Nokia Corporation

Kalle Rindell

Jani Väre

Toni Paila

Jarno Kallio

Arto Hamara

Service component files are received at an input () from one or more service operators. An encapsulation and multiplexing system () organizes service components (-, see FIG.) relating to a service sequentially in a burst. In a burst, the service components include content data of different data types. A timing data subsystem () produces data from which a receiver can determine the times of datacast of the service components within a burst. Metadata dependent on the data type of each service component is organized, separately from the content data, by a component analyser (). The metadata can identify a class of receiver having the capability to decode the corresponding service component, or can identify the data type of the corresponding service component, or it identifies the corresponding service component using a unique identifier. The service components, the metadata and the timing data is datacast by a transmitter station () for reception by receiver terminals. The metadata can be datacast as part of the corresponding service component, for example in a header thereof, or on a different bearer to the service components.

Datacast services

A digital video broadcast network comprises a content provider and several transmitters. Each transmitter may transmit more than one signal, different signals having different frequencies, multiplexes and the like and relating to different network types. An integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) is mobile in the area around the transmitters. As well as transmitting service information as part of a network information table on a data layer, the transmitters provide in their output signals transmitter parameter information as TPS data on a physical layer. This TPS information includes information identifying whether there are other networks available, and preferably the number of other networks. Transmission parameters relating to the other networks are included in an other_network_descriptor, forming part of an NIT actual or a BAT, or alternatively in an NIT_other. This information is used by the IRD in signal scan. Using the described broadcast signals, signal scan can be made more efficient, resulting in reduced power consumption and scanning time. IRDs may also receive free field three dimensional models of signal levels created for a group of cells. The models may be in the form of bitmaps and used during handover procedures.

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Turku, Finland

Kalle Rindell