Retransmission apparatus using IP multicasting method for DMB service

Abstract

A retransmission apparatus using an IP multicasting method for a DMB service including a plurality (n) of radio frequency (RF) receivers, each for receiving a DMB RF signal of a corresponding channel, a plurality (n) of DMB decoders, each for outputting a transport stream (TS) by decoding the DMB RF signal received from a corresponding RF receiver, a plurality (n) of slicers, each for processing the TS input from a corresponding DMB decoder; a plurality (n) of network interfacers, each for IP packetizing the TS sliced by a corresponding slicer; a network switch for receiving the IP packets from the plurality (n) of network interfacers, transferring the received IP packets to a multicasting processing unit, and receiving multicasting data from the multicasting processing unit, and the multicasting processing unit for receiving the IP packets from the network switch, creating a single piece of multicasting data by assigning multicasting addresses to the received IP packets, and outputting the created multicasting data to the network switch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration of a conventional DMB system;

FIG. 2 illustrates a hierarchical structure for DMB data transmission in a DMB system;

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration of a retransmission system using a packet method for a DMB service according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a retransmission apparatus using an IP multicasting method for a DMB service according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a slicer of a retransmission apparatus using an IP multicasting method for a DMB service according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a multicasting address assigned by a retransmission apparatus using an IP multicasting method for a DMB service according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A retransmission apparatus using an (Internet Protocol) IP multicasting method for a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) service, comprising: a plurality (n) of radio frequency (RF) receivers, each for receiving a DMB RF signal of an associated channel;a plurality (n) of DMB decoders, each for outputting a transport stream (TS) by decoding the DMB RF signal of an associated channel received from a relevant RF receiver;a plurality (n) of slicers, each for processing the TS input from an associated DMB decoder;a plurality (n) of network interfacers, each for IP packetizing the TS sliced by a corresponding slicer;a network switch for receiving the IP packets from the plurality (n) of network interfacers, transferring the received IP packets to a multicasting processing unit; andthe multicasting processing unit for receiving the IP packets from the network switch, creating a single piece of multicasting data by assigning multicasting addresses to the received IP packets, and outputting the created multicasting data to the network switch.

2. The retransmission apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a multimedia data transmitter for receiving the multicasting data via the network switch and multicasting the received multicasting data to user devices.

3. The retransmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality (n) of slicers comprises: a TS demultiplexer for demultiplexing the TS input from a corresponding DMB decoder to a video signal, an audio signal, and a data signal;a re-slicer for parsing the video signal among the demultiplexed signals and encoding the parsed video signal in a basis of a predetermined slice of a known size; anda TS multiplexer for multiplexing the video signal input from the re-slicer and the audio signal and the data signal input from the TS demultiplexer.

4. The retransmission apparatus of claim 3, wherein the re-slicer determines a slice unit of the video signal according to a state of a transmission network through which the IP packet service is provided.

5. A method for retransmission of a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) service using an (Internet Protocol) IP multicasting, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a DMB RF signal on a corresponding channel at each of a plurality (n) of radio frequency (RF) receivers;decoding the DMB RF signal received from a corresponding channel and outputting a transport stream (TS);slicing a TS input received from a corresponding channel;IP packetizing a corresponding a sliced TS;transferring the IP packets to a multicasting processing unit; andcreating a single piece of multicasting data by assigning multicasting addresses to the received IP packets, and outputting the created multicasting data.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: multicasting the received multicasting data.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of slicing comprises the steps of: demultiplexing the TS input into a video signal, an audio signal, and a data signal;parsing the video signal among the demultiplexed signals and encoding the parsed video signal in a basis of a predetermined slice of a known size; andmultiplexing the video signal input from the re-slicer and the audio signal and the data signal input from the TS demultiplexer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of slicing comprises the step of: determining a slice unit value of the video signal according to a state of a transmission network through which the IP packet service is provided.

9. A Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) service using an (Internet Protocol) IP multicasting retransmitter comprising: a multicast processing unit in communication with a network switch, said multicast processing unit receiving IP packets from the network switch, creating a single piece of multicasting data by assigning multicasting addresses to the received IP packets, and outputting the created multicasting data back to the network switch, anda plurality of data processing units in communication with the network switch, each data processing unit comprising:an RF receiving for receiving a DMB RF signal from an associated channel;a DMB decoder, in communication with the RF receiving, for outputting a transport stream by decoding a received DMG RF signal;a slicer, in communication with the decoder, for processing an input from the decoder into a known size; andan interfacer, in communication with the slicer, for IP packetizing the signal of known size.

10. The retransmitter of claim 9, wherein the re-slicer comprises: a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the input from a corresponding decoder to a video signal, an audio signal, and a data signal;a re-slicer for parsing the video signal among the demultiplexed signals and encoding the parsed video signal in a basis of a predetermined slice of a known size; anda multiplexer for multiplexing the video signal input from the re-slicer and the audio signal and the data signal input from the demultiplexer.

11. The retransmitter of claim 10, wherein the re-slicer determines a slice unit of the video signal according to a state of a transmission network through which the IP packet service is provided.

12. The retransmitter of claim 9, wherein the re-slicer comprises: a processor in communication with a memory, the processor executing software instructions for:demultiplexing the TS input into a video signal, an audio signal, and a data signal;parsing the video signal among the demultiplexed signals and encoding the parsed video signal in a basis of a predetermined slice of a known size; andmultiplexing the video signal input from the re-slicer and the audio signal and the data signal input from the TS demultiplexer.

13. The retransmitter of claim 12, wherein the processor further executing software instruction for: determining a slice unit value of the video signal according to a state of a transmission network through which the IP packet service is provided.