AU691298B2 - Process for transmitting digital audio data and packet-transmitted complementary data - Google Patents

Description

(DPI DATE 05/01/96 APPLN. ID 26110/95 AOJP DATE 15/02/96 PCT NUMBER PCT/DE95/00754 AU95261 (51) Inteinationale Patentklassifikation 6: (1i) Internationale Verb fl'entlichungsnummer: WO 95/34965 H04H 100 Al (43) Internationales Veriffentlichungsdatum: 21, December 1995 (21.12,95) (21) Internationales Akienzeichen: PCT(DE95/0075'i (81) Bestimmungsstanten: AU, CA, JP, europlisches Patent (AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, (22) Internationales Anmeldedatuim: 10. Jun! 1995 (10.06.95) PT, SE).

Priori titsdaten: Veriiffentlicht P 44 22 015.4 16 Juni 1994 (16.06.94) DE Mit interncarionalem Rechercheriberich.

Vor. 4 blauf dcrfdr Anerungen der Ansprilche zugeloassenen Frisr. Veriiffenflichung wird wiederholt falls Anderungen (71) Anmelder: ROBERT BOSCH GIVIBH [DEfDE]; Postfach 30 eintreffen.

02 20, D-70442 Stuttgart (72) Erfinder: HALLIER, Julrgen; Salzkamp 10, D-31188 Holle LAUTERBACH, Thomas; Am Propsteihof 69, D- 31139 Hildesheim UNBEHAUN, Matthias; St. rj Hedwig Strasse 4, D-31 135 Einum (54) Title: PROCESS FOR TRANSMITITING DIGITAL AUDIO DATA AND PACKET-TRANSMITTrED COMPLEMENTARY DATA (54) Bezeichnung: VERFAI-REN ZUR (JBERTRAGUNG DIGITALER AUDIODATEN UND ALS DATENPAKETE ()BERTRAGENER ZUSA'TZDATEN (57) Abstract A process is disclosed for n-ansmitting and playing back digital data and digital complementary data during a digital radio broadcast.

Audio data are transmitted, as well as complementary data that may be selected to be broadcast together with the audio data. The complementary data may for example be images, texts and/or speech provided with control characters for broadcasting the complementary data at predetermined moments in time.

(57) Zusainmenfassung Es wird emn Verfahren zur tCbertragung und emn Verfahren zur Wiedergabe digitaler Daten und digitaler Zusatzdaten anhand eines digitalen Rundfunkprogrammes beschrieben, wobei Audiodaten libertragen werden und zustltzlich Zusatzdaten libertragen werden, die ausgewdhlt werden kt~nnen, umn mit den Audiodaten ausgegeben zu werden. Als Zusatzdaten werden beispielsweise Bilder und/oder Texte undboder Sprache verwendet, die mit Steuerzeichen versehen sind, so da3 die Zusatzdaten zu vorgegebenen Zeitpunkten ausgegeben werden.

Prior Art The invention relates to a process for the transmission of digital data and digital complementary data.

From the article "Digital Audio Broadcasting Radio Listening in CD Quality" in the magazine Funkschau, issue 1 6, 1992, one is familiar with the transmission of digital data in the form of audio data and digital complementary data which, for example, involves traffic or traffic capacity systems. The complementary data is stored independent of the data and is output independently of the data as required.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with the invention there is provided a process for the radio transmission of digital audio data and digital complementary data which represent pictures, texts or speech and are divided into units in the form of data groups, an identification of the unit being transmitted with each unit, wherein the identification contains the name of the unit and that control characters are transmitted for each unit, indicating the period over which the unit remains stored in a receiver and at which time the unit, upon selection of its name, is represented in the receiver.

