Patent Description:
Bit-Interleaved Coded Modulation (BICM) is bandwidth-efficient transmission technology, and is implemented in such a manner that an error-correction coder, a bit-by-bit interleaver and a high-order modulator are combined with one another.

BICM can provide excellent performance using a simple structure because it uses a low-density parity check (LDPC) coder or a Turbo coder as the error-correction coder. Furthermore, BICM can provide high-level flexibility because it can select modulation order and the length and code rate of an error correction code in various forms. Due to these advantages, BICM has been used in broadcasting standards, such as DVB-T2 and DVB-NGH, and has a strong possibility of being used in other next-generation broadcasting systems.

In general, in order to multiplex signals, Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) or Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) is widely used. Recently, there is an urgent need for new multiplexing technology that is applicable to a next generation broadcasting system and provides greater flexibility and performance than TDM and FDM.

<NPL>, describes Hierarchical modulation (HM) with vector rotation operation introduced to EL stream in order to improve the performance of EL stream. With the proper interleaving in frequency domain, this operation can exploit the inherent diversity gain from the frequency-selective channel. In this way, HM with vector rotation can effectively enhance video quality of multimedia broadcasting in wideband systems. In this document, a base layer and an enhancement layer are multiplexed by means of QAM hierarchical modulation.

<NPL>, describes an approach to the design of layered BICM MIMO systems using multi-stage iterative decoding and Soft Output M-Algorithm (SOMA) based component de-coders. The systems consider transmission based on multi-level coding linked to hierarchical QAM constellations. The receivers are iterative designs with a view to supporting high-rates. These receiver designs can also be used to obtain re-duced complexity. This document discloses the combination of BICM and Hierarchical Modulation, in order to reliably transmit different layers of information within broadcast signals.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new signal multiplexing technology that is capable of providing greater flexibility and performance than TDM and FDM.

Another object of the present invention is to efficiently multiplex/demultiplex signals corresponding to two or more layers by combining the signals at different respective power levels.

The present invention provides a signal multiplexing method according to claim <NUM>.

According to the present invention, a new signal multiplexing technology that is capable of providing greater flexibility and performance than TDM and FDM is provided.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, signals corresponding to two or more layers can be efficiently multiplexed/demultiplexed by combining the signals at different respective power levels.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Redundant descriptions and descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that have been deemed to make the gist of the present invention unnecessarily obscure will be omitted below. The embodiments of the present invention are intended to fully describe the present invention to persons having ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains. Accordingly, the shapes, sizes, etc. of components in the drawings may be exaggerated to make the description obvious.

Preferred embodiments according to the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a broadcast signal transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, a broadcast signal transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a broadcast signal transmission apparatus <NUM>, a wireless channel <NUM>, and a broadcast signal reception apparatus <NUM>.

The broadcast signal transmission apparatus <NUM> includes a signal multiplexer <NUM> for multiplexing core layer data and enhanced layer data, and an OFDM transmitter <NUM>.

The signal multiplexer <NUM> combines a core layer signal corresponding to core layer data and an enhanced layer signal corresponding to enhanced layer data at different power levels, and generates a multiplexed signal by performing interleaving applied to both the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal.

The OFDM transmitter <NUM> transmits the multiplexed signal using an OFDM communication method via an antenna <NUM>, thereby allowing the transmitted OFDM signal to be received via the antenna <NUM> of the broadcast signal reception apparatus <NUM> over the wireless channel <NUM>.

The broadcast signal reception apparatus <NUM> includes an OFDM receiver <NUM> and a signal demultiplexer <NUM>. When the signal transmitted over the wireless channel <NUM> is received via the antenna <NUM>, the OFDM receiver <NUM> receives an OFDM signal through synchronization, channel estimation, and equalization.

The signal demultiplexer <NUM> restores the core layer data from the signal received via the OFDM receiver <NUM> first, and then restores the enhanced layer data via cancellation corresponding to the restored core layer data.

