Communication system

Abstract

At the transmitter side, carrier waves are modulated according to an input signal for producing relevant signal points in a signal space diagram. The input signal is divided into, two, first and second, data streams. The signal points are divided into signal point groups to which data of the first data stream are assigned. Also, data of the second data stream are assigned to the signal points of each signal point group. A difference is the transmission error rate between first and second data streams is developed by shifting the signal points to other positions in the space diagram expressed at least in the polar coordinate system. At the receiver side, the first and/or second data streams can be reconstructed from a received signal. In TV broadcast service, a TV signal is divided by a transmitter into, low and high, frequency band components which are designated as a first and a second data streams respectively. Upon receiving the TV signal, a receiver can reproduce only the low frequency band component or both the low and high frequency band components, depending on its capability. Furthermore, a communication system based on an OFDM system is utilized for data transmission of a plurality of subchannels, wherein the subchannels are differentiated by changing the length of a guard time slot or a carrier wave interval of a symbol transmission time slot, or changing the transmission electric power of the carrier.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A digital TV receiver comprising: 
       a receiving section for receiving a PSK (Phase Shift Key) modulation signal comprising a plurality of signal points disposed on specific phases of a given constellation in a signal space diagram;  
       a demodulator for demodulating the received signal from said receiving section into a digital signal;  
       an error correcting section for error correcting a demodulation signal from said demodulator; and  
       an image expander for expanding an error-corrected signal from said error correcting section to a video signal, thereby outputting a video signal,  
       wherein said demodulator demodulates the received signal as first and second PSK signals, said first PSK signal representing a first data stream to be reproduced, said first PSK signal comprising n-value signal points, said second PSK signal representing both said first data stream and a second data stream to be reproduced, said second PSK signal comprising m-value signal points, where m is an integer larger than n,  
       wherein the m-value signal points of said second PSK signal are divisible into n groups of signal points which are distinguishable from one another in the signal space, and said demodulator distinguishes said n groups of signal points from one another as the n-value signal points of said first PSK signal by demodulating the received signal as said first PSK signal, and wherein  
       high priority information is demodulated at least in said first data stream.  
     
     
       2. The digital TV receiver in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said demodulator demodulates information relating to a low-resolution component of the video signal from said first data stream and demodulates information relating to a high-resolution component of the video signal from said second data stream. 
     
     
       3. The digital TV receiver in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising means for stopping output of said second data stream when an error rate of the received signal is high. 
     
     
       4. The digital TV receiver in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said demodulator comprises first means for demodulating the receiving signal as a QPSK signal to reproduce the first data stream and second means for demodulating the received signal as a 8PSK signal to reproduce both of the first data stream and the second data stream. 
     
     
       5. A digital TV receiver comprising: 
       a receiving section for receiving a PSK (Phase Shift Key) modulation signal comprising m-value signal points disposed on specific phases of a given constellation in a signal space diagram and representing a first data stream and a second data stream to be reproduced;  
       a demodulator for demodulating said PSK modulation signal from said receiving section into a digital signal;  
       an error correcting section for error correcting a demodulation signal from said demodulator; and  
       an image expander for expanding an error-corrected signal from said error correcting section to a video signal,  
       wherein said demodulator includes means for demodulating said PSK signal comprising m-value signal points as another PSK signal,  
       said another PSK signal comprising n-value signal points and representing only said first data stream, where n is an integer smaller than m, and wherein  
       high priority information is demodulated at least in said first data stream.  
     
     
       6. A transmission apparatus comprising: 
         a modulator operable to modulate a first data stream to produce an n - level VSB modulated signal, where n is an integer less than  8 , and a second data stream to produce an  8   - level VSB modulated signal; and    
         a transmitter operable to transmit the n - level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal in a  6  MHz bandwidth.   
     
     
       7. A transmission apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising a multiplexer operable to time division multiplex the n- level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal.   
     
     
       8. A receiving apparatus comprising: 
         a receiver operable to receive an n - level VSB modulated signal having information of a first data stream and an  8   - level VSB modulated signal having information of a second data stream, where n is an integer less than  8 , transmitted in a  6  MHz bandwidth; and    
         a demodulator operable to demodulate the n - level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal, which are received by said receiver.   
     
     
       9. A receiving apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the n- level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal received by said receiver are time division multiplexed.   
     
     
       10. A signal transmission system comprising: 
       
         a transmission apparatus comprising:  
       
         a modulator operable to modulate a first data stream to produce an n - level VSB modulated signal, where n is an integer less than  8 , and a second data stream to produce an  8   - level VSB modulated signal, and    
         a transmitter operable to transmit the n - level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal in a  6  MHz bandwidth; and    
       
         a receiving apparatus comprising:  
       
         a receiver operable to receive the n - level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal, and    
         a demodulator operable to demodulate the n - level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal, which are received by said receiver.   
     
     
       11. A transmission system according to  claim 10 , wherein said transmission apparatus further comprises a multiplexer operable to time division multiplex the n- level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal.   
     
     
       12. A transmission method comprising: 
         modulating a first data stream to produce an n - level VSB modulated signal, where n is an integer less than  8 , and a second data stream to produce an  8   - level VSB modulated signal; and    
         transmitting the n - level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal in a  6  MHz bandwidth.   
     
     
       13. A transmission method according to  claim 12 , further comprising time division multiplexing the n- level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal.   
     
     
       14. A receiving method comprising: 
         receiving an n - level VSB modulated signal having information of a first data stream and an  8   - level VSB modulated signal having information of a second data stream, where n is an integer less than  8 , transmitted in a  6  MHz bandwidth; and    
         demodulating the n - level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal, which are received in said receiving.   
     
     
       15. A receiving method according to  claim 14 , wherein the n- level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal to be received in said receiving are time division multiplexed.   
     
     
       16. A transmission and receiving method comprising: 
         modulating a first data stream to produce an n - level VSB modulated signal, where n is an integer less than  8 , and a second data stream to produce an  8   - level VSB modulated signal;    
         transmitting the n - level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal in a  6  MHz bandwidth;    
         receiving the n - level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal; and    
         demodulating the n - level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal, which are received in said receiving.   
     
     
       17. A transmission and receiving method according to  claim 16 , further comprising time division multiplexing the n- level VSB modulated signal and the  8   - level VSB modulated signal.