Signal transmission system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1.Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a signal transmission system for transmission of a digital signal through demodulation of its carrier wave.

2.Description of the Prior Art

Digital signal transmission systems have been used in various fields. Particularly, digital video signal transmission techniques have been improved remarkably.

Among them is a digital TV signal transmission method. So far, such digital TV signal transmission systems are in particular use for e.g. transmission between TV stations. They will soon be utilized for terrestrial and/or satellite broadcast service in every country of the world.

The TV broadcast systems including HDTV, PCM music, FAX, and other information service are now demanded to increase desired data in quantity and quality for satisfying millions of sophisticated viewers. In particular, the data has to be increased in a given bandwidth of frequency allocated for TV broadcast service. The data to be transmitted is always abundant and provided as much as handled with up-to-date techniques of the time. It is ideal to modify or change the existing signal transmission system corresponding to an increase in the data mount with time.

However, the TV broadcast service is a public business and cannot go further without considering the interests and benefits of viewers. It is essential to have any new service appreciable with existing TV receivers and displays. More particularly, the compatibility of a system is much desired for providing both old and new services simultaneously or one new service which can be intercepted by either of the existing and advanced receivers.

It is understood that any new digital TV broadcast system to be introduced has to be arranged for data extension in order to respond to future demands and technological advantages and also, for compatible action to allow the existing receivers to receive transmissions.

The expansion capability and compatible performance of prior art digital TV systems will be explained.

A digital satellite TV system is known in which NTSC TV signals compressed to a about 6 Mpbs are multiplexed by time division modulation of 4 PSK and transmitted on 4 to 20 channels while HDTV signals are carried on a single channel. Another digital HDTV system is provided in which HDTV video data compressed to as small as 15 Mbps are transmitted on a 16 or 32 QAM signal through ground stations.

Such a known satellite system permits HDTV signals to be carried on one channel by a conventional manner, thus occupying a band of frequencies equivalent to some channels of NTSC signals. This causes the corresponding NTSC channels to be unavailable during transmission of the HDTV signal. Also, the compatibility between NTSC and HDTV receivers or displays is hardly concerned and the data expansion capability needed for matching a future advanced mode is utterly disregarded.

Such a common terrestrial HDTV system offers an HDTV service on conventional 16 or 32 QAM signals without any modification. In any analog TV broadcast service, there are developed a lot of signal attenuating or shadow regions within its service area due to structural obstacles, geographical inconveniences, or signal interference from a neighbor station. When the TV signal is an analog form, it can be intercepted more or less at such signal attenuating regions although its reproduced picture is low in quality. If the TV signal is a digital form, it can rarely be reproduced at an acceptable level within the regions. This disadvantage is critically hostile to the development of any digital TV system.

This problem is caused due to the fact that the conventional modulation systems such QAM arrange the signal points at constant intervals. There have been no such systems that can change or modulate the arrangement of signal points.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention, for solving the foregoing disadvantages, to provide a signal transmission system arranged for compatible use for both the existing NTSC and introducing HDTV broadcast services, particularly via satellite and also, for minimizing signal attenuating or shadow regions of its service area on the ground.

A signal transmission system according to the present invention comprises two major sections: a transmitter having a signal input circuit, a modulator circuit for producing m numbers of signal points, where m--5, in a signal vector field through modulation of a plurality of out-of-phase carrier waves using an input signal supplied from the input, and a transmitter circuit for transmitting a resultant modulated signals and a receiver having an input circuit for receiving the modulated signal, a demodulator circuit for demodulating one-bit signal points of a QAM carrier wave, and an output circuit.

In operation, the input signal containing a first data stream of n values and a second data stream is fed to the modulator circuit of the transmitter where a modified m-bit QAM carrier wave is produced representing m signal points in a vector field. The m signal points are divided into n signal point groups to which the n values of the first data stream are assigned respectively. Also, data of the second data stream are assigned to m/n signal points or sub groups of each signal point group. Then, a resultant transmission signal is transmitted from the transmitter circuit. Similarly, a third data stream can be propagated.

At the p-bit modulator circuit, p>m, of the receiver, the first data stream of the transmission signal is first demodulated through dividing p signal points in a signal space diagram into n signal point groups. Then, the second data stream is demodulated through assigning p/n values to p/n signal points of each corresponding signal point group for reconstruction of both the first and second data streams. If the receiver is at p=n, the n signal point groups are reclaimed and assigned the n values for demodulation and reconstruction of the first data stream.

Upon receiving the same transmission signal from the transmitter, a receiver equipped with a large sized antenna and capable of large-data modulation can reproduce both the first and second data streams. A receiver equipped with a small sized antenna and capable of small-data modulation can reproduce the first data stream only. Accordingly, the compatibility of the signal transmission system will be ensured. When the first data stream is an NTSC TV signal or low frequency band component of an HDTV signal and the second data stream is a high frequency band component of the HDTV signal, the small-data modulation receiver can reconstruct the NTSC TV signal and the large-data modulation receiver can reconstruct the HDTV signal. As understood, a digital NTSC/HDTV simultaneous broadcast service will be feasible using the compatibility of the signal transmission system of the present invention.

More specifically, the signal transmission system of the present invention comprises: a transmitter having a signal input circuit, a modulator circuit for producing m signal points, where m--5, in a signal vector field through modulation of a plurality of out-of-phase carrier waves using an input signal supplied from the input, and a transmitter circuit for transmitting a resultant modulated signal, in which the main procedure includes receiving an input signal containing a first data stream of n values and a second data stream, dividing the m signal points of the signal into n signal point groups, assigning the n values of the first data stream to the n signal point groups respectively, assigning data of the second data stream to the signal points of each signal point group respectively, and transmitting the resultant modulated signals and a receiver having an input circuit for receiving the modulated signal, a demodulator circuit for demodulating p signal points of a QAM carrier wave, and an output circuit, in which the main procedure includes dividing the p signal points into n signal point groups, demodulating the first data stream of which n values are assigned to the n signal point groups respectively, and demodulating the second data stream of which p/n values are assigned to p/n signal points of each signal point group respectively. For example, a transmitter 1 produces a modified m-bit QAM signal of which first, second, and third data streams, each carrying n values, are assigned to relevant signal point groups with a modulator 4. The signal can be intercepted and reproduced the first data stream only by a first receiver 23, both the first and second data streams by a second receiver 33, and all the first, second, and third streams by a third receiver 43. More particularly, a receiver capable of demodulation of n-bit data can reproduce n bits from a multiple-bit modulated carrier wave carrying an m-bit data where m>n, thus allowing the signal transmission system to have compatibility and capability of future extension. Also, a multi-level signal transmission will be possible by shifting the signal points of QAM so that a nearest signal point to the origin point of I-axis and Q-axis coordinates is spaced nf from the origin where f is the distance of the nearest point from each axis and n is more than 1.

Accordingly, a compatible digital satellite broadcast service for both the NTSC and HDTV systems will be feasible when the,first data stream carries an NTSC signal and the second data stream carries a difference signal between NTSC and HDTV. Hence, the capability of corresponding to an increase in the data amount to be transmitted will be ensured. Also, at the ground, its service area will be increased while signal attenuating areas are decreased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Fig.1 is a schematic view of the entire arrangement of a signal transmission system showing a first embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>Fig.2 is a block diagram of a transmitter of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.3 is a vector diagram showing a transmission signal of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.4 is a vector diagram showing a transmission signal of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.5 is a view showing an assignment of binary codes to signal points according to the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.6 is a view showing an assignment of binary codes to signal point groups according to the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.7 is a view showing an assignment of binary codes to signal points in each signal point group according to the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.8 is a view showing another assignment of binary codes to signal point groups and their signal points according to the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.9 is a view showing threshold values of the signal point groups according to the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.10 is a vector diagram of a modified 16 QAM signal of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.11 is a graphic diagram showing the relation between antenna radius r₂ and transmission energy ratio n according to the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.12 is a view showing the signal points of a modified 64 QAM signal of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.13 is a graphic diagram showing the relation between antenna radius r₃ and the transmission energy ratio n according to the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.14 is a vector diagram showing signal point groups and their signal points of the modified 64 QAM signal of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.15 is an explanatory view showing the relation between A₁ and A₂ of the modified 64 QAM signal of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.16 is a graphic diagram showing the relation between antenna radius r₂,r₃ and transmission energy ratio n_l6,n₆₄ respectively according to the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.17 is a block diagram of a digital transmitter of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.18 is a signal space diagram of a 4 PSK modulated signal of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.19 is a block diagram of a first receiver of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.20 is a signal space diagram of a 4 PSK modulated signal of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.21 is a block diagram of a second receiver of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.22 is a vector diagram of a modified 16 QAM signal of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.23 is a vector diagram of a modified 64 QAM signal of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.24 is a flow chart showing an action of the first embodiment;</li><li>Figs.25-a and 25-b are vector diagrams showing an 8 and a 16 QAM signal of the first embodiment respectively;</li><li>Fig.26 is a block diagram of a third receiver of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.27 is a view showing signal points of the modified 64 QAM signal of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.28 is a flow chart showing another action of the first embodiment;</li><li>Fig.29 is a schematic view of the entire arrangement of a signal transmission system showing a third embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>Fig.30 is a block diagram of a first video encoder of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.31 is a block diagram of a first video decoder of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.32 is a block diagram of a second video decoder of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.33 is a block diagram of a third video decoder of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.34 is an explanatory view showing a time multiplexing of D_1' D₂, and D₃ signals according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.35 is an explanatory view showing another time multiplexing of the D_1' D₂, and D₃ signals according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.36 is an explanatory view showing a further time multiplexing of the D_1' D₂, and D₃ signals according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.37 is a schematic view of the entire arrangement of a signal transmission system showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>Fig.38 is a vector diagram of a modified 16 QAM signal of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.39 is a vector diagram of the modified 16 QAM signal of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.40 is a vector diagram of a modified 64 QAM signal of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.41 is a diagram of assignment of data components on a time base according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.42 is a diagram of assignment of data components on a time base in TDMA action according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.43 is a block diagram of a carrier reproducing circuit of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.44 is a diagram showing the principle of carrier wave reproduction according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.45 is a block diagram of a carrier reproducing circuit for reverse modulation of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.46 is a diagram showing an assignment of signal points of the 16 QAM signal of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.47 is a diagram showing an assignment of signal points of the 64 QAM signal of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.48 is a block diagram of a carrier reproducing circuit for 16x multiplication of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.49 is an explanatory view showing a time multiplexing of D_V1' D_H1, D_v2, D_H2, D_v3, and D_H3 signals according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.50 is an explanatory view showing a TDMA time multiplexing of the D_v1, D_H1, D_v2, D_H2, Dv₃, and D_H3 signals according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.51 is an explanatory view showing another TDMA time multiplexing of the D_v1, D_H1, D_v2, D_H2, D_v3, and D_H3 signals according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.52 is a diagram showing a signal interference region in a known transmission method according to the fourth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.53 is a diagram showing signal interference regions in a multi-level signal transmission method according to the fourth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.54 is a diagram showing signal attenuating regions in the known transmission method according to the fourth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.55 is a diagram showing signal attenuating regions in the multi-level signal transmission method according to the fourth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.56 is a diagram showing a signal interference region between two digital TV station according to the fourth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.57 is a diagram showing an assignment of signal points of a modified 4 ASK signal of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.58 is a diagram showing another assignment of signal points of the modified 4 ASK signal of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Figs.59-a and 59-b are diagrams showing assignment of signal points of the modified 4 ASK signal of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.60 is a diagram showing another assignment of signal points of the modified 4 ASK signal of the fifth embodiment when the C/N rate is low;</li><li>Fig.61 is a block diagram of a transmitter of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Figs.62-a and 62-b are diagrams showing frequency distribution profiles of an ASK modulated signal of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.63 is a block diagram of a receiver of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.64 is a block diagram of a video signal transmitter of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.65 is a block diagram of a TV receiver of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.66 is a block diagram of another TV receiver of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.67 is a block diagram of a satellite-to-ground TV receiver of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.68 is a diagram showing an assignment of signal points of an 8 ASK signal of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.69 is a block diagram of a video encoder of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.70 is a block diagram of a video encoder of the fifth embodiment containing one divider circuit;</li><li>Fig.71 is a block diagram of a video decoder of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.72 is a block diagram of a video decoder of the fifth embodiment containing one mixer circuit;</li><li>Fig.73 is a diagram showing a time assignment of data components of a transmission signal according to the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.74-a is a block diagram of a video decoder of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.74-b is a diagram showing another time assignment of data components of the transmission signal according to the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.75 is a diagram showing a time assignment of data components of a transmission signal according to the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.76 is a diagram showing a time assignment of data components of a transmission signal according to the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.77 is a diagram showing a time assignment of data components of a transmission signal according to the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.78 is a block diagram of a video decoder of the fifth embodiment</li><li>Fig.79 is a diagram showing a time assignment of data components of a three-level transmission signal according to the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.80 is a block diagram of another video decoder of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.81 is a diagram showing a time assignment of data components of a transmission signal according to the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.82 is a block diagram of a video decoder for D₁ signal of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.83 is a graphic diagram showing the relation between frequency and time of a frequency modulated signal according to the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.84 is a block diagram of a magnetic record/playback apparatus of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.85 is a graphic diagram showing the relation between C/N and level according to the second embodiment;</li><li>Fig.86 is a graphic diagram showing the relation between C/N and transmission distance according to the</li><li>second embodiment;</li><li>Fig.87 is a block diagram of a transmitter of the second embodiment;</li><li>Fig.88 is a block diagram of a receiver of the second embodiment;</li><li>Fig.89 is a graphic diagram showing the relation between C/N and error rate according to the second embodiment;</li><li>Fig.90 is a diagram showing signal attenuating regions in the three-level transmission of the fifth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.91 is a diagram showing signal attenuating regions in the four-level transmission of a sixth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.92 is a diagram showing the four-level transmission of the sixth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.93 is a block diagram of a divider of the sixth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.94 is a block diagram of a mixer of the six embodiment;</li><li>Fig.95 is a diagram showing another four-level transmission of the sixth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.96 is a view of signal propagation of a known digital TV broadcast system;</li><li>Fig.97 is a view of signal propagation of a digital TV broadcast system according to the sixth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.98 is a diagram showing a four-level transmission of the sixth embodiment;</li><li>Fig.99 is a vector diagram of a 16 SRQAM signal of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.100 is a vector diagram of a 32 SRQAM signal of the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.101 is a graphic diagram showing the relation between C/N and error rate according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.102 is a graphic diagram showing the relation between C/N and error rate according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.103 is a graphic diagram showing the relation between shift distance n and C/N needed for transmission according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.104 is a graphic diagram showing the relation between shift distance n and C/N needed for transmission according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.105 is a graphic diagram showing the relation between signal level and distance from a transmitter antenna in terrestrial broadcast service according to the third embodiment;</li><li>Fig.106 is a diagram showing a service area of the 32 SRQAM signal of the third embodiment; and</li><li>Fig.107 is a diagram showing a service area of the 32 SRQAM signal of the third embodiment;</li></ul>

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1

One embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to the relevant drawings.

Fig.1 shows the entire arrangement of a signal transmission system according to the present invention. A transmitter 1 comprises an input unit 2, a divider circuit 3, a modulator 4, and a transmitter unit 5. In action, each input multiplex signal is divided by the divider circuit 3 into three groups, a first data stream D_1' a second data stream D₂, and a third data stream D₃, which are then modulated by the modulator 4 before transmitted from the transmitter unit 5. The modulated signal is sent up from an antenna 6 through an uplink 7 to a satellite 10 where it is intercepted by an uplink antenna 11 and amplified by a transponder 12 before transmitted from a downlink antenna 13 towards the ground.

The transmission signal is then sent down through three downlinks 21, 32, and 41 to a first 23, a second 33, and a third receiver 43 respectively. In the first receiver 23, the signal intercepted by an antenna 22 is fed through an input unit 24 to a demodulator 25 where its first data stream only is demodulated, while the second and third data streams are not recovered, before transmitted further from an output unit 26.

Similarly, the second receiver 33 allows the first and second data streams of the signal intercepted by an antenna 32 and fed from an input unit 34 to be demodulated by a demodulator 35 and then, summed by a summer 37 to a single data stream which is then transmitted further from an output unit 36.

