycles; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 16 depicts a receiver comprising a de-interleaver circuit constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
       [0024]    Throughout the drawing figures, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts and components.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    A method for performing cross-channel interleaving continuously on a transmitted data stream in accordance with the present invention will first be described with reference to FIGS.  5 - 7 . An exemplary apparatus for implementing continuous cross-channel interleaving in accordance with the present invention will then be described with reference to FIGS.  8 - 15 . De-interleaving in accordance with the present invention is described with reference to an exemplary application, that is, a satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) which implements continuous cross-channel interleaving at the transmitter or broadcast station. FIG. 16 is an exemplary three-arm receiver that implements de-interleaving in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0026]    With reference to FIG. 6, continuous cross-channel interleaving in accordance with the present invention is applied to two data streams  80  and  82  prior to transmission. For example, the data streams  80  and  82  can be assembled and interleaved at a broadcast station prior to transmission to respective satellites  12  and  16  in a satellite broadcast system  10  as illustrated in FIG. 1. For illustrative purposes, the two data streams  80  and  82  shall hereinafter be referred to as the first satellite channel  80  and the second satellite channel  82 . The first and second satellite channels  80  and  82  can occupy the frequency bands depicted in FIG. 5, as described below. The first satellite channel  80 , however, is not delayed with respect to the second satellite channel  82 , as it would be in a time diversity system. This important difference is discussed in detail below. It is to be understood that the continuous cross-channel interleaving method of the present invention can be employed with any data stream to be transmitted on two or more channels in any type of digital transmission system.  
         [0027]    A frequency plan for a two-satellite broadcast system is depicted in FIG. 5. For example, the satellites  12  and  16  of FIG. 1 can each broadcast the same programs A and B. The satellite  12  transmits the programs A and B at the same time as satellite  16 . The broadcast signals from the satellites  12  and  16 , however, are interleaved such that the bit streams are in different order. The frequency plan assigns frequency bands for each of the four satellite signals as indicated at  42 ,  44 ,  46  and  48 , respectively, in FIG. 5. In addition, two frequency bands  50  and  52  are assigned to the program A and B signals transmitted from the terrestrial repeaters.  
         [0028]    As shown in FIG. 6, the source data stream  84  comprises a number of frames which are numbered consecutively (i.e.,  1 ,  2 ,  3 , . . . , n) for illustrative purposes. In SDARS, the frames are preferably 432 ms frames. In accordance with the present invention, the frames are interspersed in the transmitted data stream. In the illustrated embodiment, a ten-frame interleaving algorithm is used. The frames are dispersed as alternating frames with even-numbered frames advanced by ten frames with respect to odd-numbered frames in the transmitted signal. Correspondingly, a ten-frame interleaving or reordering process can also be used with the second satellite channel  82 . In the second satellite channel, the odd-numbered frames can be advanced by ten frames with respect to the even-numbered frames. As will be described below, the use of such interleaved frames increases the likelihood of recovering the source bit stream  84  when signal blockage occurs in both of the first and second satellite channels, as well as when LOS reception of one of the satellite channels is obstructed.  
         [0029]    The number of interleaved frames can be any selected number. In addition, the selected amount of frame advancement is not limited to selected integer numbers of frames. For example, the interleaving algorithm of the present invention can be based on a code-block level, that is, on sub-frame components hereinafter referred to as code blocks. The location of the interleaved data elements (e.g., frames or code blocks) is also not limited to alternate positions in the transmitted data streams. The data in the broadcast signals from each of the satellites can be grouped or interspersed in the transmitted data stream by any manner or in any order. In addition, different algorithms can be used in the respective frames of predetermined groups of frames, which consist of a selected number of consecutive frames, within the broadcast signals provided by a single satellite.  
         [0030]    The selection of the manner in which the data are provided in the transmitted data streams are design choices which take into consideration the memory requirements of the receiver and transmitter devices, as well as the types of outages which occur in the data transmission system and the effectiveness with which data can be recovered. An interleaver constructed in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention employs a buffer memory for the first satellite channel  80  which stores five frames (i.e., five even numbered frames such as frames  2 ,  4 ,  6 ,  8  and  10  in FIG. 6). Similarly, the interleaver employs a buffer memory for the second satellite channel to store five frames (i.e., five odd numbered frames such as frames  1 ,  3 ,  5 ,  7  and  9  in FIG. 6). These buffer memories are described below in connection with FIG. 8.  
