METHOD FOR RECEIVING A BROADCAST SIGNAL AND BROADCAST RECEIVER DEVICE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for receiving a broadcast signal. The system includes a broadcast receiver device having two receiving units, two decoding units, a combining unit and a further processing unit. A broadcast signal is received by both receiving units, so that two reception signals are provided. From each reception signal, a raw data stream is extracted and decoded by the decoding units. It is checked if the data stream provided by each decoding unit is complete. If a first data stream is complete, it is processed by the further processing unit. If the first data stream is incomplete and the second data stream is complete, the second data stream is further processed. If both data streams are incomplete, they will be combined to a combined data stream by the combining unit, the combined data stream being further processed, if it is complete.

Claims

1. A method for receiving a broadcast signal by means of a broadcast receiver device, which comprises a first receiving unit, a second receiving unit, a first data extraction unit (103), a second data extraction unit (104), a first decoding unit (111), a second decoding unit (112), a combining unit (113) and a further processing unit (106), comprising the steps of: receiving the broadcast signal from a first receiving unit, so that a first reception signal is provided; receiving the broadcast signal from a second receiving unit, so that a second reception signal is provided; extracting a first raw data stream from the first reception signal by a first data extraction unit; extracting a second raw data streams from the second reception signal by a second data extraction unit; decoding the first raw data stream, so that a first data stream is provided, and checking, by the first decoding unit, if the first data stream is complete; decoding of the second raw data stream, so that a second data stream is provided, and checking if the second data stream is complete, by the second decoding unit; further processing the first data streams by a further processing unit when the first data stream is complete; further processing the second data stream by the further processing unit when the first data stream is incomplete and the second data stream is complete; combining the first data streams with the second data stream when the first data stream is incomplete and the second data stream is incomplete, so that a combined data stream is generated, and checking, by the combining unit, if the combined data stream is complete, and if the combined data stream is complete, further processing the combined data stream by the further processing unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast signal of both receiving units is received at the same receiving frequency.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first raw data stream and the second raw data stream each comprise check data for identification of transmission errors, the check data of the first raw data stream are analyzed by the first decoding unit, to check for completeness of the first data streams, and the check data of the second raw data stream are analyzed by the second decoding unit, to check for completeness of the second data streams.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the check data of the first raw data stream and the check data of the second raw data stream each comprise a checksum, the checksum of the first raw data stream is analyzed by the first decoding unit by using a cyclic redundancy check, and the checksum of the second raw data stream is analyzed by the second decoding unit by using a cyclic redundancy check.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first data stream is corrected by the first decoding unit by means of the check data of the first raw data stream, when the first data stream is incomplete, and the second data stream is corrected by the second decoding unit by means of the check data of the second raw data stream, when the second data stream is incomplete.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first raw data stream and the second raw data stream each comprise individual data segments, a signal spacing time is predetermined, a first time span between the successive reception of two data segments of the first raw data stream is acquired by the first decoding unit and a missing data segment is presumed, if the first time span exceeds the signal spacing time, and a second time span between the successive reception of two data segments of the second raw data stream is acquired by the second decoding unit and a missing data segment is presumed, if the second time span exceeds the signal spacing time.

7. The method according claim 1, wherein the first raw data stream and the second raw data stream each comprise individual data segments and segment indices numbering successive data segments, a sequence of segment indices of the first raw data stream is detected by the first decoding unit, and a missing data segment is presumed, when the detected sequence of segment indices of the first raw data stream is incomplete, and a sequence of segment indices of the second raw data stream is detected by the second decoding unit and a missing data segment is presumed, when the detected sequence of segment indices of the second raw data stream is incomplete.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast signal comprises a text string and the first data stream, the second data stream and the combined data stream each are considered as being complete, when the data stream comprises all text characters of the text string.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast signal comprises RDS data.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast signal comprises a DAB broadcast signal.

11. A broadcast receiver device comprising: a first receiving unit, which is configured for receiving a broadcast signal, so that a first reception signal is provided; a second receiving unit, which is configured for receiving the broadcast signal, so that a second reception signal is provided; a first data extraction unit, which is configured for extracting a first raw data stream from the first reception signal; a second data extraction unit, which is configured for extracting a second raw data stream from the second reception signal; a first decoding unit, which is configured for decoding the first raw data stream, so that a first data stream is provided, and checking, if the first data stream is complete; a second decoding unit, which is configured for decoding the second raw data stream, so that a second data stream is provided, and checking, if the second data stream is complete; a combining unit, which is configured for combining the first data streams with the second data stream, if the first data stream is incomplete, and the second data stream is incomplete, so that a combined data stream is generated, and checking, if the combined data stream is complete; and a further processing unit, which is configured for further processing the first data streams, if the first data stream is complete, for further processing the second data stream, if the first data stream is incomplete, and the second data stream is complete, and for further processing the combined data stream, if the combined data stream is complete.