The third receiver43 allows all the first, second, and third data streams of the signal intercepted by an antenna 42 and fed from an input unit 44 to be demodulated by a demodulator 45 and then, summed by a summer 47 to a single data stream which is then transmitted further from an output unit 46.

As understood, the three discrete receivers 23, 33, and 43 have their respective demodulators of different characteristics such that their outputs demodulated from the same frequency band signal of the transmitter 1 contain data of different sizes. More particularly, three different but compatible data can simultaneously be carried on a given frequency band signal to their respective receivers. For example, each of three, existing NTSC, HDTV, and super HDTV, digital signals is divided into a low, a high, and a super high frequency band components which,represent the first, the second, and the third data stream respectively. Accordingly, the three different TV signals can be transmitted on a one-channel frequency band carrier for simultaneous reproduction of a medium, a high, and a super high resolution TV image respectively.

In service, the NTSC TV signal is intercepted by a receiver accompanied with a small antenna for demodulation of small-sized data, the HDTV signal is intercepted by a receiver accompanied with a medium antenna for demodulation of medium-sized data, and the super HDTV signal is intercepted by a receiver accompanied with a large antenna for demodulation of large-sized data. Also, as illustrated in Fig.1, a digital NTSC TV signal containing only the first data stream for digital NTSC TV broadcasting service is fed to a digital transmitter 51 where it is received by an input unit 52 and modulated by a demodulator 54 before transmitted further from a transmitter unit 55. The demodulated signal is then sent up from an antenna 56 through an uplink 57 to the satellite 10 which in turn transmits the same through a downlink 58 to the first receiver 23 on the ground.

The first receiver 23 demodulates with its demodulator 24 the modulated digital signal supplied from the digital transmitter 51 to the original first data stream signal. Similarly, the same modulated digital signal can be intercepted and demodulated by the second 33 or third receiver 43 to the first data stream or NTSC TV signal. In summary, the three discrete receivers 23, 33, and 43 all can intercept and process a digital signal of the existing TV system for reproduction.

The arrangement of the signal transmission system will be described in more detail.

Fig.2 is a block diagram of the transmitter 1, in which an input signal is fed across the input unit 2 and divided by the divider circuit 3 into three digital signals containing a first, a second, and a third data stream respectively.

Assuming that the input signal is a video signal, its low frequency band component is assigned to the first data stream; its high frequency band component to the second data stream, and its super-high frequency band component to the third data stream. The three different frequency band signals are fed to a modulator input 61 of the modulator 4. Here, a signal point modulating/changing circuit 67 modulates or changes the positions of the signal points according to an externally given signal. The modulator4 is arranged for amplitude modulation on two 90°-out-of-phase carriers respectively which are then summed to a multiple QAM signal. More specifically, the signal from the modulator input 61 is fed to both a first 62 and a second AM modulator 63. Also, a carrier wave of cos(27cfct) produced by a carrier generator 64 is directly fed to the first AM modulator 62 and also, to a π/2 phase shifter 66 where it is 90° shifted in phase to a sin(27cfct) form prior to transmitted to the second AM modulator 63. The two amplitude modulated signals from the first and second AM modulators 62,63 are summed by a summer 65 to a transmission signal which is then transferred to the transmitter unit 5 for output. This procedure is well known and will no further be explained.

The QAM signal will now be described in a common 8x8 or 16 state constellation referring to the first quadrant of a space diagram in Fig.3. The output signal of the modulator 4 is expressed by a sum vector of two, Acos2πfct and Bcos2πfct, vectors 81,82 which represent the two 90°-out-of-phase carriers respectively. When the distal point of a sum vector from the zero point represents a signal point, the 16 QAM signal has 16 signal points determined by a combination of four horizontal amplitude values a₁,a₂,a₃,a₄ and four vertical amplitude values b₁,b₂,b₃,b₄. The first quadrant in Fig.3 contains four signal points 83 at C₁₁, 84 at C₁₂, 85 at C₂₂, and 86 at C₂₁.

C₁₁ is a sum vector of a vector 0-a₁ and a vector 0-b_i and thus, expressed as C₁₁ = a₁cos2πfct-b₁sin2πfct = Acos (2πfct+dπ/2).

It is now assumed that the distance between 0 and a₁ in the orthogonal coordinates of Fig.3 is A₁, between a₁ and a₂ is A₂, between 0 and b₁ is B₁ and between b₁ to b₂ is B₂.

As shown in Fig.4, the 16 signal points are allocated in a vector coordinate, in which each point represents a four-bit pattern thus to allow the transmission of four bit data per period or time slot.

Fig.5 illustrates a common assignment of two-bit patterns to the 16 signal points.

When the distance between two adjacent signal points is great, it will be identified by the receiver with much ease. Hence, it is desired to space the signal points at greater intervals. If two particular signal points are allocated near to each other, they are rarely distinguished and error rate will be increased. Therefore, it is most preferred to have the signal points spaced at equal intervals as shown in Fig.5, in which the 16 QAM signal is defined by A₁=A₂/2.

The transmitter 1 of the embodiment is arranged to divide an input digital signal into a first, a second, and a third data or bit stream. The 16 signal points or groups of signal points are divided into four groups. Then, 4 two-bit patterns of the first data stream are assigned to the four signal point groups respectively, as shown in Fig.6. More particularly, when the two-bit pattern of the first data stream is 11, one of four signal points of the first signal point group 91 in the first quadrant is selected depending on the content of the second data stream for transmission. Similarly, when 01, one signal point of the second signal point group 92 in the second quadrant is selected and transmitted. When 00, one signal point of the third signal point group 93 in the third quadrant is transmitted and when 10, one signal point of the fourth signal point group 94 in the fourth quadrant is transmitted. Also, 4 two-bit patterns in the second data stream of the 16 QAM signal, or e.g. 16 four-bit patterns in the second data stream of a 64-state QAM signal, are assigned to four signal points or sub signal point groups of each of the four signal point groups 91,92,93,94 respectively, as shown in Fig.7. It should be understood that the assignment is symmetrical between any two quadrants. The assignment of the signal points to the four groups 91,92,92,94 is determined by priority to the two-bit data of the first data stream. As the result, two-bit data of the first data stream and two-bit data of the second data stream can be transmitted independently. Also, the first data stream will be demodulated with the use of a common 4 PSK receiver having a given antenna sensitivity. If the antenna sensitivity is higher, a modified type of the 16 QAM receiver of the present invention will intercept and demodulate both the first and second data streams with equal success.

Fig.8 shows an example of the assignment of the first and second data streams in two-bit patterns.

When the low frequency band component of an HDTV video signal is assigned to the first data stream and the high frequency component to the second data stream, the 4 PSK receiver can produce an NTSC-level picture from the first data stream and the 16- or 64-state QAM receiver can produce an HDTV picture from a composite reproduction signal of the first and second data streams.

Since the signal points are allocated at equal intervals, there is developed in the 4 PSK receiver a threshold distance between the coordinate axes and the shaded area of the first quadrant, as shown in Fig.9. If the threshold distance is A_TO, a 4 PSK signal having an amplitude of A_TO will successfully be intercepted. However, the amplitude has to be increased to a three times greater value or 3A_To for transmission of a 16 QAM signal while the threshold distance A_TO being maintained. More particularly, the energy for transmitting the 16 QAM signal is needed nine times greater than that for sending the 4 PSK signal. Also, when the 4 PSK signal is transmitted in a 16 QAM mode, energy waste will be high and reproduction of a carrier signal will be troublesome. Above all, the energy available for satellite transmitting is not abundant but strictly limited to minimum use. Hence, no large-energy-consuming signal transmitting system will be put into practice until more energy for satellite transmission is available. It is expected that a great number of the 4 PSK receivers are introduced into the market as digital TV broadcasting is soon in service. After introduction to the market, the 4 PSK receivers will hardly be shifted to higher sensitivity models because a signal intercepting characteristic gap between the two, old and new, models is high. Therefore, the transmission of the 4 PSK signals must not be abandoned. In this respect, a new system is desperately needed for transmitting the signal point data of a quasi 4 PSK signal in the 16 QAM mode with the use of less energy. Otherwise, the limited energy at a satellite station will degrade the entire transmission system.

The present invention resides in a multiple signal level arrangement in which the four signal point groups 91,92,93,94 are allocated at a greater distance from each other, as shown in Fig.10, for minimizing the energy consumption required for 16 QAM modulation of quasi 4 PSK signals.

For clearing the relation between the signal receiving sensitivity and the transmitting energy, the arrangement of the digital transmitter 51 and the first receiver 23 will be described in more detail referring to Fig.1.

Both the digital transmitter 51 and the first receiver 23 are formed of known types for data transmission or video signal transmission e.g. in TV broadcasting service. As shown in Fig.17, the digital transmitter 51 is a 4 PSK transmitter equivalent to the multiple-bit QAM transmitter 1, shown in Fig.2, without AM modulation capability. In operation, an input signal is fed through an input unit 52 to a modulator 54 where it is divided by a modulator input 121 to two components. The two components are then transferred to a first two-phase modulator circuit 122 for phase modulation of a base carrier and a second two-phase modulator circuit 123 for phase modulation of a carrier which is 90° out of phase with the base carrier respectively. Two outputs of the first and second two-phase modulator circuits 122,123 are then summed by a summer 65 to a composite modulated signal which is further transferred from a transmitter unit 55.

The resultant modulated signal is shown in the space diagram of Fig.18.

It is known that the four signal points are allocated at equal distances for achieving optimum energy utilization. Fig.18 illustrates an example where the four signal points 125,126,127,128 represent 4 two-bit patterns, 11, 01, 00, and 10 respectively. It is also desired for successful data transfer from the digital transmitter 51 to the first receiver 23 that the 4 PSK signal from the digital transmitter 51 has an amplitude of not less than a given level. More specifically, when the minimum amplitude of the 4 PSK signal needed for transmission from the digital transmitter 51 to the first receiver 23 of 4 PSK mode, or the distance between 0 and a₁ in Fig.18 is A_TO, the first receiver 23 can successfully intercept any 4 PSK signal having an amplitude of more than A_TO.

The first receiver23 is arranged to receive at its small-diameter antenna 22 a desired or 4 PSK signal which is transmitted from the transmitter 1 or digital transmitter 51 respectively through the transponder 12 of the satellite 10 and demodulate it with the demodulator 24. In more particular, the first receiver 23 is substantially designed for interception of a digital TV or data communications signal of 4 PSK or 2 PSK mode.

Fig.19 is a block diagram of the first receiver 23 in which an input signal received by the antenna 22 from the satellite 12 is fed through the input unit 24 to a carrier reproducing circuit 131 where a carrier wave is demodulated and to a 1t/2 phase shifter 132 where a 90° phase shifted carrier wave is demodulated. Also, two 90°-out-of-phase components of the input signal are detected by a first 133 and a second phase detector circuit 134 respectively and transferred to a first 136 and a second discrimination/ demodulation circuit 137 respectively. Two demodulated components from their respective discrimination/demodulation circuits 136 and 137, which have separately been discriminated at units of time slot by means of timing signals from a timing wave extracting circuit 135, are fed to a first data stream reproducing unit 232 where they are summed to a first data stream signal which is then delivered as an output from the output unit 26.

The input signal to the first receiver 23 will now be explained in more detail referring to the vector diagram of Fig.20. The 4 PSK signal received by the first receiver 23 from the digital transmitter 51 is expressed in an ideal form without transmission distortion and noise, using four signal points 151,152,153,154 shown in Fig.20.

In practice, the real four signal points appear in particular extended areas about the ideal signal positions 151,152,153,154 respectively due to noise, amplitude distortion, and phase error developed during transmission. If one signal point is unfavorably displaced from its original position, it will hardly be distinguished from its neighbor signal point and the error rate will thus be increased. As the error rate increases to a critical level, the reproduction of data becomes less accurate. For enabling the data reproduction at a maximum acceptable level of the error rate, the distance between any two signal points should be far enough to be distinguished from each other. If the distance is 2A_Ro, the signal point 151 of a 4 PSK signal at close to a critical error level has to stay in a first discriminating area 155 denoted by the hatching of Fig.20 and determined by |0-a_R1 |≧A_RO and I 0-bR11 |≧A_RO. This allows the signal transmission system to reproduce carrier waves and thus, demodulate a wanted signal. When the minimum radius of the antenna 22 is set to r_o, the transmission signal of more than a given level can be intercepted by any receiver of the system. The amplitude of a 4 PSK signal of the digital transmitter 51 shown in Fig.18 is minimum at A_TO and thus, the minimum amplitude A_RO of a 4 PSK signal to be received by the first receiver 23 is determined equal to A_TO. As the result, the first receiver 23 can intercept and demodulate the 4 PSK signal from the digital transmitter 51 at the maximum acceptable level of the error rate when the radius of the antenna 22 is more than r_oo If the transmission signal is of modified 16- or 64-state QAM mode, the first receiver 23 may find difficult to reproduce its carrier wave. For compensation, the signal points are increased to eight which are allocated at angles of (π/4+nπ/2) as shown in Fig.25-a and its carrier wave will be reproduced by a 16x multiplication technique. Also, if the signal points are assigned to 16 locations at angles of n1t/8 as shown in Fig.25-b, the carrier of a quasi 4 PSK mode 16 QAM modulated signal can be reproduced with the carrier reproducing circuit 131 which is modified for performing 16x frequency multiplication. At the time, the signal points in the transmitter 1 should be arranged to satisfy A₁/(A₁+A₂)=tan(π/8).

Here, a case of receiving a QPSK signal will be considered. Similarly to the manner performed by the signal point modulating/changing circuit 67 in the transmitter shown in Fig.2, it is also possible to modulate the positions of the signal points of the QPSK signal shown in Fig.18 (amplitude-modulation, pulse-modulation, or the like). In this case, the signal point demodulating unit 138 in the first receiver 23 demodulates the position modulated or position changed signal. The demodulated signal is outputted together with the first data stream.

The 16 QAM signal of the transmitter 1 will now be explained referring to the vector diagram of Fig.9. When the horizontal vector distance A₁ of the signal point 83 is greater than A_TO of the minimum amplitude of the 4 PSK signal of the digital transmitter 51, the four signal points 83,84,85,86 in the first quadrant of Fig.9 stay in the shaded or first 4 PSK signal receivable area 87. When received by the first receiver 23, the four points of the signal appear in the first discriminating area of the vector field shown in Fig.20. Hence, any of the signal points 83,84,85,86 of Fig.9 can be translated into the signal level 151 of Fig.20 by the first receiver 23 so that the two-bit pattern of 11 is assigned to a corresponding time slot. The two-bit pattern of 11 is identical to 11 of the first signal point group 91 or first data stream of a signal from the transmitter 1. Equally, the first data stream will be reproduced at the second, third, or fourth quadrant. As the result, the first receiver 23 reproduces two-bit data of the first data stream out of the plurality of data streams in a 16-, 32-, or 64-state QAM signal transmitted from the transmitter 1. The second and third data streams are contained in four segments of the signal point group 91 and thus, will not affect on the demodulation of the first data stream. They may however affect the reproduction of a carrier wave and an adjustment, described later, will be needed.

If the transponder of a satellite supplies an abundance of energy, the foregoing technique of 16 to 64-state QAM mode transmission will be feasible. However, the transponder of the satellite in any existing satellite transmission system is strictly limited in the power supply due to its compact size and the capability of solar batteries. If the transponder or satellite is increased in size thus weight, its launching cost will soar. This disadvantage will rarely be eliminated by traditional techniques unless the cost of launching a satellite rocket is reduced to a considerable level. In the existing system, a common communications satellite provides as low as 20 W of power supply and a common broadcast satellite offers 100 W to 200 W at best. For transmission of such a 4 PSK signal in the symmetrical 16-state QAM mode as shown in Fig.9, the minimum signal point distance is needed 3A_TO as the 16 QAM amplitude is expressed by 2A₁=A₂. Thus, the energy needed for the purpose is nine times greater than that for transmission of a common 4 PSK signal, in order to maintain compatibility. Also, any conventional satellite transponder can hardly provide a power for enabling such a small antenna of the 4 PSK first receiver to intercept a transmitted signal therefrom. For example, in the existing 40W system, 360 W is needed for appropriate signal transmission and will be unrealistic in the respect of cost.