Although not explicitly illustrated in <FIG>, broadcast signal transmission/reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention may multiplex/demultiplex one or more pieces of extension layer data in addition to the core layer data and the enhanced layer data. In this case, the extension layer data may be multiplexed at a power level lower than that of the core layer data and the enhanced layer data. Furthermore, when two or more extension layers are included, the injection power level of a second extension layer may be lower than the injection power level of a first extension layer, and the injection power level of a third extension layer may be lower than the injection power level of the second extension layer.

<FIG> is an operation flowchart illustrating a broadcast signal transmission/reception method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, in the broadcast signal transmission/reception method according to the present embodiment, a core layer signal and an enhanced layer signal are combined at different power levels to multiplex the signals at step S210.

Furthermore, in the broadcast signal transmission/reception method according to the present embodiment, the multiplexed signal is OFDM transmitted at step S220.

Furthermore, in the broadcast signal transmission/reception method according to the present embodiment, the transmitted signal is OFDM received at step S230.

In this case, at step S230, synchronization, channel estimation and equalization may be performed.

Furthermore, in the broadcast signal transmission/reception method according to the present embodiment, core layer data is restored from the received signal at step S240.

Furthermore, in the broadcast signal transmission/reception method according to the present embodiment, enhanced layer data is restored through the cancellation of the core layer signal at step S250.

In particular, steps S240 and S250 illustrated in <FIG> may correspond to demultiplexing operations corresponding to step S210.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example of the signal multiplexer illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a signal multiplexer according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a core layer Bit-Interleaved Coded Modulation (BICM) unit <NUM>, an enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM>, an injection level controller <NUM>, a combiner <NUM>, and a time interleaver <NUM>.

Generally, a Bit-Interleaved Coded Modulation (BICM) device includes an error correction encoder, a bit interleaver, and a symbol mapper. Each of the core layer BICM unit <NUM> and the enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may include an error correction encoder, a bit interleaver, and a symbol mapper.

As illustrated in <FIG>, core layer data and enhanced layer data passes through different respective BICM units, and are then combined by the combiner <NUM>.

That is, the core layer data passes through the core layer BICM unit <NUM>, the enhanced layer data passes through the enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM> and then the injection level controller <NUM>, and the core layer data and the enhanced layer data are combined by the combiner <NUM>. In this case, the enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM> may perform BICM encoding different from that of the core layer BICM unit <NUM>. That is, the enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM> may perform higher bit rate error correction encoding or symbol mapping than the core layer BICM unit <NUM>. Furthermore, the enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM> may perform less robust error correction encoding or symbol mapping than the core layer BICM unit <NUM>.

For example, the core layer error correction encoder may exhibit a lower bit rate than the enhanced layer error correction encoder. In this case, the enhanced layer symbol mapper may be less robust than the core layer symbol mapper.

The combiner <NUM> may be viewed as functioning to combine the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal at different power levels.

The core layer data uses forward error correction (FEC) code having a low code rate in order to perform robust reception, while the enhanced layer data uses FEC code having a high code rate in order to achieve a high data transmission rate.

That is, the core layer data may have a broader coverage than the enhanced layer data in the same reception environment.

The enhanced layer data having passed through the enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM> is adjusted in gain (or power) by the injection level controller <NUM>, and is combined with the core layer data by the combiner <NUM>.

That is, the injection level controller <NUM> generates a power-reduced enhanced layer signal by reducing the power of the enhanced layer signal.

In this case, the combiner <NUM> may be viewed as generating a multiplexed signal by combining the core layer signal with the power-reduced enhanced layer signal.

The data obtained through the combination of the combiner <NUM> passes through the time interleaver <NUM> for distributing burst errors occurring over a channel, and is transmitted via the OFDM transmitter robust to multi-path and Doppler phenomena.

In this case, it can be seen that the time interleaver <NUM> performs interleaving that is applied to both the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal. That is, the core layer and the enhanced layer share the time interleaver, thereby preventing the unnecessary use of memory and also reducing latency at the receiver.

