WO2010085120A2

WO2010085120A2 - Transmitting system and receiving system and method of processing data in the transmitting and receiving system

Info

Publication number: WO2010085120A2
Application number: PCT/KR2010/000432
Authority: WO
Inventors: Won Gyu Song; Byoung Gill Kim; Chul Kyu Moon; Hyoung Gon Lee; In Hwan Choi; Jin Woo Kim
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2009-01-22
Filing date: 2010-01-22
Publication date: 2010-07-29
Also published as: WO2010085120A3

Abstract

A transmitting/receiving system and a method for processing broadcasting data are disclosed. The receiving system includes a demodulator, a pre-signaling decoder, a post-signaling decoder, and a block decoder. The demodulator demodulates mobile service data based upon decoded pre-signaling data, the mobile service data being received through some segments of at least one slot, wherein a transmission frame is configured of multiple sub-frames, and wherein a sub-frame is configured of multiple slots. The pre-signaling decoder decodes pre-signaling data being received through a first slot of each sub-frame. The post-signaling decoder decodes post-signaling data being received after the pre-signaling data. The block decoder turbo-decodes the demodulated mobile service data based upon the decoded post-signaling data.

Description

TRANSMITTING SYSTEM AND RECEIVING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROCESSING DATA IN THE TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting system for transmitting and receiving digital broadcast signal, and more particularly, to a transmitting system for processing and transmitting digital broadcast signal, and a receiving system for receiving and processing digital broadcast signal and, a method of processing data in the transmitting system and the receiving system.

The Vestigial Sideband (VSB) transmission mode, which is adopted as the standard for digital broadcasting in North America and the Republic of Korea, is a system using a single carrier method. Therefore, the receiving performance of the digital broadcast receiving system may be deteriorated in a poor channel environment. Particularly, since resistance to changes in channels and noise is more highly required when using portable and/or mobile broadcast receivers, the receiving performance may be even more deteriorated when transmitting mobile service data by the VSB transmission mode.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a digital broadcasting system and a data processing method that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a transmitting/receiving system and a data processing method that are highly resistant to channel changes and noise.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a transmitting/receiving system and a data processing method that can enhance the receiving performance of the receiving system by inserting known data in a partial region of a mobile service data region, so as to be transmitted. Herein, the known data are known based upon an agreement between the receiving system and the transmitting system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a transmitting/receiving system and a data processing method for providing mobile services of different formats.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a transmitting/receiving system and a data processing method that can use a full channel so as to provide mobile services.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a receiving system includes a demodulator, a pre-signaling decoder, a post-signaling decoder, and a block decoder. The demodulator demodulates mobile service data based upon decoded pre-signaling data, the mobile service data being received through some segments of at least one slot. Herein a transmission frame is configured of multiple sub-frames, and a sub-frame is configured of multiple slots. The pre-signaling decoder decodes pre-signaling data being received through a first slot of each sub-frame. The post-signaling decoder decodes post-signaling data being received after the pre-signaling data. The block decoder turbo-decodes the demodulated mobile service data based upon the decoded post-signaling data.

Herein, a known data sequence is received through a last segment of a slot transmitting the mobile service data. Herein, the known data sequence may be pre-decided based upon an agreement between the receiving system and a transmitting system.

When the mobile service data correspond to data for a second mobile service, and when data for a first mobile service are received through some segments of a slot transmitting the data for the second mobile service, a known data sequence is received through a segment following the data for the first mobile service. Herein the known data sequence may be pre-decided based upon an agreement between the receiving system and a transmitting system.

The block decoder performs trellis-decoding on mobile service data for the first mobile service and performs serial concatenated convolutional code (SCCC)-type turbo-decoding on the trellis-decoded mobile service data.

The block decoder performs trellis-decoding on mobile service data for the second mobile service and performs parallel concatenated convolutional code (PCCC)-type turbo-decoding on the trellis-decoded mobile service data.

In another aspect of the present invention, a data processing method in a receiving system includes demodulating mobile service data based upon decoded pre-signaling data, the mobile service data being received through some segments of at least one slot, wherein a transmission frame is configured of multiple sub-frames, and wherein a sub-frame is configured of multiple slots, decoding pre-signaling data being received through a first slot of each sub-frame, decoding post-signaling data being received after the pre-signaling data, and turbo-decoding the demodulated mobile service data based upon the decoded post-signaling data.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

The present invention has the following advantages. When transmitting mobile service data through a channel, the present invention may be robust against errors and backward compatible with the conventional digital broadcast receiving system. Moreover, the present invention may also receive the mobile service data without any error even in channels having severe ghost effect and noise. Additionally, by inserting known data in a particular position (or place) within a data region and transmitting the processed data, the receiving performance of the receiving system may be enhanced even in a channel environment that is liable to frequent changes.

Furthermore, the present invention is assigned with a portion of the channel so as to receive and process data for a first mobile service and also to receive and process data for a second mobile service, which are delivered through a full channel, thereby servicing the processed data to the users. Finally, the present invention is even more effective when applied to mobile and portable receivers, which are also liable to a frequent change in channel and which require protection (or resistance) against intense noise.

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary FC-M/H frame structure for transmitting and receiving mobile service data according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a general VSB frame structure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary mapping of the first 4 M/H slot positions of an M/H sub-frame shown in a space region for one VSB frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a structure of a data group after being data-interleaved according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a partially expanded diagram of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary order of data groups being assigned (or allocated) to one of 5 M/H sub-frames configuring an FC-M/H frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of assigning data for a first mobile service of a single parade to one FC-M/H frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of assigning data for a first mobile service of three parades to one M/H sub-frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of assigning known data for a second mobile service, after assigning data for the first mobile service of three parades to one M/H sub-frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary known data sequence for the second mobile service having the length of 2 segment according to the present invention;

FIG. 11(a) and FIG. 11(b) illustrate examples of assigning data for the second mobile service to remaining regions, after assigning known data sequences for the first mobile service and the second mobile service to one M/H sub-frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram showing the structure of a transmitting system according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a detailed block diagram showing an example of a first RS frame encoder according to the present invention;

FIG. 14(a) to FIG. 14(c) illustrate examples of performing error correction coding and error detection coding on an RS frame payload according to the present invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary RS frame payload structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary M/H header structure within an M/H service data packet according to the present invention;

FIG. 17(a) and FIG. 17(b) illustrate an exemplary process of dividing an RS frame for the first mobile service according to the present invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates a detailed block diagram showing an example of a second RS encoder according to the present invention;

FIG. 19 illustrates an example of an RS frame for the second mobile service being processed with error correction coding and error detection coding according to the present invention;

FIG. 20(a) and FIG. 20(b) illustrate an exemplary process of dividing an RS frame for the second mobile service according to the present invention;

FIG. 21 illustrates a block diagram showing the structure of a second block processor according to the present invention;

FIG. 22(a) and FIG. 22(b) illustrate exemplary structures of pre-signaling data being used for detecting a training mode according to the present invention;

FIG. 23 illustrates an example of assigning known data, pre-signaling data, and post-signaling data for the second mobile service data to the M/H sub-frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 24 illustrates a block diagram showing the structure of a second signaling encoder according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 25 illustrates a block diagram showing the structure of a demodulating unit included in a receiving system according to the present invention.

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In addition, although the terms used in the present invention are selected from generally known and used terms, some of the terms mentioned in the description of the present invention have been selected by the applicant at his or her discretion, the detailed meanings of which are described in relevant parts of the description herein. Furthermore, it is required that the present invention is understood, not simply by the actual terms used but by the meaning of each term lying within.

Among the terms used in the description of the present invention, main service data correspond to data that can be received by a fixed receiving system and may include audio/video (A/V) data. More specifically, the main service data may include A/V data of high definition (HD) or standard definition (SD) levels and may also include diverse data types required for data broadcasting. Also, the known data correspond to data pre-known in accordance with a pre-arranged agreement between the receiving system and the transmitting system.

Additionally, among the terms used in the present invention, “M/H (or MH)” corresponds to the initials of “mobile” and “handheld” and represents the opposite concept of a fixed-type system. Furthermore, the M/H service data may include at least one of mobile service data and handheld service data, and will also be referred to as “mobile service data” for simplicity. Herein, the mobile service data not only correspond to M/H service data but may also include any type of service data with mobile or portable characteristics. Therefore, the mobile service data according to the present invention are not limited only to the M/H service data.

The above-described mobile service data may correspond to data having information, such as program execution files, stock information, and so on, and may also correspond to A/V data. Most particularly, the mobile service data may correspond to A/V data having lower resolution and lower data rate as compared to the main service data. For example, if an A/V codec that is used for a conventional main service corresponds to a MPEG-2 codec, a MPEG-4 advanced video coding (AVC) or scalable video coding (SVC) having better image compression efficiency may be used as the A/V codec for the mobile service. Furthermore, any type of data may be transmitted as the mobile service data. For example, transport protocol expert group (TPEG) data for broadcasting real-time transportation information may be transmitted as the mobile service data.

Also, a data service using the mobile service data may include weather forecast services, traffic information services, stock information services, viewer participation quiz programs, real-time polls and surveys, interactive education broadcast programs, gaming services, services providing information on synopsis, character, background music, and filming sites of soap operas or series, services providing information on past match scores and player profiles and achievements, and services providing information on product information and programs classified by service, medium, time, and theme enabling purchase orders to be processed. Herein, the present invention is not limited only to the services mentioned above.

The present invention may use a portion of a channel capacity, to which data for the main service have been transmitted, so as to transmit data for mobile services. Alternatively, the present invention may use the entire channel capacity, to which data for the main service have been transmitted, so as to transmit data for mobile services.

In the description of the present invention, the mobile service being provided by using part of the channel capacity, such as in the former case, will be referred to as a first mobile service (or M/H 1.0 service), and the respective mobile service data will be referred to as first mobile service data (or M/H 1.0 service data), for simplicity. Also, the mobile service being provided by using all of the channel capacity (or the entire channel capacity), such as in the latter case, will be referred to as a second mobile service (or M/H 2.0 service), and the respective mobile service data will be referred to as second mobile service data (or M/H 2.0 service data), for simplicity.

Data for the first mobile service correspond to data required for the first mobile service, which include first mobile service data, known data for the first mobile service, and signaling data for the first mobile service. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the signaling data include transmission parameter channel (TPC) data and fast information channel (FIC) data. Also, data for the second mobile service correspond to data required for the second mobile service, which include second mobile service data, known data for the second mobile service, and signaling data for the second mobile service. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the signaling data include pre-sginaling data and post-signaling data. Herein, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the post-signaling data include TPC data and FIC data, and the TPC data include common-TPC data and parade-TPC data. Each type of signaling data will be described in more detail in a later process.

The present invention may transmit only the data for the second mobile service, or may the data for the first mobile service and data for the second mobile service at the same time. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the transmission unit for transmitting the data for the first mobile service and the data for the second mobile service is one FC-M/H frame (also referred to as M/H frame). For example, the data for the second mobile service may only exist in one FC-M/H frame, or the data for the first mobile service and the data for the second mobile service may co-exist in one FC-M/H frame.