It would be understood that the symmetrical signal state QAM technique is most effective when the receivers equipped with the same sized antennas are employed corresponding to a given transmitting power. Another novel technique will however be preferred for use with the receivers equipped with different sized antennas.

In more detail, while the 4 PSK signal can be intercepted by a common low cost receiver system having a small antenna, the 16 QAM signal is intended to be received by a high cost, high quality, multiple-bit modulating receiver system with a medium or large sized antenna which is designed for providing highly valuable services, e.g. HDTV entertainments, to a particular person who invests more money. This allows both 4 PSK and 16 QAM signals, if desired, with a 64 DMA, to be transmitted simultaneously with the help of a small increase in the transmitting power.

For example, the transmitting power can be maintained low when the signal points are allocated at A₁=A₂ as shown in Fig.10. The amplitude A(4) for transmission of 4 PSK data is expressed by a vector 96 equivalent to a square root of 2A₁². The amplitude A(16) of the entire signal is expressed by a vector 96 equivalent to a square root of (A₁+A₂)2+(B₁+B₂)², Then,

<maths id="math0001" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0001.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0002" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0002.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0003" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0003.tif" /></maths>

Accordingly, the 16 QAM signal can be transmitted at a two times greater amplitude and a four times greater transmitting energy than those needed for the 4 PSK signal. A modified 16 QAM signal according to the present invention will not be demodulated by a common receiver designed for symmetrical, equally distanced signal point QAM. However, it can be demodulated with the second receiver 33 when two thresholds A₁ and A₂ are predetermined to appropriate values. At Fig.10, the minimum distance between two signal points in the first segment of the signal point group 91 is A₁ and A₂/2A₁ is established as compared with the distance 2A₁ of 4 PSK. Then, as A₁=A₂, the distance becomes 1/2. This explains that the signal receiving sensitivity has to be two times greater for the same error rate and four times greater for the same signal level. For having a four times greater value of sensitivity, the radius r₂ of the antenna 32 of the second receiver 33 has to be two times greater than the radius r₁ of the antenna 22 of the first receiver 23 thus satisfying r₂=2r₁. For example, the antenna 32 of the second receiver 33 is 60 cm in diameter when the antenna 22 of the first receiver 23 is 30 cm. In this manner, the second data stream representing the high frequency component of an HDTV signal will be carried on a single channel and demodulated successfully. As the second receiver 33 intercepts the second data stream or a higher data signal, its owner can enjoy a return of his higher investment. Hence, the second receiver 33 of a higher price may be accepted. As the minimum energy for transmission of 4 PSK data is predetermined, the ratio n₁₆ of modified 16 APSK transmitting energy to 4 PSK transmitting energy will be calculated to the antenna radius r₂ of the second receiver 33 using a ratio between A₁ and A₂ shown in Fig.10.

In particular, n₁₆ is expressed by ((A₁+A₂/A₁)² which is the minimum energy for transmission of 4 PSK data. As the signal point distance suited for modified 16 QAM interception is A₂, the signal point distance for 4 PSK interception is 2A_i, and the signal point distance ratio is A₂/2A₁, the antenna radius r₂ is determined as shown in Fig.11, in which the curve 101 represents the relation between the transmitting energy ratio n₁₆ and the radius r₂ of the antenna 22 of the second receiver 23.

Also, the point 102 indicates transmission of common 16 QAM at the equal distance signal state mode where the transmitting energy is nine times greater and thus will no more be practical. As apparent from the graph of Fig.11, the antenna radius r₂ of the second receiver 23 cannot be reduced further even if n₁₆ is increased more than 5 times.

The transmitting energy at the satellite is limited to a small value and thus, n₁₆ preferably stays not more than 5 times the value, as denoted by the hatching of Fig.11. The point 104 within the hatching area 103 indicates, for example, that the antenna radius r₂ of a two times greater value is matched with a 4x value of the transmitting energy. Also, the point 105 represents that the transmission energy should be doubled when r₂ is about 5x greater. Those values are all within a feasible range.

The value of n₁₆ not greater than 5x value is expressed using A₁ and A₂ as:<maths id="math0004" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0004.tif" /></maths>

Hence, A₂ ≦ 1.23A₁.

If the distance between any two signal point group segments shown in Fig.10 is 2A(4) and the maximum amplitude is 2A(16), A(4) and A(16)-A(4) are proportional to A₁ and A₂ respectively. Hence, (A(16))2--5(A(14))2 is established.

The action of a modified 64 ASPK transmission will be described as the third receiver 43 can perform 64- state QAM demodulation.

Fig.12 is a vector diagram in which each signal point group segment contains 16 signal points as compared with 4 signal points of Fig.10. The first signal point group segment 91 in Fig.12 has a 4x4 matrix of 16 signal points allocated at equal intervals including the point 170. For providing compatibility with 4 PSK, A₁≧A_TO has to be satisfied. If the radius of the antenna 42 of the third receiver 43 is r₃ and the transmitting energy is n₆₄, the equation is expressed as:<maths id="math0005" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0005.tif" /></maths>

This relation between r₃ and n of a 64 QAM signal is also shown in the graphic representation of Fig.13.

It is understood that the signal point assignment shown in Fig.12 allows the second receiver 33 to demodulate only two-bit patterns of 4 PSK data. Hence, it is desired for having compatibility between the first, second, and third receivers that the second receiver 33 is arranged capable of demodulating a modified 16 QAM form from the 64 QAM modulated signal.

The compatibility between the three discrete receivers can be implemented by three-level grouping of signal points, as illustrated in Fig.14. The description will be made referring to the first quadrant in which the first signal point group segment 91 represents the two-bit pattern 11 of the first data stream.

In particular, a first sub segment 181 in the first signal point group segment 91 is assigned the two-bit pattern 11 of the second data stream. Equally, a second 182, a third 183, and a fourth sub segment 184 are assigned 01, 00, and 10 of the same respectively. This assignment is identical to that shown in Fig.7.

The signal point allocation of the third data stream will now be explained referring to the vector diagram of Fig.15 which shows the first quadrant. As shown, the four signal points 201,205,209,213 represent the two-bit pattern of 11, the signal points 202,206,210,214 represent 01, the signal points 203,207,211,215 represent 00, and the signal points 204,208,212,216 represent 10. Accordingly, the two-bit patterns of the third data stream can be transmitted separately of the first and second data streams. In other words, two-bit data of the three different signal levels can be transmitted respectively.

As understood, the present invention permits not only transmission of six-bit data but also interception of three, two-bit, four-bit, and six-bit, different bit length data with their respective receivers while the signal compatibility remains between three levels.

The signal point allocation for providing compatibility between the three levels will be described.

As shown in Fig.15, A₁≧A_TO is essential for allowing the first receiver 23 to receive the first data stream.

It is needed to space any two signal points from each other by such a distance that the sub segment signal points, e.g. 182,183,184, of the second data stream shown in Fig.15 can be distinguished from the signal point 91 shown in Fig.10.

Fig.15 shows that they are spaced by 2/3A₂. In this case, the distance between the two signal points 201 and 202 in the first sub segment 181 is A₂/6. The transmitting energy needed for signal interception with the third receiver 43 is now calculated. If the radius of the antenna 32 is r₃ and the needed transmitting energy is n₆₄ times the 4 PSK transmitting energy, the equation is expressed as:

<maths id="math0006" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0006.tif" /></maths>This relation is also denoted by the curve 211 in Fig.16. For example, if the transmitting energy is 6 or 9 times greater than that for 4 PSK transmission at the point 223 or 222, the antenna 32 having a radius of 8x or 6x value respectively can intercept the first, second, and third data streams for demodulation. As the signal point distance of the second data stream is close to 2/3A₂, the relation between r_i and r₂ is expressed by:<maths id="math0007" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0007.tif" /></maths>

Therefore, the antenna 32 of the second receiver 33 has to be a bit increased in radius as denoted by the curve 223.

As understood, while the first and second data streams are transmitted through a traditional satellite which provides a small signal transmitting energy, the third data stream can also be transmitted through a future satellite which provides a greater signal transmitting energy without interrupting the action of the first and second receivers 23,33 or with no need of modification of the same and thus, both the compatibility and the advancement will highly be ensured.

The signal receiving action of the second receiver 33 will first be described. As compared with the first receiver 23 arranged for interception with a smaller radius r₁ antenna and demodulation of the 4 PSK modulated signal of the digital transmitter 51 or the first data stream of the signal of the transmitter 1, the second receiver 33 is adapted for perfectly demodulating the 16 signal state two-bit data, shown in Fig. 0, or second data stream of the 16 QAM signal from the transmitter 1. In total, four-bit data including also the first data stream can be demodulated. The ratio between A₁ and A₂ is however different in the two transmitters. The two different data are loaded to a demodulation controller 231 of the second receiver 33, shown in Fig.21, which in turn supplies their respective threshold values to the demodulating circuit for AM demodulation.

The block diagram of the second receiver 33 in Fig.21 is similar in basic construction to that of the first receiver 23 shown in Fig.19. The difference is that the radius r₂ of the antenna 32 is greater than r₁ of the antenna 22. This allows the second receiver 33 to identify a signal component involving a smaller signal point distance. The demodulator 35 of the second receiver 33 also contains a first 232 and a second data stream reproducing unit 233 in addition to the demodulation controller 231. There is provided a first discrimination/reproduction circuit 136 forAM demodulation of modified 16 QAM signals. As understood, each carrier is a four-bit signal having two, positive and negative, threshold values about the zero level. As apparent from the vector diagram of Fig.22, the threshold values are varied depending on the transmitting energy of a transmitter since the transmitting signal of the embodiment is a modified 16 QAM signal. When the reference threshold is TH₁₆, it is determined by, as shown in Fig.22:<maths id="math0008" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0008.tif" /></maths>

The various data for demodulation including A1 and A₂ or TH₁₆, and the value m for multiple-bit modulation are also transmitted from the transmitter 1 as carried in the first data stream. The demodulation controller 231 may be arranged for recovering such demodulation data through statistic process of the received signal.

A way of determining the shift factor A,/A₂ will be described with reference to Fig.26. A change of the shift factor A₁/A₂ causes a change of the threshold value. Increase of a difference of a value of A₁/A₂ set at the receiver side from a value of A₁/A₂ set at the transmitter side will increase the error rate. Referring to Fig.26, the demodulated signal from the second data stream reproducing unit 233 may be fed back to the demodulation controller 231 to change the shift factor A₁/A₂ in a direction to decrease the error rate. By this arrangement, the third receiver43 may not demodulate the shift factor A₁/A₂, so that the circuit construction can be simplified. Further, the transmitter may not transmit the shift factor A,/A₂, so that the transmission capacity can be increased. This technique can be applied also to the second receiver 33.

The demodulation controller 231 has a memory 231a for storing therein different threshold values (i.e., the shift factors, the number of signal points, the synchronization rules, etc.) which correspond to different channels of TV broadcast. When receiving one of the channels again, the values corresponding to the receiving channel will be read out of the memory to thereby stabilize the reception quickly.

If the demodulation data is lost, the demodulation of the second data stream will hardly be executed. This will be explained referring to a flow chart shown in Fig.24.

Even if the demodulation data is not available, demodulation of the 4 PSK at Step 313 and of the first data stream at Step 301 can be implemented. At Step 302, the demodulation data retrieved by the first data stream reproducing unit 232 is transferred to the demodulation controller 231. If m is 4 or 2 at Step 303, the demodulation controller 231 triggers demodulation of 4 PSK or 2 PSK at Step 313. If not, the procedure moves to Step 310. At Step 305, two threshold values TH₈ and TH₁₆ are calculated. The threshold value TH₁₆ for AM demodulation is fed at Step 306 from the demodulation controller 231 to both the first 136 and the second discrimination/reproduction circuit 137. Hence, demodulation of the modified 16 QAM signal and reproduction of the second data stream can be carried out at Steps 307 and 315 respectively. At Step 308, the error rate is examined and if high, the procedure returns to Step 313 for repeating the 4 PSK demodulation.

As shown in Fig.22, the signal points 85,83 are aligned on a line at an angle of cos(ωt+nπ/2) while 84 and 86 are off the line. Hence, the feedback of a second data stream transmitting carrier wave data from the second data stream reproducing unit 233 to a carrier reproducing circuit 131 is carried out so that no carrier needs to be extracted at the timing of the signal points 84 and 86.

The transmitter 1 is arranged to transmit carrier timing signals at intervals of a given time with the first data stream for the purpose of compensation for no demodulation of the second data stream. The carrier timing signal enables to identify the signal points 83 and 85 of the first data stream regardless of demodulation of the second data stream. Hence, the reproduction of carrier wave can be triggered by the transmitting carrier data to the carrier reproducing circuit 131.

It is then examined at Step 304 of the flow chart of Fig.24 whether m is 16 or not upon receipt of such a modified 64 QAM signal as shown in Fig.23. At Step 310, it is also examined whether m is more than 64 or not. If it is determined at Step 311 that the received signal has no equal distance signal point constellation, the procedure goes to Step 312. The signal point distance TH₆₄ of the modified 64 QAM signal is calculated from:<maths id="math0009" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0009.tif" /></maths>

This calculation is equivalent to that of TH₁₆ but its resultant distance between signal points is smaller.

If the signal point distance in the first sub segment 181 is A3, the distance between the first 181 and the second sub segment 182 is expressed by (A₂-2A3). Then, the average distance is (A₂-2A₃)/(A₁+A₂) which is designated as d64. When d₆₄ is smaller than T₂ which represents the signal point discrimination capability of the second receiver 33, any two signal points in the segment will hardly be distinguished from each other. This judgment is executed at Step 313. If d₆₄ is out of a permissive range, the procedure moves back to Step 313 for 4 PSK mode demodulation. If d₆₄ is within the range, the procedure advances to Step 305 for allowing the demodulation of 16 QAM at Step 307. If it is determined at Step 308 that the error rate is too high, the procedure goes back to Step 313 for 4 PSK mode demodulation.

When the transmitter 1 supplies a modified 8 QAM signal such as shown in Fig.25-a in which all the signal points are at angles of cos(2πf+n·π/4), the carrier waves of the signal are lengthened to the same phase and will thus be reproduced with much ease. At the time, two-bit data of the first data stream are demodulated with the 4-PSk receiver while one-bit data of the second data stream is demodulated with the second receiver 33 and the total of three-bit data can be reproduced.

The third receiver 43 will be described in more detail. Fig.26 shows a block diagram of the third receiver 43 similar to that of the second receiver 33 in Fig.21. The difference is that a third data stream reproducing unit 234 is added and also, the discrimination/reproduction circuit has a capability of identifying eight-bit data. The antenna 42 of the third receiver 43 has a radius r₃ greater than r₂ thus allowing smaller distance state signals, e.g. 32- or 64-state QAM signals, to be demodulated. For demodulation of the 64 QAM signal, the first discrimination/reproduction circuit 136 has to identify 8 digit levels of the detected signal in which seven different threshold levels are involved. As one of the threshold values is zero, three are contained in the first quadrant.

Fig.27 shows a space diagram of the signal in which the first quadrant contains three different threshold values.

As shown in Fig.27, when the three normalized threshold values are TH1₆₄, TH2₆₄, and TH3₆₄, they are expressed by:<maths id="math0010" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0010.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0011" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0011.tif" /></maths>and<maths id="math0012" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0012.tif" /></maths>

Through AM demodulation of a phase detected signal using the three threshold values, the third data stream can be reproduced like the first and second data streams explained with Fig.21. The third data stream contains e.g. four signal points 201,202,203,204 at the first sub segment 181 shown in Fig.23 which represent 4 values of two-bit pattern. Hence, six digits or modified 64 QAM signals can be demodulated.

