US5602595A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
ATV/MPEG sync system
Assignee: Zenith Electronics LLC
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1997-02-11
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract An ATV system encodes variable length elementary streams of data into a multilevel symbol signal comprising a plurality of multiplexed fixed length data packets without sync information. The fixed length data packets are arranged in fields of repetitive data segments, each of which includes a data segment sync and each field of which includes a field sync. The fields of data segments are transmitted as suppressed carrier VSB modulation. In an ATV receiver, the data segment sync is used to generate a timing signal that identifies the beginning of each fixed length data packet. In one embodiment, a packet sync signal is inserted into each recovered fixed length data packet for recovering the elementary streams of data. In another embodiment, recovery of the elementary streams of data is accomplished without inserting a packet sync signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard W. Citta
- 👤 Mark Fimoff
- 👤 Timothy G. Laud
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/24; H04N7/52; H04N7/54; H04N7/56; H03; H03M; H03M5/00; H03M5/02; H03M5/20; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04L; H04L1/00; H04L1/004; H04L1/0056; H04L1/0057; H04L1/0059
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of transmitting a digital multilevel symbol signal comprising: encoding elementary streams of data into a multilevel symbol signal comprising a plurality of multiplexed fixed length data packets without packet sync information; arranging the data packets in fields of repetitive data segments, each of the data segments including a data segment sync and each of the fields including a field sync; and transmitting the fields of data segments.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of transmitting a digital multilevel symbol signal comprising: encoding elementary streams of data into a multilevel symbol signal comprising a plurality of multiplexed fixed length data packets without packet sync information; arranging the data packets in fields of repetitive data segments, each of the data segments including a data segment sync and each of the fields including a field sync; and transmitting the fields of data segments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving the transmitted fields of data segments; using the data segment sync to identify the beginning of each of the fixed length data packets; and recovering the elementary streams of data from the fixed length data packets in response to the identifying step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the elementary streams of data comprise compressed video and compressed audio.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving the transmitted fields of data segments; and using the data segment sync to develop a packet sync signal at the beginning of each received data packet; recovering the elementary streams from the fixed length data packets including the packet sync signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: adding a pilot in the form of a DC offset to the multilevel symbol signal; and VSB modulating the packets for transmission.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
In combination: means for formatting a plurality of data signals into a plurality of multiplexed fixed length transport packets without packet sync information; means for encoding said transport packets into multilevel symbols; means for arranging said transport packets into fields of repetitive data segments, each of said data segments including a data segment sync signal and each of said fields including a field sync signal; and means for transmitting said fields of data segments.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
In combination: means for formatting a plurality of data signals into a plurality of multiplexed fixed length transport packets without packet sync information; means for encoding said transport packets into multilevel symbols; means for arranging said transport packets into fields of repetitive data segments, each of said data segments including a data segment sync signal and each of said fields including a field sync signal; and means for transmitting said fields of data segments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 6 further comprising adding a pilot in the form of a DC offset to said transmitted signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The combination of claim 6 further including: means for receiving said transmitted fields of data segments; means responsive to said data segment sync signal for generating a timing signal representing the beginning of each of said fixed length packets; and means responsive to said timing signal for recovering said digital data from said fixed length packets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 8 further including: means responsive to said timing signal for inserting a packet sync signal at the beginning of each of said received fixed length packets.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of receiving an ATV signal having compressed video and compressed audio in the form of elementary streams of data formatted in a plurality of fixed length transport packets, without packet sync information, said transport packets being encoded as multilevel symbols and being arranged in fields of repetitive data segments, each of the data segments including a data segment sync and each of the fields including a field sync comprising: receiving and demodulating the transport packets; recovering the data segment syncs; using the recovered data segment syncs to identify the beginning of each of the transport packets; and recovering the elementary streams from the transport packets in response to the identifying step.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of receiving an ATV signal having compressed video and compressed audio in the form of elementary streams of data formatted in a plurality of fixed length transport packets, without packet sync information, said transport packets being encoded as multilevel symbols and being arranged in fields of repetitive data segments, each of the data segments including a data segment sync and each of the fields including a field sync comprising: receiving and demodulating the transport packets; recovering the data segment syncs; using the recovered data segment syncs to identify the beginning of each of the transport packets; and recovering the elementary streams from the transport packets in response to the identifying step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising developing a timing signal in the identifying step; and inserting a packet sync signal at the beginning of each of the transport packets in response to the timing signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
A receiver for receiving a plurality of multiplexed fixed length transport packets without packet sync information arranged in fields of repetitive data segments, each data segment including a data segment sync and each field including a field sync and encoded as multilevel symbols comprising: means for demodulating said received transport packets; means for recovering said data segment sync; means for generating a timing signal responsive to said data segment sync; and means for recovering said transport packets under control of said timing signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
83 words