At this point, one FC-M/H frame is configured of K1 number of M/H sub-frames (also referred to as sub-frames), and one M/H sub-frame is configured of K2 number of VSB frames. Herein, one VSB frame may be configured of K3 number of M/H slots (also referred to as slots). According to the embodiment of the present invention, K1 is equal to 5, K2 is equal to 4, and K3 is equal to 4. The K1, K2, and K3 value proposed in the present invention may correspond to the preferred embodiment of the present invention or may correspond to mere examples of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention will not be limited only to the numbers shown herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an FC-M/H frame structure for transmitting and/or receiving data for the first mobile service and data for the second mobile service according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, one FC-M/H frame is configured of 5 M/H sub-frames, wherein one sub-frame consists of 4 VSB frames, and wherein one VSB frame is configured of 4 M/H slots. In this case, one FC-M/H frame includes 5 M/H sub-frames, 20 VSB frames, and 80 M/H slots. Furthermore, one M/H slot is configured of 156 segments. One VSB field is equivalent to half of one VSB field. In this case, two VSB fields are grouped so as to configure one VSB field.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a general VSB frame structure. Herein, one VSB frame is configured of two fields (i.e., an odd field and an even field). Also, each field is configured of one field synchronization segment and 312 segments. More specifically, it is apparent that 2 M/H slots are grouped to form one field, and that 2 fields are grouped to form one VSB frame. Therefore, one M/H slot includes 156 segments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an M/H slot structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. The M/H slot corresponds to a basic time cycle period for multiplexing data for the first mobile service and data for the second mobile service. Herein, one M/H slot may include only the data for the second mobile service or may include the data for the first mobile service and the data for the second mobile service at the same time. More specifically, FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary mapping of the first 4 M/H slot positions of an M/H sub-frame shown in a space region for one VSB frame according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a first segment (#0) of a first M/H slot (M/H slot #0) is mapped to a first segment of an odd VSB field, and a first segment (#0) of a second M/H slot (M/H slot #1) is mapped to a 157th segment of the odd VSB field. Also, a first segment (#0) of a third M/H slot (M/H slot #2) is mapped to a first segment of an even VSB field, and a first segment (#0) of a fourth M/H slot (M/H slot #3) is mapped to a 157th segment of the even VSB field. Similarly, the remaining 12 M/H slots within the corresponding M/H sub-frame are also mapped to the subsequent VSB frame by using the same method.

For example, when only the data for the second mobile service are transmitted from an FC-M/H frame, the data for the second mobile service may assigned (or allocated) to each M/H slot (i.e., each set of 156 segments), thereby being transmitted. In another example, when both the data for the first mobile service and the data for the second mobile service are transmitted from an FC-M/H frame, the data for the first mobile service are first assigned to a portion of the corresponding M/H slot within the FC-M/H frame, and the data for the second mobile service are then assigned to the remaining region of the FC-M/H frame, thereby being transmitted.

Herein, the data for the first mobile service are assigned to a portion of a specific M/H slot within the FC-M/H frame based upon a pre-decided rule, thereby transmitted. The data for the first mobile service may be assigned to all 80 M/H slots within the FC-M/H frame or may be assigned to only some of the 80 M/H slots within the FC-M/H frame. At this point, the data for the first mobile service are assigned to some segments of the corresponding M/H slot. For example, when the data for the first mobile service are assigned to 96 segments of the first (1st) M/H slot and the fifth (5th) M/H slot of each M/H sub-frame within the FC-M/H frame, the data for the second mobile service may be assigned to the remaining 60 segments of the first (1st) M/H slot and the fifth (5th) M/H slot of each M/H sub-frame within the FC-M/H frame and may also be assigned to the 156 segments of all of the remaining M/H slots to which the data for the first mobile service have not been assigned.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the data for the first mobile service configure a data group, and one data group is assigned to one M/H slot. Meanwhile, one data group may be divided into at least one or more hierarchical regions. And, for example, the data group within each region may be divided (or categorized) based upon the receiving performance. Herein, according to the embodiment of the present invention, a data group is divided into regions A, B, C, and D.

FIG. 4 illustrates a data group being distributed (or scattered) to multiple segments and aligned. FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged portion of the data group shown in FIG. 4 for a better understanding of the present invention. More specifically, a data structure identical to that shown in FIG. 4 is transmitted to a receiving system. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of one data group being distributed (or scattered) to 170 data segments. FIG. 4 shows an example of dividing a data group into 10 M/H blocks (i.e., M/H block 1 (B1) to M/H block 10 (B10)). In this example, each M/H block has the length of 16 segments. Referring to FIG. 4, only the RS parity data are assigned (or allocated) to portions of the first 5 segments of the M/H block 1 (B1)and the last 5 segments of the M/H block 10 (B10). According to the embodiment of the present invention, the RS parity data are excluded in regions A to D of the data group. More specifically, when it is assumed that one data group is divided into regions A, B, C, and D, each M/H block may be included in any one of region A to region D depending upon the characteristic of each M/H block within the data group.

In case of M/H block 4 (B4) to M/H block 7 (B7) within the data group shown in FIG. 4, a long known data sequence is inserted at both the beginning and end of each M/H block. In the description of the present invention, the region including M/H block 4 (B4) to M/H block 7 (B7), wherein the corresponding M/H blocks all include the known data sequences, will be referred to as “region A (=B4+B5+B6+B7)”. As described above, in case of region A having a long known data sequence inserted at both the beginning and end of each M/H block, the receiving system is capable of performing equalization by using the channel information that can be obtained from the known data. Therefore, the strongest equalizing performance may be yielded (or obtained) from one of region A to region D.

In case of M/H block 3 (B3) and M/H block 8 (B8) within the data group shown in FIG. 4, a long known data sequence exists in only one side of each M/H block. More specifically, a long known data sequence exists at the end of M/H block 3 (B3), and another long known data sequence exists at the beginning of M/H block 8 (B8). In the present invention, the region including M/H block 3 (B3) and M/H block 8 (B8) will be referred to as “region B(=B3+B8)”. As described above, when the data group includes region B having a long known data sequence inserted at only one side (beginning or end) of each M/H block, the receiving system is capable of performing equalization by using the channel information that can be obtained from the known data. Therefore, a stronger equalizing performance as compared to region C/D may be yielded (or obtained).

In case of M/H block 2 (B2) and M/H block 9 (B9) within the data group shown in FIG. 4, a long known data sequence cannot be inserted in any side of M/H block 2 (B2) and M/H block 9 (B9). Herein, the region including M/H block 2 (B2) and M/H block 9 (B9) will be referred to as “region C(=B2+B9)”. Finally, in case of M/H block 1 (B1) and M/H block 10 (B10) within the data group shown in FIG. 4, a long known data sequence cannot be inserted in any side of M/H block 1 (B1) and M/H block 10 (B10). Herein, the region including M/H block 1 (B1) and M/H block 10 (B10) will be referred to as “region D (=B1+B10)”. Since region C/D is spaced further apart from the known data sequence, when the channel environment undergoes frequent and abrupt changes, the receiving performance of region C/D may be deteriorated.

The size of the data group, the number of hierarchical regions within the data group, the size of each region, the number of M/H blocks included in each region, the size of each M/H block, and so on mentioned above are merely examples given to facilite the description of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention will not be limited only to the examples given in the description of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary assignment (or allocation) order of data groups being assigned (or allocated) to one of 5 M/H sub-frames, wherein the 5 M/H sub-frames configure an FC-M/H frame. For example, the method of assigning data groups may be identically applied to all FC-M/H frames or may be differently applied to each FC-M/H frame. Furthermore, the method of assigning data groups may be identically applied to all M/H sub-frames or differently applied to each M/H sub-frame. At this point, when it is assumed that the data groups are assigned (or allocated) by using the same method in all M/H sub-frames of the corresponding FC-M/H frame, the total number of data groups being assigned to an FC-M/H frame is equal to a multiple of ‘5’. According to the embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of consecutive data groups is assigned (or allocated) so as to be spaced as far apart from one another as possible within the FC-M/H frame. Thus, the system can be capable of responding promptly and effectively to any burst error that may occur within an M/H sub-frame.

For example, when it is assumed that 3 data groups are assigned to an M/H sub-frame, the data groups are assigned to a first M/H slot (M/H Slot #0), a fifth M/H slot (M/H Slot #4), and a ninth M/H slot (M/H Slot #8) in the M/H sub-frame, respectively. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of assigning 16 data groups in one M/H sub-frame using the above-described pattern (or rule). In other words, each data group is serially assigned to 16 M/H slots corresponding to the following numbers: 0, 8, 4, 12, 1, 9, 5, 13, 2, 10, 6, 14, 3, 11, 7, and 15. Equation 1 below shows the above-described rule (or pattern) for assigning data groups in an M/H sub-frame.

MathFigure 1

Herein, j indicates the M/H slot number within an M/H sub-frame. The value of j may range from 0 to 15 (i.e.,

). Also, variable i indicates the data group number. The value of i may range from 0 to 15 (i.e.,

).

According to the embodiment of the present invention, when one data group is assigned to one M/H slot by using the assignment pattern (or rule), only the data of regions A/B within the data group, i.e., only the data corresponding to 96 segments are assigned to the corresponding M/H slot. For example, when it is assumed that three data groups are assigned to one M/H sub-frame, data of regions A/B of the corresponding data group are assigned to each 96 segments of the first M/H slot (M/H Slot #0), the fifth M/H slot (M/H Slot #4), and the ninth M/H slot (M/H Slot #8) within the M/H sub-frame.

Meanwhile, in present invention, a collection of data groups having the same FEC parameters within the FC-M/H frame and being mapped to the same RS frame will be referred to as a parade for a first mobile service (i.e., M/H 1.0 service).

And, a collection of segments having the same FEC parameters within the FC-M/H frame and being mapped to the same RS frame will be referred to as a parade for a second mobile service (i.e., M/H 2.0 service).

Also, in the present invention, the first mobile service data within an RS frame may be assigned either to all of regions A/B/C/D within the corresponding data group, or to at least any one of regions A/B and regions C/D. More specifically, if the mobile service data are assigned to the latter case (i.e., one of regions A/B and regions C/D), the RS frame being assigned to regions A/B and the RS frame being assigned to regions C/D within the corresponding data group are different from one another. In the description of the present invention, the RS frame being assigned to regions A/B within the corresponding data group will be referred to as a “primary RS frame”, and the RS frame being assigned to regions C/D within the corresponding data group will be referred to as a “secondary RS frame”, for simplicity. Also, an RS frame being assigned to regions A/B/C/D within the data group may also be referred to as a “primary RS frame.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the first mobile service data within an RS frame is assigned to regions A/B within the data group. More specifically, the RS frame mode indicates whether a parade transmits a primary RS frame being assigned to all regions A/B/C/D within the data group, or whether the parade transmits at least one of a primary RS frame being assigned to regions A/B within the data group and a secondary RS frame being assigned to regions C/D. Table 1 below shows an example of the RS frame mode.