12. A method for receiving a broadcast signal by means of a broadcast receiver device, comprising the steps of: receiving the broadcast signal, so that a first reception signal is provided; receiving the broadcast signal, so that a second reception signal is provided; extracting a first raw data stream from the first reception signal; extracting a second raw data streams from the second reception signal; decoding the first raw data stream, so that a first data stream is provided, and checking, if the first data stream is complete; decoding of the second raw data stream, so that a second data stream is provided, and checking if the second data stream is complete; further processing the first data streams when the first data stream is complete; further processing the second data stream when the first data stream is incomplete and the second data stream is complete; combining the first data streams with the second data stream when the first data stream is incomplete and the second data stream is incomplete, so that a combined data stream is generated, and checking if the combined data stream is complete, and if the combined data stream is complete, further processing the combined data stream.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast signal is received at the same receiving frequency.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first raw data stream and the second raw data stream each comprise check data for identification of transmission errors, the check data of the first raw data stream are analyzed, to check for completeness of the first data streams, and the check data of the second raw data stream are analyzed, to check for completeness of the second data streams.

15. The method according to claim 3, wherein the check data of the first raw data stream and the check data of the second raw data stream each comprise a checksum, the checksum of the first raw data stream is analyzed by using a cyclic redundancy check, and the checksum of the second raw data stream is analyzed by using a cyclic redundancy check.

16. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first data stream is corrected by means of the check data of the first raw data stream, when the first data stream is incomplete, and the second data stream is corrected by means of the check data of the second raw data stream, when the second data stream is incomplete.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first raw data stream and the second raw data stream each comprise individual data segments, a signal spacing time is predetermined, a first time span between the successive reception of two data segments of the first raw data stream is acquired and a missing data segment is presumed, if the first time span exceeds the signal spacing time, and a second time span between the successive reception of two data segments of the second raw data stream is acquired and a missing data segment is presumed, if the second time span exceeds the signal spacing time.

18. The method according claim 1, wherein the first raw data stream and the second raw data stream each comprise individual data segments and segment indices numbering successive data segments, a sequence of segment indices of the first raw data stream is detected, and a missing data segment is presumed, when the detected sequence of segment indices of the first raw data stream is incomplete, and a sequence of segment indices of the second raw data stream is detected and a missing data segment is presumed, when the detected sequence of segment indices of the second raw data stream is incomplete.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast signal comprises a text string and the first data stream, the second data stream and the combined data stream each are considered as being complete, when the data stream comprises all text characters of the text string.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast signal comprises at least one of: RDS data and a DAB broadcast signal.

Description

[0054] In the following, embodiments of the present disclosure will be explained in detail by means of drawings, wherein:

[0055] FIG. 1 schematically shows a broadcast receiver device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a method for receiving a broadcast signal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and

[0057] FIG. 3 shows an input/output diagram of a decoder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 1 schematically shows a broadcast receiver device 100 for receiving a broadcast signal. The broadcast receiver device 100 may be a component of a radio apparatus that, for example, is associated to a vehicle.

[0059] The broadcast signal comprises an audio broadcast signal of an audio broadcast program and a data signal having additional data. The additional data are transmitted in multiple data packets, each one comprising a data segment having a plurality of related additional data. A data segment comprises payload and check data. The data signal is, for example, a RDS signal.

[0060] The payload of a data segments each comprise a portion of a text string, which text string represents a program name of the audio broadcast program. Additionally or alternatively, the payload could each comprise a portion of a text string of a radio text with information on the audio broadcast program or a news item.

[0061] The check data are for checking completeness of the payload. Incompleteness of the received payload may arise due to a transmission error upon transmission of the data signal. For example, transmission may be hampered on the transmission path from one transmitting station sending the broadcast signal to the broadcast receiver device 100, so that individual data segments are transmitted defectively or will even get completely lost. For identification of a transmission error, the check data for example comprise checksums. Additionally or alternatively, the data segments comprise segment indices, numbering consecutive data segments, so that the segment indices defining an order of the data segments and allowing identification of the loss of a data segments by means of a missing segment index.

[0062] The broadcast receiver device 100 comprises a first receiving unit 101, a second receiving unit 102, a first data extraction unit 103, a second data extraction unit 104, a decoder 105 and a further processing unit 106.

[0063] The first receiving unit 101 is configured for receiving the broadcast signal, so that a first reception signal 121 is provided. The first receiving unit 101 comprises a first antenna 107 and a first tuner unit (tuner) 109. The first tuner unit 109 creates the first reception signal 121 by filtering and optionally increases a frequency portion associated to the broadcast signal from the signal received by the first antenna 107.