Advantages of the Invention CThe invention has the advantage that the complementary data such as, for example, picture data, text data or speech data is arranged in fixed data groups. One unit contains eg. a picture or a section of a picture or a song or part of a song or a page of text or a section of text. For each unit, a unit dentification code and control character of the unit are transmitted which, ee wvvhen the unit is selected, indicate at what time the reading or the output of the urit begins and how long the reproduction or output will last. This will lead to data such as audio data, complementary data being available which, by nrieans of a corresponding selection in the receiver will be output simultaneously. It is left to the operator of the receiver to call complementary data from the complementary data offered which the operator wants to have 2512i9VSAP9166. SPH, I

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Z-4ii called up. In this way, a multimedia data transferral process is made possible.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a process for the radio transmission of digital audio data and digital complementary data which represent pictures, texts or speech and are divided into units in the form of data groups, an identification of the unit being transmitted with each unit, wherein the identification contains the name of the unit and that control characters are transmitted for each unit, indicating the period over which the unit remains stored in a receiver and at which time the unit, upon selection of its name, is represented in the receiver.

This has the advantage that digital data such as audio data and digital complementary data such as, for example picture data and/or text data and/or speech data can be chosen for the output and the output of the data and the complementary data occurs simultaneously. In this way, the operator of a receiver operated in the process described has the possibility of selection the information from the abundance of data and complementary data which interests him in particular and have it output for him individually.

:In this way, an interactive and multimedia use of the receiver is obtained.

A preferred aspect provides an improvement of the storage time or storage interval being transmitted for each unit indicating how long the unit is :2H stored in a receiver. By this means, it is possible to adjust the demand on the e memory to the requirements. In this way, memory is economised on. It is of S particular advantage when using several transmission channels to also transmit a channel word which indicated the transmission channel used. In this way, the transmission channel is found by the relevant unit quickly. In addition, it is possible by this means, according to the choice of units, to limit reception to the corresponding transmission channels. It is of particular advantage that by this means, several available transmission channels can, according to channel Ic3ding, be used for the transmission of units, the outcome being that an efficient use of the transmission capacities of the transmission channels is reached.

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'J ir(V It is of further benefit to transmit the beginning of every unit and the number of the data bits belonging to the unit. In doing so, the receiver is aware of the period in which a unit is transmitted so that the receiver is able to provide the necessary memory storage in good time. In this way, memory requirement is saved. The process is improved by a number of repeats being transmitted. In this way, the receiver knows whether or how often the unit is being repeated. This offers the advantage that in the case of an error in the transmission of the unit, the receiver receives the unit when the unit is retransmitted and stored. This ensures a heightened reliability in the transmission of the data.

The flexibility of the representation of additional data is increased in that the reading attributes are transmitted for the representation or the output of the units. Hence it is possible to produce variation in time in the representation or output without a repeated transmission of the units. In this :S1" way, an interesting representation or output of data without additional effort in transmission is made possible.

The use of a check sum for the transmission of units makes possible a o: check for errors in transmission. In this way, the reliability of the transmission process is increased. The use of the transmission process is further improved in the combining of several units to components and several components to a program. With this, the user has the possibility of selecting the components of a program so that the units which are constituents of the components are output.

r Various types of data, eg. pictures, music, speech and texts or various data content such as political news, sports news and news from the stock exchange are used. This provides the advantage of not every unit having to be selected individually but with the selection of a component a whole host of units are determined. This increases the convenience in the use of the transmission process.

The use of designations or names for the units or components which are 25J299VSAP891 .SI'P-,3 displayed or output by a receiver simplify the choice for a user of the receiver, it being more pleasant to choose designations or names rather than unintelligible code words. With this feature, the comfort in using the transmission process is increased.

The process described is particularly suitable for the transmission of a digital radio program in which the data eg. audio data and the complementary data display picture data and/or text data. In this way, a multimedia, interactive radio program is made possible which makes available a high information content and offers the possibility of making a program.

The procedure is improved and the advantage is obtained in the memory tirrie for every unit being stored. This indicates how long the unit is stored in a memory. Through it, the receiver has the possibility of dividing the memory available optimally. In this way, the memory to be kept available can be Sdeveloped minimally.

The process described is enhanced in that a channel word, stored with S every unit, indicates the transmission channel over which the unit is transmitted. In this way, it is possible when using several transmission S channels for the receiver to detect the units and to store only the stored units.

e il 2S,2I98SAP8916.SP .4 WO 5 /34965 PCT/DE95/00754 4 It is of particular advantage to store reading attributes for each unit. By this means, the receiver's displaying data of a unit dependent on the stored reading attributes at various times is achieved. In this way, the functions of the process described are increased without a great deal of additional data. The reading of the units is then more interesting to configure, the user's comfort having being increased.