Table 1

Table 1 illustrates an example of allocating 2 bits in order to indicate the RS frame mode. For example, referring to Table 1, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘00’, this indicates that one parade transmits the primary RS frame being assigned to all of regions A/B/C/D within the data group. And, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’, this indicates that one parade transmits at least one of the primary RS frame being assigned to regions A/B within the data group and the secondary RS frame being assigned to regions C/D. Furthermore, at least one or more parades are transmitted to one FC-M/H frame.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of transmitting a single parade to an FC-M/H frame for a first mobile service. More specifically, FIG. 7 illustrates an example of assigning a single parade, the parade having three(3) data groups included in one M/H sub-frame, to an FC-M/H frame. Referring to FIG. 7, 3 data groups are sequentially assigned to an M/H sub-frame at a cycle period of 4 M/H slots. Accordingly, when this process is equally performed in the 5 M/H sub-frames included in the corresponding FC-M/H frame, 15 data groups are assigned to a single FC-M/H frame. Herein, the 15 data groups correspond to data groups included in a parade. Therefore, since one M/H sub-frame is configured of 4 VSB frame, and since 3 data groups are included in an M/H sub-frame, the data group of the corresponding parade is not assigned to one of the 4 VSB frames within the M/H sub-frame.

Meanwhile, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when multiple parades are transmitted to one FC-M/H frame for the first mobile service, just as described in the assignment of the data groups, parades are also assigned so as to be spaced as far apart as possible from one another within the M/H sub-frame. More specifically, each of the data groups within other parades being assigned to one FC-M/H frame is assigned at a cycle period of 4 M/H slots. At this point, data groups of a different parade may be sequentially assigned to the respective M/H slots in a circular method. Herein, the data groups are assigned to M/H slots starting from the ones to which data groups of the previous parade have not yet been assigned. For example, when it is assumed that data groups corresponding to a parade are assigned as shown in FIG. 7, data groups corresponding to the next parade may be assigned to an M/H sub-frame starting either from the 12th M/H slot of the M/H sub-frame. However, this is merely exemplary. In another example, the data groups of the next parade may also be sequentially assigned to a different M/H slot within the M/H sub-frame at a cycle period of 4 M/H slots starting from the third M/H slot.

Thus, the system can be capable of responding promptly and effectively to any burst error that may occur within an M/H sub-frame. Also, based upon the FC-M/H frame, the method for assigning (or allocating) parades may be applied differently to each FC-M/H frame or may be identically applied to all FC-M/H frames.

Additionally, the assignment method may be applied identically applied to all M/H sub-frames within an FC-M/H frame, or may be differently applied to each M/H sub-frame. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the method for assigning the parades may vary for each FC-M/H frame and is identically applied to all M/H sub-frames within one FC-M/H frame. More specifically, the FC-M/H frame structure may vary by FC-M/H frame units. Accordingly, this variation allows an ensemble data rate to be frequently and flexibly adjusted.

Also, when data groups respective to at least one parade for the first mobile service are assigned to one FC-M/H frame, data for the second mobile service are assigned (or allocated) in-between the data groups.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of assigning data for the second mobile service in-between first to third parades, when 3 parades (Parade #1, Parade #2, and Parade #3) are assigned to one of 5 M/H sub-frames configuring an FC-M/H frame. Herein, when the 1st parade (Parade #1) includes 3 data groups for each M/H sub-frame (i.e., when NOG=3), the positions of each data groups within the M/H sub-frames may be obtained by substituting values ‘0’ to ‘2’ for i in Equation 1. More specifically, the data groups of the 1st parade (Parade #1) are sequentially assigned to the 1st, 5th, and 9th M/H slots (M/H Slot #0, M/H Slot #4, and M/H Slot #8) within the M/H sub-frame.

Also, when the 2nd parade (Parade #2) includes 3 data groups for each M/H sub-frame (i.e., when NOG=3), the positions of each data groups within the sub-frames may be obtained by substituting values ‘3’ to ‘5’ for i in Equation 1. More specifically, the data groups of the 2nd parade (Parade #2) are sequentially assigned to the 13th, 3rd, and 7th M/H slots (M/H Slot #12, M/H Slot #2, and M/H Slot #6) within the M/H sub-frame. Finally, when the 3rd parade (Parade #3) includes 4 data groups for each M/H sub-frame (i.e., when NOG=4), the positions of each data groups within the M/H sub-frames may be obtained by substituting values ‘6’ to ‘9’ for i in Equation 1. More specifically, the data groups of the 3rd parade (Parade #3) are sequentially assigned to the 11th, 15th, 2nd, and 6th M/H slots (M/H Slot #10, M/H Slot #14, M/H Slot #1, and M/H Slot #5) within the M/H sub-frame.

As described above, data groups of multiple parades may be assigned to a single FC-M/H frame, and, in each M/H sub-frame, the data groups are serially assigned (or allocated) to a group space having 4 M/H slots from left to right. Therefore, a number of groups of one parade per M/H sub-frame (NOG) may correspond to any one integer from ‘1’ to ‘8’. Herein, since one FC-M/H frame includes 5 M/H sub-frames, the total number of data groups within a parade that can be assigned to an FC-M/H frame may correspond to any one multiple of ‘5’ ranging from ‘5’ to ‘40’.

At this point, since only the data of regions A/B within the data group are assigned to the corresponding M/H slot, in case a data group is assigned to an M/H slot, the data for the first mobile service may be assigned to 96 of the entire 156 segments of the corresponding M/H slot. Accordingly, the data for the second mobile service may be assigned to the remaining segments (i.e., 60 segments) of the corresponding M/H slot. Referring to FIG. 8, for example, the data for the second mobile service may be assigned to the 60 segments of the 1st to 3rd, 5th to 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th, and 15th M/H slots (M/H Slot #0 to M/H Slot #2, M/H Slot #4 to M/H Slot #6, M/H Slot #8, M/H Slot #10, M/H Slot #12, and M/H Slot #14). Furthermore, the data for the second mobile service are assigned to M/H slots that are not assigned with the data for the first mobile service. As shown in FIG. 8, the data for the second mobile service may be assigned to 156 segments of the 4th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, and 16th M/H slots (M/H Slot #3, M/H Slot #7, M/H Slot #9, M/H Slot #11, M/H Slot #13, and M/H Slot #15).

According to the embodiment of the present invention, although a method of data assignment for the first mobile service and a method of data assignment for the second mobile service may vary for each FC-M/H frame, the methods are uniformly maintained for all M/H sub-frames within a single FC-M/H frame.

As described above, based upon one M/H slot, when a data group for the first mobile service exists, the data for the second mobile service are assigned to the 60 segments of the M/H slot. Conversely, when a data group for the first mobile service does not exist, the data for the second mobile service are assigned to the 156 segments of the M/H slot.

The data for the second mobile service not only include the second mobile service data but also include known data sequences for channel-equalization (or training signals). More specifically, during channel-equalization, the receiving system uses the known data sequences so as to estimate a channel impulse response (CIR). According to the embodiment of the present invention, the known data sequence for the CIR estimation has the length of 2 segments. Herein, the above-described known data sequence for CIR estimation is inserted for each 16 segments or 12 segments in the M/H slot having the data for the second mobile service assigned thereto.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of assigning known data sequences for CIR estimation of the second mobile service to an M/H slot of one of 5 M/H sub-frames configuring an FC-M/H frame according to the present invention.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, depending upon whether or not the data for the first mobile service exist in the M/H slot, to which the data for the second mobile service are assigned, the method for assigning known data sequences for the CIR estimation of the second mobile service will be applied differently.

For example, when the data for the first mobile service exist in the M/H slot, to which the data for the second mobile service are assigned, among the 60 segments of the M/H slot, a known data sequence is inserted in the first 2 segments, and another known data sequence is inserted in 2 segments after the next 12 segments. Then, another known data sequence is inserted in 2 segments after the next 14 segments, and this step is repeated one more time. Finally, another known data sequence is inserted in 2 segments of the next 10 segments. In other words, a known data sequence is inserted in the last 2 segments of the 60 segments.

In another example, when the data for the first mobile service do not exist in the M/H slot, to which the data for the second mobile service are assigned, among the 156 segments of the M/H slot, a step of inserting a known data sequence in 2 segments after each set of 14 segments is repeated 9 times. Then, a known data sequence is inserted in 2 segments after the next 10 segments. In other words, a known data sequence is inserted in the last 2 segments of the 156 segments.

As described above, the known data sequences for the second mobile service are inserted after each set of 16 segments or 12 segments in the M/H slot having the data for the second mobile service assigned thereto. Also, when 60 segments or 156 segments within an M/H slot are used for the second mobile service, a known data sequence is inserted in the last 2 segments of each set of 16 segments, and a known data sequence is inserted in the last 2 segments of the 12 segments remaining at the end.

However, when 60 segments are used for the second mobile service, i.e., when data for the first mobile service exist, a known data sequence is additionally inserted in the first 2 segments, i.e., the 2 segments immediately following the data for the first mobile service. At this point, forward error correction (FEC)-encoded second mobile service data are assigned to the remaining segments excluding the segments having known data sequences assigned thereto.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the first 24 symbols of each known data sequence are used for initializing a memory of a trellis encoder within a transmitting system, as shown in FIG. 10. At the end of each known data sequence (or training signal), the memories of all trellis encoders (or TCM encoders) become zeros by the pattern of the corresponding known data sequence without any explicit trellis state termination.

Also, when only the data for the second mobile service exist, the length of the known data sequence and the cycle period for inserting known data sequence may vary.

Meanwhile, after assigning (or positioning) the data for the first mobile service in each M/H sub-frame of an FC-M/H frame, and after inserting known data sequences for the second mobile service based upon the data assignment (or positioning), the remaining data for the second mobile service are assigned to the remaining segments. (a) and (b) of FIG. 11 illustrate examples of assigning data for the second mobile service in an M/H sub-frame.

In the description of the present invention, a region remaining from after assigning known data sequences for the first mobile service and the second mobile service to each M/H sub-frame within an FC-M/H frame will be referred to as a data region for the second mobile service for simplicity. More specifically, in the example shown in (a) of FIG. 11, the white region correspond to the data region for the second mobile service. Additionally, although a data region for the first mobile service exist as shown in FIG. 10, this region will not be shown in FIG. 11 for simplicity.

The data for the second mobile service not only include second mobile service data and known data but also include pre-signaling data and post-signaling data. Herein, the post-signaling data consist of TPC data and FIC data.

At this point, the pre-signaling data are assigned to the beginning portion of the data region for the second mobile service for each M/H sub-frame. Then, the TPC data and the FIC data are sequentially assigned after the pre-signaling data. The second mobile service data are assigned after the FIC data. If a remaining portion of the region occurs even after assigning the second mobile service data, dummy data are assigned to the remaining portion (or region) of the data region for the second mobile service. For example, when a portion corresponding to 2 segments remains even after assigning the pre-signaling data, the post-signaling data, and the second mobile service data, then dummy data are assigned to the remaining 2 segments of the data region for the second mobile service.