Although will be described later in greater detail, the enhanced layer signal may correspond to enhanced layer data restored based on cancellation corresponding to the restoration of core layer data corresponding to the core layer signal.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating another example of the signal multiplexer illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, it can be seen that a signal multiplexer multiplexes data corresponding to N (N is a natural number equal to or larger than <NUM>) extension layers together in addition to core layer data and enhanced layer data.

That is, the signal multiplexer illustrated in <FIG> includes N extension layer BICM units <NUM>,. , <NUM> and injection level controllers <NUM>,. , <NUM> in addition to a core layer BICM unit <NUM>, an enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM>, an injection level controller <NUM>, a combiner <NUM>, and a time interleaver <NUM>.

The core layer BICM unit <NUM>, enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM>, injection level controller <NUM>, combiner <NUM> and time interleaver <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> have been described in detail in conjunction with <FIG>.

Each of the N extension layer BICM units <NUM>,. , <NUM> independently performs BICM encoding, and each of the injection level controllers <NUM>,. , <NUM> performs power reduction corresponding to a corresponding extension layer, thereby enabling a power reduced extension layer signal to be combined with other layer signals via the combiner <NUM>.

In particular, it is preferred that a reduction in power corresponding to each of the injection level controllers <NUM>,. , <NUM> be higher than a reduction in power of the injection level controller <NUM>. That is, a lower one of the injection level controllers <NUM>, <NUM>,. , <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may correspond to a larger reduction in power.

In the present invention, power adjustment may be increasing or decreasing the power of an input signal, and may be increasing or decreasing the gain of an input signal.

The time interleaver <NUM> performs interleaving equally applied to the signals of the layers by interleaving the signals combined by the combiner <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example of the signal demultiplexer illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a signal demultiplexer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a time deinterleaver <NUM>, a core layer BICM decoder <NUM>, an enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM>, and an enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM>.

In this case, the signal demultiplexer illustrated in <FIG> may correspond to the signal multiplexer illustrated in <FIG>.

The time deinterleaver <NUM> receives a received signal from an OFDM receiver for performing operations, such as synchronization, channel estimation and equalization, and performs an operation related to the distribution of burst errors occurring over a channel.

The output of the time deinterleaver <NUM> is provided to the core layer BICM decoder <NUM>, and the core layer BICM decoder <NUM> restores core layer data.

In this case, the core layer BICM decoder <NUM> includes a core layer symbol demapper, a core layer bit deinterleaver, and a core layer error correction decoder. The core layer symbol demapper calculates Log-Likelihood Ratio (LLR) values related to symbols, the core layer bit deinterleaver strongly mixes the calculated LLR values with burst errors, and the core layer error correction decoder corrects error occurring over a channel.

In particular, the core layer error correction decoder may output only information bits, or may output whole bits in which information bits have been mixed with parity bits. In this case, the core layer error correction decoder may output only information bits as core layer data, and may output whole bits in which information bits have been mixed with parity bits to the enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM>.

The enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM> is provided with the whole bits by the core layer BICM decoder <NUM> of the core layer error correction decoder, and extracts enhanced layer symbols from the output signal of the time deinterleaver <NUM>.

In this case, the enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM> includes a buffer, a subtracter, a core layer symbol mapper, and a core layer bit interleaver. The buffer stores the output signal of the time deinterleaver <NUM>. The core layer bit interleaver receives the whole bits (information bits + parity bits) of the core layer BICM decoder, and performs the same core layer bit interleaving as the transmitter. The core layer symbol mapper generates core layer symbols, which are the same as the transmitter, from the interleaved signal. The subtracter obtains enhanced layer symbols by subtracting the output signal of the core layer symbol mapper from the signal stored in the buffer, and transfers the enhanced layer symbols to the enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM>.

In this case, the core layer bit interleaver and core layer symbol mapper included in the enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM> may be the same as the core layer bit interleaver and the core layer symbol mapper illustrated in <FIG>.

The enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM> receives the enhanced layer symbols, and restores enhanced layer data.