The process described is particularly suitable for the operating of a digital radio receiver.

The function is increased by several units being combined into one program. In this way, an individual program can be put together through a choice of components without every single unit having to be selected. The convenience in using the receiver is thus increased.

It is of particular advantage to erase the additional data stored in a memory after the storage time has expired or to overwrite it with new, received additional data. In this way, a further, improved use of the memory location available is achieved. It is further of advantage, that after input of a choice of units and/or components, that only the chosen units are stored in the receiver. In this way, the memory location necessary for storage is minimised.

Drawing An embodiment of the invention is represented in the drawing and commented on in dctail in the following description. Figure 1 shows a transmission framne, Figure 2 a fast information group, Figure 3 a type 2 field, Figure 4 an second type 2 field, Figure 5 a third type 2 field, Figure 6 a type 1 field, Figure 7 a program field, Figure 8 a component vector and Figure 9 a digital receiver.

Description of an Embodiment The transmission of the data, the classification of the transmission channels, the type of the transmission of the data and the synchronisation of the data is regulated by a generic frame protocol which is not explicitly described. The whole transmission process is described, however, by eg. P. Ratliff, "EUREKA 147 Digital Audio Broadcasting The System for Mobile, Portable and Fixed Receivers", Second International Symposium on Digital Audio Broadcasting, Toronto, Canada, March 1994, pp.294ff.

WO 95i34965 PCT/DE95/00754 More detailed comments can be found in Pornier, "High quality digital sound broadcasting to mobile, portable and fixed receivers", IEEE International Broadcasting Conference, No.

293, Brighton, September, 1988, in ETSI, "Radio Broadcasting System; Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) to mobile portable and fixed receivers", European Telecommunication Standard Draft prETS300401, Sophia Antipolis, January 1994, in Chambers, "DAB system multiplex organisation", Proc. First International Symposium on DAB, EBU, Montreux, June 1992, pp.

1 11-120 and in Le Foch, "Channel coding and modulation for DAB", Proc. First International Symposium on DAB, EBU, Montreux, June 1992, pp.

99 1 In this embodiment example only, the data formats necessary for the transmission of the control data are described. Figure 1 shows a transmission framework 1 which is used in the transmission of digital audio broadcasts (DABs). The transmission framework 1 consists of a synchronisation channel 2, a fast information channel 3 and a main service channel 4. The transmission frame consists of a set number of data bits. The fast information channel is divided into fast information blocks 5. In the synchronisation channel, the number of set data bits is arranged which are used for the synchronisation of the transmission framework 1.

In the main service channel 4, 'use' data in the form of a common interleaved frame (CIF) 6 is transmitted. By 'use' data, digital data such as eg. audio data and digital complementary data such as picture data, audio data or text data is referred to. The data of the main service channel is time-interleaved. The data frames 6 are fold-coded, the same or different error protection being used.

The fast information channel is used in order to transmit information to a receiver quickly.

In particular, the multiplex ordering of the main service channel 4 is transmitted via the fast information channel. In addition, the complementary data necessary for controlling is transmitted via the fast information channel 3.

Among this is the data necessary for the presentation of the complementary data. This takes place in the form of the fast information block 5. The fast information channel 3 is not time-interleaved and features a set error protection.

"1, 4 II I 4 WO 95734965 PCT/DE95/00754 1 6 The synchronisation channel 2 is used within the transmission system for base demodulator functions such as the synchronisation of the transmission frame 1, automatic frequency control, the estimation of the condition of the channel and for the identification of the transmitter. Each fast information block is divided into fast information groups.

Figure 2 shows a first fast information group 7, representing a fast information group type 2. The first fast information group 7 features a header 8, consisting of a first data word and a second data word 11. The first data word 10 indicates the type of fast information group, in this case type 2. For this, the data bit string 010 is used.

The fast information group 7 features a data field 9. The second data word 11 indicates the length of the data field 9. The data field 9 is divided into a third data word 13, an extension field 14 and a type 2 field 12. The third data field has a length of four bits and is available for future uses. The extension field 14 is 4 bits long and allows it to assign a certain meaning to the type 2 field.

Figure 3 shows a first type 2 field with the extension 0. That is, in extension field 14, the symbol 0 is established. The first type 2 field is divided in a programme identification field a unit identification field 16, a first and second start field 17, 18, a validity field 21 and a transmission field 22. The program identification field 15 indicates the program to which the unit is allocated. The unit identification field 16 indicates an identification number of the unit with which the unit for which the first type 2 field is transmitted, is clearly identified. A certain bit string is used as an identification number. The first start field 17 indicates the beginning of the validity period of the unit in the form of the modified Julian Date. The second start field 18 indicates the beginning of the unit validity period in the Coordinated Universal Time Code (UTC).

The modified Julian Date and the Coordinated Universal Time Code are established time calculations described, for examunple, in "Specification of the Radio Data System (RDS)", European Standard, EN 50067, Geneva, April 1992, Chapter 8.1.3.

Other time calculations can, of course, also be used. The validity field 19 indicates the length of the validity period, coded in Coordinated Universal Time Code (UTC). The validity period indicates how long a unit is stored in a memory. The free data field 20 is available for future use. The transmission identification field 21 indicates the transmission channel as the channel word over which the unit is transmitted. In this, a sustained data -r ,C WO 95, 34965 ICT/~DE9S5/00754- 7 stream (stream mode) is shown as a transmission channel with the data bits 00, with 01 data stream (packet mode) divided into data packets as the transmission channel and with a data stream in the form of a data stream closely associated with audio data (program associated data) which are transmitted in an ancillary data field of ISO-Norm 11172/3.

The transport field 22 indicates where the unit is to be found in the corresponding transmission channel. The first type 2 field indicates, then, the starting time, the length of the notation of a unit and the transmission channel over which the unit is transmitted.

Figure 4 shows a second type 2 field 25 with the extension 1 which features the program field 15, a unit identification field 16, a third start field 23 and an attribute word 24. The program identification field 15 features 16 bits and indicates the program to which the unit is allocated. The unit identification field 16 likewise features 16 bits and indicates the identification of the unit. The third start field 23 features 8 bits and indicates a CIF count from which the relevant unit is reproduced or the reproduction of the corresponding unit is ended. The CIF count produces a count sent by the transmitter and against which the receiver is synchronised.

With the help of the CIF count, an exact synchronising of the reproduction, or the ending of the transmission of the units is possible. The attribute word 24 also features 8 bits and indicates reading attributes, how the output or the representation of the units should take place. Here, it will, for example, be indicated by zero bits that the reproduction of the unit is being ended, a reproducer being placed in the condition the reproduction device was found in prior to commencement of the reproduction.

An indication of 7 zero bits and a one bit indicates that the reproduction begins in the optimal form for the reproducer. Through the use of a third start field 23, the point in time at which a change of the kind of reproduction takes place and over the attribute word 24, the kind of change in the reproduction of the unit is established.

Figure 5 shows a third type 2 field 26 with the extension 2. The third type 2 field 26 indicates the beginning of the transmission of a unit. The third type 2 field 26 features a unit identification field 16, a third start field 23, a linear field 27, a reproduction field 28, a free data field 20, a CRC flag 29 and a CRC field 30. The unit identification field 16 features 16 bits. The third start field 23 is 8 bits long and indicates a CIF count from which Z;r 0 WO 95/34965 PCT/DE95/00754 8 the transmission of the unit begins. The linear field 27 is 32 bits long and indicates the number of data bytes of the unit.

The free data field 20 features, for example, a length of 3 bits and is available for future use. In a free data field 20, at the moment eg. zero bits are transmitted. The CRC flag 29 is one bit long and indicates whether a check sum will be transmitted. If a 0 bit is distributed in a CRC flag, no check sum is used. With a 1 bit, it is indicated that a check sum is being used, for example, based on this polynomial: G(x) X1 6 x 2 x 5 I1 The check sum (cyclic redundancy check word) is in the CRC field A first, second and third type 2 field 12, 25, 26 is transmitted for each unit.