The second mobile service data correspond to actual audio/video (A/V) data and so on. And, as shown in (b) of FIG. 11, the second mobile service data may be configured of a type-1 parade and a type-2 parade. In this case, in the data region for the second mobile service, the second mobile service data of the type-1 parade are assigned after the FIC data, and the second mobile service data of the type-2 parade are assigned after the second mobile service data of the type-1 parade.

Herein, the type-1 parade refers to a parade having a slice within an M/H sub-frame, i.e., a parade being contiguously transmitted within M/H sub-frame. For example, when it is assumed that 3 parades (Prd0, Prd1, and Prd2) exist, in the data region for the second mobile service, the second mobile service data of Prd0 are all assigned after the FIC data. Then, the second mobile service data of Prd1 are all assigned afterwards. Finally, the second mobile service data of Prd2 are all assigned.

Moreover, the type-2 parade refers to a parade having at least 2 or more slices within the M/H sub-frame. At this point, the length of each slice is identical in the type-2 parade. And, the number and cycle period of the slices are identical for each M/H sub-frame within an FC-M/H frame. More specifically, after dividing the second mobile service data of each parade into slice-sizes corresponding to the number of slices, the divided data are distributed and assigned to each slice.

For example, when it is assumed that two parades (Prd3 and Prd4) exist and that each parade has 3 slices, as shown in (b) of FIG. 11, the second mobile service data of Prd3 and the second mobile service data of Prd4 are each divided into 3 equal portions with respect to each slice size. Thereafter, the divided data portions are sequentially assigned to the 3 slices of the respective parades. At this point, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the slices for Prd3 and the slices for Prd4 may be positioned in alternation, so as to be transmitted.

FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram showing the structure of a transmitting system according to the present invention for transmitting the above-described data for the first mobile service and data for the second mobile service. Referring to FIG. 12, the transmitting system may include a first mobile service processing unit 110, a second mobile service processing unit 120, a symbol multiplexer 131, a trellis encoding module 132, a synchronization multiplexer 133, a pilot inserter 134, a modulator 135, and an up-converter 136. Herein, a pre-equalizer filter may be optionally included in the transmitting system.

The first mobile service processing unit 110 may include a first RS frame encoder 111, a first block processor 112, a group formatting module 113, a first signaling encoder 114, a first known sequence generator 115, a placeholders generator 116, and a byte-to-symbol converter 117.

Also, the second mobile service processing unit 120 may include a second RS frame encoder 121, a second block processor 122, a segment multiplexer 123, a second signaling encoder 124, a second known sequence generator 125, a placeholders generator 126, and a bit-to-symbol converter 127.

In the transmitting system having the above-described structure, the first mobile service data are inputted to the first RS frame encoder 111 of the first mobile service processing unit 110. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the first mobile service data are configured in the form of an IP datagram.

The first RS frame encoder 111 randomizes the first mobile service data being inputted thereto. Then, after randomizing the first mobile service data, the first RS frame encoder 111 generates an RS frame payload for the first mobile service. Thereafter, by performing an encoding process for error correction in RS frame payload units, the first RS frame encoder 111 generates an RS frame. The first RS frame encoder 111 may be provided in parallel, and the number of first RS frame encoders provided herein may be equal to the number of parades for the first mobile service within the FC-M/H frame. Also, the data of the error-correction-encoded RS frame are assigned to the respective regions of multiple data groups. More specifically, the data within the error-correction-encoded RS frame may be assigned to all of A/B/C/D regions within the multiple data groups or may be assigned to any one of regions A/B and regions C/D.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, data of the RS for the first mobile service are assigned to regions A/B within multiple data groups. In this case the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’.

In order to assign data of the RS frame to A/B regions of multiple data groups, the first RS frame encoder 111 divides the error-correction-encoded RS frame into several portions. Each portion of the RS frame corresponds to a data size that can be transmitted by regions A/B within a data group.

FIG. 13 illustrates a detailed block diagram showing an example of a first RS frame encoder 111 according to the present invention. The first RS frame encoder 111 may include a data randomizer 211, a Reed-Solomon-cyclic redundancy check (RS-CRC) encoder (212), and a RS frame divider 213. More specifically, the data randomizer 211 of the first RS frame encoder 111 receives first mobile service data. Then, after randomizing the received first mobile service data, the data randomizer 211 outputs the randomized first mobile service data to the RS-CRC encoder 212. The RS-CRC encoder 212 gathers (or collects) the randomized first mobile service data so as to configure an RS frame payload. Thereafter, the RS-CRC encoder 212 uses at least one of a Reed-Solomon (RS) code and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code, so as to perform forward error collection (FEC) encoding on the RS frame payload, thereby configuring an RS frame. Afterwards, the RS-CRC encoder 212 outputs the newly formed RS frame to the RS frame divider 213. Herein, FEC refers to a technique for compensating any error that may occur during a transmission process.

More specifically, the RS-CRC encoder 212 writes from left to right (or horizontally) and from up to down (or vertically) so that the first mobile service data can have an RS frame payload size for the first mobile service, thereby generating an RS frame payload for the first mobile service. Subsequently, the RS-CRC encoder 212 performs at least one of an error correction encoding process and an error detection encoding process in RS frame payload units. Accordingly, robustness may be provided to the first mobile service data, thereby scattering group error that may occur during changes in a frequency environment, thereby enabling the first mobile service data to respond to the frequency environment, which is extremely vulnerable and liable to frequent changes.

Also, the RS-CRC encoder 212 groups (or collects) a plurality of RS frames so as to generate a super frame, thereby performing a row permutation process in super frame units. The row permutation process may also be referred to as a “row interleaving process”. More specifically, when the RS-CRC encoder 212 performs the process of permuting each row of the super frame in accordance with a pre-determined rule, the position of the rows within the super frame before and after the row permutation process is changed. If the row permutation process is performed by super frame units, and even though the section having a plurality of errors occurring therein becomes very long, and even though the number of errors included in the RS frame, which is to be decoded, exceeds the extent of being able to be corrected, the errors become dispersed within the entire super frame. Thus, the decoding ability is even more enhanced as compared to a single RS frame. Herein, the row permutation process is optional.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, RS-encoding is applied for the error correction encoding process, and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) encoding is applied for the error detection process in the RS-CRC encoder 212. When performing RS-encoding, parity data that are used for the error correction are generated. And, when performing the CRC-encoding, CRC data that are used for the error detection are generated. The CRC data generated by CRC-encoding may be used for indicating whether or not the first mobile service data have been damaged by the errors while being transmitted through the channel. In the present invention, a variety of error detection coding methods other than the CRC encoding method may be used, or the error correction coding method may be used to enhance the overall error correction ability of the receiving system.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the RS frame payload for the first mobile service generated in the RS-CRC encoder 212 has the size of N(rows)x187(columns) bytes, as shown in (a) of FIG. 14. Herein, N represents the length of a row (i.e., number of columns), and 187 represent the length of a column (i.e., number of rows). Also, the RS-CRC encoder 212 performs RS-encoding on each column of the RS frame payload having the size of Nx187 bytes, as shown in (b) of FIG. 14, so as to add P1 number of parity data bytes to each column. Then, by performing CRC-encoding on each row, as shown in (c) of FIG. 14, a 2-byte CRC checksum is added to each row, thereby generating an RS frame. Table 2 below shows an example of the RS encoding information, i.e., an RS code mode.

Table 2

Table 2 shows an example of 2 bits being assigned in order to indicate the RS code mode. For example, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’, this indicates that (223,187)-RS encoding is performed on the corresponding RS frame payload, thereby adding 36 bytes of RS parity data for each column. In other words, the RS frame mode value represents the number of parities (P1) of a corresponding RS frame payload. Herein, the RS-CRC encoder 212 refers to a pre-determined transmission parameter and/or a transmission parameter provided from an external source, so as to perform operations including RS frame configuration, RS encoding, CRC encoding, super frame configuration, and row permutation in super frame units.

In the present invention, when an RS frame payload for the first mobile service prior to being error-correction-encoded has the size of Nx187, as shown in FIG. 15, each row configured of N bytes will be referred to as an M/H service data packet for simplicity. The M/H service data packet may be configured of a 2-byte M/H header and a (N-2)-byte M/H payload. Herein, the assignment (or allocation) of 2 bytes to the M/H header region is merely exemplary. Since the above-described configuration may be altered by the system designer, the configuration will not be limited only to the example presented in the description of the present invention.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the first mobile service data is configured to have an IP datagram format. Herein, the RS frame payload may include table information and IP datagrams for the first mobile service. For example, IP datagram and table information of two different types of the first mobile service data, such as news service (e.g., IP datagram for mobile service 1) and stock information service (e.g., IP datagram for mobile service 2), may be included in a single RS frame payload.

More specifically, either table information of a section structure or an IP datagram of the first mobile service data may be assigned to an M/H payload within an M/H service data packet configuring the RS frame payload. Alternatively, either an IP datagram of the table information or an IP datagram of the first mobile service data may be assigned to an M/H payload within an M/H service data packet configuring the RS frame payload.

At this point, the size of the M/H service data packet including the M/H header may not be equal to N bytes.

In this case, stuffing bytes may be assigned to the surplus (or remaining) payload region within the corresponding M/H service data packet. For example, after assigning program table information to an M/H service data packet, when the length of the corresponding M/H service data packet including the M/H header is equal to (N-20) bytes, stuffing bytes may be assigned to the remaining 20-byte region.

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary M/H header structure within an M/H service data packet according to the present invention. Herein, the M/H header region may include a type_indicator field, an error_indicator field, a stuff_indicator field, and a pointer field.

The type_indicator field is a 3-bit field, which indicates the type of the data being assigned to the payload within the corresponding M/H service data packet. More specifically, the type_indicator field indicates whether the data of the payload correspond to an IP datagram or to signaling information including table information. At this point, each data type configures a single logical channel. In the logical channel transmitting the IP datagram, a plurality of mobile services are multiplexed and transmitted. Herein, each mobile service is processed with demultiplexing in the IP layer.

The error_indicator field is a 1-bit field, which indicates whether or not an error exists in the corresponding M/H service data packet. For example, when the value of the error_indicator field is equal to ‘0’, this indicates that an error does not exist in the corresponding M/H service data packet. Alternatively, when the value of the error_indicator field is equal to ‘1’, this indicates that an error exists in the corresponding M/H service data packet.

The stuff_indicator field is a 1-bit field, which indicates whether or not a stuffing byte exists in the payload of the corresponding M/H service data packet. For example, when the value of the stuff_indicator field is equal to ‘0’, this indicates that a stuffing byte does not exist in the payload of the corresponding M/H service data packet. Alternatively, when the value of the stuff_indicator field is equal to ‘1’, this indicates that a stuffing byte exists in the payload of the corresponding M/H service data packet.

The pointer field is assigned with 11 bits. Herein, the pointer field indicates a position information of a point where a new set of data (i.e., new signaling data or new IP datagram) begins (or starts) within the corresponding M/H service data packet.