The demodulation controller 231 detects the values m, A_1' A₂, and A3 from the demodulation data contained in the first data stream demodulated at the first data stream reproducing unit 232 and calculates the three threshold values TH1₆₄, TH2₆₄, and TH3₆₄ which are then fed to the first 136 and the second discrimination/reproduction circuit 137 so that the modified 64 QAM signal is demodulated with certainty. Also, if the demodulation data have been scrambled, the modified 64 QAM signal can be demodulated only with a specific or subscriber receiver. Fig.28 is a flow chart showing the action of the demodulation controller 231 for modified 64 QAM signals. The difference from the flow chart for demodulation of 16 QAM shown in Fig.24 will be explained. The procedure moves from Step 304 to Step 320 where it is examined whether m=32 or not. If m=32, demodulation of 32 QAM signals is executed at Step 322. If not, the procedure moves to Step 321 where it is examined whether m=64 or not. If yes, A3 is examined at Step 323. If A3 is smaller than a predetermined value, the procedure moves to Step 305 and the same sequence as of Fig.24 is implemented. If it is judged at Step 323 that A3 is not smaller than the predetermined value, the procedure goes to Step 324 where the threshold values are calculated. At Step 325, the calculated threshold values are fed to the first and second discrimination/reproduction circuits and at Step 326, the demodulation of the modified 64 QAM signal is carried out. Then, the first, second, and third data streams are reproduced at Step 327. At Step 328, the error rate is examined. If the error rate is high, the procedure moves to Step 305 where the 16 QAM demodulation is repeated and if low, the demodulation of the 64 QAM is continued.

The action of carrier wave reproduction needed for execution of a satisfactory demodulating procedure will now be described. The scope of the present invention includes reproduction of the first data stream of a modified 16 or 64 QAM signal with the use of a 4 PSK receiver. However, a common 4 PSK receiver rarely reconstructs carrier waves, thus failing to perform a correct demodulation. For compensation, some arrangements are necessary at both the transmitter and receiver sides.

Two techniques for the compensation are provided according to the present invention. A first technique relates to transmission of signal points aligned at angles of (2n-1)π/4 at intervals of a given time. A second technique offers transmission of signal points arranged at intervals of an angle of nn/8.

According to the first technique, the eight signal points including 83 and 85 are aligned at angles of π/4, 31t/4, 51t/4, and 7π/4, as shown in Fig.38. In action, at least one of the eight signal points is transmitted during sync time slot periods 452,453,454,455 arranged at equal intervals of a time in a time slot gap 451 shown in the time chart of Fig.38. Any desired signal points are transmitted during the other time slots. The transmitter 1 is also arranged to assign a data for the time slot interval to the sync timing data region 499 of a sync data block, as shown in Fig.41.

The content of a transmitting signal will be explained in more detail referring to Fig.41. The time slot group 451 containing the sync time slots 452,453,454,455 represents a unit data stream or block 491 carrying a data of Dn.

The sync time slots in the signal are arranged at equal intervals of a given time determined by the time slot interval or sync timing data. Hence, when the arrangement of the sync time slots is detected, reproduction of carrier waves will be executed slot by slot through extracting the sync timing data from their respective time slots.

Such a sync timing data S is contained in a sync block 493 accompanied at the front end of a data frame 492, which is consisted of a number of the sync time slots denoted by the hatching in Fig.41. Accordingly, the data to be extracted for carrier wave reproduction are increased, thus allowing the 4 PSK receiver to reproduce desired carrier waves at higher accuracy and efficiency.

The sync block493 comprises sync data regions 496,497,498,...containing sync data S1,S2,S3,... respectively which include unique words and demodulation data. The phase sync signal assignment region 499 is accompanied at the end of the sync block 493, which holds a data of IT including information about interval arrangement and assignment of the sync time slots.

The signal point data in the phase sync time slot has a particular phase and can thus be reproduced by the 4 PSK receiver. Accordingly, IT in the phase sync signal assignment region 499 can be retrieved without error thus ensuring the reproduction of carrier waves at accuracy.

As shown in Fig.41, the sync block 493 is followed by a demodulation data block 501 which contains demodulation data about threshold voltages needed for demodulation of the modified multiple-bit QAM signal. This data is essential for demodulation of the multiple-bit QAM signal and may preferably be contained in a region 502 which is a part of the sync block 493 for ease of retrieval.

Fig.42 shows the assignment of signal data for transmission of burst form signals through a TDMA method.

The assignment is distinguished from that of Fig.41 by the fact that a guard period 521 is inserted between any two adjacent Dn data blocks 491,491 for interruption of the signal transmission. Also, each data block 491 is accompanied at front end a sync region 522 thus forming a data block 492. During the sinc region 522, the signal points at a phase of (2n-1)7r/4 are only transmitted. Accordingly, the carrier wave reproduction will be feasible with the 4 PSK receiver. More specifically, the sync signal and carrier waves can be reproduced through the TDMA method.

The carrier wave reproduction of the first receiver 23 shown in Fig.19 will be explained in more detail referring to Figs.43 and 44. As shown in Fig.43, an input signal is fed through the input unit 24 to a sync detector circuit 541 where it is sync detected. A demodulated signal from the sync detector 541 is transferred to an output circuit 542 for reprodcution of the first data stream. A data of the phase sync signal assignment data region 499 (shown in Fig.41) is retreived with an extracting timing controller circuit 543 so that the timing of sync signals of (2n-1)₇t/4 data can be acknowledged and transferred as a phase sync control pulse 561 shown in Fig.44 to a carrier reproduction controlling circuit 544. Also, the demodulated signal of the sync detctor circuit 541 is fed to a frequency multiplier circuit 545 where it is 4x multiplied prior to transmitted to the carrier reproduction controlling circuit 544. The resultant signal denoted by 562 in Fig.44 contains a true phase data 563 and other data. As illustrated in a time chart 564 of Fig.44, the phase sync time slots 452 carrying the (2n-1)7r/4 data are also contained at equal intervals. At the carrier reproducing controlling circuit 544, the signal 562 is sampled by the phase sync control pulse 561 to produce a phase sample signal 565 which is then converted through sample- hold action to a phase signal 566. The phase signal 566 of the carrier reproduction controlling circuit 544 is fed across a loop filter 546 to a VCO 547 where its relevant carrier wave is reproduced. The reproduced carrier is then sent to the sync detector circuit 541. In this manner, the signal point data of the (2n-l)n/4 phase denoted by the shaded areas in Fig.39 is recovered and utilized so that a correct carrier wave can be reproduced by 4x or 16x frequency multiplication. Although a plurality of phases are reproduced at the time, the absolute phase of the carrier can successfully be idenfitied with the use of a unique word assigned to the sync region 496 shown in Fig.41.

For transmission of a modified 64 QAM signal such as shown in Fig.40, signal points in the phase sync areas 471 at the (2n-l)n/4 phase denoted by the hatching are assinged to the sync time slots 452,452b, etc. Its carrier can be reproduced hardly with a common 4 PSK receiver but successfully with the first receiver 23 of 4 PSK mode provided with the carrier reproducing circuit of the embodiment.

The foregoing carrier reproducing circuit is of COSTAS type. A carrier reproducing circuit of reverse modulation type will now be explained according to the embodiment.

Fig.45 shows a reverse modulation type carrier reproducing circuit according to the present invention, in which a received signal is fed from the input unit 24 to a sync detector circuit 541 for producing a demodulated signal. Also, the input signal is delayed by a first delay circuit 591 to a delay signal. The delay signal is then transferred to a quadrature phase modulator circuit 592 where it is reverse demodulated by the demodulated signal from the sync detector circuit 541 to a carrier signal. The carrier signal is fed through a carrier reproduction controller circuit 544 to a phase comparator 593. A carrier wave produced by a VCO 547 is delayed by a second delay circuit 594 to a delay signal which is also fed to the phase comparator 593. At the phase comparator 594, the reverse demodualted carrier signal is compared in phase with the delay signal thus producing a phase difference signal. The phase difference signal is sent through a loop filter 546 to the VCO 547 which in turn produces a carrier wave arranged in phase with the received carrier wave. In the same manner as of the COSTAS carrier reproducing circuit shown in Fig.43, an extracting timing controller circuit 543 performs sampling of signal points contained in the hatching areas of Fig.39. Accordingly, the carrier wave of a 16 or 64 QAM signal can be reproduced with the 4 PSK demodulator of the first receiver 23.

The reproduction of a carrier wave by 16x frequency multiplication will be explained. The transmitter 1 shown in Fig.1 is arranged to modulate and transmit a modified 16 QAM signal with assignment of its signal points at n1t/8 phase as shown in Fig.46. At the first receiver 23 shown in Fig.19, the carrier wave can be reproduced with its COSTAS carrier reproduction controller circuit containing a 16x multiplier circuit 661 shown in Fig.48. The signal points at each n1t/8 phase shown in Fig.46 are processed at the first quadrant by the action of the 16x multiplier circuit 661, whereby the carrier will be reproduced by the combination of a loop filter 546 and a VCO 541. Also, the absolute phase may be determined from 16 different phases by assigning a unique word to the sync region.

The arrangement of the 16x multiplier circuit will be explained referring to Fig.48. A sum signal and a difference signal are produced from the demodulated signal by an adder circuit 662 and a subtracter circuit 663 respectively and then, multiplied each other by a multiplier 664 to a cos 20 signal. Also, a multiplier665 produces a sin 20 signal. The two signals are then multiplied by a multiplier 666 to a sin 40 signal.

Similarly, a sin 80 signal is produced from the two, sin 20 and cos 20, signals by the combination of an adder circuit 667, a subtracter circuit 668, and a multiplier 670. Furthermore, a sin 160 signal is produced by the combination of an adder circuit 671, a subtracter circuit 672, and a multiplier 673. Then, the 16x multiplication is completed.

Through the foregoing 16x multiplication, the carrier wave of all the signal points of the modified 16 QAM signal shown in Fig.46 will successfully be reproduced without extracting particular signal points.

However, reproduction of the carrier wave of the modified 64 QAM signal shown in Fig.47 can involve an increase in the error rate due to dislocation of some signal points from the sync areas 471.

Two techniques are known for compensation for the consequences. One is inhibiting transmission of the signal points dislocated from the sync areas. This causes the total amount of transmitted data to be reduced but allows the arrangement to be facilitated. The other is providing the sync time slots as described in Fig.38. In more particular, the signal points in the n1t/8 sync phase areas, e.g. 471 and 471a, are transmitted during the period of the corresponding sync time slots in the time slot group 451. This triggers an accurate synchronizing action during the period thus minimizing phase error.

As now understood, the 16x multiplication allows the simple 4 PSK receiver to reproduce the carrier wave of a modified 16 or 64 QAM signal. Also, the insertion of the sync time slots causes the phasic accuracy to be increased during the reproduction of carrier waves from a modified 64 QAM signal.

As set forth above, the signal transmission system of the present invention is capable of transmitting a plurality of data on a single carrier wave simultaneously in the multiple signal level arrangement.

More specifically, three different level receivers which have discrete characteristics of signal intercepting sensitivity and demodulating capability are provided in relation to one single transmitter so that any one of them can be selected depending on a wanted data size to be demodulated which is proportional to the price. When the first receiver of low resolution quality and low price is acquired together with a small antenna, its owner can intercept and reproduce the first data stream of a transmission signal. When the second receiver of medium resolution quality and medium price is acquired together with a medium antenna, its owner can intercept and reproduce both the first and second data streams of the signal. When the third receiver of high resolution quality and high price is acquired with a large antenna, its owner can intercept and reproduce all the first, second, and third data streams of the signal.

If the first receiver is a home-use digital satellite broadcast receiver of low price, it will overwhelmingly be welcome by a majority of viewers. The second receiver accompanied with the medium antenna costs more and will be accepted by not common viewers but particular people who wants to enjoy HDTV services. The third receiver accompanied with the large antenna at least before the satellite output is increased, is not appropriated for home use and will possibly be used in relevant industries. For example, the third data stream carrying super HDTV signals is transmitted via a satellite to subscriber cinemas which can thus play video tapes rather than traditional movie films and run movie business at lower cost.

When the present invention is applied to a TV signal transmission service, three different quality pictures are carried on one single channel wave and will offer compatibility with each other. Although the first embodiment refers to a 4 PSK, a modified 8 QAM, a modified 16 QAM, and a modified 64 QAM signal, other signals will also be employed with equal success including a 32 QAM, a 256 QAM, an 8 PSK, a 16 PSK, a 32 PSK signal. It would be understood that the present invention is not limited to a satellite Transmission system and will be applied to a terrestrial communications system or a cable transmission system.

Embodiment 2

A second embodiment of the present invention is featured in which the physical multi-level arrangement of the first embodiment is divided into small sub levels through e.g. discrimination in error correction capability, thus forming a logic multi-level construction. In the first embodiment, each multi-level channel has different levels in the electric signal amplitude or physical demodulating capability. The second embodiment offers different levels in the logic reproduction capability such as error correction. For example, the data D₁ in a multi-level channel is divided into two, D_1-1 and D_1-2, components and D_1-1 is more increased in the error correction capability than D_1-2 for discrimination. Accordingly, as the error detection and correction capability is different between D_1-1 and D_1-2 at demodulation, D_1-1 can successfully be reproduced within a given error rate when the C/N level of an original transmitting signal is as low as disenabling the reproduction of D_1-2. This will be implemented using the logic multi-level arrangement.

More specifically, the logic multi-level arrangement is consisted of dividing data of a modulated multi-level channel and discriminating distances between error correction codes by mixing error correction codes with product codes for varying error correction capability. Hence, a more multi-level signal-can be transmitted.

In fact, a D₁ channel is divided into two sub channels D_1-1 and D_1-2 and a D₂ channel is divided into two sub channels D_2-1 and D_2-2.

This will be explained in more detail referring to Fig.87 in which D_1-1 is reproduced from a lowest C/N signal. If the C/N rate is d at minimum, three components D_1-2, D_2-1, and D_2-2 cannot be reproduced while D_1-1 is reproduced. If C/N is not less than c, D_1-2 can also be reproduced. Equally, when C/N is b, D_2-1 is reproduced and when C/N is a, D₂-₂ is reproduced. As the C/N rate increases, the reproducible signal levels are increased in number. The lower the C/N, the fewer the reproducible signal levels. This will be explained in the form of relation between transmitting distance and reproducible C/N value referring to Fig.86. In common, the C/N value of a received signal is decreased in proportion to the distance of transmission as expressed by the real line 861 in Fig.86. It is now assumed that the distance from a transmitter antenna to a receiver antenna is La when C/N=a, Lb when C/N=b, Lc when C/N=c, Ld when C/N=d, and Le when C/N=e. If the distance from the transmitter antenna is greater than Ld, D_1-1 can be reproduced as shown in Fig.85 where the receivable area 862 is denoted by the hatching. In other words, D_1-1 can be reproduced within a most extended area. Similarly, D_1-2 can be reproduced in an area 863 when the distance is not more than Lc. In this area 863 containing the area 862, D_1-1 can with no doubt be reproduced. In a smaller area 854, D_2-1 can be reproduced and in a smallest area 865, D_2-2- can be reproduced. As understood, the different data levels of a channel can be reproduced corresponding to degrees of declination in the C/N rate. The logic multi-level arrangement of the signal transmission system of the present invention can provide the same effect as of a traditional analog transmission system in which the amount of receivable data is gradually lowered as the C/N rate decreases.

The construction of the logic multi-level arrangement will be described in which there are provided two physical levels and two logic levels. Fig.87 is a block diagram of a transmitter 1 which is substantially identical in construction to that shown in Fig.2 and described previously in the first embodiment and will no further be explained in detail. The only difference is that error correction code encoders are added as abbreviated to ECC encoders. The divider circuit 3 has four outputs 1-1, 1-2, 2-1, and 2-2 through which four signals D_1-1, D_1-2, D_2-1' and D₂-₂ divided from an input signal are delivered. The two signals D_1-1 and D_1-2 are fed to two, main and sub, ECC encoders 872a,873a of a first ECC encoder 871 a respectively for converting to error correction code forms.

The main ECC encoder 872a has a higher error correction capability than that of the sub ECC encoder 873a. Hence, D_1-1 can be reproduced at a lower rate of C/N than D_1-2 as apparent from the CN-level diagram of Fig.85. More particularly, the logic level of D_1-1 is less affected by declination of the C/N than that of D_1-2. After error correction code encoding, D_1-1 and D_1-2 are summed by a summer 874a to a D₁ signal which is then transferred to the modulator 4. The other two signals D_2-1 and D_2-2 of the divider circuit 3 are error correction encoded by two, main and sub, ECC encoders 872b,873b of a second ECC encoder 871 respectively and then, summed by a summer 874b to a D₂ signal which is transferred to the modulator4. The main ECC encoder 872b is higher in the error correction capability than the sub ECC encoder 873b. The modulator 4 in turn produces from the two, D₁ and D₂, input signals a multi-level modulated signal which is further transmitted from the transmitter unit 5. As understood, the output signal from the transmitter 1 has two physical levels D₁ and D₂ and also, four logic levels D_1-1, D_1-2, D_2-1, and D₂-₂ based on the two physical levels for providing different error correction capabilities.