[0064] The second receiving unit 102 is configured for receiving the broadcast signal, so that a second reception signal 122 is provided. The second receiving unit 102 comprises a second antenna 108 and a second tuner unit (Tuner) 110. The second tuner unit 110 creates the second reception signal 122 by filtering and optionally increasing a frequency portion associated to the broadcast signal from the signal received by the second antenna 108.

[0065] The first data extraction unit 103 is configured for extracting a first raw data stream 123 from the first reception signal 121. The first raw data stream 123 comprises said additional data of the first reception signals 121.

[0066] The second data extraction unit 104 is configured for extracting a second raw data stream 124 from the second reception signal 122. The second raw data stream 124 comprises said additional data of the second reception signal 122.

[0067] The decoder 105 comprises a first decoding unit 111, a second decoding unit 112, a combining unit 113 and a selection unit 114. The decoder 105 is, for example, designed as a software module.

[0068] The first decoding unit 111 is configured for decoding the first raw data stream 123, so that a first data stream 125 is provided, and checking, if the first data stream 125 is complete.

[0069] The second decoding unit 112 is configured for decoding the second raw data stream 124, so that a second data stream 126 is provided, and checking, if the second data stream 126 is complete.

[0070] The selection unit 114 is configured for forwarding a selected data stream 127 to the further processing unit 106, if the first data stream 125 is complete or the second data stream 126 is complete, and for activating the combining unit 113, if the first data stream 125 is incomplete and the second data stream 126 is incomplete. The selected data stream 127 corresponding to the first data stream 125, if the first data stream 125 is complete, and the selected data stream 127 corresponding to the second data stream 126, if the first data stream 125 is incomplete and the second data stream 126 is complete.

[0071] The combining unit 113 is configured for combining the first data stream 125 with the second data stream 126, if the first data stream 125 is incomplete, and the second data stream 126 is incomplete, so that a combined data stream 128 is generated, and checking, if the combined data stream 128 is complete.

[0072] The further processing unit 106 is configured for further processing the first data stream 125, if the first data stream 125 is complete, further processing the second data stream 126, if the first data stream 125 is incomplete, and the second data stream 126 is complete, and further processing the combined data stream 128, if the first data stream 125 is incomplete, the second data stream 126 is incomplete and the combined data stream 128 is complete.

[0073] In the following, besides FIG. 1, reference is made to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a flow chart 200 of a method for receiving the broadcast signal by means of a broadcast receiver device 100 described in FIG. 1.

[0074] In a first process step 201, the method is initialized, for example, following activation of the broadcast receiver device 100.

[0075] In a second process step 202, for example, a radio station is manually selected by a user of the broadcast receiver device 100 or is selected automatically by means of a preselection of the broadcast receiver device 100. In this way, the first tuner unit 109 and the second tuner unit 110 are each set to a receiving frequency of the radio station.

[0076] In a third process step 203, the broadcast signal is received by means of the first receiving unit 101 and the first reception signal 121 is provided. For this, a frequency portion associated to the broadcast signal is filtered from the signal received by the first antenna 107 by means of the first tuner unit 109 and is optionally amplified.

[0077] In a fourth process step 204, the broadcast signal is received by means of the second receiving unit 102 and the second reception signal 122 is provided. For this, a frequency portion associated to the broadcast signal is filtered by means of the second tuner unit 110 from the signal received by the second antenna 108 and is optionally amplified. The third process step 203 and the fourth process step 204 are performed simultaneously.

[0078] In a fifth process step 205, the first raw data stream 123 is extracted by means of the first data extraction unit 103 from the first reception signal 121. The first raw data stream 123 comprises the portions of the first reception signals 121 corresponding to the data signal of the broadcast signal.

[0079] In a sixth process step 206, the second raw data stream 124 is extracted by means of the second data extraction unit 104 from the second reception signal 122. The second raw data stream 124 comprises the portions of the second reception signal 122 corresponding to the data signal of the broadcast signal. The fifth process step 205 and the sixth process step 206 are performed simultaneously.

[0080] In a seventh process step 207, the first raw data stream 123 is decoded by means of the first decoding unit 111, so that the first data stream 125 is provided. Moreover, the first data stream 125 is checked for completeness by means of the first decoding unit 111.

[0081] In an eighth process step 208, the second raw data stream 124 is decoded by means of the second decoding unit 112, so that the second data stream 126 is provided. Moreover, the second data stream 126 is checked for completeness by means of the second decoding unit 112. The seventh process step 207 and the eighth process step 208 are performed simultaneously.