For example, when an IP datagram for mobile service 1 and an IP datagram for mobile service 2 are assigned to a first M/H service data packet within the RS frame payload, as shown in FIG. 15, the pointer field value indicates the starting point (or position) of the IP datagram for mobile service 2 within the corresponding M/H service data packet. Also, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when there are no data newly beginning in the corresponding M/H service data packet, the corresponding pointer field value may be marked to have the highest value. According to the embodiment of the present invention, since 11 bits are assigned to the pointer field, when the pointer field has the value of ‘2047’, this indicates that there are no data newly beginning in the corresponding M/H service data packet. Furthermore, when the pointer field has the value of ‘0’, the point of indication may vary depending upon the type_indicator field value and the stuff_indicator field value.

Furthermore, the order, position, and definition of the fields allocated to the header within the M/H service data packet, shown in FIG. 16, are merely examples presented to facilitate and simplify the understanding of the present invention. In other words, the order, position, and definition of the fields allocated to the header within the M/H service data packet and the number of fields that may be additionally allocated thereto may be easily altered or modified by the system designer. Therefore, the present invention will not be limited to the examples given in the above-described embodiment of the present invention.

Meanwhile, as shown in (c) of FIG. 14, data of the RS frame being processed with RS-encoding and CRC-encoding are outputted to the RS frame divider 213. The RS frame divider 213 partitions (or divides) the RS frame having the size of (N+2)x(187+P1) into a plurality of portions each having the size of PL (wherein PL represents the length of an RS frame portion). Thereafter, the RS frame divider 213 outputs the partitioned RS frame portions to the first block processor 112.

Herein, the PL value may vary depending upon the RS frame mode, the SCCC block mode, and the SCCC outer code mode. According to the embodiment of the present invention, since the data of the RS frame for the first mobile service are assigned to regions A/B within the data group, thereby being transmitted, the RS frame mode should be set to ‘01’, and the SCCC block mode should be set to ‘00’. Accordingly, the PL value is decided as shown in Table 3 below.

Table 3 shows an example of the PL values for each data group within a primary RS frame, wherein each PL value varies depending upon the SCCC outer code mode, when the RS frame mode value is equal to ‘01’, and when the SCCC block mode value is equal to ‘00’.

Table 3

For example, when each SCCC outer code mode value of regions A/B is equal to ‘00’, 7644 bytes of first mobile service data within a primary RS frame may be assigned to regions A/B of the corresponding data group.

Also, the total number of data bytes of the RS-encoded and CRC-encoded RS frame is equal to or smaller than (5xNoGxPL). In this case, the RS frame is divided (or partitioned) into ((5xNoG)-1) number of portions each having the size of PL and one portion having a size equal to or smaller than PL. More specifically, with the exception of the last portion of the RS frame, each of the remaining portions of the RS frame has an equal size of PL. If the size of the last portion is smaller than PL, a stuffing byte (or dummy byte) may be inserted in order to fill (or replace) the lacking number of data bytes, thereby enabling the last portion of the RS frame to also be equal to PL.

(a) and (b) of FIG. 17 respectively illustrate examples of adding S1 number of stuffing bytes, when an RS frame having the size of (N+2)x(187+P1) is divided into (5xNoG) number of portions, each having the size of PL. More specifically, the RS-encoded and CRC-encoded RS frame, shown in (a) of FIG. 17, is divided into several portions, as shown in (b) of FIG. 17. The number of portions divided from the RS frame is equal to (5xNoG). Particularly, the first ((5xNoG)-1) number of portions each have the size of PL, and the last portion of the RS frame may be equal to or smaller than PL. If the size of the last portion is smaller than PL, S1 number of stuffing bytes (or dummy bytes) may be obtained and inserted in order to fill (or replace) the lacking number of data bytes, as shown in Equation 2 below, thereby enabling the last portion of the RS frame to also be equal to PL.

MathFigure 2

Herein, each portion including data having the size of PL is outputted to the first block processor 111. The data of each portion outputted from the first RS encoder 111 may include at least one of pure first mobile service data, RS parity data, CRC data, and stuffing data. However, in a broader meaning, the data included in each portion may correspond to data for the first mobile services. Therefore, the data included in each portion will all be considered as the first mobile service data and described accordingly.

The first block processor 112 performs an SCCC outer encoding process on the output of the first RS encoder 111. More specifically, the first block processor 112 receives the data of each error-correction-encoded portion. Then, the first block processor 112 encodes the data once again at a coding rate of 1/H (wherein H is an integer equal to or greater than 2 (i.e.,

)), thereby outputting the 1/H-rate encoded data to the group formatting module 113. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the input data are encoded either at a coding rate of 1/2 (also referred to as “1/2-rate encoding”) or at a coding rate of 1/4 (also referred to as “1/4-rate encoding”).

The first block processor 112 may perform a 1/H-rate encoding process in SCCC block units. Herein, the SCCC block includes at least one M/H block. At this point, when 1/H-rate encoding is performed in M/H block units, the M/H blocks and the SCCC blocks become identical to one another. For example, the M/H block B1 may be encoded at the coding rate of 1/2, the M/H block B2 may be encoded at the coding rate of 1/4, and the M/H block B3 may be encoded at the coding rate of 1/2. Similarly, the coding rates are applied respectively to the remaining M/H blocks.

As described-above, when the first block processor 112 performs encoding at a 1/H-coding rate, information associated with SCCC should be transmitted to the receiving system in order to accurately recover the first mobile service data. Table 4 below shows an example of SCCC block information, i.e., a SCCC block mode.

Table 4

More specifically, Table 4 shows an example of 2 bits being allocated in order to indicate the SCCC block mode. For example, when the SCCC block mode value is equal to ‘00’, this indicates that the SCCC block and the M/H block are identical to one another.

An example of a coding rate information of the SCCC block, i.e., SCCC outer code mode, is shown in Table 5 below.

Table 5

More specifically, Table 5 shows an example of 2 bits being allocated in order to indicate the coding rate information of the SCCC block. For example, when the SCCC outer code mode value is equal to ‘00’, this indicates that the coding rate of the corresponding SCCC block is 1/2. And, when the SCCC outer code mode value is equal to ‘01’, this indicates that the coding rate of the corresponding SCCC block is 1/4. If the SCCC block mode value of Table 4 indicates ‘00’, the SCCC outer code mode may indicate the coding rate of each M/H block with respect to each M/H block.

The group formatting module 113 receives data of the RS frame encoded at the coding rate of 1/H from the first block processor 112, thereby inserting the received data in regions A/B within the plurality of data groups. The group formatting module 113 receives signaling data (e.g., FIC data and TPC data) encoded by the first signaling encoder 114, thereby inserting the received signaling data to the corresponding region of the data group. The group formatting module 113 also receives known data generated from the first known sequence generator 115 in accordance with a pre-decided method, thereby inserting the received known data to the corresponding region of the data group. In addition to the first mobile service data encoded by the first block processor 112, the group formatting module 113 also receives MPEG header placeholders, non-systematic RS parity placeholders, main service data placeholders, dummy placeholders, and so on, in association with data-deinterleaving, from the first placeholders generator 116, thereby inserting the received placeholders to the corresponding region of the data group.

The TPC data may include at least one of an M/H- ensemble ID, an M/H sub-frame number, a total number of M/H groups (TNoG), an RS frame continuity counter, a column size of RS frame (N), an FIC version number, information associated to RS-encoding, information associated to SCCC-encoding, and information associated to FC-M/H frames. The TPC data are merely exemplary data given to facilitate the understanding of the present invention. Therefore, since the deletion and addition of signaling information that are included (or to be included) in the TPC may be easily changed and modified by anyone skilled in the art, the present invention will not be limited only to the examples set forth herein. The FIC data are provided in order to enable fast service acquisition to be performed in the receiver. Herein, the FIC data include cross-layer information between a physical layer and an upper (or higher) layer.

For example, when the data group includes 6 known data sequences, as shown in FIG. 4, the signaling information region is located between the first known data sequence and the second known data sequence. Therefore, the TPC data and the FIC data are inserted in the signaling information region. Also, the first known data sequence is inserted in the last 2 segments of M/H block B3 within the data group, and the second known data sequence is inserted in the 2nd and 3rd segments of M/H block B4. And, the third to sixth known data sequences are respectively inserted in the last 2 segments of M/H block B4, M/H block B5, M/H block B6, and M/H block B7. Herein, the first known data sequence and the third to sixth known data sequences are spaced apart from one another by 16 segments.

The data are outputted from the group formatting module 113 in byte units. Then, the outputted data bytes are converted to symbol units by the byte-to-symbol converter 117 for 12-way TCM. Thereafter, the converted symbols are inputted to the symbol multiplexer 131.

Meanwhile, the second RS frame encoder 121 of the second mobile service processing unit 120 receives second mobile service data and randomizes the received second mobile service data. Thereafter, the second RS frame encoder 121 generates an RS frame payload for the second mobile service and performs encoding for error correction in RS frame payload units. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the second mobile service data is configured to have an IP datagram format. The second RS frame encoder 121 may be provided in parallel, and the number of second RS frame encoders provided herein may be equal to the number of parades for the second mobile service within the FC-M/H frame.

FIG. 18 illustrates a detailed block diagram showing an example of a second RS frame encoder 121 according to the present invention. Herein, the structure of the second RS frame encoder 121 is identical to that of the first RS frame encoder 111. The second RS frame encoder 121 may include a data randomizer 311, a Reed-Solomon-cyclic redundancy check (RS-CRC) encoder (312), and a RS frame divider 313. More specifically, the data randomizer 311 of the second RS frame encoder 121 receives second mobile service data. Then, after randomizing the received second mobile service data, the data randomizer 311 outputs the randomized second mobile service data to the RS-CRC encoder 312. The RS-CRC encoder 312 gathers (or collects) the randomized second mobile service data so as to configure an RS frame payload. Thereafter, the RS-CRC encoder 312 performs forward error collection (FEC) encoding on the RS frame payload, thereby configuring an RS frame. Afterwards, the RS-CRC encoder 312 outputs the newly formed RS frame to the RS frame divider 313. Herein, FEC refers to a technique for compensating any error that may occur during a transmission process.

More specifically, the RS-CRC encoder 312 writes from left to right (or horizontally) and from up to down (or vertically) so that the second mobile service data can have an RS frame payload size for the second mobile service, thereby generating an RS frame payload for the second mobile service. Subsequently, the RS-CRC encoder 312 performs at least one of an error correction encoding process and an error detection encoding process in RS frame payload units. Accordingly, robustness may be provided to the second mobile service data, thereby scattering group error that may occur during changes in a frequency environment, thereby enabling the second mobile service data to respond to the frequency environment, which is extremely vulnerable and liable to frequent changes.