         [0031]    One of the advantages of the continuous cross-channel interleaving method of the present invention is improved error concealment at the receivers during times of broadcast signal blockage. As discussed above with reference to FIG. 4, a signal blockage of five consecutive frames, for example, in a time diversity system causes an audio mute interval (e.g., interval  74 ). By contrast, the same blockage in a system using the interleaving method of the present invention allows the source bit stream to be recovered using audio error concealment algorithms. As shown in FIG. 7, the first satellite channel  80  is blocked altogether (e.g., obstructed by terrain), and the cross-channel interleaved second satellite channel  82  is momentarily blocked for five frames (e.g., frames  13 ,  24 ,  15 ,  26  and  17 ), by way of an example. Following reception and reordering of the second satellite channel, the recovered data stream  86  contains only single frame outages, as opposed to the outage of five frames shown in FIG. 6. The single frame outages are short enough to apply audio error concealment algorithms. The operation of the audio error concealment algorithms can be further enhanced by reducing the frame length and thereby reducing the concealment intervals. Alternatively, audio signals in the source bit stream can be split into two half-bit rate data streams. For example, the odd and even frames can carry respective ones of the two half-bit rate audio streams. Thus, if a frame can carry a 64 kilobit per second (kbps) audio channel, and satellite signal blockage occurs, then at least 32 kbps or half-bit rate audio is available during the service outage.  
         [0032]    An exemplary interleaver circuit  100  for implementing continuous cross-channel interleaving in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 through 15. The interleaver circuit  100  can be employed, for example, at a broadcast station in a digital satellite broadcast system  10  employing two satellites  12  and  16 . With reference to FIG. 8, the interleaver circuit  100  can generate two interleaved streams  80  and  82  from a source bit stream  84  which can then be modulated and transmitted to respective satellites  12  and  16  on one or two carrier frequencies.  
         [0033]    As shown in FIG. 8, the interleaver circuit  100  comprises two branches  102  and  104  for generating the first and second data streams  106  and  108  from a source data stream  110 . The first and second data streams  106  and  108  can then be processed for transmission to respective satellites, for example. Branches  102  and  104  comprise multiplexer switches  112  and  114 , first-in-first-out (FIFO) registers  116  and  118 , and multiplexer switches  120  and  122 , respectively. The multiplexer switches  112  and  114  each have a clock input and a data input pair  113  and  115 , and a control inputs  117  and  119 , respectively. Each multiplexer switch  112  and  114  also has two output pairs. The output pairs  124  and  126  of the multiplexer switch  112  and the output pairs  128  and  130  of the multiplexer switch  114  each comprise a data output and a clock signal output. The output pairs  124  and  128  are for reordering frames and are connected to a corresponding FIFO register  116  and  118 . These output pairs  124  and  128  are each hereinafter referred to as a first output pair. The other output pairs  126  and  130  are for outputting frames to the other corresponding multiplexer switch  120  or  122  and are both hereinafter referred to as a second output pair. The multiplexer switches  120  and  122  each comprise a first input pair  132  and  134 , a second input pair  136  and  138  and an output  140  and  142 , respectively, as shown in FIG. 8.  
         [0034]    The corresponding control inputs  117  and  119  of the multiplexer switches  112 ,  114 ,  120  and  122  are preferably gated every frame or code block cycle. This clock cycle is propagated through each branch  102  and  104  by the respective devices in the branches. An inverter  144  is provided so that the corresponding control input  117  and  119  to the multiplexer switches  112 ,  114 ,  120  and  122  change state when the next incoming frame or code block in the original data stream  110  is detected. The multiplexer switches  112  and  114  select the first output pair or the second output pair depending on the state of the control input. Similarly, the multiplexer switches  120  and  122  provide one of their input pair  132  and  134  from the corresponding FIFO register  116  and  118 , or their input pair  136  and  138  to their output  142  and  144 , depending on the state of the control input  117  and  119 .  
         [0035]    The interleaved channels  106  and  108  generated using the illustrated original data stream  110  are shown at the corresponding data outputs  142  and  144  of the multiplexer switches  120  and  122  in FIG. 8. The process of generating these interleaved data streams  106  and  108  is illustrated on a frame-by-frame (or code-block-by-code-block) basis in FIGS.  9 - 15 . For the purposes of discussion, the interleaving of the original data stream  110  will be described on a frame-by-frame basis with the frames being numbered using integer numbers. A ten frame interleaving algorithm is used with respect to the alternating frames for illustrative purposes. The branch  102  generates a data stream  106  having selected even-numbered frames interspersed relative to odd-numbered frames. Conversely, the branch  104  generates a data stream  108  having selected odd-numbered frames interspersed relative to even-numbered frames.  