The reception of such a multi-level signal will be explained. Fig.88 is a block diagram of a second receiver 33 which is almost identical in construction to that shown in Fig.21 and described in the first embodiment. The second receiver 33 arranged for intercepting multi-level signals from the transmitter 1 shown in Fig.87 further comprises a first 876a and a second ECC decoder 876b, in which the demodulation of QAM, or any of ASK, PSK, and FSK if desired, is executed.

As shown in Fig.88, a received signal is demodulated by the demodulator 35 to the two, D₁ and D₂, signals which are then fed to two dividers 3a and 3b respectively where they are divided into four logic levels D_1-1, D_1-2, D_2-1, and D₂-₂. The four signals are transferred to the first 876a and the second ECC decoder 876b in which D_1-1 is error corrected by a main ECC decoder 877a, D_1-2 by a sub ECC decoder 878a, D_2-1 by a main ECC decoder 877b, and D_2-2 by a sub ECC decoder 878b before all sent to the summer 37. At the summer 37, the four, D_1-1, D_1-2, D_2-1, and D₂-₂, error corrected signals are summed to a single signal which is then delivered from the output unit 36.

Since D_1-1 and D_2-1 are higher in the error correction capability than D_1-2 and D_2-2 respectively, the error rate remains less than a given value although C/N is fairly low as shown in Fig.85 and thus, an original signal will be reproduced successfully.

The action of discriminating the error correction capability between the main ECC decoders 877a,877b and the sub ECC decoders 878a,878b will now be described in mode detail. It is a good idea for having a difference in the error correction capability to use in the sub ECC decodera common coding technique, e.g. Reed-Solomon or BCH method, having a standard code distance and in the main ECC decoder, another encoding technique in which the distance between error correction codes is increased using Reed-Solomon codes, their product codes, or other long-length codes. A variety of known techniques for increasing the error correction code distance have been introduced and will no more explained. The present invention can be associated with any known technique for having the logic multi-level arrangement.

The logic multi-level arrangement will be explained in conjunction with a diagram of Fig.89 showing the relation between C/N and error rate after error correction. As shown, the straight line 881 represents D_1-1 at the C/N and error rate relation and the line 882 represents D_1-2 at the same.

As the C/N rate of an input signal decreases, the error rate increases after error correction. If C/N is lower than a given value, the error rate exceeds a reference value Eth determined by the system design standards and no original data will normally be reconstructed. When C/N is lowered to less than e, the D₁ signal fails to be reproduced as expressed by the line 881 of D_1-1 in Fig.89. When e≦C/N&lt;d, D_1-1 of the D₁ signal exhibits a higher error rate than Eth and will not be reproduced.

When C/N is d at the point 885d, D_1-1 having a higher error correction capability than D_1-2 becomes not higher in the error rate than Eth and can be reproduced. At the time, the error rate of D_1-2 remains higher than Eth after error correction and will no longer be reproduced.

When C/N is increased up to c at the point 885c, D_1-2 becomes not higher in the error rate than Eth and can be reproduced. At the time, D_2-1 and D₂-₂ remain in no demodulation state. After the C/N rate is increased further to b', the D₂ signal becomes ready to be demodulated.

When C/N is increased to b at the point 885b, D_2-1 of the D₂ signal becomes not higher in the error rate than Eth and can be reproduced. At the time, the error rate of D_2-2 remains higher than Eth and will not be reproduced. When C/N is increased up to a at the point 885a, D_2-2 becomes not higher than Eth and can be reproduced.

As described above, the fourdifferent signal logic levels divided from two, D₁ and D₂, physical levels through discrimination of the error correction capability between the levels, can be transmitted simultaneously.

Using the logic multi-level arrangement of the present invention in accompany with a multi-level construction in which at least a part of the original signal is reproduced even if data in a higher level is lost, digital signal transmission will successfully be executed without losing the advantageous effect of an analog signal transmission in which transmitting data is gradually decreased as the C/N rate becomes low.

Thanking to up-to-date image data compression techniques, compressed image data can be transmitted in the logic multi-level arrangement for enabling a receiver station to reproduce a higher quality image than that of an analog system and also, with not sharply but at steps declining the signal level for ensuring signal interception in a wider area. The present invention can provide an extra effect of the multi-layer arrangement which is hardly implemented by a known digital signal transmission system without deteriorating high quality image data.

Embodiment 3

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to the relevant drawings.

Fig.29 is a schematic total view illustrating the third embodiment in the form of a digital TV broadcasting system. An input video signal 402 of super high resolution TV image is fed to an input unit 403 of a first video encoder 401. then, the signal is divided by a divider circuit 404 into three, first, second, and third, data streams which are transmitted to a compressing circuit 405 for data compression before further delivered.

Equally, other three input video signals 406,407, and 408 are fed to a second 409, a third 410, and a fourth video encoder 411 respectively which all are arranged identical in construction to the first video encoder 401 for data compression.

The four first data streams from their respective encoders 401,409,410,411 are transferred to a first multiplexer413 of a multiplexer412 where they are time multiplexed by TDM process to a first data stream multiplex signal which is fed to a transmitter 1.

A part or all of the four second data streams from their respective encoders 401,409,410,411 are transferred to a second multiplexer 414 of the multiplexer 412 where they are time multiplexed to a second data stream multiplex signal which is then fed to the transmitter 1. Also, a part or all the four third data streams are transferred to a third multiplexer 415 where they are time multiplexed to a third data stream multiplex signal which is then fed to the transmitter 1.

The transmitter 1 performs modulation of the three data stream signals with its modulator 4 by the same manner as described in the first embodiment. The modulated signals are sent from a transmitter unit 5 through an antenna 6 and an uplink 7 to a transponder 12 of a satellite 10 which in turn transmits it to three different receivers including a first receiver 23.

The modulated signal transmitted through a downlink 21 is intercepted by a small antenna 22 having a radius r₁ and fed to a first data stream reproducing unit 232 of the first receiver 23 where its first data stream only is demodulated. The demodulated first data stream is then converted by a first video decoder 421 to a traditional 425 or wide-picture NTSC or video output signal 426 of low image resolution.

Also, the modulated signal transmitted through a downlink 31 is intercepted by a medium antenna 32 having a radius r₂ and fed to a first 232 and a second data stream reproducing unit 233 of a second receiver 33 where its first and second data streams are demodulated respectively. The demodulated first and second data streams are then summed and converted by a second video decoder 422 to an HDTV or video output signal 427 of high image resolution and/or to the video output signals 425 and 426.

Also, the modulated signal transmitted through a downlink 41 is intercepted by a large antenna 42 having a radius r3 and fed to a first 232, a second 233, and a third data stream reproducing unit 234 of a third receiver 43 where its first, second, and third data streams are demodulated respectively. The demodulated first, second, and third data streams are then summed and converted by a third video decoder 423 to a super HDTV or video output signal 428 of super high resolution for use in a video theater or cinema. The video output signals 425, 426, and 427 can also be reproduced if desired. A common digital TV signal is transmitted from a conventional digital transmitter 51 and when intercepted by the first receiver 23, will be converted to the video output signal 426 such as a low resolution NTSC TV signal.

The first video encoder 401 will now be explained in more detail referring to the block diagram of Fig.30. An input video signal of super high resolution is fed through the input unit 403 to the divider circuit 404 where it is divided into four components by sub-band coding process. In more particular, the input video signal is separated through passing a horizontal lowpass filter 451 and a horizontal highpass filter 452 of e.g. QMF mode to two, low and high, horizontal frequency components which are then subsampled to a half of their quantities by two subsamplers 453 and 454 respectively. The low horizontal component is filtered by a vertical lowpass filter 455 and a vertical highpass filter 456 to a low horizontal low vertical component or H_LV_L signal and a low horizontal high vertical component or H_LV_H signal respectively. The two, H_LV_L and H_LV_H, signals are then subsampled to a half by two subsampler 457 and 458 respectively and transferred to the compressing circuit 405.

The high horizontal component is filtered by a vertical lowpass filter 459 and a vertical highpass filter 460 to a high horizontal low vertical component or H_HV_L signal and a high horizontal high vertical component or H_HV_H signal respectively. The two, H_HV_L and H_HV_H, signals are then subsampled to a half by two subsampler 461 and 462 respectively and transferred to the compressing circuit 405.

H_LV_L signal is preferably DCT compressed by a first compressor 471 of the compressing circuit 405 and transmitted from a first output 405 as the first data stream.

Also, H_LV_H signal is compressed by a second compressor 473 and fed to a second output 464. H_HV_L signal is compressed by a third compressor 463 and fed to the second output 464. H_HV_H signal is divided by a divider 465 into two, high resolution (H_HV_H1) and super high resolution (H_HV_H2), video signals which are then transferred to the second output 464 and a third output 468 respectively.

The first video decoder 421 will now be explained in more detail referring to Fig.31. The first data stream or D₁ signal of the first receiver 23 is fed through an input unit 501 to a descrambler 502 of the first video decoder 421 where it is descrambled. The descrambled D₁ signal is expanded by an expander 503 to H_LV_L which is then fed to an aspect ratio changing circuit 504. Thus, H_LV_L signal can be delivered through an output unit 505 as a standard 500, letterbox format 507, wide-screen 508, or sidepanel format NTSC signal 509. The scanning format may be of non-interlace or interlace type and its NTSC mode lines may be 525 or doubled to 1050 by double tracing. When the received signal from the digital transmitter 51 is a digital TV signal of 4 PSK mode, it can also be converted by the first receiver 23 and the first video decoder 421 to a TV picture. The second video decoder 422 will be explained in more detail referring to the block diagram of Fig.32. The D₁ signal of the second receiver 33 is fed through a first input 521 to a first expander 522 for data expansion and then, transferred to an oversampler 523 where it is sampled at 2x. The oversampled signal is filtered by a vertical lowpass filter 524 to H_LV_L. Also, the D₂ signal of the second receiver 33 is fed through a second input 530 to a divider 531 where it is divided into three components which are then transferred to a second 532, a third 533, and a fourth expander 534 respectively for data expansion. The three expanded components are sampled at 2x by three oversamplers 535,536,537 and filtered by a vertical highpass 538, a vertical lowpass 539, and a vertical highpass filter 540 respectively. Then, H_LV_L from the vertical lowpass filter 524 and H_LV_H from the vertical highpass filter 538 are summed by an adder 525, sampled by an oversampler 541, and filtered by horizontal lowpass filter 542 to a low frequency horizontal video signal. H_HV_L from the vertical lowpass filter 539 and H_HV_H1 from the vertical highpass filter 540 are summed by an adder 526, sampled by an oversampler 544, and filtered by horizontal highpass filter 545 to a high frequency horizontal video signal. The two, high and low frequency, horizontal video signal are then summed by an adder 543 to a high resolution video signal HD which is further transmitted through an output unit 546 as a video output 547 of e.g. HDTV format. If desired, a traditional NTSC video output can be reconstructed with equal success.

Fig.33 is a block diagram of the third video decoder 423 in which the D₁ and D₂ signals are fed through a first 521 and a second input 530 respectively to a high frequency band video decoder circuit 527 where they are converted to an HD signal by the same manner as above described. The D₃ signal is fed through a third input 551 to a super high frequency band video decoder circuit 552 where it is expanded, descrambled, and composed to H_HV_H2 signal. The HD signal of the high frequency band video decoder circuit 527 and the H_HV_H2 signal of the super high frequency band video decoder circuit 552 are summed by a summer 553 to a super high resolution TV or S-HD signal which is then delivered through an output unit 554 as a super resolution video output 555.

The action of multiplexing in the multiplexer 412 shown in Fig.29 will be explained in more detail. Fig.34 illustrates a data assignment in which the three, first, second, and third, data streams D₁,D₂,D₃ contain in a period of T six NTSC channel data L1,L2,L3,L4,L5,L6, six HDTV channel data M1,M2,M3,M4,M5,M6 and six S-HDTV channel data H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 respectively. In action, the NTSC or D₁ signal data L1 to L6 are time multiplexed by TDM process during the period T. More particularly, H_LV_L of D₁ is assigned to a domain 601 for the first channel. Then; a difference data M1 between HDTV and NTSC or a sum of H_LV_H, H_HV_L, and H_HV_H1 is assigned to a domain 602 for the first channel. Also, a difference data H1 between HDTV and super HDTV or H_HV_H2 (See Fig.30) is assigned to a domain 603 for the first channel.

The selection of the first channel TV signal will now be described. When intercepted by the first receiver 23 with a small antenna coupled to the first video decoder 21, the first channel signal is converted to a standard orwidescreen NTSC TV signal as shown in Fig.31. When intercepted by the second receiver 33 with a medium antenna coupled to the second video decoder422, the signal is converted by summing L1 of the first data stream D₁ assigned to the domain 601 and M1 of the second data stream D₂ assigned to the domain 602 to an HDTV signal of the first channel equivalent in program to the NTSC signal.

When intercepted by the third receiver 43 with a large antenna coupled to the third video decoder 423, the signal is converted by summing L1 of D₁ assigned to the domain 601, M1 of D₂ assigned to the domain 602, and H1 of D₃ assigned to the domain 603 to a super HDTV signal of the first channel equivalent in program to the NTSC signal. The other channel signals can be reproduced in an equal manner.

Fig.35 shows another data assignment in which L1 of a first channel NTSC signal is assigned to a first domain 601. The domain 601 which is allocated at the front end of the first data stream D₁, also contains at front a data S11 including a descrambling data and the demodulation data described in the first embodiment. A first channel HDTV signal is transmitted as L1 and M1. M1 which is thus a difference data between NTSC and HDTV is assigned to two domains 602 and 611 of D₂. If L1 is a compressed NTSC component of 6 Mbps, M1 is as two times higher as 12 Mbps. Hence, the total of L1 and M1 can be demodulated at 18 Mbps with the second receiver 33 and the second video decoder423. According to current data compression techniques, HDTV compressed signals can be reproduced at about 15 Mbps. This allows the data assignment shown in Fig.35 to enable simultaneous reproduction of an NTSC and an HDTV first channel signal. However, this assignment allows no second channel HDTV signal to be carried. S21 is a descrambling data in the HDTV signal. A first channel super HDTV signal component comprises L1, M1, and H1. The difference data H1 is assigned to three domains 603,, 612, and 613 of D₃. If the NTSC signal is 6 Mbps, the super HDTV is carried at as high as 36 Mbps. When a compression rate is increased, super HDTV video data of about 2000 scanning line for reproduction of a cinema size picture for commercial use can be transmitted with an equal manner.

Fig.36 shows a further data assignment in which H1 of a super HDTV signal is assigned to six time domains. If a NTSC compressed signal is 6 Mbps, this assignment can carry as nine times higher as 54 Mbps of D₃ data. Accordingly, super HDTV data of higher picture quality can be transmitted.

The foregoing data assignment makes the use of one of two, horizontal and vertical, polarization planes of a transmission wave. When both the horizontal and vertical polarization planes are used, the frequency utilization will be doubled. This will be explained below.

Fig.49 shows a data assignment in which D_V1 and D_H1 are a vertical and a horizontal polarization signal of the first data stream respectively, D_v2 and D_H2 are a vertical and a horizontal polarization signal of the second data stream respectively, and D_v3 and D_H3 are a vertical and a horizontal polarization signal of the third data stream respectively. The vertical polarization signal D_V1 of the first data stream carries a low frequency band or NTSC TV data and the horizontal polarization signal D_H1 carries a high frequency band or HDTV data. When the first receiver 23 is equipped with a vertical polarization antenna, it can reproduce only the NTSC signal. When the first receiver 23 is equipped with an antenna for both horizontally and vertically polarized waves, it can reproduce the HDTV signal through summing L1 and M1. More specifically, the first receiver23 can provide compatibility between NTSC and HDTV with the use of a particular type antenna.