Also, the RS-CRC encoder 312 groups (or collects) a plurality of RS frames so as to generate a super frame, thereby performing a row permutation process in super frame units. More specifically, when the RS-CRC encoder 312 performs the process of permuting each row of the super frame in accordance with a pre-determined rule, the position of the rows within the super frame before and after the row permutation process is changed. If the row permutation process is performed by super frame units, and even though the section having a plurality of errors occurring therein becomes very long, and even though the number of errors included in the RS frame, which is to be decoded, exceeds the extent of being able to be corrected, the errors become dispersed within the entire super frame. Thus, the decoding ability is even more enhanced as compared to a single RS frame. Herein, the row permutation process is optional.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, RS-encoding is applied for the error correction encoding process, and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) encoding is applied for the error detection process in the RS-CRC encoder 312. When performing RS-encoding, parity data that are used for the error correction are generated. And, when performing the CRC-encoding, CRC data that are used for the error detection are generated. The CRC data generated by CRC-encoding may be used for indicating whether or not the second mobile service data have been damaged by the errors while being transmitted through the channel. In the present invention, a variety of error detection coding methods other than the CRC encoding method may be used, or the error correction encoding method may be used to enhance the overall error correction ability of the receiving system.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the RS frame payload for the second mobile service generated in the RS-CRC encoder 312 has the size of N(rows)xM(columns) bytes, as shown in FIG. 19. Herein, N represents the length of a row (i.e., number of columns), and M represent the length of a column (i.e., number of rows). Also, the RS-CRC encoder 312 performs RS-encoding on each column of the RS frame payload having the size of NxM bytes, so as to add P2 number of parity data bytes to each column. Then, by performing CRC-encoding on each row, a 2-byte CRC checksum is added to each row, thereby generating an RS frame for the second mobile service. As shown above in Table 2, the RS encoding information, i.e., an RS code mode, for the second mobile service may also be set with respect to the RS frame for the second mobile service. Herein, the RS-CRC encoder 312 refers to a pre-determined transmission parameter and/or a transmission parameter provided from an external source, so as to perform operations including RS frame configuration for the second mobile service, RS encoding, CRC encoding, super frame configuration, and row permutation in super frame units.

Also, in the RS frame payload for the second mobile service, each row configured of N bytes will be referred to as an M/H service data packet for simplicity. The M/H service data packet may be configured of a 2-byte M/H header and a (N-2)-byte M/H payload. Herein, the assignment (or allocation) of 2 bytes to the M/H header region is merely exemplary. Since the above-described configuration may be altered by the system designer, the configuration will not be limited only to the example presented in the description of the present invention. The M/H header region may include a type_indicator field, an error_indicator field, a stuff_indicator field, and a pointer field.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the second mobile service data is configured to have an IP datagram format. Herein, the RS frame payload may include table information and IP datagrams for the second mobile service. More specifically, either table information of a section structure or an IP datagram of the second mobile service data may be assigned to an M/H payload within an M/H service data packet configuring the RS frame payload. Alternatively, either an IP datagram of the table information or an IP datagram of the second mobile service data may be assigned to an M/H payload within an M/H service data packet configuring the RS frame payload. The fields being assigned to the M/H header and the data being assigned to the M/H payload are identical to those described in FIG. 15. Therefore, detailed description of the same will be omitted for simplicity.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 19, data of the RS frame being processed with RS-encoding and CRC-encoding are outputted to the RS frame divider 313.

The RS frame divider 313 partitions (or divides) the RS frame having the size of (N+2)x(M+P2) into a plurality of portions. More specifically, the RS frame is divided into a number of portions corresponding to the number of M/H sub-frames included in an FC-M/H frame. Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the RS frame is divided into 5 portions, as shown in (b) of FIG. 20. Also, the data of each of the divided portions are transmitted through the respective M/H sub-frame. More specifically, since the data of one RS frame are assigned to one FC-M/H frame, the 5 data portions divided from the RS frame are assigned to each of the 5 M/H sub-frames.

At this point, the size of the RS frame being outputted from the second block processor 122 for the second mobile service may vary depending upon the coding rate of the second RS frame encoder 121 and the second block processor 122 and the number of segments assigned to a specific parade. When the RS frame divider 313 divides (or partitions) the RS frame, S2 bits of stuffing data may be added, as shown in (a) of FIG. 20, for uniform partitioning.

More specifically, as shown in (b) of FIG. 20, NoS represents a number of segments assigned to a corresponding parade in an M/H sub-frame. Also, the output bit of the second block processor 122 is NoS(seg) x 828(sym/seg) x 2(bit/sym), and the output bit of the second RS frame encoder 121 is 5 x (NoS x 1656 x CodeRate). Furthermore, (N+2) x (M+P2) x 8 + S2 bit_stuff is equivalent to 8280 x NoS x CodeRate. The S2 bit_stuff may be obtained by calculating floor(8280 x NoS x CodeRate / 8 / (M + P)) - 2.

The data of each portion divided by the RS frame divider 313 are inputted to the second block processor 122. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the second block processor 122 uses a parallel turbo code (i.e., a parallel concatenated convolutional code (PCCC)) to perform encoding.

FIG. 21 illustrates a detailed block diagram showing the structure of a second block processor 122 according to the present invention. Herein, FIG. 21 shows a concatenation between the second block processor 122 and the trellis encoding module 132. In the transmitting system, multiple blocks actually exist between the second block processor 122 and the trellis encoding module 132. However, in the receiving system, encoding is performed while assuming that the two blocks are concatenated (or adjacent to one another).

The second block processor 122 may include a bit-to-symbol converter 511, K number of interleavers 521 to 52K provided in parallel, and (K+1) number of convolution encoders 530 to 53K also provided in parallel. Herein, the bit-to-symbol converter 511 is optional.

More specifically, the second block processor 122 having the coding rate of 1/H is provided with a total of (K+1) number of branches (or paths) including the branch (or path) through which the initial input data are delivered to the colvolution encoder 530 without modification. The output ends of the K number of interleavers 521 to 52K are respectively connected to K number of convolution encoders 531 to 53K. Herein, the interleavers may be configured of symbol interleavers each having a different form (or structure). According to the embodiment of the present invention, each of the convolution encoders encodes the input data at a coding rate of any one of 1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, and 1/6, thereby being outputted.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, K is equal to or less than 12 (i.e., K≥12). If K is equal to 12 (i.e., K=12), the output data may be aligned so that the output of the 12th convolution encoder is inputted to the 12th trellis encoder of the trellis encoding module 132. If K is equal to 3 (i.e., K=3), the system may be controlled so that the output bytes of the convolution encoder 530 can be inputted to the 1st trellis encoder to the 4th trellis encoder of the trellis encoding module 132, so that the output bytes of the convolution encoder 531 can be inputted to the 5th trellis encoder to the 8th trellis encoder of the trellis encoding module 132, and so that the output bytes of the convolution encoder 532 are inputted to the 9th trellis encoder to the 12th trellis encoder of the trellis encoding module 132. More specifically, each convolution encoder is paired with a specific trellis encoder of a legacy VSB system.

Herein, the number of trellis encoders, convolution encoders, and interleavers proposed in the description of the present invention correspond to a preferred embodiment or a mere example of the present invention. Therefore, the scope and spirit of the present invention will not be limited to the numbers given herein.

At this point, the trellis encoding module 132 symbolizes the inputted data so as to divide the inputted data and deliver the divided data to each trellis encoder based upon a pre-decided method. Accordingly, each trellis encoder pre-codes an upper bit of the input symbol, thereby outputting the pre-coded upper bit as the uppermost output bit C2. Furthermore, each trellis encoder trellis-encodes a lower bit of the input symbol, thereby outputting two output bits C1 and C0. More specifically, the second mobile service data encoded at a coding rate of 1/H by the second block processor 122 are outputted to the segment multiplexer 123. The signaling data encoded by the second signaling encoder 124 and the known data sequence generated from the second known sequence generator 125 are also outputted to the segment multiplexer 123. Herein, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the signaling data are configured of pre-signaling data and post-signaling data, and the post-signaling data are configured of FIC data and TPC data.

The TPC data for the second mobile service may also include at least one of an M/H- ensemble ID, an M/H sub-frame number, a total number of M/H groups (TNoG), an RS frame continuity counter, a column size of RS frame (N), an FIC version number, information associated to RS-encoding, information associated to PCCC-encoding, and information associated to FC-M/H frames. The TPC data are merely exemplary data given to facilitate the understanding of the present invention. Therefore, since the deletion and addition of signaling information that are included (or to be included) in the TPC may be easily changed and modified by anyone skilled in the art, the present invention will not be limited only to the examples set forth herein. The FIC data are provided in order to enable fast service acquisition to be performed in the receiver. Herein, the FIC data include cross-layer information between a physical layer and an upper (or higher) layer.

The segment multiplexer 123 assigns the second mobile service data, signaling data, known data sequences to the respective segments of each M/h sub-frame within the FC-M/H frame based upon a pre-decided segment multiplexing rule. Referring to FIG. 11, for example, the pre-signaling data are assigned at the very beginning of the data region for the second mobile service respective to each M/H sub-frame. The TPC data and the FIC data are sequentially assigned after the pre-signaling data. Then, the second mobile service data are assigned after the FIC data. According to the embodiment of the present invention, if segments the data region for the second mobile service still remains even after assigning the second mobile service data, dummy (or stuffing) data are assigned to the remaining segments of the corresponding region.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the pre-signaling data are used for detecting the training mode, i.e., the length of the known data sequences used for CIR estimation and insertion cycle periods. Herein, the pre-signaling data have the length of 2 segments and are repeatedly assigned with a training mode value. For example, if the training mode consists of 4 bits, as shown in (a) of FIG. 22, a known data sequence for a training mode having the length of 0.5 segment corresponding to ‘0’ and ‘1’ for each bit exists. The known data sequences are combined to described (or indicate) the training mode in a 4-bit word. At this point, each known data sequence is patterned so that the end becomes zero(0). Thus, the memories of the trellis encoder can be initialized to zero(0) at the end of each known data sequence for the training mode.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the meaning of the 4-bit word indicating the training mode is pre-decided based upon an agreement between the receiving system and the transmitting system. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the training mode for transmitting a known data sequence for channel equalization having the length of 2 segments for each set of 16 segments or 12 segments may be decided as “1001”. In another example, the training mode for transmitting a known data sequence for channel equalization having the length of 1 segment for each set of 12 segments may be decided as “0011”.

When it is assumed that the training mode value is equal to ‘1001’, known data sequences having the pattern of Seq#2 Seq#3 Seq#5 Seq#8 are combined to configure a known data sequence for the training mode having the length of 2 segments. Thereafter, the known data sequence is assigned to the pre-signaling data region within the M/H sub-frame. More specifically, the pre-signaling data being assigned to the 2-segment pre-signaling data region is configured in a format where a Seq#2 Seq#3 Seq#5 Seq#8 Seq#2 Seq#3 Seq#5 Seq#8 ... pattern is being repeated.

In another example, when it is assumed that the training mode value is equal to ‘0011’, known data sequences having the pattern of Seq#1 Seq#3 Seq#6 Seq#8 are combined to configure a known data sequence for the training mode having the length of 2 segments. Thereafter, the known data sequence is assigned to the pre-signaling data region within the M/H sub-frame. More specifically, the pre-signaling data being assigned to the 2-segment pre-signaling data region is configured in a format where a Seq#1 Seq#3 Seq#6 Seq#8 Seq#1 Seq#3 Seq#6 Seq#8 ... pattern is being repeated.

