Mapping apparatus and method for transmission of data in a multi-carrier broadcast system

Abstract

An apparatus and a corresponding method for mapping payload data of mapping input data streams onto a mapping output data stream having a channel bandwidth for transmission in a multi-carrier broadcast system includes first and second frame forming mechanisms. The first frame forming mechanism is adapted to form first frames having a first frame structure and the second frame forming mechanism is adapted to form second frames having a second frame structure. Preferably, in a second frame structure the data blocks of a particular mapping input data stream are spread in time and frequency over various data symbols and various data segments of the second frames to provide high robustness against disturbances. The payload portion of the second frame is preferably segmented into various data segments enabling use of a narrow-band receiver, even if both the first and second frames cover the same total channel bandwidth.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A receiver apparatus comprising:
 circuitry configured to
 receive an input data stream mapped onto data symbols having a channel bandwidth comprising subcarriers in a frequency direction and further data symbols in a time direction, the data symbols comprising preamble portions and payload portions, 
 demap signalling information from data symbols including a signalling information preamble portion carrying at least one preamble signalling block including signalling information, 
 demap payload data from data symbols including a payload portion wherein the payload portion carries at least two physical layer pipes (PLP) and is segmented into data segments each covering a bandwidth portion of the channel bandwidth, the PLPs being spread over various data symbols and various data segments in time and frequency, 
 demap data from other data symbols which are arranged differently to said payload portion, and 
 output a data stream comprising data demapped from the preamble portion, the payload portion, and the other data symbols. 
   
     
     
         3 . The receiver apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the other data symbols carry further payload data. 
     
     
         4 . The receiver apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the other data symbols are not segmented into data segments each covering a bandwidth portion of the channel bandwidth. 
     
     
         5 . The receiver apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the other data symbols cover the whole channel bandwidth and carry one PLP. 
     
     
         6 . The receiver apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to
 identify and decode signalling information in the signalling information preamble portion, and   demap data from the payload portions using the decoded signalling information.   
     
     
         7 . The receiver apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to
 identify and decode signalling information in the signalling information preamble portion, and   demap data from the other data symbols using the decoded signalling information.   
     
     
         8 . The receiver apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to
 identify and decode detailed signalling information in a payload portion, and   demap data from the data segments using the decoded detailed signalling information.   
     
     
         9 . A receiving method comprising:
 receiving an input data stream mapped onto data symbols having a channel bandwidth comprising subcarriers in a frequency direction and further data symbols in a time direction, the data symbols comprising preamble portions and payload portions;   demapping signalling information from data symbols including a signalling information preamble portion carrying at least one preamble signalling block including signalling data;   demapping payload data from data symbols including a payload portion wherein the payload portion carries at least two physical layer pipes (PLP) and is segmented into data segments each covering a bandwidth portion of the channel bandwidth, the PLPs being spread over various data symbols and various data segments in time and frequency;   demapping data from other data symbols which are arranged differently to said payload portion; and   outputting a data stream comprising data demapped from the preamble portion, the payload portion, and the other data symbols.   
     
     
         10 . The receiving method according to  claim 9 , wherein the other data symbols carry further payload data. 
     
     
         11 . The receiving method according to  claim 9 , wherein the other data symbols are not segmented into data segments each covering a bandwidth portion of the channel bandwidth. 
     
     
         12 . The receiving method according to  claim 9 , wherein the other data symbols cover the whole channel bandwidth and carry one PLP. 
     
     
         13 . The receiving method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 identifying and decoding signalling information in the signalling information preamble portion; and   demapping data from the payload portions using the decoded signalling information.   
     
     
         14 . The receiving method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 identifying and decoding signalling information in the signalling information preamble portion; and   demapping data from the other data symbols using the decoded signalling information.   
     
     
         15 . The receiving method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 identifying and decoding detailed signalling information in a payload portion; and   demapping data from the data segments using the decoded detailed signalling information.   
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer executable instructions stored thereon which, when carried out on a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
 receiving an input data stream mapped onto data symbols having a channel bandwidth comprising subcarriers in a frequency direction and further data symbols in a time direction, the data symbols comprising preamble portions and payload portions;   demapping signalling information from data symbols including a signalling information preamble portion carrying at least one preamble signalling block including signalling data;   demapping payload data from data symbols including a payload portion wherein the payload portion carries at least two physical layer pipes (PLP) and is segmented into data segments each covering a bandwidth portion of the channel bandwidth, the PLPs being spread over various data symbols and various data segments in time and frequency;   demapping data from other data symbols which are arranged differently to said payload portion; and   outputting a data stream comprising data demapped from the preamble portion, the payload portion and the other data symbols.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 16 , wherein the other data symbols are not segmented into data segments each covering a bandwidth portion of the channel bandwidth. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 16 , wherein the other data symbols cover the whole channel bandwidth and carry one PLP. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying and decoding signalling information in the signalling information preamble portion; and   demapping data from the payload portions using the decoded signalling information.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying and decoding signalling information in the signalling information preamble portion; and   demapping data from the other data symbols using the decoded signalling information.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying and decoding detailed signalling information in a payload portion; and   demapping data from the data segments using the decoded detailed signalling information.