In this case, the enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM> may include an enhanced layer symbol demapper, an enhanced layer bit deinterleaver, and an enhanced layer error correction decoder. The enhanced layer symbol demapper calculates Log-Likelihood Ratio (LLR) values related to the enhanced layer symbols, the enhanced layer bit deinterleaver strongly mixes the calculated LLR values with burst errors, and the enhanced layer error correction decoder corrects error occurring over a channel.

That is, the signal demultiplexer illustrated in <FIG> restores core layer data first, leaves only enhanced layer symbols by cancellation core layer symbols in the received signal symbols, and then restores enhanced layer data. Since signals corresponding to respective layers are combined at different power levels, as described in conjunction with <FIG> and <FIG>, data restoration having the lowest error is achieved only when the restoration starts with the signal combined at the highest power level.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating another example of the signal demultiplexer illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a signal demultiplexer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a time deinterleaver <NUM>, a core layer BICM decoder <NUM>, an enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM>, an enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM>, one or more extension layer symbol extractors <NUM> and <NUM>, and one or more extension layer BICM decoders <NUM> and <NUM>.

The time deinterleaver <NUM> receives the received signal from the OFDM receiver that performs operations, such as synchronization, channel estimation and equalization, and performs the operation of distributing burst errors occurring over a channel.

In this case, the core layer BICM decoder <NUM> includes a core layer symbol demapper, a core layer bit deinterleaver, and a core layer error correction decoder. The core layer symbol demapper calculates LLR values related to symbols, the core layer bit deinterleaver strongly mixes the calculated LLR values with burst errors, and the core layer error correction decoder corrects error occurring over a channel.

In particular, the core layer error correction decoder may output only information bits, or may output whole bits in which information bits have been combined with parity bits. In this case, the core layer error correction decoder may output only information bits as core layer data, and may output whole bits in which information bits have been mixed with parity bits to the enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM>.

The enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM> receives whole bits from the core layer error correction decoder of the core layer BICM decoder <NUM>, and extracts enhanced layer symbols from the output signal of the time deinterleaver <NUM>.

In this case, the enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM> includes a buffer, a subtracter, a core layer symbol mapper, and a core layer bit interleaver. The buffer stores the output signal of the time deinterleaver <NUM>. The core layer bit interleaver receives whole bits (information bits + parity bits) of the core layer BICM decoder, and performs core layer bit interleaving that is the same as that of the transmitter. The core layer symbol mapper generates core layer symbols that are the same as those of the transmitter from the interleaved signal. The subtracter obtains enhanced layer symbols by subtracting the output signal of the core layer symbol mapper from the signal stored in the buffer, and transfers the enhanced layer symbols to the enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM>.

In this case, the core layer bit interleaver and the core layer symbol mapper included in the enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM> may be the same as the core layer bit interleaver and the core layer symbol mapper illustrated in <FIG>.

The enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM> receives enhanced layer symbols, and restores enhanced layer data.

In this case, the enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM> may include an enhanced layer symbol demapper, an enhanced layer bit deinterleaver, and an enhanced layer error correction decoder. The enhanced layer symbol demapper calculates LLR values related to the enhanced layer symbols, the enhanced layer bit deinterleaver strongly mixes the calculated LLR values with burst errors, and the enhanced layer error correction decoder corrects error occurring over a channel.

In particular, the enhanced layer error correction decoder may output only information bits, and may output whole bits in which information bits have been combined with parity bits. In this case, the enhanced layer error correction decoder may output only information bits as enhanced layer data, and may output whole bits in which information bits have been mixed with parity bits to the extension layer symbol extractor <NUM>.

The extension layer symbol extractor <NUM> receives whole bits from the enhanced layer error correction decoder of the enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM>, and extracts extension layer symbols from the output signal of the subtracter of the enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM>.