Fig.50 illustrates a TDMA method in which each data burst 721 is accompanied at front a sync data 731 and a card data 471. Also, a frame sync data 720 is provided at the front of a frame. Like channels are assigned to like time slots. For example, a first time slot 750 carries NTSC, HDTV, and super HDTV data of the first channel simultaneously. The six time slots 750,750a,750b,750c,750d,750e are arranged independent from each other. Hence, each station can offer NTSC, HDTV, and/or super HDTV services independently of the other stations through selecting a particular channel of the time slots. Also, the first receiver 23 can reproduce an NTSC signal when equipped with a horizontal polarization antenna and both NTSC and HDTV signals when equipped with a compatible polarization antenna. In this respect, the second receiver 33 can reproduce a super HDTV at lower resolution while the third receiver 43 can reproduce a full super HDTV signal. According to the third embodiment, a compatible signal transmission system will be constructed. It is understood that the data assignment is not limited to the burst mode TDMA method shown in Fig.50 and another method such as time division multiplexing of continuous signals as shown in Fig.49 will be employed with equal success. Also, a data assignment shown in Fig.51 will permit a HDTV signal to be reproduced at high resolution.

As set forth above, the compatible digital TV signal transmission system of the third embodiment can offer three, super HDTV, HDTV, and conventional NTSC, TV broadcast services simultaneously. In addition, a video signal intercepted by a commercial station or cinema can be electronized.

The modified QAM of the embodiments is now termed as SRQAM and its error rate will be examined.

First, the error rate in 16 SRQAM will be calculated. Fig.99 shows a vector diagram of 16 SRQAM signal points. As apparent from the first quadrant, the 16 signal points of standard 16 QAM including 83a,83b,84a,83a are allocated at equal intervals of 28.

The signal point 83a is spaced δ from both the I-axis and the Q-axis of the coordinate. It is now assumed that n is a shift value of the 16 SRQAM. In 16 SRQAM, the signal point 83a of 16 QAM is shifted to a signal point 83 where the distance from each axis is n8. The shift value n is thus expressed as:<maths id="math0013" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0013.tif" /></maths>

The other signal points 84a and 86a are also shifted to two points 84 and 86 respectively.

If the error rate of the first data stream is Pe₁, it is obtained from:<maths id="math0014" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0014.tif" /></maths>

Also, the error rate Pe2 of the second data stream is obtained from:<maths id="math0015" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0015.tif" /></maths>

The error rate of 36 or 32 SRQAM will be calculated. Fig.100 is a vector diagram of a 36 SRQAM signal in which the distance between any two 36 QAM signal points is 28.

The signal point 83a of 36 QAM is spaced δ from each axis of the coordinate. It is now assumed that n is a shift value of the 16 SRQAM. In 36 SRQAM, the signal point 83a is shifted to a signal point 83 where the distance from each axis is n8. Similarly, the nine 36 QAM signal points in the first quadrant are shifted to points 83,84,85,86, 97,98,99,100,101 respectively. If a signal point group 90 comprising the nine signal points is regarded as a single signal point, the error rate Pe₁ in reproduction of only the first data stream D₁ with a modified 4 PSK receiver and the error rate Pe2 in reproduction of the second data stream D₂ after discriminating the nine signal points of the group 90 from each other, are obtained respectively from:<maths id="math0016" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0016.tif" /></maths><maths id="math0017" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0017.tif" /></maths>

Fig.101 shows the relation between error rate Pe and C/N rate in transmission in which the curve 900 represents a conventional or not modified 32 QAM signal. The straight line 905 represents a signal having 10-^1.5 of the error rate. The curve 901a represents a D₁ level 32 SRQAM signal of the present invention at the shift rate n of 1.5. As shown, the C/N rate of the 32 SRQAM signal is 5 dB lower at the error rate of 10-^1.5 than that of the conventional 32 QAM. This means that the present invention allows a D₁ signal to be reproduced at a given error rate when its C/N rate is relatively low.

The curve 902a represents a D₂ level SRQAM signal at n=1.5 which can be reproduced at the error rate of 10^-1.5 only when its C/N rate is 2.5 dB higher than that of the conventional 32 QAM of the curve 900. Also, the curves 901 b and 902b represent D₁ and D₂ SRQAM signals at n=2.0 respectively. The curve 902c represents a D₂ SRQAM signal at n=2.5. It is apparent that the C/N rate of the SRQAM signal at the error rate of 10-^1.5 is 5dB, 8dB, and 10dB higher at n=1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 respectively in the D₁ level and 2.5dB lower in the D₂ level than that of a common 32 QAM signal.

Shown in Fig.103 is the C/N rate of the first and second data streams D₁,D₂ of a 32 SRQAM signal which is needed for maintaining a constant error rate against variation of the shift n. As apparent, when the shift n is more than 0.8, there is developed a clear difference between two C/N rates of their respective D₁ and D₂levels so that the multi-level signal, namely first and second data, transmission can be implemented successfully. In brief, n&gt;0.85 is essential for multi-level data transmission of the 32 SRQAM signal of the present invention.

Fig.102 shows the relation between the C/N rate and the error rate for 16 SRQAM signals. The curve 900 represents a common 16 QAM signal. The curves 901 a,901 b,901 care D₁ level or first data stream 16 SRQAM signals at n=1.2, 1.5, and 1.8 respectively. The curves 902a,902b,902c are D₂ level or second data stream 16 SRQAM signals at n=1.2, 1.5, and 1.8 respectively.

The C/N rate of the first and second data streams D₁,D₂ of a 16 SRQAM signal is shown in Fig.104, which is needed for maintaining a constant error rate against variation of the shift n. As apparent, when the shift n is more than 0.9 (n&gt;0.9), the multi-level data transmission of the 16 SRQAM signal will be executed.

One example of propagation of SRQAM signals of the present invention will now be described for use with a digital TV terrestrial broadcast service. Fig.1 05 shows the relation between the signal level and the distance between a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna in the terrestrial broadcast service. The curve 911 represents a transmitted signal from the transmitter antenna of 1250 feet high. It is assumed that the error rate essential for reproduction of an applicable digital TV signal is 10-1.5. The hatching area 912 represents a noise interruption. The point 910 represents a signal reception limit of a conventional 32 QAM signal at C/N=15 dB where the distance L is 60 miles and a digital HDTV signal can be intercepted at minimum. If a change in the relevant condition, e.g. weather, attenuates the C/N rate, the interception of an HDTV signal will hardly be ensured. Also, geographical conditions largely affect the propagation of signals and a decrease of about 10 dB at least will be unavoidable. Hence, successful signal interception within 60 miles will never be guaranteed and above all, a digital signal will be propagated harder than an analog signal. It would be understood that the service area of a conventional digital TV broadcast service is less dependable.

As described previously, the 32 SRQAM signal of the present invention permits a medium resolution TV data of e.g. NTSC system to be carried on the first data stream D₁ and a high frequency component of HDTV data to be carried on the second data stream D₂. Accordingly, the service area of the first data stream of the SRQAM signal is increased to a 70 mile point 910a while of the second data stream remains within a 55 mile point 910b, as shown in Fig.105. Fig.106 illustrates the service area of the 32 SRQAM signal of the present invention, which is similar to Fig.53 but explains in more detail. As shown, the regions 708,703a,703b,712 represent a conventional 32 QAM receivable area, a first data level D₁ receivable area, a second data level D₂ receivable area, and a service area of a neighbor analog TV station respectively.

For common 32 QAM signal, the 60-mile-radius service area can be established theoretically. The signal level will however be attenuated by geographical or weather conditions and particularly, considerably declined at near the limit of the service area.

The service area of the 32 SRQAM signal of the present invention is increased by 10 miles in radius for reception of the first level D₁ or medium frequency TV data of NTSC system although decreased by 5 miles for reception of the second level D₂ or high frequency TV data of HDTV system, as shown in Fig.106.

More particularly, the medium resolution component of a digital TV broadcast signal of the SRQAM mode of the present invention can successfully be intercepted in an unfavorable service region or shadow area where a conventional medium frequency band TV signal is hardly propagated and attenuated due to obstacles. Within at least the predetermined service area, the NTSC TV signal of the SRQAM mode can be intercepted by any traditional TV receiver. As the shadow or signal attenuating area developed by building structures and other obstacles or by interference of a neighbor analog TV signal or produced in a low land is decreased to a minimum, TV viewers or subscribers will be increased in number.

Also, the HDTV service can be appreciated by only a few viewers who afford to have a set of high cost HDTV receiver and display, according to the conventional system. The system of the present invention allows a traditional NTSC, PAL, or SECAM receiver to intercept a medium resolution component of the digital HDTV signal with the use of an additional digital tuner. A majority of TV viewers can hence enjoy the service at less cost and will be increased in number. This will encourage the TV broadcast business and create an extra social benefit.

Furthermore, the signal receivable area for medium resolution or NTSC TV service according to the present invention is increased about 36% at n=2.5, as compared with the conventional system. As the service area thus the numberofTVviewers is increased, the TV broadcast business enjoys an increasing profit. This reduces a risk in the development of a new digital TV business which will thus be encouraged to put into practice.

Fig.107 shows the service area of a 32 SRQAM signal of the present invention in which the same effect will be ensured at n=1.8. Two service areas 703a,703b of D₁ and D₂ signals respectively can be determined in extension for optimum signal propagation by varying the shift n considering a profile of HDTV and NTSC receiver distribution or geographical features. Accordingly, TV viewers will satisfy the service and a supplier station will enjoy a maximum of viewers.

This advantage is given when:<maths id="math0018" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0018.tif" /></maths>

Hence, if the 32 SRQAM signal is selected, the shift n is determined by:<maths id="math0019" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0019.tif" /></maths>

Also, if the 16 SRQAM signal is employed, n is determined by:<maths id="math0020" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0020.tif" /></maths>

In the SRQAM mode signal terrestrial broadcast service in which the first and second data levels are created by shifting corresponding signal points as shown in Figs.99 and 100, the advantage of the present invention will be given when the shift n in a 16, 32, or 64 SRQAM signal is more than 1.0.

Embodiment 4

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to the relevant drawings.

Fig.37 illustrates the entire arrangement of a signal transmission system of the fourth embodiment, which is arranged for terrestrial service and similar in both construction and action to that of the third embodiment shown in Fig.29. The difference is that the transmitter antenna 6 is replaced with a terrestrial antenna 6a and the receiver antennas 22,32,42 are replaced with also three terrestrial antennas 22a,32a,42a. The action of the system is identical to that of the third embodiment and will no more be explained. The terrestrial broadcast service unlike a satellite service depends much on the distance between the transmitter antenna 6a to the receiver antenna 22a,32a,42a. If a receiver is located far from the transmitter, the level of a received signal is low. Particularly, a common multi-level QAM signal can hardly be demodulated by the receiver which thus reproduces no TV program.

The signal transmission system of the present invention allows the first receiver23 equipped with the antenna 22a, which is located at a far distance as shown in Fig.37, to intercept a modified 16 or 64 QAM signal and demodulate at 4 PSK mode the first data stream or D₁ component of the received signal to an NTSC video signal so that a TV program picture of medium resolution can be displayed even if the level of the received signal is relatively low.

Also, the second receiver 33 with the antenna 32a is located at a medium distance from the antenna 6a and can thus intercept and demodulate both the first and second data streams or D₁ and D₂ components of the modified 16 or 64 QAM signal to an HDTV video signal which in turn produces an HDTV program picture.

The third receiver 43 with the antenna 42a is located at a near distance and can intercept and demodulate the first, second, and third data streams or D_1' D₂, and D₃ components of the modified 16 or 64 QAM signal to a super HDTV video signal which in turn produces a super HDTV picture equal in quality to a common movie picture.

The assignment of frequencies is determined by the same manner as of the time division multiplexing shown in Figs.34, 35, and 36. Like Fig.34, when the frequencies are assigned to first to sixth channels, L1 of the D₁ component carries an NTSC data of the first channel, M1 of the D₂ component carries an HDTV difference data of the first channel, and H1 of the D₃ component carries a super HDTV difference data of the first channel. Accordingly, NTSC, HDTV, and super HDTV data all can be carried on the same channel. If D₂ and D₃ of the other channels are utilized as shown in Figs.35 and 36, more data of HDTV and super HDTV respectively can be transmitted for higher resolution display.

As understood, the system allows three different but compatible digital TV signals to be carried on a single channel or using D₂and D₃ regions of the other channels. Also, the medium resolution TV picture data of each channel can be intercepted in a wider service area according to the present invention.

A variety of terrestrial digital TV broadcast systems employing a 16 QAM HDTV signal of 6 MHz bandwidth have been proposed. Those are however not compatible with the existing NTSC system and thus, have to be associated with a simulcast technique for transmitting NTSC signals of the same program on another channel. Also, such a common 16 QAM signal limits a service area. The terrestrial service system of the present invention allows a receiver located at a relatively far distance to intercept successfully a medium resolution TV signal with no use of an additional device nor an extra channel.

Fig.52 shows an interference region of the service area 702 of a conventional terrestrial digital HDTV broadcast station 701. As shown, the service area 702 of the conventional HDTV station 701 is intersected with the service area 712 of a neighbor analog TV station 711. At the intersecting region 713, an HDTV signal is attenuated by signal interference from the analog TV station 711 and will thus be intercepted with less consistency.

Fig.53 shows an interference region associated with the multi-level signal transmission system of the present invention. The system is low in the energy utilization as compared with a conventional system and its service area 703 for HDTV signal propagation is smaller than the area 702 of the conventional system. In contrary, the service area 704 for digital NTSC or medium resolution TV signal propagation is larger than the conventional area 702. The level of signal interference from a digital TV station 701 of the system to a neighbor analog TV station 711 is equivalent to that from a conventional digital TV station, such as shown in Fig.52.

In the service area of the digital TV station 701, there are three interference regions developed by signal interference from the analog TV station 711. Both HDTV and NTSC signals can hardly be intercepted in the first region 705. Although fairly interfered, an NTSC signal may be intercepted at en equal level in the second region 706 denoted by the left down hatching. The NTSC signal is carried on the first data stream which can be reproduced at a relatively low C/N rate and will thus be minimum affected when the C/N rate is declined by signal interference from the analog TV station 711.

At the third region 707 denoted by the right down hatching, an HDTV signal can also be intercepted when signal interference is absent while the NTSC signal can constantly be intercepted at a level.

Accordingly, the overall signal receivable area of the system will be increased although the service area of HDTV signals becomes a bit smaller than that of the conventional system. Also, at the signal attenuating regions produced by interference from a neighbor analog TV station, NTSC level signals of an HDTV program can successfully be intercepted as compared with the conventional system where no HDTV program is viewed in the same area. The system of the present invention much reduces the size of signal attenuating areas and when increases the energy of signal transmission at a transmitter or transponder station, can extend the HDTV signal service area to an equal size to the conventional system. Also, NTSC level signals of a TV program can be intercepted more or less in a far distant area where no service is given by the conventional system or a signal interference area caused by an adjacent analog TV station.

Although the embodiment employs a two-level signal transmission method, a three-level method such as shown in Fig.78 will be used with equal success. If an HDTV signal is divided into three picture levels-HDTV, NTSC, and low resolution NTSC, the service area shown in Fig.53 will be increased from two levels to three levels where the signal propagation is extended radially and outwardly. Also, low resolution NTSC signals can be received at an acceptable level at the first signal interference region 705 where NTSC signals are hardly be intercepted in the two-level system. As understood, the signal interference is also involved from a digital TV station to an analog TV station.

The description will now be continued, provided that no digital TV station should cause a signal interference to any neighbor analog TV station. According to a novel system under consideration in U.S.A., no-use channels of the existing service channels are utilized for HDTV and thus, digital signals must not interfere with analog signals. For the purpose, the transmitting level of a digital signal has to be decreased lower than that shown in Fig.53. If the digital signal is of conventional 16 QAM or 4 PSK mode, its HDTV service area 708 becomes decreased as the signal interference region 713 denoted by the cross hatching is fairly large as shown in Fig.54. This results in a less number of viewers and sponsors, whereby such a digital system will have much difficulty to operate for profitable business.

Fig.55 shows a similar result according to the system of the present invention. As apparent, the HDTV signal receivable area 703 is a bit smaller than the equal area 708 of the convectional system. However, the lower resolution or NTSC TV signal receivable area 704 will be increased as compared with the conventional system. The hatching area represents a region where the NTSC level signal of a program can be received while the HDTV signal of the same is hardly intercepted. At the first interference region 705, both HDTV and NTSC signals cannot be intercepted due to signal interference from an analog station 711.

