A method and apparatus for signaling usable downlink (DL) subframes for a low cost user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. The low cost UE receives information on usable DL subframes for the low cost UE from a network, and performs reception by using the usable DL subframe from the network.

A number of channels of data, including audio, image, text, and support data are collected at one or more centralized servers. The individual channels are edited and processed for content and format, including the deletion and insertion of advertising content as well as inserting markers to indicate acceptable locations for additional content to be added. The edited and processed channels are sent to a plurality of transmission servers for additional processing and transmission. The transmission servers process one or more of the channels including the insertion of content at designated markers and the combination of the channels of data into a single, packetized data transfer stream. The data transfer stream is broadcast to a plurality of receiving units which de-packetize the original data channels and present any selected channel to the user of the receiving unit. The receiving units send status information back to the centralized servers where the data is processed and analyzed to evaluate the present use, and determine the future use of advertisements.

A number of channels of data, including audio, image, text, and support data are collected at one or more centralized servers. The individual channels are edited and processed for content and format, including the deletion and insertion of advertising content as well as inserting markers to indicate acceptable locations for additional content to be added. The edited and processed channels are sent to a plurality of transmission servers for additional processing and transmission. The transmission servers process one or more of the channels including the insertion of content at designated markers and the combination of the channels of data into a single, packetized data transfer stream. The data transfer stream is broadcast to a plurality of receiving units which de-packetize the original data channels and present any selected channel to the user of the receiving unit. The receiving units send status information back to the centralized servers where the data is processed and analyzed to evaluate the present use, and determine the future use of advertisements.

A method and an apparatus for using a serial port device in a time division multiplexing manner are provided. The apparatus includes a first serial port, a second serial port, a switching circuit, and a signal interface, where the switching circuit selects to receive data sent; the first serial port sends first data to a first serial port device; the second serial port receives second data sent by a second serial port device, and when it is determined that the second data indicates that the second serial port device needs to receive third data sent by the second serial port, instructs the switching circuit to select to receive the third data sent; and the second serial port sends the third data to the second serial port device. Therefore, the first serial port and the second serial port can use corresponding serial port devices in a time division multiplexing manner.

A method and an apparatus for using a serial port device in a time division multiplexing manner are provided. The apparatus includes a first serial port, a second serial port, a switching circuit, and a signal interface, where the switching circuit selects to receive data sent; the first serial port sends first data to a first serial port device; the second serial port receives second data sent by a second serial port device, and when it is determined that the second data indicates that the second serial port device needs to receive third data sent by the second serial port, instructs the switching circuit to select to receive the third data sent; and the second serial port sends the third data to the second serial port device. Therefore, the first serial port and the second serial port can use corresponding serial port devices in a time division multiplexing manner.

An apparatus and method for broadcast signal frame using layered division multiplexing are disclosed. An apparatus for generating broadcast signal frame according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a combiner configured to generate a multiplexed signal by combining a core layer signal and an enhanced layer signal at different power levels; a power normalizer configured to reduce the power of the multiplexed signal to a power level corresponding to the core layer signal; a time interleaver configured to generate a time-interleaved signal by performing interleaving that is applied to both the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal; and a frame builder configured to generate a broadcast signal frame including a bootstrap and a preamble using the time-interleaved signal.

An apparatus and method for broadcast signal frame using layered division multiplexing are disclosed. An apparatus for generating broadcast signal frame according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a combiner configured to generate a multiplexed signal by combining a core layer signal and an enhanced layer signal at different power levels; a power normalizer configured to reduce the power of the multiplexed signal to a power level corresponding to the core layer signal; a time interleaver configured to generate a time-interleaved signal by performing interleaving that is applied to both the core layer signal and the enhanced layer signal; and a frame builder configured to generate a broadcast signal frame including a bootstrap and a preamble using the time-interleaved signal.

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for enabling provision of an additional special subframe configuration to one or more communication devices. A method and apparatus may generate one or more parameters defining a new special subframe configuration associated with downlink communications. The new special subframe configuration is generated in addition to one or more other special subframe configurations. The new special subframe configuration includes information indicating a plurality of downlink symbols that exceed a number of downlink symbols of one of the other special subframe configurations which reduces overlap between a first system and a second system, the plurality of downlink symbols minimize interference between the first and second systems and increases utilization of resources. The method and apparatus may provide a message to one or more communication devices to enable at least a first subset of the communication devices to detect the new special subframe configuration.

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for enabling provision of an additional special subframe configuration to one or more communication devices. A method and apparatus may generate one or more parameters defining a new special subframe configuration associated with downlink communications. The new special subframe configuration is generated in addition to one or more other special subframe configurations. The new special subframe configuration includes information indicating a plurality of downlink symbols that exceed a number of downlink symbols of one of the other special subframe configurations which reduces overlap between a first system and a second system, the plurality of downlink symbols minimize interference between the first and second systems and increases utilization of resources. The method and apparatus may provide a message to one or more communication devices to enable at least a first subset of the communication devices to detect the new special subframe configuration.

A method for calibration, in a serial fronthaul in which a calibration device and L (L is a natural number equal to or greater than 1) access node(s) (AN(s)) are serially connected, may include: transmitting, by the calibration device, to at least part of the L AN(s), a calibration command message indicating calibration of transmission paths; determining, by the calibration device and the at least part of the L AN(s), time delay values and phase characteristic values of the transmission paths of the at least part of the L AN(s); and transmitting, by the calibration device, to the at least part of the L AN(s), a calibration adjustment message indicating calibration of the transmission paths based on the time delay values and the phase characteristic values of the transmission paths of the at least part of the L AN(s).