         [0036]    With reference to FIG. 9, frames  11  through  21  are depicted at the inputs of the multiplexer switches  112  and  114  for illustrative purposes. The frames  2 ,  4 ,  6 ,  8  and  10  are stored in the FIFO register  116 . The frames  1 ,  3 ,  5 ,  7  and  9  are stored in the FIFO register  118 . As shown in FIG. 9, the beginning of frame  11  has been determined in a conventional manner during a prior clock cycle, and the corresponding control input signals  117  and  199  to the multiplexer switches  112  and  114  has caused the odd-numbered frame  11  to be provided at the output pair  126  of the multiplexer switch  112  and at the output pair  128  of the multiplexer switch  114 . The current control signal indicates that an even frame (i.e., frame  12 ) is being presented as the input to the multiplexer switches  112  and  114 . During the next clock cycle, as shown in FIG. 11, the multiplexer switch  112  provides the frame  12  to the output pair  124  thereof in accordance with the even control signal, while the multiplexer switch  114  is controlled to provide the frame  12  to the output pair  130  thereof In addition, the frame  11  is presented at the input pair  136  of the multiplexer switch  120 , as well as being shifted into the shift register  118  of the branch  104 . Accordingly, the frame  1  in branch  104  is shifted into the multiplexer switch  122 .  
         [0037]    In accordance with the odd control signal indicated in FIG. 10, the multiplexer switch  112  provides the frame  13  to the output pair  126  thereof during the next clock cycle, as shown in FIG. 11, while the frame  12  is shifted into the FIFO register  116 ,  118  of branch  102 . Thus, the frame  2  is shifted from the FIFO register  116  into the multiplexer switch  120 , while the frame  11  is provided as the output of the multiplexer switch  120 . The multiplexer switch  114 , on the other hand, provides the frame  13  to the output pair  128  thereof, and frame  12  is shifted into the multiplexer switch  122 . Accordingly, frame  1  is provided at the output  142  of the multiplexer switch  122 .  
         [0038]    During the next clock cycle and in accordance with the even control signal depicted in FIG. 11, the multiplexer switch  112  provides the frame  14  to the output pair  124  thereof, as shown in FIG. 12. Frame  12  is shifted into the FIFO register  116 . The multiplexer switch  120  receives the frame  13  as an input and outputs the frame  2 . The multiplexer switch  114  is controlled to provide the frame  14  to the output pair  130  thereof Frame  13  is shifted into the shift register  118 . Accordingly, the frame  3  is shifted into the multiplexer switch  122 , while frame  12  is presented at its output.  
         [0039]    In accordance with the odd control signal indicated in FIG. 12, the multiplexer switch  112  provides the frame  15  to the output pair  126  thereof during the next clock cycle, as shown in FIG. 13, while the frame  14  is shifted into the FIFO register  116 . Thus, the frame  4  is shifted from the FIFO register  116  into the multiplexer switch  120 , while the frame  13  is provided as the output of the multiplexer switch  120 . The multiplexer switch  114 , on the other hand, provides the frame  15  to the output pair  128  thereof. Frame  14  is shifted into the multiplexer switch  122 . Accordingly, frame  3  is provided at the output of the multiplexer switch  122 .  
         [0040]    During the next clock cycle and in accordance with the even control signal depicted in FIG. 13, the multiplexer switch  112  provides the frame  16  to the output pair  124  thereof, as shown in FIG. 14. Frame  14  is shifted into the FIFO register  116 . The multiplexer switch  120  receives the frame  15  as an input and outputs the frame  4 . The multiplexer switch  114  is controlled to provide the frame  16  to the output pair  130  thereof. Frame  13  is shifted into the shift register  118 . Accordingly, the frame  5  is shifted into the multiplexer switch  122 , while frame  14  is presented at its output  142 .  
         [0041]    In accordance with the odd control signal indicated in FIG. 14, the multiplexer switch  112  provides the frame  17  to the output pair  126  thereof during the next clock cycle, as shown in FIG. 15, while the frame  16  is shifted into the FIFO register  116 . Thus, the frame  6  is shifted from the FIFO register  116  into the multiplexer switch  120 , while the frame  15  is provided as the output of the multiplexer switch  120 . The multiplexer switch  114 , on the other hand, provides the frame  17  to the output pair  128  thereof Frame  16  is shifted into the multiplexer switch  122 . Accordingly, frame  5  is provided at the output of the multiplexer switch  122 . The foregoing interleaving process described with reference to FIGS.  8 - 15  continues for the duration of the source bit stream  110 .  
         [0042]    Signals such as the data streams  106  and  108  are upconverted and transmitted, for example, from broadcast stations in SDARS. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 16, a receiver  150  (e.g., receiver  14  in FIG. 1) comprises a receiver antenna  151  which is sufficiently broadband to receive first and second satellite channels on different frequencies as well as terrestrial repeater signals. Thus, the exemplary receiver  150  is described with one low noise amplifier  153  and three arms  152 ,  154  and  156  for a first satellite channel, a second satellite channel and a terrestrial repeater channel, respectively. Each arm has a downconverter  158  comprising an analog-to-digital-converter  160 . With regard to the satellite channels, the receiver arms  152  and  154  have QPSK demodulator and synchronization units  162 . The resulting data stream in both of the arms  152  and  154  arms is then decoded via a decoder  164  prior to being applied to a de-interleaving circuit  170 . The repeater  18  is preferably provided with a similar de-interleaver unit  35  for reordering bits from a satellite broadcast prior to modulation. Alternatively, the repeater  18  can receive the broadcast or source data stream directly via T 1  lines, for example, as opposed to a satellite broadcast, in which case no interleaving and subsequent de-interleaving need be done for the reinforced signals. It is to be understood that receivers operating in a fixed location can be configured with only one receiver arm for a single satellite channel.  
         [0043]    The de-interleaver circuit  170  is configured similarly with respect to the interleaver circuit  100  described above in connection with FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 16, the de-interleaver unit  170  comprises two branches  166  and  168  for reordering the cross-channel, interleaved frames or code blocks received in the first satellite channel and the second satellite channel, respectively. Branches  166  and  168  comprise multiplexer switches  172  and  174 , first-in-first-out (FIFO) registers  176  and  178 , and multiplexer switches  180  and  182 , respectively. The multiplexer switches  172  and  174  each have, respectively, a clock input (not shown), a data input  184  and  186 , and a control input  188  and  190 . Each multiplexer switch  172  and  174  has two pairs of outputs  192  and  194 , and  196  and  198 . Each pair comprises a data output and clock signal output, as do the interleaving multiplexer switches  112  and  114  described above. One of the output pairs  194  and  198  in each branch is for reordering frames and is therefore connected to the corresponding FIFO register  176  and  178 , which also has a data output and a clock signal pair. The other output pair  192  and  196  in each branch is for outputting frames to the other corresponding multiplexer switch  180  and  182  which has a corresponding data output and a clock signal pair indicated at  200  and  202 . The control inputs  188  and  190  of the multiplexer switches  172 ,  174 ,  180  and  182  are gated every frame or code block cycle. An inverter  204  is provided so that the control input changes state when the next incoming frame or code block in the original data stream is detected. The multiplexer switches  172  and  174  select the output pair  192  and  196  or the output pair  194  and  198 , depending on the state of the control input. Similarly, the multiplexer switches  180  and  182  provide one of inputs  206  and  208  from the FIFO register  206  and  208 , or the corresponding multiplexer switch  172  and  174  to its output  200  and  202 , depending on the state of the control input  188  and  190 .  
         [0044]    The state of the control input  188  and  190  is provided, for example, by an output signal generated after the two received streams have been demodulated and decoded, and time division multiplexing (TDM) data has been extracted therefrom. For example, preambles provided in each of the TDM frames in the demodulated and decoded data streams are extracted and the information therein used to determine frame information, as indicated at  210 . For example, each frame can by provided with a preamble comprising a master frame preamble (MFP) for frame synchronization and time slot control channel (TSCC). The TSCC comprises information such as a master frame counter (MFC) and a TDM identifier (TDM-ID). The MFC is an unsigned integer value (e.g., between 0 and 124) that is incremented after each MFP. The MFC can be used to identify whether a frame in the received data stream is an odd or even frame. The TDM-ID can comprise codes which are selected and inserted into the transmitted data stream to indicate the interleaving algorithm, including how the frames are dispersed in the data stream. The MFC and TDM-ID information is used to generate a control signal which is applied to the multiplexer switches  172 ,  174 ,  180  and  182  to determine when each of the frames are to be provided at the outputs thereof to reorder the received data streams. The control signal can be used to randomize the interleaving pattern applied to the data stream sent on each channel independently using an algorithm that is also available to the de-interleaver. This provides an additional level of error protection optimization based on the predicted data channel transmit path error characteristics.  