When the level of signals is equal, the multi-level transmission system of the present invention provides a smaller HDTV service area and a greater NTSC service area for interception of an HDTV program at an NTSC signal level. signal. Accordingly, the overall service area of each station is increased and more viewers can enjoy its TV broadcasting service. Furthermore, HDTV/NTSC compatible TV business can be operated with economical advantages and consistency. It is also intended that the level of a transmitting signal is increased when the control on averting signal interference to neighbor analog TV stations is lessened corresponding to a sharp increase in the number of home-use digital receivers. Hence, the service area of HDTV signals will be increased and in this respect, the two different regions for interception of HDTV/NTSC and NTSC digital TV signal levels respectively, shown in Fig.55, can be adjusted in proportion by varying the signal point distance in the first and/or second data streams. As the first data stream carries information about the signal point distance, a multi-level signal can be received with more certainty.

Fig.56 illustrates signal interference between two digital TV stations in which a neighbor TV station 701a also provides a digital TV broadcast service, as compared with an analog station in Fig.52. Since the level of a transmitting signal becomes high, the HDTV service or high resolution TV signal receivable area 703 becomes is increased to an extension equal to the service area 702 of an analog TV system.

At the intersecting region 714 between two service areas of their respective stations, the received signal can be reproduced not to an HDTV level picture with the use of a common directional antenna due to signal interference but to an NTSC level picture with a particular directional antenna directed towards a desired TV station. If a highly directional antenna is used, the received signal from a target station will be reproduced to an HDTV picture. The low resolution signal receivable area 704 is increased larger than the analog TV system service area 702 and a couple of intersecting regions 715,716 developed by the two low resolution signal receivable areas 704 and 704a of their respective digital TV stations 701 and 701a permit the received signal from antenna directed one of the two stations to be reproduced to an NTSC level picture.

The HDTV service area of the multi-level signal transmission system of the present invention itself will be much increased when applicable signal restriction rules are withdrawn in a coming digital TV broadcast service maturity time. At the time, the system of the present invention also provides as a wide HDTV signal receivable area as of the conventional system and particularly, allows its transmitting signal to be reproduced at an NTSC level in a further distant or intersecting areas where TV signals of the conventional system are hardly intercepted. Accordingly, signal attenuating or shadow regions in the service area will be minimized.

Embodiment 5

A fifth embodiment of the present invention resides in amplitude modulation or ASK procedure. Fig.57 illustrates the assignment of signal points of a 4-level ASK signal according to the fifth embodiment, in which four signal points are denoted by 721, 722, 723, and 724. The four-level transmission permits a 2-bit data to be transmitted in every cycle period. It is assumed that the four signal points 721,722,723,734 represent two-bit patterns 00,01,10, 11 respectively.

For ease of four-level signal transmission of the embodiment, the two signal points 721,722 are designated as a first signal point group 725 and the other two 723,724 are designated as a second signal point group 726. The distance between the two signal point groups 725 and 726 is then determined wider than that between any two adjacent signal points. More specifically, the distance Lo between the two signals 722 and 723 is arranged wider than the distance L between the two adjacent points 721 and 722 or 723 and 724. This is expressed as:<maths id="math0021" num=""><img file="EP0506400A2_D0021.tif" /></maths>

Hence, the multi-level signal transmission system of the embodiment is based on Lo&gt;L. The embodiment is however not limited to Lo&gt;L and L=Lo will be employed temporarily or permanently depending on the requirements of design, condition, and setting.

The two signal point groups are assigned one-bit patterns of the first data stream D_1' as shown in Fig.59-a. More particularly, a bit 0 of binary system is assigned to the first signal point group 725 and another bit 1 to the second signal point group 726. Then, a one-bit pattern of the second data stream D₂ is assigned to each signal point. For example, the two signal points 721,723 are assigned D₂=0 and the other two signal points 722 and 724 are assigned D₂=1. Those are thus expressed by two bits per symbol.

The multi-level signal transmission of the present invention can be implemented in an ASK mode with the use of the foregoing signal point assignment. The system of the present invention works in the same manner as of a conventional equal signal point distance technique when the signal to noise ratio or C/N rate is high. If the C/N rate becomes low and no data can be reproduced by the conventional technique, the present system ensures reproduction of the first data stream D₁ but not the second data stream D₂. In more detail, the state at a low C/N is shown in Fig.60. The signal points transmitted are displaced by a Gaussian distribution to ranges 712a,722a,723a,724a respectively at the receiver side due to noise and transmission distortion. Therefore, the distinction between the two signals 721 and 722 or 723 and 724 will hardly be executed. In other words, the error rate in the second data stream D_Zwill be increased. As apparent from Fig.60, the two signal points 721,722 are easily distinguished from the other two signal points 723,724. The distinction between the two signal point groups 725 and 726 can thus be carried out with ease. As the result, the first data stream D₁ will be reproduced at a lower error rate.

Accordingly, the two different level data D₁ and D₂ can be transmitted simultaneously. More particularly, both the first and second data streams D₁ and D₂ of a given signal transmitted through the multi-level transmission system can be reproduced at the area where the C/N rate is high and the first data stream D₁ only can be reproduced in the area where the C/N rate is low.

Fig.61 is a block diagram of a transmitter 741 in which an input unit 742 comprises a first data stream input 743 and a second data stream input 744. A carrier wave from a carrier generator 64 is amplitude modulated by a multiplier 746 using an input signal fed across a processor 745 from the input unit 743. The modulated signal is then band limited by a filter 747 to an ASK signal of e.g. VSB mode which is then delivered from an output unit 748.

The waveform of the ASK signal after filtering will now be examined. Fig.62-a shows a frequency spectrum of the ASK modulated signal in which two sidebands are provided on both sides of the carrier frequency band. One of the two sidebands is eliminated with the filter474 to produce a signal 749 which contains a carrier component as shown in Fig.62-b. The signal 749 is a VSB signal and if the modulation frequency band is fo, will be transmitted in a frequency band of about fo/2. Hence, the frequency utilization becomes high. Using VSB mode transmission, the ASK signal of two bit per symbol shown in Fig.60 can thus carry in the frequency band an amount of data equal to that of 16 QAM mode at four bits per symbol.

Fig.63 is a block diagram of a receiver 751 in which an input signal intercepted by a terrestrial antenna 32a is transferred through an input unit 752 to a mixer 753 where it is mixed with a signal from a variable oscillator 754 controlled by channel selection to a lower medium frequency signal. The signal from the mixer 753 is then detected by a detector 755 and filtered by an LPF 756 to a baseband signal which is transferred to a discriminating/reproduction circuit 757. The discrimination/reproduction circuit 757 reproduces two, first D₁ and second D₂, data streams from the baseband signal and transmit them further through a first 758 and a second data stream output 759 respectively.

The transmission of a TV signal using such a transmitter and a receiver will be explained. Fig.64 is a block diagram of a video signal transmitter 774 in which a high resolution TV signal, e.g. an HDTV signal, is fed through an input unit 403 to a divider circuit 404 of a first video encoder 401 where it is divided into four high/low frequency TV signal components denoted by e.g. H_LV_L,H_LV_H,H_HV_L, and H_HV_H. This action is identical to that of the third embodiment previously described referring to Fig.30 and will no more be explained in detail. The four separate TV signals are encoded respectively by a compressor 405 using a known DPCMDCT variable length code encoding technique which is commonly used e.g. in MPEG. Meanwhile, the motion compensation of the signal is carried out at the input unit 403. The compressed signals are summed by a summer 771 to two, first and second, data streams D,,D₂. The low frequency video signal component or H_LV_L signal is contained in the first data stream D₁. The two data stream signals D₁,D₂ are then transferred to a first 743 and a second data stream input 744 of a transmitter unit 741 where they are amplitude modulated and summed to an ASK signal of e.g. VSB mode which is propagated from a terrestrial antenna for broadcast service.

Fig.65 is a block diagram of a TV receiver for such a digital TV broadcast system. A digital TV signal intercepted by a terrestrial antenna 32a is fed to an input 752 of a receiver unit 751 in the TV receiver 781. The signal is then transferred to a detection/demodulation circuit 760 where a desired channel signal is selected and demodulated to two, first and second, data streams D₁,D₂ which are then fed to a first 758 and a second data stream output 759 respectively. The action in the receiver unit 751 is similar to that described previously and will no more be explained in detail. The two data streams D₁,D₂ are sent to a divider unit 776 in which D₁ is divided by a divider 777 into two components; one or compressed H_LV_L is transferred to a first input 521 of a second video decoder 422 and the other is fed to a summer 778 where it is summed with D₂ prior to transfer to a second input 531 of the second video decoder 422. Compressed H_LV_L is then sent from the first input 521 to a first expander 523 where it is expanded to H_LV_L of the original length which is then transferred to a video mixer 548 and a aspect ratio changing circuit 779. When the input TV signal is an HDTV signal, H_LV_L represents a wide-screen NTSC signal. When the same is an NTSC signal, H_LV_L represents a lower resolution video signal, e.g. MPEGI, than an NTSC level.

The input TV signal of the embodiment is an HDTV signal and H_LV_L becomes a wide-screen NTSC signal. If the aspect ratio of an available display is 16:9, H_LV_L is directly delivered through an output unit as a 16:9 video output 426. If the display has an aspect ratio of 4:3, H_LV_L is shifted by the aspect ratio changing circuit 779 to a letterbox or sidepanel format and then, delivered from the output unit 780 as a corresponding format video output 425.

The second data stream D₂ fed from the second data stream output 759 to the summer 778 is summed with the output of the divider 777 to a sum signal which is then fed to the second input 531 of the second video decoder 422. The sum signal is further transferred to a divider circuit 531 where it is divided into three compressed forms of H_LV_H, H_HV_L, and H_HV_H. The three compressed signals are then fed to a second 535, a third 536, and a fourth expander 537 respectively for converting by expansion to H_LV_H, H_HV_L, and H_HV_H of the original length. The three signals are summed with H_LV_L by the video mixer 548 to a composite HDTV signal which is fed through an output 546 of the second video decoder to the output unit 780. Finally, the HDTV signal is delivered from the output unit 780 as an HDTV video signal 427.

The output unit 780 is arranged for detect an error rate in the second data stream of the second data stream output 759 through an error rate detector 782 and if the error rate is high, delivering H_LV_L of low resolution video data systematically.

Accordingly, the multi-level signal transmission system for digital TV signal transmission and reception becomes feasible. For example, if a TV signal transmitter station is near, both the first and second data streams of a received signal can successfully be reproduced to exhibit an HDTV quality picture. If the transmitter station is far, the first data stream can be reproduced to H_LV_L which is converted to a low resolution TV picture. Hence, any TV program will be intercepted in a wider area and displayed at a picture quality ranging from HDTV to NTSC level.

Fig.66 is a block diagram showing another arrangement of the TV receiver. As shown, the receiver unit 751 contains only a first data stream output 768 and thus, the processing of the second data stream or HDTV data is not needed so that the overall construction can be minimized. It is a good idea to have the first video decoder 421 shown in Fig.31 as a video decoder of the receiver. Accordingly, an NTSC level picture will be reproduced. The receiver is fabricated at much less cost as having no capability to receive any HDTV level signal and will widely be accepted in the market. In brief, the receiver can be used as an adapter tuner for interception of a digital TV signal with giving no modification to the existing TV system including a display.

The TV receiver 781 may have a further arrangement shown in Fig-67, which serves as both a satellite broadcast receiver for demodulation of PSK signals and a terrestrial broadcast receiver for demodulation of ASK signals. In action, a PSK signal received by a satellite antenna 32 is mixed by a mixer 786 with a signal from an oscillator 787 to a low frequency signal which is then fed through an input unit 34 to a mixer 753 similar to one shown in Fig.63. The low frequency signal of PSK or QAM mode in a given channel of the satellite TV system is transferred to a modulator 35 where two data streams D₁ and D₂ are reproduced from the signal. D₁ and D₂ are sent through a divider 788 to a second video decoder 422 where they are converted to a video signal which is then delivered from an output unit 780. Also, a digital or analog terrestrial TV signal intercepted by a terrestrial antenna 32a is fed through an input unit 752 to the mixer 753 where one desired channel is selected by the same manner as described in Fig.63 and detected to a low frequency baseband signal. The signal of analog form is sent directly to the demodulator 35 for demodulation. The signal of digital form is then fed to a discrimination/ reproducing circuit 757 where two data streams D₁ and D₂ are reproduced from the signal. D₁ and D₂ are converted by the second video decoder 422 to a video signal which is then delivered further. A satellite analog TV signal is transferred to a video demodulator 788 where it is AM demodulated to an analog video signal which is then delivered from the output unit 780. As understood, the mixer 753 of the TV receiver 781 shown in Fig.67 is arranged compatible between two, satellite and terrestrial, broadcast services. Also, a receiver circuit including a detector 755 and an LPF 756 for AM demodulation of an analog signal can be utilized compatible with a digital ASK signal of the terrestrial TV service. The major part of the arrangement shown in Fig.67 is arranged for compatible use, thus minimizing a circuitry construction.

According to the embodiment, a 4-level ASK signal is divided into two, D₁ and D₂, level components for execution of the one-bit mode multi-level signal transmission. If an 8-level ASK signal is used as shown in Fig.68, it can be transmitted in a one-bit mode three-level, D₁, D₂, and D₃, arrangement. As shown in Fig.68, D₁ is assigned to eight signal points 721a,721b,722a,722b,723a,723b,724a,724b, each pair representing a two-bit pattern, D₂ is assigned to four small signal point groups 721,722,723,724, each two groups representing a two-bit pattern, and D₃ is assigned to two large signal point groups 725 and 726 representing a two-bit pattern. More particularly, this is equivalent to a form in which each of the four signal points 721,722,723,724 shown in Fig.57 is divided into two components thus producing three different level data.

The three-level signal transmission is identical to that described in the third embodiment and will no further be explained in detail.

In particular, the arrangement of the video encoder401 of the third embodiment shown in Fig.30 is replaced with a modification of which block diagram is Fig.69. The operation of the modified arrangement is similar and will no longer be explained in detail. Two video signal divider circuits 404 and 404a which may be sub-band filters are provided forming a divider unit 794. The divider unit 794 may also be arranged more simple as shown in the block diagram of Fig.70, in which a signal passes across one single divider circuit two times at time division mode. Mode specifically, a video signal of e.g. HDTV or super HDTV from the input unit 403 is time-base compressed by a time-base compressor 795 and fed to the divider circuit 404 where it is divided into four components, H_HV_H-H, H_HV_L-H, and H_LV_H-H, and H_LV_L-H at a first cycle. At the time, four switches 765,765a,765b,765c remain turned to the position 1 so that H_HV_H-H, H_HV_L-H, and H_LV_H-H are transmitted to a compressing circuit 405. Meanwhile, H_LV_L-H is fed back through the terminal 1 of the switch 765c to the time-base compressor 795. At a second cycle, the four switches 765,765a,765b,765c are turned to the position 2 and all the four components of the divider circuit 404 are simultaneously transferred to the compressing circuit 405. Accordingly, the divider unit 794 of Fig.70 arranged for time division processing of an input signal can be constructed in a simpler dividing circuit form.

At the receiver side, such a video decoder as described in the third embodiment and shown in Fig.30 is needed for three-level transmission of a video signal. More particulary, a third video decoder 423 is provided which contains two mixers 556 and 556a of different processing capability as shown in the block diagram of Fig.71.

Also, the third video decoder 423 may be modified in which the same action is executed with one single mixer 556 as shown in Fig.72. At the first timing, five switches 765,765a,765b,765c,765d remain turned to the position 1. Hence, H_LV_L, H_LV_H, H_HV_L, and H_HV_H are fed from a first 522, a second 522a, a third 522b and a fourth expander 522c to through their respective switches to the mixer 556 where they are mixed to a single video signal. The video signal which represents H_LV_L-H of an input high resolution video signal is then fed back through the terminal 1 of the switch 765d to the terminal 2 of the switch 765c. At the second timing, the four switches 765,765a,765b,765c are turned to the position 2. Thus, H_HV_H-H, H_HV_L-H, H_LV_H-H, and H_LV_L-H are transferred to the mixer 556 where they are mixed to a single video signal which is then sent across the terminal 2 of the switch 765d to the output unit 554 for further delivery.