Figure 6 shows a type 1 field 31 of extension 3. The type 1 field features a 16 bit long unit identification field 16. In addition to this, a 16 8 bit long character field 32 and a 16 bit long character flag field 33 is set out. The character field 32 contains a designation or a name for the unit designated with the unit identification field. The character flag field 33 contains an abbreviation of the designation or name.

With the help of the type 1 field 31, a name or unit is transmitted. The name of the unit is clearly allocated to the unit via the unit recognition field. The name can be displayed in a receiver via a display or can be output over a loudspeaker so that the user of the receiver can, with the aid of the name, select the unit. If there is only a small number of signs or letters available for the presentation of the designation, an abbreviation will be displayed in the character flag field 33. A type 1 field 31 will be transmitted for each unit.

Figure 7 shows a program field 59 which is divided into a program identification field 15, a number field 60 and a first, a second and a third component field 61, 62 and 63. The program identification field 15 indicates the program; the number field 60 is four bits long and indicates the number of components belonging to the program in this case, three. The first component field 61 is sixteen bits long and contains an identification code which the component clearly identifies, a designation or name for the component and the indication that it has to do with a picture component, ie. all units which belong to the first component contain picture data. The second component field 62 is sixteen bits long and contains an

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WO 95/34965 PCT/DE95/00754 9 identification code which identifies the component clearly, a designation or name for the component and the indication that this component has to do with audio data. All units belonging to the second component 62 represent audio data.

The third component field 63 is sixteen bits long and contains an identificatiol code which identifies the components clearly, a designation or a :name for the components and the indication that this component has to do with text data. Through this is established that all units which belong to this component comprise text data. A program field 59 is transmitted for every program. Figure 8 shows a component indicator 64 which is 24 bits long and indicates to which component a unit belongs. In addition, the component indicator features a unit identification field 16 which designates the unit and a component datum 65 which indicates the identification of the component to which the unit belongs. A component indicator 64 is transmitted for each unit. It is therefore clear to which component a unit belongs. It is also clear which kind of data eg. picture data, audio data or text data the units comprise.

Figure 9 shows, schematically, a digital radio receiver (DAB receiver). The data is transmitted via an antenna 44 to a front end 58 and from the front end 58 to a channel decoder 32. The channel decoder 32 is connected by means of data lines 66 to a fast information decoder 33, a data decoder 34, a PAD decoder 35, a memory 37 and a first audio decoder 36. An outlet on the fast information decoder 33 is connected to a system controller 38. An outlet on the data decoder 34 is connected to the memory. Also, an outlet on the PAD decoder 35 is connected to the memory 37. The memory 37 is connected to a second audio decoder 40, a video decoder 41 and a text decoder 42 via data busses.

An outlet on the second audio decoder 40, an outlet on the text decoder 42 and an outlet on the first audio decoder 36 are connected to inputs of a multimedia terminal 43. The system controller 38 is connected via a first pilot circuit 49 to a channel decoder 32 via a second pilot circuit 45 to a fast information decoder 33, with a third pilot circuit 46 to the data decoder 34 with a fourth pilot circuit 47 to the PAD decoder 35 and with a fifth pilot circuit 48 to the first audio decoder 36.

In addition, the system controller 38 is connected by a seventh pilot circuit 51 to a second audio decoder 40 with an eighth pilot circuit 52 to a video decoder 41 and with a ninth pilot circuit 53 to the text decoder 42. Further, a control and data connection 54 extends from the system controller 38 to the multimedia terminal 43. Control and data signals are

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t" I t b 95/34965 PCT/DE95/00754 exchanged between the system controller 38 and the multimedia terminal 43 via the control and data lines 54. The system controller 38 is connected to the memory via a tenth control line The procedure for the transmission of digital data and digital complementary data is described using the example of a digital radio program. This procedure can also be used for other digital data transmission systems such as for television transmissions. In the digital radio program described, audio data is transmitted as digital data and picture and/or audio data and/or texts or any other form of data is used as digital complementary data, the data formats in Figures 1 to 8 being used for the transmission of the data. According to the transmission process used, other data formats can also be employed.