In this case, the extension layer symbol extractor <NUM> includes a buffer, a subtracter, an enhanced layer symbol mapper, and an enhanced layer bit interleaver. The buffer stores the output signal of the subtracter of the enhanced layer symbol extractor. The enhanced layer bit interleaver receives the whole bits information (bits + parity bits) of the enhanced layer BICM decoder, and performs enhanced layer bit interleaving that is the same as that of the transmitter. The enhanced layer symbol mapper generates enhanced layer symbols, which are the same as those of the transmitter, from the interleaved signal. The subtracter obtains extension layer symbols by subtracting the output signal of the enhanced layer symbol mapper from the signal stored in the buffer, and transfers the extension layer symbols to the extension layer BICM decoder <NUM>.

In this case, the enhanced layer bit interleaver and the enhanced layer symbol mapper included in the extension layer symbol extractor <NUM> are the same as the enhanced layer bit interleaver and the enhanced layer symbol mapper illustrated in <FIG>.

The extension layer BICM decoder <NUM> receives the extension layer symbols, and restores extension layer data.

In this case, the extension layer BICM decoder <NUM> may include an extension layer symbol demapper, an extension layer bit deinterleaver, and an extension layer error correction decoder. The extension layer symbol demapper calculates LLR values related to the extension layer symbols, the extension layer bit deinterleaver strongly mixes the calculated LLR values with burst errors, and the extension layer error correction decoder corrects error occurring over a channel.

In particular, each of the extension layer symbol extractor and the extension layer BICM decoder may include two or more extractors or decoders if the extension layers are two or more in number.

That is, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, the extension layer error correction decoder of the extension layer BICM decoder <NUM> may output only information bits, and may output whole bits in which information bits have been combined with parity bits. In this case, the extension layer error correction decoder outputs only information bits as extension layer data, and may output whole bits in which information bits have been mixed with parity bits to the subsequent extension layer symbol extractor <NUM>.

The configuration and operation of the extension layer symbol extractor <NUM> and the extension layer BICM decoder <NUM> can be easily understood from the configuration and operation of the above-described extension layer symbol extractor <NUM> and extension layer BICM decoder <NUM>.

It can be seen that the signal demultiplexer illustrated in <FIG> restores core layer data first, restores enhanced layer data using the cancellation of core layer symbols, and restores extension layer data using the cancellation of enhanced layer symbols. Two or more extension layers may be provided, in which case restoration starts with an extension layer combined at a higher power level.

Since the signal multiplexer illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> is configured such that two or more signals are combined at different power levels, it may be necessary to adjust the power levels after combination. That is, when a core layer signal and an enhanced layer signal are combined by a combiner, the power level of an obtained multiplexing signal may be higher than that of the core layer signal or enhanced layer signal before the combination, and thus a problem, such as the distortion of a signal, attributable to such an increase in power may occur during signal transmission/reception.

<FIG> is a diagram showing an increase in power attributable to the combination of a core layer signal and an enhanced layer signal.

Referring to <FIG>, it can be seen that when a multiplexed signal is generated by combining a core layer signal with an enhanced layer signal power reduced by an injection level, the power level of the multiplexed signal is higher than that of the core layer signal or enhanced layer signal.

In this case, the injection level adjusted by the injection level controller illustrated in <FIG> or <FIG> may be adjusted from <NUM> dB to <NUM> dB in steps of <NUM> dB. When the injection level is <NUM> dB, the power of the enhanced layer signal is lower than that of the core layer signal by <NUM> dB. When the injection level is <NUM> dB, the power of the enhanced layer signal is lower than the power of the core layer signal by <NUM> dB. This relationship is applied not only between the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal but also between the enhanced layer signal and the extension layer signal or between the extension layer signals.

Referring to <FIG>, a signal multiplexer according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a core layer BICM unit <NUM>, an enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM>, an injection level controller <NUM>, a combiner <NUM>, a power normalizer <NUM>, and a time interleaver <NUM>.

Generally, a BICM device includes an error correction encoder, a bit interleaver, and a symbol mapper. Each of the core layer BICM unit <NUM> and the enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may include an error correction encoder, a bit interleaver, and a symbol mapper.

