Methods and apparatus for signaling offsets and changes in digital broadcast networks
View Patent ↗Systems and methods are provided for receivers of digital broadband broadcast signals to determine a time of delivery and a version of a particular signaling table. The receiver is able to determine whether an update of the signaling table is needed based on factors such as whether the update applies (e.g., a DVB-H specific change for a mobile terminal in a DVB-H network). The receiver may power down while awaiting delivery of the signaling table (or utilize the radio for other purposes), powering back up in time to receive the signaling table.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a delivery time of digitally broadcast signaling information;
determining that an update of the digitally broadcast signaling information is required;
powering down a receiver;
powering up the receiver at a time proximate to the delivery time; and
receiving the digitally broadcast signaling information comprising at least one of program specific information or service information.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that an update of the digitally broadcast signaling information is required comprises determining that the digitally broadcast signaling information has changed.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining that an update of the digitally broadcast signaling information is required comprises determining that the changed information comprises a change specific to a handheld standard.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining that the changed information comprises a change specific to the handheld standard comprises receiving a signaling descriptor indicating a change specific to the handheld standard.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digitally broadcast signaling information is broadcast using a handheld standard.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein receiving a delivery time of the digitally broadcast signaling information comprises receiving a signaling descriptor comprising delivery time information.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving a signaling descriptor comprising delivery time information comprises receiving a descriptor named table_offset and version_descriptor.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the signaling descriptor is contained within a Program Map Table.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein receiving a delivery time of the digitally broadcast signaling information comprises receiving additional signaling information comprising the delivery time.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving additional signaling information comprising the delivery time comprises receiving a table relating to table offset and table version.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the delivery time is a relative amount of time from the present time.
12. An apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
memory storing instructions configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
receive a delivery time for digitally broadcast signaling information;
store the delivery time in the memory;
determine that an update of the digitally broadcast signaling information is required;
power down the receiver;
subsequently power up a receiver capable of receiving a digital broadband broadcast signal at a time proximate to the delivery time; and
receive the digitally broadcast signaling information.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein subsequently powering up the receiver occurs due to the approach of the delivery time.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the digital broadband broadcast signal comprises a digital video broadcasting (DVB) signal.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the digital broadband broadcast signal comprises a handheld standard signal.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein receiving a delivery time of the digitally broadcast signaling information comprises receiving a signaling descriptor comprising delivery time information.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein receiving a signaling descriptor comprising delivery time information comprises receiving a descriptor named table_offset and version_descriptor.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the signaling descriptor is contained within a Program Map Table.
19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein receiving a delivery time of the digitally broadcast signaling information comprises receiving additional signaling information comprising the delivery time.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein receiving additional signaling information comprising the delivery time comprises receiving a table relating to table offset and table version.
21. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the delivery time is a relative amount of time from the present time.
22. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein determining that an update of the digitally broadcast signaling information is required comprises receiving a notification that the digitally broadcast signaling information has a change specific to a handheld standard.
23. A method comprising:
receiving a first signaling information via a handheld standard signal, the first signaling information comprising notification of a time offset and a version of second signaling information;
determining that an update of the second signaling information is required based at least in part on an update flag included with the first signaling information;
powering down a receiver;
powering up the receiver at a time proximate to the time offset; and
receiving the second signaling information via another handheld standard signal.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the first signaling information comprises a descriptor, wherein the descriptor comprises the notification.
25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions configured to, when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus to at least:
receive a delivery time of digitally broadcast signaling information;
determine that an update of the digitally broadcast signaling information is required;
power down a receiver;
power up the receiver at a time proximate to the delivery time; and
receive the digitally broadcast signaling information.
26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25 , wherein determining that an update of the digitally broadcast signaling information is required comprises determining that changes in the digitally broadcast signaling information are specific to a handheld standard.
27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 25 , further storing instructions configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:
determine a time when a new version of the signaling information will be transmitted; and
wherein powering down the receiver includes powering down the receiver of a mobile device until the time when the new version will be transmitted.
28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions configured to, when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus to at least:
receive first signaling information via a handheld standard signal, the first signaling information comprising notification of a time offset and a version of second signaling information;
determine that an update of the second signaling information is required based at least in part on an update flag included with the first signaling information;
power down a receiver;
power up the receiver at a time proximate to the time offset; and
receive the second signaling information via another handheld standard signal.
29. A method comprising:
transmitting first signaling information via a handheld standard signal, the first signaling information including a notification of a time offset, a version of second signaling information, and an indication that an update of the second signaling information is required; and
subsequent to transmitting the first signaling information, transmitting the second signaling information via another handheld standard signal.
30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions configured to, when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus to at least:
transmit first signaling information via a handheld standard signal, the first signaling information including a notification of a time offset, a version of second signaling information, and an indication that an update of the second signaling information is required; and
subsequent to transmitting the first signaling information, transmit the second signaling information via another handheld standard signal.
31. An apparatus, comprising:
a processor;
a memory storing instructions configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
transmit first signaling information via a handheld standard signal, the first signaling information including a notification of a time offset, a version of second signaling information, and an indication that an update of the second signaling information is required; and
subsequent to transmitting the first signaling information, transmit the second signaling information via another handheld standard signal.