The transmission of the data and the complementary data is undertaken in the transmission frame 1. In the process, the data and the complementary data are transmitted in the main service channel 4 which is divided in data frame 6 (CIF). The control data necessary for the presentation of the complementary data is transmitted in the fast information blocks The control data represented in Figures 2 to 8 is regarded as control data.

A program which is transmitted consists of various components which, in turn, are subdivided in time or content units. The components are divided into units according to pre-established time intervals. It is therefore possible, for instance, that a program consists of a music component which, in turn, is subdivided into several music units, a music unit eg. a section of a piece of music being presented. Further, the same program features a picture component which, in turn, is subdivided into several picture units which present one and the same picture in various representations. In addition, there is a third component, a text component part of the program which in turn is subdivided into text units. The text units represent, for instance, various texts or parts of a text.

The division of the components can also be used to distinguish additional data according to content. Thus, for example, an arranging of news into political news, sports news or business news can take place, these in turn being arranged in various components.

In a ;imple case, an identification of every unit transmitted will be given. In doing so, every unit will be clearly identifiable. In addition, the CIF count will be transmitted indicating when the unit is output. The transmission of a denotation on a unit is necessary to indicate to a user of a transmitter which units can be selected.

WO 95/34965 PCT/DE95/00754 11 In an improved procedure, it will be indicated for every unit at which time the period of validity of the unit begins. In addition, at the beginning of the validity period, the length of this period is transmitted. The period of validity indicates in which period the unit remains in the memory 37 of a receiver.

A further addition in the transmission of the units indicates over which transmission channel the unit is transmitted and where the unit data can be found in the transmission channel.

The first type 2 field 12, represented in Figure 3 is used to transmit the program identification, the identification of the unit, the beginning and the data of the validity period, the transmission channel and the location in the transmission channel in which the unit is transmitted.

Further, the beginning and the end of a reproduction of a unit within the validity period is transmitted via the second type 2 field 25 represented in Figure 4. In addition, the program identification, the unit identification and the CIF count indicating the time at which the reproduction should begin or end and the reading attributes are transmitted.

In this way, the reading attributes are indicated to the receiver, whether the reading should begin or end and how the reading should occur. In so doing, eg. the beginning or the end of a reproduction is indicated over the CIF count. TI'he way in which the reproduction is to take place is established in the reproduction attributes. Thus, for example, in the case of pictures the size of the section of the picture, the resolution, the choice of colours or, in the case of an output of text eg. the size of the text, or in the case of a speech output eg. the volume can be established.

Additional to the information named, further information on the transmission of a unit can be transmitted. This takes place in the third type 2 field 26 as represented in Figure Upon provision of the identification of the unit and the CIF count, the length of the unit, a number of repetitions of transmissions of the unit and the indication as to whether a check sum is included in the transmission and the check sum itself is transmitted.

In this way, a receiver receives the information when the transmission of the corresponding unit begins (CIF count), how long the data field of the unit is, whether and how many ,9- WO 95/34965 PCT/DE95/00754 12 repetitions of transmissions of the unit follow and whether a check sum is included and, if so, which check sum is included in the transmission. In this way, a receiver has the possibility of filtering out the transmission of the unit or, in the case of an error in transmission, to receive the repetition of the transmission of the unit and to assess the errorfree transmission and the check sum.

In addition to the data named, another designation or name for each unit is transmitted.

This takes place over the type 1 field 31, as is represented in Figure 6. When the identification of the unit is provided, a name or an aliBsrviation of the names of the unit are transmitted, aided by a letter field 32 and a letter flag field 33.

The data represented in the Figures 2 to 8 are transmitted via the fast information channel 3.

The data of the units itself is transmitted in the main service channel 4 within the data frame 6. The transmission is organised so that the data belonging to the control data which is transmitted via the fast information channel 3 is transmitted before the transmission of the unit data and so are available for a receiver.

For the convenient use of the receiver, several units are combined to make a component.

This tais place through the transmission of a component indicator 64 for every unit which indicates to which component the unit belongs. In addition, several components are combined to make a program and a program field is transmitted, indicating which components belong to the program and which kind of data the component units comprise.