That is, the core layer data passes through the core layer BICM unit <NUM>, the enhanced layer data passes through the enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM> and then the injection level controller <NUM>, and the core layer data and the enhanced layer data are combined by the combiner <NUM>. In this case, the enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM> may perform BICM encoding different from that of the core layer BICM unit <NUM>. That is, the enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM> may perform higher bit rate error correction encoding or symbol mapping than the core layer BICM unit <NUM>. Furthermore, the enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM> may perform less robust error correction encoding or symbol mapping than the core layer BICM <NUM> unit.

In this case, the injection level controller <NUM> may control the injection level from <NUM> dB to <NUM> dB in steps of <NUM> dB.

The signal obtained by the combination of the combiner <NUM> is provided to the power normalizer <NUM> so that the power of the signal can be reduced by an increase in power caused by the combination of the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal, and then power adjustment is performed. That is, the power normalizer <NUM> reduces the power of the signal, obtained by the multiplexing of the combiner <NUM>, to a power level corresponding to the core layer signal. Since the level of the combined signal is higher than the level of one layer signal, the power normalizing of the power normalizer <NUM> is required in order to prevent amplitude clipping, etc. in the remaining portion of a broadcast signal transmission/reception system.

Assuming that the power levels of the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal are normalized to <NUM> when an enhanced layer signal SE is injected into a core layer signal SC at a preset injection level, a combined signal may be expressed by SC + αSE.

In this case, α is scaling factors corresponding to various injection levels. That is, the injection level controller <NUM> may correspond to the scaling factor.

For example, when the injection level of an enhanced layer is <NUM> dB, a combined signal may be expressed by <MAT>.

Since the power of a combined signal (a multiplexed signal) increases compared to a core layer signal, the power normalizer <NUM> needs to mitigate the increase in power.

The output of the power normalizer <NUM> may be expressed by β(SC +αSE).

In this case, β is normalizing factors based on various injection levels of the enhanced layer.

When the injection level of the enhanced layer is <NUM> dB, the power of the combined signal is increased by <NUM>% compared to that of the core layer signal. Accordingly, the output of the power normalizer <NUM> may be expressed by <MAT>.

Table <NUM> below lists scaling factors α and normalizing factors β for various injection levels (CL: Core Layer, EL: Enhanced Layer):.

That is, the power normalizer <NUM> corresponds to the normalizing factor, and reduces the power of the multiplexed signal by an amount by which the combiner <NUM> has increased the power.

In this case, each of the normalizing factor and the scaling factor may be a rational number larger than <NUM> and smaller than <NUM>.

In this case, the scaling factor may decrease as a reduction in power corresponding to the injection level controller <NUM> becomes larger, and the normalizing factor may increase as a reduction in power corresponding to the injection level controller <NUM> becomes larger.

The power normalized signal passes through the time interleaver <NUM> for distributing burst errors occurring over a channel, and is transmitted via the OFDM transmitter robust to multi-path and Doppler phenomena.

Although will be described later in greater detail, the enhanced layer signal may correspond to enhanced layer data restored based on cancellation corresponding to the restoration of core layer data corresponding to the core layer signal. The combiner <NUM> may combine one or more extension layer signals having power levels lower than those of the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal with the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating still another example of the signal multiplexer illustrated in <FIG>.

That is, the signal multiplexer illustrated in <FIG> includes N extension layer BICM units <NUM>,. , <NUM> and injection level controllers <NUM>,. , <NUM> in addition to a core layer BICM unit <NUM>, an enhanced layer BICM unit <NUM>, an injection level controller <NUM>, a combiner <NUM>, a power normalizer <NUM>, and a time interleaver <NUM>.

The power normalizer <NUM> mitigates an increase in power caused by the combination of a plurality of layer signals by the combiner <NUM>.

The time interleaver <NUM> performs interleaving equally applied to the signals of the layers by interleaving the normalized signals.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating still another example of the signal demultiplexer illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a signal demultiplexer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a time deinterleaver <NUM>, a de-normalizer <NUM>, core layer BICM decoder <NUM>, an enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM>, a de-injection level controller <NUM>, and an enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM>.