At this point, according to the embodiment of the present invention, among the known data sequences of the Seq#1 to Seq#8 pattern, the pattern of at least two known data sequences are different. After, it is assumed that the pattern of each known data sequence is a pre-known pattern based upon an agreement between the receiving system and the transmitting system. Therefore, the receiving system determines the combination pattern of the pre-signaling data being received in the pre-signaling data region, so as to find out (or determine) the corresponding training mode. Once the training mode value is known, the length of the known data sequence being transmitted for CIR estimation and its insertion cycle period may also be known. Since the pre-signaling data are always inserted after the known data sequence for CIR estimation within the corresponding M/H sub-frame, the memories of the trellis encoders are not required to be initialized. In other words, a separate process of initializing the memories of the trellis encoders in order to generate known data sequences after the trellis-encoding process is not required (or necessary).

Also, at the end of the pre-signaling data, all memories of the trellis encoders become zero(0) depending upon the characteristics of the pattern itself. More specifically, by patterning the end of the pre-signaling data to become zero(0), at the end of the pre-signaling data, all memories of the trellis encoders become zero(0) without any apparent trellis state termination depending upon the characteristics of the pattern itself. Furthermore, since the pre-signaling data correspond to a combination of patterns pre-known by the receiving system, the pre-signaling data may be used for frame acquisition and may also be used for carrier recovery by estimating a frequency offset.

FIG. 23 illustrates an example of assigning signaling data to a data region for the second mobile service data within the M/H sub-frame according to the present invention. The post-signaling data consist of TPC data and FIC data. And, the TPC data consist of common-TPC data and parade-TPC data. The common-TPC data include a transmission parameter commonly applied to all parades of the second mobile service. As shown in FIG. 23, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the common-TPC data have a fixed length of 2 segments and are assigned after the pre-signaling data. The last 24 symbols of the common-TPC data are used for initializing the trellis encoder.

The parade-TPC data and the FIC data may have different lengths for each FC-M/H frame and may also have different coding rates. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the related information is included in the common-TPC data, thereby being transmitted. However, in each M/H sub-frame of an FC-M/H frame, the parade-TPC data and the FIC data have the same length and the same coding rate. The parade-TPC data transmit information on separate parades of the second mobile service. The parade-TPC data are encoded by using a PCCC method. And, when a known data sequence (or a training signal) for CIR estimation is inserted in the middle of the parade-TPC data, the PCCC block of the parade-TPC data is divided by the known data sequence. For example, when the length of the parade-TPC data is greater than 8 segments, and when the first mobile service exists in the M/H sub-frame, the PCCC block of the parade-TPC data is divided based upon the known data sequence. FIG. 23 shows an example of the PCCC block of the parade-TPC data being divided into BL1 and BL2 based upon the known data sequence.

When the memory of the trellis encoder is terminated at the end of the common-TPC data and the end of the known data sequence, and when the memory of the PCCC encoder is set to zero(0) at a block beginning of the parade-TPC data, the beginning state of each block is always set at zero(0). The FIC data are assigned after the parade-TPC data. The FIC data may vary between the M/H sub-frames within the FC-M/H frame. More specifically, the FIC data may transmit different contents for each M/H sub-frame.

FIG. 24 illustrates a block diagram showing the structure of a second signaling encoder 124 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The second signaling encoder 124 of FIG. 24 is configured of two paths, one being a path for encoding TPC data and the other being a path for encoding FIC data. The path for encoding TPC data may include a randomizer 611, an RS encoder 612, a block interleaver 613, a byte-to-bit converter 614, and a PCCC encoder 616. A known sequence inserter (or known bits inserter) 615 may be further included between the byte-to-bit converter 614 and the PCCC encoder 616. The known bits inserter 615 may be used to provide robustness to the TPC data against errors. Herein, the application and usage of the known bits inserter 615 is optional. More specifically, when a known data bit pre-known based upon an agreement between the receiving system and the transmitting system is inserted, the receiving system is capable of knowing what type of bit is inserted in which position (or place). Thus, the receiving performance of the receiving system may be enhanced.

More specifically, the TPC data are inputted to the randomizer 611 so as to be randomized. Then, the randomized data are inputted to the RS encoder 612 so as to be RS encoded. Among the RS-encoded TPC data, the common-TPC data are outputted to the byte-to-bit converter 614. And, the parade-TPC data are block-interleaved by the block interleaver 613, so as to be outputted to the byte-to-bit converter 614, thereby being converted into bit units. The bit-unit TPC data being outputted from the byte-to-bit converter 614 are inputted to the PCCC encoder 616, so as to be encoded by using the PCCC method, thereby being outputted to the segment multiplexer 123. At this point, depending upon the circumstances, the common-TPC data and the parade-TPC data are all inputted to the known bits inserter 615, so as to have a known data sequence inserted in the middle of each data type. This process is performed to implement different coding rates using the same PCCC encoder 616. For example, when one known data bit is inserted for each four bits, and when 1/4-PCCC encoding is performed by the PCCC encoder 616, this indicates that an encoding process is performed at the coding rate of 1/5.

The path for encoding FIC data may include a randomizer 621, an RS encoder 622, a byte-to-bit converter 623, and a PCCC encoder 624. More specifically, the FIC data are inputted to the randomizer 621 so as to be randomized. Then, the randomized data are inputted to the RS encoder 622 so as to be RS-encoded. The RS-encoded FIC data are outputted to the byte-to-bit converter 623, so as to be converted into bit units. The bit-unit FIC data being outputted from the byte-to-bit converter 623 are inputted to the PCCC encoder 624, so as to be encoded by using the PCCC method, thereby being outputted to the segment multiplexer 123.

The segment multiplexer 123 receives the data of the RS frame encoded by the second block processor 122, the signaling data encoded by the second signaling encoder 124, and the known data generated from the known sequence generator 125, so as to multiplex the received data in accordance with a pre-decided segment-multiplexing rule, thereby outputting the multiplexed data. For example, the segment multiplexer 123 outputs a known data sequence having the length of 2 segments. Then, the pre-signaling data having the length of 2 segments are outputted. After the pre-signaling data, the common-TPC data, the parade-TPC data, and the FIC data are sequentially outputted, and then the data of the RS frame are outputted. The data multiplexed and outputted from the segment multiplexer 123 are converted into symbol units by the byte-to-symbol converter 127, thereby being outputted to the symbol multiplexer 131.

The symbol multiplexer 131 receives symbol-unit data for the first mobile service from the byte-to-symbol converter 117. The symbol multiplexer 131 also receives symbol-unit data for the second mobile service from the bit-to-symbol converter 127. Then, the symbol multiplexer 131 multiplexes the received data in accordance with a pre-decided symbol multiplexing rule, thereby outputting the multiplexed data. For example, if the data for the first mobile service and the data for the second mobile service are collectively transmitted to the first M/H slot within the M/H sub-frame, the data symbols for the first mobile service are first outputted during the 96 segments of the first M/H slot. Subsequently, the data symbols for the second mobile service are then outputted during the 60 segments.

The output of the symbol multiplexer 131 is inputted to the trellis encoding module 132. The trellis encoding module 132 performs a 12-way interleaving process on the data being inputted in symbol units. Then, the trellis encoding module 132 trellis-encodes the 12-way-interleaved data and then outputs the trellis-encoded data to the synchronization multiplexer 133. The operation of the trellis encoding module 132 is identical to that of the conventional VSB system. And, herein, memory initialization may also be performed in accordance with the inputted data. The synchronization multiplexer 133 inserts field synchronization data and segment synchronization data on the output of the trellis encoding module 132, thereby outputting the processed data to a pilot inserter 134. The data having the pilot inserted therein by the pilot inserter 134 are modulated by a pre-determined method, i.e., a VSB method, from the modulator 135. Thereafter, the modulated data are transmitted to each receiving system through an RF up-converter 136.

Demodulating unit of receiving system

FIG. 25 illustrates a block diagram showing a structure of a demodulating unit within a digital broadcast receiving system according to the present invention. The demodulating unit of FIG. 25 receives known data and signaling data being transmitted from the transmitting system, so as to be used for performing carrier synchronization recovery, frame synchronization recovery, and channel equalization, thereby enhancing the receiving performance.

Referring to FIG. 25, the demodulating unit includes a demodulator 711, an equalizer 712, a block decoder 713, an RS frame decoder 714, a pre-signaling decoder 721, a training signal detector 722, and a post-signaling decoder 723.

More specifically, a tuner tunes to a frequency of a particular channel and down-converts the tuned frequency to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. Then, the down-converted data are outputted to the demodulator 711 and the pre-signaling decoder 721. At this point, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the down-converted signal pass through an analog/digital converter (ADC) (not shown), which converts an analog IF signal of a passband to a digital IF signal, so as to be inputted to the demodulator 711 and the pre-signaling decoder 721.

The broadcast signal being received by the tuner may include only the data for the second mobile service, or may include both the data for the first mobile service and the data for the second mobile service. More specifically, only the data for the second mobile service may be received in FC-M/H frame units, or both the data for the first mobile service and the data for the second mobile service may be received in FC-M/H frame units. Herein, the data for the first mobile service include the first mobile service data, the known data for the first mobile service, TPC data, and FIC data. And, the data for the second mobile service include the second mobile service data, known data sequences (also referred to as training signals) for CIR estimation of the second mobile service, pre-signaling data, and post-signaling data. Herein, the post-signaling data include TPC data and FIC data.

The demodulator 711 performs self gain control, carrier recovery, and timing recovery processes on the inputted digital IF signal, thereby modifying the digital IF signal to a baseband signal. Then, the demodulator 711 outputs the newly generated baseband signal to the equalizer 712, the pre-signaling decoder 721, and the training signal detector 722. When performing the self gain control, carrier recovery, and timing recovery processes, the demodulator 711 uses the pre-signaling data decoded by the pre-signaling decoder 721 and also uses the training signal (e.g., known data) detected by the training signal detector 722, so as to enhance the channel-equalizing performance.

After compensating the distortion of the channel included in the demodulated signal, the equalizer 712 outputs the error-compensated signal to the block decoder 713 and the post-signaling decoder 723. When compensating the distortion of the channel included in the demodulated signal, the equalizer 712 uses the pre-signaling data decoded by the pre-signaling decoder 721 and also uses the known data detected by the training signal detector 722, so as to enhance the channel-equalizing performance. For example, the equalizer 712 estimates a channel impulse response (CIR) so as to perform channel equalization. In the present invention, by using the known data and/or field synchronization data, the position and contents of which are known based upon an agreement between the receiving system and the transmitting system, channel equalization may be performed with more stability.

In case the data being inputted correspond to data for the first mobile service, and depending upon the characteristics of each region of the data group, the equalizer 712 may directly use each of the CIRs estimated from the known data sections without modification, or the equalizer 712 may use a CIR generated by interpolating or extrapolating at least a plurality of CIRs. Also, in case the data being inputted correspond to data for the second mobile service, and depending upon the characteristics of each region of the data group, the equalizer 712 may directly use each of the CIRs estimated from the known data sections without modification, or the equalizer 712 may use a CIR generated by interpolating or extrapolating at least a plurality of CIRs.