A receiver for receiving a plurality of multiplexed fixed length transport packets without packet sync information arranged in fields of repetitive data segments, each data segment including a data segment sync and each field including a field sync and encoded as multilevel symbols comprising: means for demodulating said received transport packets; means for recovering said data segment sync; means for generating a timing signal responsive to said data segment sync; and means for recovering said transport packets under control of said timing signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The receiver of claim 12 wherein said timing signal identifies the beginning of each of said transport packets; and means for demultiplexing said recovered transport packets.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The receiver of claim 12 further comprising: means responsive to said timing signal for inserting a packet sync signal at the beginning of each said transport packets; and means for demultiplexing said transport packets.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of transmitting a digital multilevel symbol signal comprising: multiplexing elementary streams of variable length data into fixed length transport packets of MPEG format; removing the MPEG sync information from the transport packets; encoding the transport packets into multilevel symbols; arranging the transport packets in fields of repetitive data segments, each of the data segments including a data segment sync and each of the fields including a field sync; and transmitting the fields of data segments.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of transmitting a digital multilevel symbol signal comprising: multiplexing elementary streams of variable length data into fixed length transport packets of MPEG format; removing the MPEG sync information from the transport packets; encoding the transport packets into multilevel symbols; arranging the transport packets in fields of repetitive data segments, each of the data segments including a data segment sync and each of the fields including a field sync; and transmitting the fields of data segments.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising: receiving the transmitted fields of data segments; using the data segment sync to generate a timing signal; reinserting the MPEG sync information in the transport packets responsive to said timing signal; and recovering the elementary streams of variable length data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the elementary streams of variable length data comprise compressed MPEG video and compressed audio.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising: adding a pilot in the form of a DC offset; and VSB modulating the fields of data segments for transmission.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising delaying the recovered transport packets when reinserting the MPEG sync information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
100 words
In combination: means for formatting compressed MPEG video and audio information in the form of elementary streams of data into a plurality of multiplexed fixed length MPEG transport packets, each having MPEG sync information; means for removing said MPEG sync information from said MPEG transport packets; means for encoding said transport packet into multilevel symbols; means for arranging said transport packets into fields of repetitive data segments, each of said data segments including a data segment sync and each of said fields including a field sync; and means for transmitting said fields of data segments as a VSB modulated signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
100 words
In combination: means for formatting compressed MPEG video and audio information in the form of elementary streams of data into a plurality of multiplexed fixed length MPEG transport packets, each having MPEG sync information; means for removing said MPEG sync information from said MPEG transport packets; means for encoding said transport packet into multilevel symbols; means for arranging said transport packets into fields of repetitive data segments, each of said data segments including a data segment sync and each of said fields including a field sync; and means for transmitting said fields of data segments as a VSB modulated signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 20 further comprising adding a pilot in the form of a DC offset to said fields of data segments.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination of claim 20 further including: means for receiving said transmitted fields of data segments; means for generating a timing signal responsive to said data segment sync; and means for reinserting said MPEG sync information in said transport packets responsive to said timing signal.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of receiving an ATV signal having MPEG compressed video and compressed audio in the form of elementary streams of data formatted in a plurality of fixed length MPEG transport packets, with the MPEG sync information removed, the transport packets being encoded as multilevel symbols and being arranged in fields of repetitive data segments, each of the data segments including a data segment sync and each of the fields including a field sync comprising: receiving and demodulating the transport packet; recovering the data segment syncs; generating a timing signal responsive to the recovered data segment syncs; and reinserting the MPEG sync information in the transport packets responsive to the timing signal.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of receiving an ATV signal having MPEG compressed video and compressed audio in the form of elementary streams of data formatted in a plurality of fixed length MPEG transport packets, with the MPEG sync information removed, the transport packets being encoded as multilevel symbols and being arranged in fields of repetitive data segments, each of the data segments including a data segment sync and each of the fields including a field sync comprising: receiving and demodulating the transport packet; recovering the data segment syncs; generating a timing signal responsive to the recovered data segment syncs; and reinserting the MPEG sync information in the transport packets responsive to the timing signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising demultiplexing the transport packets with the reinserted MPEG sync information to recover the elementary streams of data.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
105 words
A receiver for receiving a plurality of multiplexed fixed length MPEG format transport packets without packet sync information, including compressed MPEG video and compressed audio arranged in fields of repetitive data segments, each of said data segments including a data segment sync and each of said fields including a field sync and encoded as multilevel symbols comprising: means for demodulating said received transport packets; means for recovering said data segment sync; means for generating a timing signal responsive to said data segment sync identifying the beginning of each of said transport packets; and means for recovering said transport packets in response to said timing signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
105 words
A receiver for receiving a plurality of multiplexed fixed length MPEG format transport packets without packet sync information, including compressed MPEG video and compressed audio arranged in fields of repetitive data segments, each of said data segments including a data segment sync and each of said fields including a field sync and encoded as multilevel symbols comprising: means for demodulating said received transport packets; means for recovering said data segment sync; means for generating a timing signal responsive to said data segment sync identifying the beginning of each of said transport packets; and means for recovering said transport packets in response to said timing signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The receiver of claim 25 further comprising means for demultiplexing said recovered transport packets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-02-11 | 2000-08-12 | 2001-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-11 | 2004-08-12 | 2005-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-11 | 2008-08-12 | 2009-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |