Patent ID: 8302148

Claim:
Method of operating a repeater for distribution of digital broadcast information, characterized by the steps: receiving a composite digital broadcast signal carrying first digital broadcast information according to a first digital broadcast specification (DVB-T) and second digital broadcast information according to a second digital broadcast specification (DVB-H), wherein the signal corresponding to the second digital broadcast specification (DVB-H) is overlaid onto a transmission signal carrying the first digital broadcast information using hierarchical modulation; and selectively forwarding either the composite digital broadcast signal or a digital repeater forwarding signal carrying the first digital broadcast information or the second digital broadcast information; wherein the step of deriving the digital repeater forwarding signal comprises the steps: determining a forwarding part (DVB-H) from the composite digital broadcast signal reflecting a first digital broadcast information or a second digital broadcast information; and deducting a non-forwarding part (DVB-T) from the composite digital broadcast signal for determination of the repeater digital forwarding signal; and, wherein the step of determining the forwarding part (DVB-H) comprises the steps: frequency shifting and demodulating the composite digital broadcast signal to a first repeater base-band signal; separating the first base-band signal into a first de-mapped broadcast bit stream reflecting the first digital broadcast information and a second de-mapped broadcast bit stream reflecting the second digital broadcast information by reversing a vector overlay step executed at the transmitter side assuming that first digital broadcast information (DVB-T) is mapped starting from the first channel coded broadcast bit stream onto one first constellation point of a plurality of constellation points in a first constellation diagram; second digital broadcast information (DVB-H) is mapped starting from the second channel coded broadcast bit stream onto one second constellation point of a plurality of constellation points in a second constellation diagram; and the base-band signal is generated by vector overlay of the first constellation point and the second constellation point; selecting the first constellation mapped broadcast bit stream or the second constellation mapped broadcast bit stream for forwarding from the repeater.