         [0045]    In the illustrated example, the first satellite channel carries an interleaved data stream  106  having even-numbered frames alternating with selected odd-numbered frames. The second satellite channel carries an interleaved data stream  108  having odd-numbered frames alternating with selected even-numbered frames. Accordingly, the FIFOs  176  and  178  are each configured to store five frames.  
         [0046]    The control signal from the extraction unit  210  is toggled between the two branches  166  and  168  using the inverter  204 . In alternative embodiments, one of the multiplexer switches can be configured to switch to the opposite one of its output pairs in response to the control signal, or the FIFO of one of the branches can be connected to the other output of its corresponding downstream multiplexer switch. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the framing synchronization information can be extracted after the two reordered data streams at outputs  200  and  202  are combined by the combiner  212 . Different combining methods can be used. For example, Viterbi decoding can be used. In this case, the extraction unit  210  can use output information from the combiner  212 . Thus, if the extraction unit  210  determines that the frame currently being analyzed is an odd frame, the extraction unit  210  generates a control signal for application to the multiplexer switches to provide the frame in proper position at a de-interleaver to be de-interleaved and then processed by the combiner  212 .  
         [0047]    As stated previously, the control signal is polarized as between the two branches  166  and  168  by the inverter  204 , or by other means, to cause an odd-numbered frame arriving at branch  166  to be provided at the output pair  194  of the multiplexer switch  172 . The frame arriving at branch  168  is provided to the output pair  196  of the multiplexer switch  174 . The next control signal indicates that even-numbered frames next appear at the inputs of the branches  166  and  168  in the de-interleaver circuits  170 . The control signal is again polarized as between the two branches to cause the frame arriving at branch  166  to be provided at the output pair  192  of the multiplexer switch  172 . The frame arriving at branch  168  is provided to the output pair  198  of the multiplexer switch  174 . This process is continued such that frames or the data stream are reordered. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, code blocks are interleaved as opposed to frames. Following synchronization via MFP, the number of clock cycles that are counted to locate code block is determined. A code in the TDM-ID can be used to determine polarity and how the code blocks are dispersed in the data stream.  
         [0048]    The receiver arm  156  comprises a demodulation and synchronization unit  214  and a decoder  216  such as a Viterbi decoder. The demodulated and decoded signal from the receiver arm  156  can also be decoded using a Reed-Solomon decoder  218 . Similarly, the output of the combiner of the two satellite channels can also be processed using a Reed-Solomon decoder  220 . The terrestrial and combined satellite signals can then be combined using combiner  222  prior to decoding the service layer information from the recombined signal, as indicated at the decoder  224 .  
         [0049]    The illustrated embodiment of the present invention employs two interleaved channels  106  and  108  which comprise identical data (i.e., the data in the data stream  110 ). The data, however, is arranged differently as between the two channels  106  and  108 . In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the channels  106  and  108  can be provided with complementary data. In other words, data from a data stream is divided and transmitted on two or more channels, and then recovered as the original data stream.  
         [0050]    A data stream can be divided using any of a number of different methods. For example, left and right stereo signals can be sent via channels  106  and  108 , respectively. Selected signal frequencies can be sent on different transmission channels. The data stream can be divided into predetermined sections (e.g., 100 kHz sections) or sections of different sizes. Sub-components of selected sections can be exchanged on the transmission channels. For example, a data stream can be divided into 0.5 second intervals and a 0.25 second portion of an interval can be exchanged for a 0.25 second portion from another 0.5 second interval for transmission on a transmission channel. Portions of the complementary data in a transmission channel can be interleaved with respect to other portions of complementary data in the channel to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the recovered data.  
         [0051]    Sending complementary data on plural transmission channels is advantageous because different techniques can be used to conceal when some of the complementary data is lost during transmission. For example, smoothing operations, error concealment algorithms, interpolation, error correction and other techniques can be used if some of the data is lost. In any event, a significant amount of the data stream is still received (e.g., at least one of the left and right stereo channels is received when data in one of the transmitted channels is lost).  
         [0052]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof Various modifications and substitutions have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such substitutions are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7