IP Library Granted Patent US 8,472,940
Granted Patent B2
US 8,472,940 · App. 12/809,676 · Granted Jun 25, 2013

Method for synchronizing a tuner, corresponding device, receiver comprising the device, and mobile phone comprising the receiver

Inventors: Guillaume Defoug (Paris, FR); Joseph Antunes (Massy, FR)
Assignee: Parrot
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,472,940
App. No.
12/809,676
Granted
Jun 25, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The method includes determining ( 100 ) a first surface of a first coverage zone, determining ( 102 ) second surfaces of second coverage zones, determining ( 104 ), amongst the second coverage zones, a second coverage zone, referred to as the most probable second coverage zone, whose second surface has the greater overlapping with the surface of the first coverage zone, and attempting ( 106 ) to synchronize the turner with a second signal emitted over the most probable second coverage zone, in order to receive a second service.

Claims (42)

1. A method for synchronizing a tuner ( 14 ), a first signal being emitted over a first coverage zone having a first surface, the tuner ( 14 ) being located in the first coverage zone, the tuner ( 14 ) being synchronized with the first signal, in order to receive a first service, the method comprising:

determining ( 100 ) the first surface of the first coverage zone,

determining ( 102 ) second surfaces of second coverage zones, over each a respective second signal is emitted,

determining ( 104 ), amongst the second coverage zones, overlapping with the first coverage zone, a second coverage zone, referred to as a most probable second coverage zone, whose second surface has a greatest overlapping with the surface of the first coverage zone,

attempting ( 106 ) to synchronize the turner ( 14 ) with the second signal emitted over the most probable second coverage zone, in order to receive a second service.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining ( 100 ) the first surface of the first coverage zone, and determining ( 102 ) the second surfaces of the second coverage zones is realized from service information conveyed in the first signal.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein:

the first signal is a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) signal, and

the service information comprise Service Information/Program Specific Information (SI/PSI) tables.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the first coverage zone belongs to a first network, while the second coverage zones belongs to a second network, the second network being distinct from the first network.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein each of the second signals is emitted at a respective frequency, in case attempting ( 106 ) to synchronize with the most probable second coverage zone is unsuccessful, the method further comprising:

obtaining ( 108 ) frequency values of the frequencies of the second coverage zones,

controlling ( 110 ) the tuner ( 14 ) for scanning the obtained frequency values, in order to determine available frequencies of the second coverage zones,

synchronizing ( 112 ) the tuner ( 14 ) with a second signal emitted at one of the available frequencies.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the first coverage zone belongs to a first network, and the second coverage zones belongs to a second network, which is distinct from the first network.

7. The method according to claim 2 , wherein each of the second signals is emitted at a respective frequency, in case attempting ( 106 ) to synchronize with the most probable second coverage zone is unsuccessful, the method further comprising:

obtaining ( 108 ) frequency values of the frequencies of the second coverage zones,

controlling ( 110 ) the tuner ( 14 ) for scanning the obtained frequency values, in order to determine available frequencies of the second coverage zones,

synchronizing ( 112 ) the tuner ( 14 ) with a second signal emitted at one of the available frequencies.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first coverage zone belongs to a first network, and the second coverage zones belongs to a second network, the second network being distinct from the first network.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein each of the second signals is emitted at a respective frequency, in case attempting ( 106 ) to synchronize with the most probable second coverage zone is unsuccessful, the method further comprising:

obtaining ( 108 ) the frequency values of the frequencies of the second coverage zones,

controlling ( 110 ) the tuner ( 14 ) for scanning the obtained frequency values, in order to determine available frequencies of the second coverage zones,

synchronizing ( 112 ) the tuner ( 14 ) with a second signal emitted at one of the available frequencies.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each of the second signals is emitted at a respective frequency, in case attempting ( 106 ) to synchronize with the most probable second coverage zone is unsuccessful, the method further comprising:

obtaining ( 108 ) frequency values of the frequencies of the second coverage zones,

controlling ( 110 ) the tuner ( 14 ) for scanning the obtained frequency values, in order to determine available frequencies of the second coverage zones,

synchronizing ( 112 ) the tuner ( 14 ) with a second signal emitted at one of the available frequencies.

11. A device ( 18 ) for synchronizing a tuner ( 14 ), comprising:

a first processing device ( 20 ) configured to determine a first surface of a first coverage zone, in which the tuner ( 14 ) is located, and over which a first signal is emitted, the tuner ( 14 ) being synchronized with the first signal in order to receive a first service,

a second processing device ( 22 ) configured to determine second surfaces of second coverage zones, over each a respective second signal is emitted,

a third processing device ( 24 ) configured to determine, amongst the second coverage zones overlapping with the first coverage zone, a second coverage zone, referred to as a most probable second coverage zone, whose second surface has a greatest overlapping with the surface of the first coverage zone,

a fourth processing device ( 26 ) configured to attempt to synchronize the tuner ( 14 ) with the second signal of the most probable second coverage zone, in order to receive a second service.

12. The device ( 18 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the first processing device ( 20 ) configured to determine the first surface and the second processing device ( 22 ) configured to determine the second surfaces are configured for using service information conveyed in the first signal.

13. The device ( 18 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the first signal is a Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) signal, and the service information comprise Service Information/Program Specific Information (SI/PSI) tables.

14. The device ( 18 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the first coverage zone belongs to a first network, and the second coverage zones belongs to a second network that is distinct from the first network.

15. The device ( 18 ) according to claim 11 , wherein each of the second signals is emitted at a respective frequency, the device further comprising:

a fifth processing device ( 28 ) configured to obtain, in case attempting to synchronize with the most probable second coverage zone is unsuccessful, frequency values of the frequencies of the second coverage zones,

a sixth processing device ( 30 ) configured to control the tuner ( 14 ) for scanning the obtained frequency values, in order to determine available frequencies of the second coverage zones,

a seventh processing device ( 32 ) configured to synchronize the tuner ( 14 ) with a second signal emitted at one of the available frequencies.

16. A Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) receiver ( 12 ) comprising a tuner ( 14 ), a demodulator ( 16 ) for demodulating a current signal, and the device according to claim 11 .

17. A mobile phone ( 10 ) comprising the DVB-H receiver ( 12 ) according to claim 16 .

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2015
From: PARROT
To: PARROT AUTOMOTIVE
Reel/Frame 036510/0130 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2013
From: DIBCOM
To: PARROT
Reel/Frame 030334/0571 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2010
From: DEFOUG, GUILLAUME; ANTUNES, JOSEPH
To: DIBCOM
Reel/Frame 025045/0736 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 07291607 · Dec 21, 2007 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110007214A1 · Jan 13, 2011