[0082] In decoding a raw data streams 123, 124 by means of a decoding unit 111, 112, the payload of the raw data streams 123, 124 contained in the data segments are assembled to the respective data stream 125, 126. Optionally, defective payload are corrected, if possible.

[0083] For checking a data stream 125, 126 for completeness and for optional correction of defective payload, the check data of the data segments of the respective raw data stream 123, 124 are analyzed by the decoding unit 111, 112.

[0084] If the check data of a data segment have a checksum for a cyclic redundancy check, the checksum is analyzed by the decoding unit 111, 112 by using the cyclic redundancy check, to check the payload of the data segment for completeness. Optionally, upon analysis of the checksum, defective payload of the data segment will also be corrected, as far as they have been detected.

[0085] If the data segments comprise segment indices, which consecutively number successive data segments, the segment indices are analyzed by the decoding unit 111, 112, to generate the respective data stream 125, 126 and to check for completeness. The segment indices are used to combine or to assemble the payload of the individual data segments into an appropriate order corresponding to the segment indices, respectively. Moreover, lack of a data segment may be detected by means of lack of the respective segment index.

[0086] If the data segments are transmitted in data packets, which are sent in a known temporal sending interval from each other, for example a signal spacing time corresponding to that sending interval are predetermined. Moreover, a first time span between the successive reception of two data segments of the first raw data stream 123 is detected by the first decoding unit 111 A missing data segment in the first raw data stream 123 will be closed, if the first time span exceeds the signal spacing time. In analogy to this, a second time span between the successive reception of two data segments of the second raw data stream 124 is acquired by the second decoding unit. A missing data segment in the second raw data stream is presumed, if the second time span exceeds the signal spacing time.

[0087] Thus, at the end of the eighth process step 208, the first data stream 125 and the second data stream 126 is provided.

[0088] In a ninth process step 209, it is checked, if the first data stream 125 is complete. If it is determined, that the first data stream 125 is complete, the first data stream 125 is forwarded to the further processing unit 106 by means of the selection unit 114 and the method is continued by a tenth process step 210. Otherwise, i.e. if the first data stream 125 is incomplete, the method is continued by an eleventh process step 211.

[0089] In the tenth process step 210, the first data stream 125 is processed by the further processing unit 106. For example, from the first data stream 125 a text is created and output by the further processing unit 106, if the payload of the first data streams 125 comprises a text string.

[0090] In an eleventh process step 211, it is checked, if the second data stream 126 is complete. If it is determined, that the second data stream 126 is complete, the second data stream 126 is forwarded to the further processing unit 106 by means of the selection unit 114 and the method is continued with a twelfth process step 212. Otherwise, i.e. if the second data stream 126 is incomplete, the method is continued with a thirteenth process step 213.

[0091] In the twelfth process step 212, the second data stream 126 is processed by the further processing unit 106. For example, from the second data stream 126, a text is created and output by the further processing unit 106, if the payload of the second data stream 126 comprise a text string.

[0092] In the thirteenth process step 213, the first data stream 125 is combined with the second data stream 126 to the combined data stream 128 by means of the combining unit 113.

[0093] In a fourteenth process step 214, the combined data stream 128 is checked for completeness by means of the combining unit 113. If the combined data stream 128 is complete, the combined data stream 128 is output by the combining unit 113 to the further processing unit 106, and the method is continued with a fifteenth process step 215. Otherwise, the combined data stream 128 is discarded.

[0094] In the fifteenth process step 215, the combined data stream 128 is processed by the further processing unit 106. For example, from the combined data stream 128, a text is created and output by the further processing unit 106, if the payload of the combined data stream 128 comprise a text string.

[0095] FIG. 3 shows an input/output diagram 300 having a decoder 301, which is set up similar to decoder 105 in FIG. 1. In this example, a program name RadioPSR of a radio station is transmitted with the data signal of a broadcast signal. The data signal is transmitted in four data segments 304 to 307, each payload of which comprising two characters of the program name.

[0096] A first raw data stream 302 and a second raw data stream 303 is fed to the decoder 301. The first raw data stream 302 comprises three data segments 304, 305, 307. Two data segments 304, 307 of the first raw data stream 302 are without defects, one data segment 305 of the first raw data stream 302 comprises defective payload. The second raw data stream 303 comprises three data segments 305 to 307, which each are without defects. In the first raw data stream 302, the data segment 306 is missing, in the second raw data stream 303, the data segment 304 is missing.

[0097] Since each data segment 304 to 307 is present without defects in at least one raw data stream 302, 303, a combined data stream 308 which is without defects, may be created by means of the decoder 301 by the method described above by FIG. 2, from the two raw data streams 302, 303, the combined data stream comprising a text string 309 with the program name and being output by the decoder 301.