Method and apparatus for reception of mobile broadcast

Abstract

An apparatus for reception of a mobile broadcast is disclosed. The apparatus includes a mobile broadcast reception unit for receiving a broadcast signal transmitted through a mobile broadcasting network, demodulating the broadcast signal into a baseband signal, and outputting the baseband signal; and a wireless Internet broadcast reception unit for receiving a broadcast signal transmitted through a wireless Internet network, demodulating the broadcast signal into a baseband signal, and outputting the baseband signal, and the apparatus also includes a post-processing unit for checking reception sensibilities of the mobile broadcast reception unit and the wireless Internet broadcast reception unit, selecting and decoding one signal of output signals of the mobile broadcast reception unit and the wireless Internet broadcast reception unit according to a result of the checking, and outputting the selected and decoded signal. A reception sensibility of a mobile broadcasting network is monitored while a broadcast is being viewed through the mobile broadcasting network, a pilot signal of a wireless Internet network is measured when a corresponding mobile broadcast has a weak electric field, and a current network is shifted to a corresponding wireless Internet network having a pilot signal with a signal intensity above a threshold value when the corresponding wireless Internet network exists, thereby receiving the broadcast through the corresponding wireless Internet network.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a mobile broadcasting network to which the present invention may be applied;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a wireless Internet network to which the present invention may be applied;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile broadcast reception apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a mobile broadcast reception operation according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a first reception unit for receiving a signal transmitted through a mobile communication network, demodulating the signal into a baseband signal, and outputting the baseband signal;a second reception unit for receiving a signal transmitted through a wireless Internet network, demodulating the signal into a baseband signal, and outputting the baseband signal; anda processing unit for checking reception sensibilities of the first reception unit and the second reception unit, selecting and decoding one signal of output signals according to a result of the checking, and outputting the selected and decoded signal.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first reception unit comprises: a radio frequency (RF) unit for receiving a mobile broadcast signal input through an antenna and being tuned to receive information of a channel desired by a user; anda baseband unit for demodulating a mobile broadcast signal received through the RF chip into a baseband signal.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second reception unit comprises: a radio frequency (RF) tuner for receiving a wireless Internet broadcast signal input through an antenna and being tuned to receive information of a corresponding channel; anda wireless Internet modem for demodulating a wireless Internet broadcast signal received through the RF tuner into a baseband signal.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit comprises: a decision unit for checking reception sensibilities of the first reception unit and the second reception unit, and outputting a selection signal to select one of output signals according to a result of the checking;a switch for selecting and outputting one of the output signals according to the selection signal of the decision unit; anda decoder for receiving either the output signal of the output signals, and decoding and outputting the received signal.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processing unit comprises: a decision unit for checking reception sensibilities of the first reception unit and the second reception unit, and outputting a selection signal to select one of output signals according to a result of the checking;a switch for selecting and outputting one of the output signals according to the selection signal of the decision unit; anda decoder for receiving either the output signal of the output signals, and decoding and outputting the received signal.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the processing unit comprises: a decision unit for checking reception sensibilities of the first reception unit and the second reception unit, and outputting a selection signal to select one of output signals according to a result of the checking;a switch for selecting and outputting one of the output signals according to the selection signal of the decision unit; anda decoder for receiving either the output signal of the output signals, and decoding and outputting the received signal.

7. A method for reception of a mobile broadcast, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring a reception sensibility of a mobile broadcasting network while a broadcast is being viewed through the mobile broadcasting network;measuring a pilot signal of a wireless Internet network when a corresponding mobile broadcast has an electric field below a first predetermined level, as a result of the monitoring of the reception sensibility; andperforming a shift operation to a corresponding wireless Internet network having a pilot signal with a signal intensity above a predetermined threshold value, and receiving the broadcast through the corresponding wireless Internet network, when it is determined as a result of the measuring of the pilot signal that the corresponding wireless Internet network exists.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, when a signal from the mobile broadcasting network has an electric field above a second predetermined level, while the broadcast is being viewed through the corresponding wireless Internet network into which the shift operation has been performed, a shift operation is performed to the mobile broadcasting network so as to view the broadcast through the mobile broadcasting network.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, when there are at least two wireless Internet networks having a pilot signal above a second predetermined threshold value, as a result of the measuring of the pilot signal, the shifting operation is performed to one of the wireless Internet networks from which a maximum pilot signal is received.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein, when there are at least two wireless Internet networks having a pilot signal above the second predetermined threshold value, as a result of the measuring of the pilot signal, the shifting operation is performed to one of the wireless Internet networks from which a maximum pilot signal is received.