The de-normalizer <NUM> corresponds to the power normalizer of the transmitter, and increases power by an amount by which the power normalizer has decreased the power.

Although the de-normalizer <NUM> is illustrated as adjusting the power of the output signal of the time interleaver <NUM> in the example illustrated in <FIG>, the de-normalizer <NUM> may be located before the time interleaver <NUM> so that power adjustment is performed before interleaving in some embodiments.

That is, the de-normalizer <NUM> may be viewed as being located before or after the time interleaver <NUM> and amplifying the magnitude of a signal for the purpose of the LLR calculation of the core layer symbol demapper.

The output of the time deinterleaver <NUM> (or the output of the de-normalizer <NUM>) is provided to the core layer BICM decoder <NUM>, and the core layer BICM decoder <NUM> restores core layer data.

In this case, the enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM> includes a buffer, a subtracter, a core layer symbol mapper, and a core layer bit interleaver. The buffer stores the output signal of the time deinterleaver <NUM> or de-normalizer <NUM>. The core layer bit interleaver receives the whole bits (information bits + parity bits) of the core layer BICM decoder, and performs the same core layer bit interleaving as the transmitter. The core layer symbol mapper generates core layer symbols, which are the same as the transmitter, from the interleaved signal. The subtracter obtains enhanced layer symbols by subtracting the output signal of the core layer symbol mapper from the signal stored in the buffer, and transfers the enhanced layer symbols to the de-injection level controller <NUM>.

The de-injection level controller <NUM> receives the enhanced layer symbols, and increases the power of the input signal by an amount by which the injection level controller of the transmitter has decreased the power. That is, the de-injection level controller <NUM> amplifies the input signal, and provides the amplified input signal to the enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM>. For example, if at the transmitter, the power used to combine the enhanced layer signal is lower than the power used to combine the core layer signal by <NUM> dB, the de-injection level controller <NUM> functions to increase the power of the input signal by <NUM> dB.

The enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM> receives the enhanced layer symbol whose power has been increased by the de-injection level controller <NUM>, and restores the enhanced layer data.

That is, the signal demultiplexer illustrated in <FIG> restores core layer data first, leaves only the enhanced layer symbols by cancellation the core layer symbols in the received signal symbols, and then restores enhanced layer data by increasing the power of the enhanced layer symbols.

Referring to <FIG>, a signal demultiplexer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a time deinterleaver <NUM>, a de-normalizer <NUM>, a core layer BICM decoder <NUM>, an enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM>, an enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM>, one or more extension layer symbol extractors <NUM> and <NUM>, one or more extension layer BICM decoders <NUM> and <NUM>, and de-injection level controllers <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

The de-injection level controller <NUM> receives the enhanced layer symbols, and increases the power of the input signal by an amount by which the injection level controller of the transmitter has decreased the power. That is, the de-injection level controller <NUM> amplifies the input signal, and provides the amplified input signal to the enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM>.

The extension layer symbol extractor <NUM> receives whole bits from the enhanced layer error correction decoder of the enhanced layer BICM decoder <NUM>, and extracts extension layer symbols from the output signal of the de-injection level controller <NUM>.

In this case, the de-injection level controller <NUM> may amplify the power of the output signal of the subtracter of the enhanced layer symbol extractor <NUM>.

In this case, the extension layer symbol extractor <NUM> includes a buffer, a subtracter, an enhanced layer symbol mapper, and an enhanced layer bit interleaver. The buffer stores the output signal of the de-injection level controller <NUM>. The enhanced layer bit interleaver receives the whole bits information (bits + parity bits) of the enhanced layer BICM decoder, and performs enhanced layer bit interleaving that is the same as that of the transmitter. The enhanced layer symbol mapper generates enhanced layer symbols, which are the same as those of the transmitter, from the interleaved signal. The subtracter obtains extension layer symbols by subtracting the output signal of the enhanced layer symbol mapper from the signal stored in the buffer, and transfers the extension layer symbols to the extension layer BICM decoder <NUM>.

The de-injection level controller <NUM> increases power by an amount by which the injection level controller of a corresponding layer has decreased the power at the transmitter.