As a designation for each component is also transmitted with the component field, the components and the units in the receiver can be indicated by means of an indication of the designations of the components or the units for selection.

The procedure for the reproduction of digital data and digital complementary data is described as follows with the aid of the diagram in Figure 9 representing a digital radio receiver. The procedure described can, however, be applied to any kind of digital receiver.

A receiver represented in Figure 9 receives channel coded data and complementary data via an antenna 44. The data and the complementary data are transformed from a front end 58 to digital data and digital complementary data. Finally, the data and complementary data are conveyed to a channel decoder 32. The channel decoder 32 decodes the control data in the ,ast information channel 3 and conveys it on to the fast information decoder 33. The fast information decoder 33 decodes the control data conveyed and conveys it further to the cr 7 WO 95/34965 PCT/DE95/00754 13 system controller 38. Thus the identification of every unit, the program to which the unit is allocated, the period of validity and the transmission channel are communicated to the transmission channel. In addition, it is conveyed to the system controller, from which CIF count the reading of the unit should begin or end. Also, the system controller is advised concerning the reading attributes, how the representation of the unit is to be executed.

Furthermore, information appears as to when the transmission of the unit begins, how long the unit is, whether a possible repeat of the transmission of the unit is to place and whether a check sum is also transmitted and, if so, which check sum is transmitted. Additionally, the system controller 38 receives a new name for every unit. Further, information is conveyed to the system controller as to which components are combined into a program, which type of data is contained in the components and which units belong to which components. Each componenni will receive a designation or a name. The system controller creates a table in which the control data necessary for receiving and/or for selection and/or for output of the units or the components is stored.

The channel decoder 32 decodes the transmission channel over which the digital data in the form of audio data is transmitted and passes it on to the first audio decoder 36.

Three separate transmission channels are used for the transmission of the additional data in the form of units in this example. Other and more or fewer transmission channels can also be used. Firstly, a transmission of data in the form of a serial data stream takes place, secondly transmission of data in packets and thirdly a transmission of data in the form of data closely related to audio data (program associated data) which are transmitted in an ancillary data field of ISO-Norm 11172/3. Further details concerning the three transmission channels are described in P. Ratliff, "EUREKA 147 Digital Audio Broadcasting The System for Mobile, Portable and Fixed Receivers", Second International Symposium on Digital Audio Broadcasting, Toronto, Canada, March 1994, pp.294ff.

Three decoders are located in the receiver for the three separate types of transmission. The channel decoders 32 for the serial data, the data decoder 34 for the data transmitted in packets and the PAD decoder 35 for the data transmitted in the ancillary data field. The decoders 32, 34, 35 are addressable by the system controller 38. The decoders 32, 33, 34, are structured in such a way that the data of the corresponding transmission channels is decoded.

WO 95/34965 PCT/DE95/00754 14 As the system controller has the information concerning which transmission channel the units at which time should be transmitted, the system controller 38 switches the channel decoder 32 to the relevant channel so that the channel decoder 32 then enters the channel coded complementary data either into the data decoder 34 or the PAD decoder 35 or decodes it directly and enters it into the memory 37. The channel decoded control data is, following control by the system controller 38, correspondingly forwarded from the channel decoder 32 to the FIC decoder 33.

The data decoder 34 and the PAD decoder 35 implement a decoding of the additional data and men enter the decoded complementary data into the memory 37. The system controller 38 is; connected by the tenth control line 55 to the memory 37, so that the entering of the decoded complementary data by the system controller can be additionally contro!led via the write line.

The system controller 38 creates the table in which is stored which units belong to which components and which components belong to which programs. Furthermore, the designations for every unit and component are in the table. The unit validity periods are kept in the tables, so that a storing of the complementary data which represent the data of the units occurs in the memory only over the validity period. Alternatively, an erasing of the unit after the validity period has expired or, after the validity period, the unit is overwritten with data of a new unit.

The system controller 38 indicates the designation or names of the units and/or the components via the multimedia terminal 43. The multimedia terminal features an optical or acoustic indicator and has a keyboard for the entering of numbers and/or letters and/or a speech computer for the acoustic entry of a name or a designation.