Herein, when a value F(Q) of a function F(x) at a particular point Q and a value F(S) of the function F(x) at another particular point S are known, interpolation refers to estimating a function value of a point within the section between points Q and S. Linear interpolation corresponds to the simplest form among a wide range of interpolation operations. The linear interpolation described herein is merely exemplary among a wide range of possible interpolation methods. And, therefore, the present invention is not limited only to the examples set forth herein.

Alternatively, when a value F(Q) of a function F(x) at a particular point Q and a value F(S) of the function F(x) at another particular point S are known, extrapolation refers to estimating a function value of a point outside of the section between points Q and S. Linear extrapolation is the simplest form among a wide range of extrapolation operations. Similarly, the linear extrapolation described herein is merely exemplary among a wide range of possible extrapolation methods. And, therefore, the present invention is not limited only to the examples set forth herein.

The pre-signaling decoder 721 receives at least one of a pre-modulation signal and a post-modulation signal of the demodulator 711, so as to decode pre-signaling data being assigned to and received in the very beginning of the data region for the second mobile service in each M/H sub-frame within the FC-M/H frame. For example, the pre-signaling decoder 721 determines a known pattern combination of pre-signaling data, so as to estimate the training mode. Then, based upon the estimated training mode, the pre-signaling decoder 721 decodes the length and insertion cycle period of the known data for the second mobile service. The known pattern configuring the pre-signaling data may be used for compensating frame acquisition and frequency offset. The pre-signaling data decoded as described above are outputted to the demodulator 711, the equalizer 712, the training signal detector 722, and the post-signaling decoder 723.

The training signal detector 722 detects known data information, which is pre-known based upon an agreement between the receiving system and the transmitting system, from at least one of the pre-modulation signal and the post-modulation signal, thereby outputting the detected information to the demodulator 711 and the equalizer 712. If the known data correspond to known data for the second mobile service, the training signal detector 722 may refer to the pre-signaling data decoded by the pre-signaling decoder 721, i.e., the length and insertion cycle period of the known data, so as to detect the known data information. If the user has selected the first mobile service, the demodulator 711 uses the output of the training signal detector 722, and if the user has selected the second mobile service, the demodulator 711 uses the output of the pre-signaling data decoded by the pre-signaling decoder 721, so as to perform carrier recovery and timing recovery processes on the inputted digital IF signal of the passband.

The post-signaling decoder uses the signal having its channel distortion compensated by the equalizer 712 and the training mode (i.e., the length and insertion cycle period of the known data) received from the pre-signaling decoder 721, so as to decode the common-TPC data, the parade-TPC data, and the FIC data within the post-signaling data, thereby outputting the decoded data to the demodulator 711, the block decoder 713, and the RS frame decoder 714. The demodulator 711 uses the TPC data among the decoded post-signaling data so as to recognize the frame structure. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the post-signaling decoder 723 decodes the post-signaling data by using a PCCC method. For example, if the user has selected the first mobile service, an inverse process of the first signaling encoder of FIG. 12 is performed so as to decode the TPC data and the FIC data. Alternatively, if the user has selected the second mobile service, PCCC decoding is performed as an inverse process of FIG. 24, thereby decoding the common-TPC data, the parade-TPC data, and the FIC data that are assigned and received after the pre-signaling data.

The decoded common-TPC data include a transmission parameter commonly applied to all parades of the second mobile service. The lengths of the parade-TPC data and the FIC data may differ for each FC-M/H frame. Herein, the coding rate of the parade-TPC data and the FIC data may also differ. The associated information may be known by parsing the common-TPC data. The decoded parade-TPC data include information on individual parades of the second mobile service. The block decoder 713 uses the decoded TPC data to identify whether the data inputted from the equalizer 712 correspond to the data for the first mobile service or to the data for the second mobile service.

If the user has selected the first mobile service, the block decoder 713 extracts data for the first mobile service from the data being outputted from the equalizer 712, based upon the information associated to turbo-decoding among the decoded TPC data, thereby performing SCCC-type turbo-decoding as an inverse process of the transmitting system. At this point, the data being outputted from the block decoder 713 correspond to the RS frame data of the parade for the first mobile service requested to be received (i.e., the data being outputted from the block decoder 713 correspond to the first mobile service data inserted to the corresponding RS frame payload, and the RS parity and CRC data added to the RS frame payload). More specifically, the block decoder 713 performs trellis decoding and SCCC-type block decoding on the data for the first mobile service as an inverse process of the transmitting system. At this point, the first block processor 112 may be viewed as an outer encoder, and the trellis encoding module 132 may be viewed as an inner encoder. When decoding such concatenated codes, in order to maximize the decoding performance of the outer code, it is preferable to output a soft-decision value of the inner code from the decoder.

Conversely, if the user has selected the second mobile service, the block decoder 713 extracts data for the second mobile service from the data being outputted from the equalizer 712, based upon the information associated to turbo-decoding among the decoded TPC data, thereby performing PCCC-type turbo-decoding as an inverse process of the transmitting system. At this point, the data being outputted from the block decoder 713 correspond to the RS frame data of the parade for the second mobile service requested to be received (i.e., the data being outputted from the block decoder 713 correspond to the second mobile service data inserted to the corresponding RS frame payload, and the RS parity and CRC data added to the RS frame payload). More specifically, the block decoder 713 performs trellis decoding and PCCC-type block decoding as an inverse process of the transmitting system. At this point, the second block processor 122 may be viewed as an outer encoder, and the trellis encoding module 132 may be viewed as an inner encoder. When decoding such concatenated codes, in order to maximize the decoding performance of the outer code, it is preferable to output a soft-decision value of the inner code from the decoder.

The data turbo-decoded by the block decoder 713 are inputted to the RS frame decoder 714. When the turbo-decoded data that are being outputted correspond to the data for the first mobile service, the RS frame decoder 714 refers to the information associated to the RS frame included in the TPC data of the first mobile service, so as to perform an inverse process of the first RS frame encoder of the transmitting system. Thus, the RS frame decoder 714 can correct the errors that have occurred in the first mobile service data received by the RS frame payload.

Also, when the turbo-decoded data that are being outputted correspond to the data for the second mobile service, the RS frame decoder 714 refers to the information associated to the RS frame included in the TPC data of the second mobile service, so as to perform an inverse process of the second RS frame encoder of the transmitting system. Thus, the RS frame decoder 714 can correct the errors that have occurred in the second mobile service data received by the RS frame payload. For example, if the turbo-decoded data being outputted correspond to the data for the second mobile service, based upon the information associated to the RS frame among the TPC decoded by the post-signaling decoder 723, the RS frame decoder 714 gathers the data for the second mobile service being turbo-decoded by the block decoder 713 and outputted during one FC-M/H frame. Thereafter, the RS frame decoder 714 performs a CRC-checking process and an erasure RS-decoding process. Thus, the RS frame decoder 714 can perform a final output of the error-corrected second mobile service data. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the error-corrected second mobile service data are configured to have an IP datagram format.

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.

Meanwhile, the mode for the embodiment of the present invention is described together with the 'best Mode' description.

The embodiments of the method for transmitting and receiving signals and the apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals according to the present invention can be used in the fields of broadcasting and communication.

Claims

A receiving system, comprising:

a demodulator for demodulating mobile service data based upon decoded pre-signaling data, the mobile service data being received through some segments of at least one slot, wherein a transmission frame is configured of multiple sub-frames, and wherein a sub-frame is configured of multiple slots;

a pre-signaling decoder for decoding pre-signaling data being received through a first slot of each sub-frame, and outputting the decoded pre-signaling data to the demodulator;

a post-signaling decoder for decoding post-signaling data being received after the pre-signaling data; and

a block decoder for turbo-decoding the demodulated mobile service data based upon the decoded post-signaling data.
The receiving system of claim 1, wherein a known data sequence is received through a last segment of a slot transmitting the mobile service data, and wherein the known data sequence is pre-decided based upon an agreement between the receiving system and a transmitting system.
The receiving system of claim 1, wherein, when the mobile service data correspond to data for a second mobile service, and when data for a first mobile service are received through some segments of a slot transmitting the data for the second mobile service, a known data sequence is received through a segment following the data for the first mobile service, and wherein the known data sequence is pre-decided based upon an agreement between the receiving system and a transmitting system.
The receiving system of claim 3, wherein the data for the first mobile service are received through 96 segments of a respective slot.
The receiving system of claim 3, wherein the block decoder performs trellis-decoding on mobile service data for the first mobile service and performs serial concatenated convolutional code (SCCC)-type turbo-decoding on the trellis-decoded mobile service data.
The receiving system of claim 3, wherein the block decoder performs trellis-decoding on mobile service data for the second mobile service and performs parallel concatenated convolutional code (PCCC)-type turbo-decoding on the trellis-decoded mobile service data.
The receiving system of claim 1, wherein the mobile service data are grouped to generate an RS frame, wherein the RS frame is divided into a number of portions corresponding to a number of sub-frames within the transmission frame, and wherein the RS frame portions are received through some segments of at least one slot of each sub-frame.
The receiving system of claim 1, wherein the post-signaling data comprises fast information channel (FIC) data for a fast acquisition of the mobile service data, and transmission information channel (TPC) data including FIC version information for indicating an update in the FIC data and encoding information of the mobile service data, and wherein FIC data are received after the TPC data.
The receiving system of claim 1, further comprising:

a training signal detector for detecting a known data sequence being received through a slot transmitting the mobile service data by using a length and insertion cycle period of the known data sequence extracted from the pre-signaling data.
A method of processing broadcast data in a receiving system, the method comprising:

demodulating mobile service data based upon decoded pre-signaling data, the mobile service data being received through some segments of at least one slot, wherein a transmission frame is configured of multiple sub-frames, and wherein a sub-frame is configured of multiple slots;

decoding pre-signaling data being received through a first slot of each sub-frame;

decoding post-signaling data being received after the pre-signaling data; and

turbo-decoding the demodulated mobile service data based upon the decoded post-signaling data.
The method of claim 10, wherein a known data sequence is received through a last segment of a slot transmitting the mobile service data, and wherein the known data sequence is pre-decided based upon an agreement between the receiving system and a transmitting system.
The method of claim 10, wherein, when the mobile service data correspond to data for a second mobile service, and when data for a first mobile service are received through some segments of a slot transmitting the data for the second mobile service, a known data sequence is received through a segment following the data for the first mobile service, and wherein the known data sequence is pre-decided based upon an agreement between the receiving system and a transmitting system.
The method of claim 12, wherein the data for the first mobile service are received through 96 segments of a respective slot.
The method of claim 12, wherein mobile service data for the second mobile service is trellis-decoded and then turbo-decoded at parallel concatenated convolutional code (PCCC)-type.
The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile service data are grouped to generate an RS frame, wherein the RS frame is divided into a number of portions corresponding to a number of sub-frames within the transmission frame, and wherein the RS frame portions are received through some segments of at least one slot of each sub-frame.
The method of claim 10, wherein the post-signaling data comprises fast information channel (FIC) data for a fast acquisition of the mobile service data, and transmission information channel (TPC) data including FIC version information for indicating an update in the FIC data and encoding information of the mobile service data, and wherein FIC data are received after the TPC data.