The extension layer BICM decoder <NUM> receives the extension layer symbols whose power has been increased by the de-injection level controller <NUM>, and restores extension layer data.

In particular, each of the extension layer symbol extractor and the extension layer BICM decoder may include two or more extractors or decoders if two or more extension layers are present.

The configuration and operation of the extension layer symbol extractor <NUM>, the extension layer BICM decoder <NUM> and the de-injection level controller <NUM> can be easily understood from the configuration and operation of the above-described extension layer symbol extractor <NUM>, extension layer BICM decoder <NUM> and de-injection level controller <NUM>.

A lower one of the de-injection level controllers <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may correspond to a larger increase in power. That is, the de-injection level controller <NUM> may increase power more than the de-injection level controller <NUM>, and the de-injection level controller <NUM> may increase power more than the de-injection level controller <NUM>.

<FIG> is an operation flowchart illustrating a signal multiplexing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, in the signal multiplexing method according to the present embodiment, BICM is applied to core layer data at step S1210.

Furthermore, in the signal multiplexing method according to the present embodiment, BICM is applied to enhanced layer data at step S1220.

The BICM applied at step S1220 may be different from the BICM applied to step S1210. In this case, the BICM applied at step S1220 may be less robust than the BICM applied to step S1210. In this case, the bit rate of the BICM applied at step S1220 may be less robust than that of the BICM applied to step S1210.

In this case, an enhanced layer signal may correspond to the enhanced layer data that is restored based on cancellation corresponding to the restoration of the core layer data corresponding to a core layer signal.

Furthermore, in the signal multiplexing method according to the present embodiment, a power-reduced enhanced layer signal is generated by reducing the power of the enhanced layer signal at step S1230.

In this case, at step S1230, an injection level may be changed from <NUM> dB to <NUM> dB in steps of <NUM> dB.

Furthermore, in the signal multiplexing method according to the present embodiment, a multiplexed signal is generated by combining the core layer signal and the power-reduced enhanced layer signal at step S1240.

That is, at step S1240, the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal are combined at different power levels so that the power level of the enhanced layer signal is lower than the power level of the core layer signal.

In this case, at step S1240, one or more extension layer signals having lower power levels than the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal may be combined along with the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal.

Furthermore, in the signal multiplexing method according to the present embodiment, the power of the multiplexed signal is reduced at step S1250.

In this case, at step S1250, the power of the multiplexed signal may be reduced to the power of the core layer signal. In this case, at step S1250, the power of the multiplexed signal may be reduced by an amount by which the power has been increased at step S1240.

Furthermore, in the signal multiplexing method according to the present embodiment, interleaving applied to both the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal is performed at step S1260.

The signal multiplexing method illustrated in <FIG> may correspond to steps S240 and S250 illustrated in <FIG>.

Claim 1:
A signal multiplexing method, comprising:
generating a core layer signal by using a core layer BICM unit;
generating an enhanced layer signal by using an enhanced layer BICM unit;
generating a power-reduced enhanced layer signal by reducing power of the enhanced layer signal;
combining the core layer signal and the power-reduced enhanced layer signal to generate a multiplexed signal;
reducing power of the multiplexed signal to power corresponding to the core layer signal; and
performing time interleaving applied to both a core layer corresponding to the core layer signal and an enhanced layer corresponding to the enhanced layer signal,
wherein the power-reduced enhanced layer signal is generated corresponding to a scaling factor, the power-reduced enhanced layer signal is generated from the enhanced layer signal and the power of the multiplexed signal is reduced corresponding to a normalizing factor,
wherein the scaling factor is applied to the enhanced layer signal and the normalizing factor is applied to both the core layer signal and the power-reduced enhanced layer signal,
wherein the scaling factor and the normalizing factor vary in opposite directions according to variation of power reduction corresponding to the power-reduced enhanced layer signal,
wherein the normalizing factor corresponds to an injection level which is changed with one of predetermined step sizes, the step sizes including <NUM> dB.