A chooser of the receiver now selects the components or units of a program which should be output by entering the designation or name via the multimedia terminal 43. This information is forwarded to the system controller 38. The system controller 38 selects the units chosen from the memory 37 corresponding to what the user had preset and gives them according to the type of unit data be it audio data, video data or text data to the second audio decoder 40, to the video decoder 41 or to the text decoder 42. The audio decoder 40, the video decoder 41 and the text decoder 42 are correspondingly controlled by the system controller 38 and translate the digital supplementary data into signals.

Vrt WO 95/34965 PCT/DE95/00754 The data of the units or components are repeated to the multimedia terminal 43. The multimedia terminal 43 is also controlled by the system controller. A reproduction of the unit data or the components in the form of audio data and/or video and/or text data occurs with the aid of the multimedia terminal 43. The multimedia terminal 43 is also controlled by the system controller. A reading of the unit data or the components in the form of audio data and/or video and/or text data occurs with the help of the multimedia terminal 43. The output of the units is correspondingly effected with the transmitted control data.

The -nultimedia terminal 43 sends information via the control and data lines 54 to the system controller 38 as to which reproduction is possible eg. picture, speech or text, so that the system controller 38 forwards only those units to the multimedia terminal which can be output.

The transmitted digital data, in this case the audio data, which is decoded by the first audio decoder 36 is received according to the controlling by the system controller 38, always or temporally limited and output via the multimedia terminal.

The suggested process also makes possible eg. the registering of all components of a program and, at every reproduction, the output of other components.

Claims (18)

1. A process for the radio transmission of digital audio data and digital complementary data which represent pictures, texts or speech and are divided into units in the form of data groups, an identification of the unit being transmitted with each unit, wherein the identification contains the name of the unit and that control characters are transmitted for each unit, indicating the period over which the unit remains stored in a receiver and at which time the unit, upon selection of its name, is represented in the receiver.

2. The process in accordance with claim 1, wherein the selection of the units to be represented in the receiver takes place to a user by means of the name transmitted.

3. The process in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein by using several transmission channels for each unit, a channel word is transmitted which indicates the transmission channel used for the transmission of the unit.

4. The process in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the beginning of the transmission of a unit is transmitted and that the number of the data belonging to the unit is transmitted.

5. The process in accordance with claim 4, wherein the number of repeat transmissions of a unit is transmitted. :2

6. The process in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein S the reading attributes for a representation or for an output of the units are transmitted.

7. The process in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each unit, provided with a check sum for the recognition of errors, is transmitted.

8. The process in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein several units combined to make a component and several components combined to make a program are transmitted.

9. The process according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the digital data and the digital ,:omplementary data are transmitted within the S- .252198VSAP8916,SPE,5 7 C) <t 7 o& II 17 framework of a digital radio program.

The process according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a designation or name is transmitted for each component.

11. A process for the receiving and output of digital data and digital complementary data, digital data and digital complementary data being received, translated into analog data and output, wherein the digital complementary data, representing in particular picture and/or text and/or speech is received in the form of units, that the units are provided with an identification, that control characters are received by the units, that after input of a selection of units, the units corresponding to the control characters which may indicate the time of the output and the duration of the output is output.

12. The process according to claim 11, wherein for each unit, a storage time is received which indicates the period in which the unit is stored in a memory.

13. The process according to claim 12, w-arein the complementary data is erased at the end of the storage time or is overwritten with new complementary data.

14. The process according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein after input of a unit selection, only the selected units are stored.

15. The process according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein with the use of several transmission channels for each unit, information is received and stored which indicates over which transmission channel the unit is transmitted and that the information concerning when the unit is transmitted is received for each unit.

16. The process according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein for each unit, reading attributes are received and that the units are output in accordance with the reading attributes.

17. The process according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein a table is created in the receiver, the table containing control data necessary for the receiving and/or the selecting of and/or the output of the units. 1913/98VSAP8916.SPii,17 41 I- 18

18. The process according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein a digital radio program is received and output. DATED this 25th day of February 1998 ROBERT BOSCH GmbH By their Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE r o s o cc Ci U i1'~ tI iC i4' wF 25/2/98VSAP8916.SPE,7 I u~-