In this manner of time division processing of three-level signal, two mixers can be replaced with one mixer.

More particularly, four components H_LV_L,H_LV_H,H_HV_L, H_HV_H are fed to produce H_LV_L-H at the first timing. Then, H_LV_H-H, H_HV_L-H, and H_HV_H-H are fed at the second timing delayed from the first timing and mixed with H_LV_L-L to a target video signal. It is thus essential to perform the two actions at an interval of time.

If the four components are overlapped each other or supplied in a variable sequence, they have to be time-base adjusted to a given sequence through using memories accompanied with their respective switches 765,765a,775b,765c. In the foregoing manner, a signal are transmitted from the transmitter at two different timing periods as shown in Fig.73 so that no time-base controlling circuit is needed in the receiver which is thus arranged more compact.

As shown in Fig.73, D₁ is the first data stream of a transmitting signal and H_LV_L,H_LV_H,H_HV_L, and H_HV_H are transmitted on D₁ channel at the period of first timing. Then, at the period of second timing, H_LV_H-H, H_HV_L-H, and H_HV_H-H are transmitted on D₂ channel. As the signal is transmitted in a time division sequence, the encoder in the receiver can be arranged more simple.

The technique of reducing the number of the expanders in the decoder will now be explained. Fig.74-b shows a time-base assignment of four data components 810,81 Oa,81 Ob, 810c of a signal. When other four data components 811,811a, 811b,811c are inserted between the four data components 811, 811a,811b,811c respectively, the latter can be transmitted at intervals of time. In action, the second video decoder 422 shown in Fig.74-a receives the four components of the first data stream D₁ at a first input 521 and transfers them through a switch 812 to an expander 503 one after another. More particularly, the component 810 first fed is expanded during the feeding of the component 811 and after completion of processing the component 810, the succeeding component 810a is fed. Hence, the expander 503 can process a row of the components at time intervals by the same time division manner as of the mixer, thus substituting the simultaneous action of a number of expanders.

Fig.75 is a time-base assignment of data components of an HDTV signal, in which H_LV_L(1) of an NTSC component of the first channel signal for a TV program is allocated to a data domain 821 of D₁ signal. Also, H_LV_H,H_HV_L, and H_HV_H carrying HDTV additional components of the first channel signal are allocated to three domains 821a,821b,821c of D₂ signal respectively. There are provided other data components 822,822a,822b,822c between the data components of the first channel signal which can thus be expanded with an expander circuit during transmission of the other data. Hence, all the data components of one channel signal will be processed by a single expander capable of operating at a higher speed.

Similar effects will be ensured by assignment of the data components to other domains 821,821a,821 b,821 c as shown in Fig.76. This becomes more effective in transmission and reception of a common 4 PSK or ASK signal having no different digital levels.

Fig.77 shows a time-base assignment of data components during physical two-level transmission of three different signal level data: e.g. NTSC, HDTV, and super HDTV or low resolution NTSC, standard resolution NTSC, and HDTV. For example, for transmission of three data components of low resolution NTSC, standard NTSC, and HDTV, the low resolution NTSC or H_LV_L is allocated to the data domain 821 of D₁ signal. Also, H_LV_H, H_LV_L, and H_HV_H of the standard NTSC component are allocated to three domains 821a,821 b,821c respectively. H_LV_H-H, H_HV_L-H, and H_HV_H-H of the HDTV component are allocated to domains 823, 823a, and 823b respectively.

The foregoing assignment is associated with such a logic level arrangement based on discrimination in the error correction capability as described in the second embodiment. More particularly, H_LV_L is carried on D_1-1 channel of the D₁ signal. The D_1-1 channel is higher in the error correction capability than D_1-2 channel, as described in the second embodiment. The D_1-1 channel is higher in the redundancy but lower in the error rate than the D_1-2 channel and the data 821 can be reconstructed at a lower C/N rate than that of the other data 821a,821 b,821c. More specifically, a low resolution NTSC component will be reproduced at a far location from the transmitter antenna or in a signal attenuating or shadow area, e.g. the interior of a vehicle. In view of the error rate, the data 821 of D_1-1 channel is less affected by signal interference than the other data 821a,821 b,821c of D_1-2 channel, while being specifically discriminated and staying in a different logic level, as described in the second embodiment. While D₁ and D₂ are divided into two physically different levels, the levels determined by discrimination of the distance between error correcting codes are arranged different in the logic level.

The demodulation of D₂ data requires a higher C/N rate than that for D₁ data. In action, H_LV_L or low resolution NTSC signal can at least be reproduced in a distant or lowest C/N service area. H_LV_H,H_HV_L, and H_HV_H can in addition be reproduced at a lower C/N area. Then, at a high C/N area, H_LV_H-H, H_HV_L-H, and H_HV_H-H components can also be reproduced to develop an HDTV signal. Accordingly, three different level broadcast signals can be played back. This method allows the signal receivable area shown in Fig.53 to increase from a double region to a triple region, as shown in Fig.90, thus ensuring higher opportunity for enjoying TV programs.

Figs.78 is a block diagram of the third video decoder arranged for the time-base assignment of data shown in Fig.77, which is similar to that shown in Fig.72 except that the third input 551 for D₃ signal is eliminated and the arrangement shown in Fig.74-a is added.

In operation, both the D₁ and D₂ signals are fed through two input units 521,530 respectively to a switch 812 at the first timing. As their components including H_LV_L are time divided, they are transferred in a sequence by the switch 812 to an expander 503. This sequence will now be explained referring to the time-base assignment of Fig.77. A compressed form of H_LV_L of the first channel is first fed to the expander 503 where it is expanded. Then, H_LV_H, H_HV_L, and H_HV_H are expanded. All the four expanded components are sent through a switch 812a to a mixer 556 where they are mixed to produce H_LV_L-H. H_LV_L-H is then fed back from the terminal 1 of a switch 765a through the input 2 of a switch 765 to the H_LV_L input of the mixer 556.

At the second timing, H_LV_H-H, H_HV_L-H, and H_HV_H of the D₂ signal shown in Fig.77 are fed to the expander 503 where they are expanded before transferred through the switch 821a a to the mixer 556. They are mixed by the mixer 556 to an HDTV signal which is fed through the terminal 2 of the switch 765a to the output unit 521 for further delivery. The time-base assignment of data components for transmission, shown in Fig.77, contributes to the simplest arrangement of the expander and mixer. Although Fig.77 shows two, D₁ and D₂, signal levels, four-level transmission of a TV signal will be feasible using the addition of a D₃ signal and a super resolution HDTV signal.

Fig.79 illustrates a time-base assignment of data components of a physical three-level, D₁, D₂, D₃, TV signal, in which data components of the same channel are so arranged as not to overlap with one another with time. Fig.80 is a block diagram of a modified video decoder 423, similar to Fig.78, in which a third input 521a a is added. The time-base assignment of data components shown in Fig.79 also contributes to the simple construction of the decoder.

The action of the modified decoder 423 is almost identical to that shown in Fig.78 and associated with the time-base assignment shown in Fig.77 and will no more be explained. It is also possible to multiplex data components on the D₁ signal as shown in Fig.81. However, two data 821 and 822 are increased higher in the error correction capability than other data components 821 a,812b,812c, thus staying at a higher signal level. More particularly, the data assignment for transmission is made in one physical level but two logic level relationship. Also, each data component of the second channel is inserted between two adjacent data components of the first channel so that serial processing can be executed at the receiver side and the same effects as of the time-base assignment shown in Fig.79 will thus be obtained.

The time-base assignment of data components shown in Fig.81 is based on the logic level mode and can also be carried in the physical level mode when the bit transmission rate of the two data components 821 and 822 is decreased to 1/2 or 1/3 thus to lower the error rate. The physical level arrangement is consisted of three different levels.

Fig.82 is a block diagram of another modified video decoder 423 for decoding of the D₁ signal time-base arranged as shown in Fig.81, which is simpler in construction than that shown in Fig.80. Its action is identical to that of the decoder shown in Fig.80 and will be no more explained.

As understood, the time-base assignment of data components shown in Fig.81 also contributes to the simple arrangement of the expander and mixer. Also, four data components of the D₁ signal are fed at respective time slices to a mixer 556. Hence, the circuitry arrangement of the mixer 556 or a plurality of circuit blocks such as provided in the video mixer 548 of Fig.32 may be arranged for changing the connection therebetween corresponding to each data component so that they become compatible in time division action and thus, minimized in circuitry construction.

Accordingly, the receiver can be minimized in the overall construction.

It would be understood that the fifth embodiment is not limited to ASK modulation and the other methods including PSK and QAM modulation, such as described in the first, second, and third embodiments, will be employed with equal success.

Also, FSK modulation will be eligible in any of the embodiments. For example, the signal points of a multiple-level FSK signal consisting of four frequency components f1, f2,f3,f4 are divided into groups as shown in Fig.58 and when the distance between any two groups are spaced from each other for ease of discrimination, the multi-level transmission of the FSK signal can be implemented, as illustrated in Fig.83.

More particularly, it is assumed that the frequency group 841 off1 and f2 is assigned Di=0 and the group 842 of f3 and f4 is assigned D₁=1. If f1 and f3 represent 0 at D₂ and f2 and f4 represent 1 at D₂, two-bit data transmission, one bit at D₁ or D₂, will be possible as shown in Fig.83. When the C/N rate is high, a combination of Di=0 and D₂=1 is reconstructed at t=t3 and a combination of D_i=1 and D₂=0 at t=t4. When the C/N rate is low, Di=0 only is reproduced at t=t3 and D₁=1 at t=t4. In this manner, the FSK signal can be transmitted in the multi-level arrangement. This multi-state FSK signal transmission is applicable to each of the third, fourth, and

fifth embodiments.

The fifth embodiment may also be implemented in the form of a magnetic record/playback apparatus of which block diagram shown in Fig.84 because its ASK mode action is appropriate to magnetic record and playback operation.

As shown in Fig.84, an input video signal to a magnetic record/playback apparatus 851 is divided and compressed by a video encoder 401. Then, a low frequency band component, e.g. H_LV_L, of the video signal is fed to a first data stream input 743 of an input unit 742 and a high frequency band component including H_HV_H is fed to a second data stream input 744 of the same. The two components are further transferred to a modulator 749 of a modulator/demodulator unit 852. Those procedures are almost identical to those of the transmitter 774 of the fifth embodiment shown in Fig.64. A modulated signal of the modulator 749 is fed through a record/playback circuit 853 to a magnetic head 854 for recording onto a magnetic tape 855. The recording procedure may be carried out by a physical multiple-level signal recording technique modified from a conventional digital multi-bit signal recording technique or a multi-level signal recording technique of phase modulation or phase amplitude modulation described in the first or third embodiment separately. Also, multi-level recording will be possible using a multiple track of the magnetic tape or through varying the data transmission rate. Furthermore, logic multi-level recording will be possible by changing the error correction capability for data discrimination.

In playback action, a reproduced signal retrieved from the magnetic tape 855 by the magnetic head 854 and reconstructed by the record/playback circuit 853 is fed to a demodulator 760 of the modulator/demodulator unit 760. Then, the succeeding procedure is similar to that described in the first, third, or fourth embodiment. The first and second data streams D_1' D₂ reconstructed by the demodulator 760 are then converted by a video decoder 422 to a video signal. Thanking to the multi-level recording, a high resolution TV signal e.g. of HDTV will be reproduced when the C/N rate is high. If the C/N rate is low or a low-function magnetic player is used, a standard or lower NTSC TV signal only will be reproduced.

As understood, the magnetic record/playback apparatus of the present invention allows at least a low resolution component of a TV signal to be reconstructed in case that the C/N rate is low or the error rate is high.

Embodiment 6

A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described for execution of four-level video signal transmission. A combination of the four-level signal transmission and the four-level video data construction will create a four-level signal service area as shown in Fig.91. The four-level service area is consisted of, from innermost, a first 890a, a second 890b, a third 890c, and a fourth signal receiving area 890d. The method of developing such a four-level service area will be explained in more detail.

The four-level arrangement can be implemented by using four physically different levels determined through modulation or four logic levels defined by data discrimination in the error correction capability. The former provides a large difference in the C/N rate between two adjacent levels and the C/N rate has to be increased to discriminate all the four levels from each other. The latter is based on the action of demodulation and a difference in the C/N rate between two adjacent levels should stay at minimum. Hence, the four-level arrangement is best constructed using a combination of two physical levels and two logic levels. The division of a video signal into four signal levels will be explained.

Fig.93 is a block diagram of a divider circuit 3 which comprises a video divider 895 and four compressors 405a, 405b,405c,405d. The video divider 895 contains three dividers 404a,404b,404c which are arranged identical to the divider circuit 404 of the first video encoder 401 shown in Fig.30 and will be no more explained. An input video signal is divided by the dividers into four components, H_LV_L of low resolution data, H_HV_H of high resolution data, and H_LV_H and H_HV_L for medium resolution data. The resolution of H_LV_L is a half that of the original input signal.

The input video signal is first divided by the divider 404a into two, high and low, frequency band components, each component being divided into two, horizontal and vertical, segments. The intermediate between the high and low frequency ranges is a dividing point according to the embodiment. Hence, if the input video signal is an HDTV signal of 1000-line vertical resolution, H_LV_L has a vertical resolution of 500 lines and a horizontal resolution of a half value.

Each of two, horizontal and vertical, data of the low frequency component H_LV_L is further divided by the divider 404c into two frequency band segments. Hence, an H_LV_L segment output is 250 lines in the vertical resolution and 1/4 of the original horizontal resolution. This output of the divider 404c which is termed as an LL signal is then compressed by the compressor 405a to a D_1-1 signal.

The other three higher frequency segments of H_LV_L are mixed by a mixer 772c to an LH signal which is then compressed by the compressor 405b to a D_1-2 signal. The compressor 405b may be replaced with three compressors provided between the divider 404c and the mixer 772c.

H_LV_H,H_HV_L, and H_HV_H from the divider 404a are mixed by a mixer 772a to an H_HV_H-H signal. If the input signal is as high as 1000 lines in both horizontal and vertical resolution, H_HV_H-H has 500 to 1000 lines of a horizontal and a vertical resolution. H_HV_H-H is fed to the divider 404b where it is divided again into four components.

Similarly, H_LV_L from the divider404b has 500 to 750 lines of a horizontal and a vertical resolution and transferred as an HL signal to the compressor 405c. The other three components, H_LV_H,H_HV_L, and H_HV_H, from the divider 404b have 750 to 1000 lines of a horizontal and a vertical resolution and are mixed by a mixer 772b to an HH signal which is then compressed by the compressor 405d and delivered as a D₂₀₂ signal. After compression, the HL signal is delivered as a D_2-1 signal. As the result, LL or D_1-1 carries a frequency data of 0 to 250 lines, LH or D_1-2 carries a frequency data from more than 250 lines up to 500 lines, HL or D₂-₁ carries a frequency data of more than 500 lines up to 750 lines, and HH or D_2-2 carries a frequency data of more than 750 lines to 1000 lines so that the divider circuit 3 can produce a four-level signal. Accordingly, when the divider circuit 3 of the transmitter 1 shown in Fig.87 is replaced with the divider circuit of Fig.93, the transmission of a four-level signal will be implemented.

The combination of multi-level data and multi-level transmission allows a video signal to be at steps declined in the picture quality in proportion to the C/N rate during transmission., thus contributing to the enlargement of the TV broadcast service area. At the receiver side, the action of demodulation and reconstruction is identical to that of the second receiver of the second embodiment shown in Fig.88 and will be no more explained. In particular, the mixer 37 is modified for video signal transmission rather than data communications and will now be explained in more detail.

As described in the second embodiment, a received signal after demodulated and error corrected, is fed as a set of four components D_1-1,D_1-2,D_2-1,D_2-2 to the mixer 37 of the second receiver 33 of Fig.88.

Fig.97 is a block diagram of a modified mixer 33 in which D_1-1,D_1-2,D_2-1,D_2-2 are expanded by their respective expanders 523a,523b,523c,523d to an LL, an LH, an HL, and HH signal respectively which are equivalent to those described with Fig.93. If the bandwidth of the input signal is 1, LL has a bandwidth of 1/4, LL+LH has a bandwidth of 1/2, LL+LH+HL has a bandwidth of 3/4, and LL+LH+HL+HH has a bandwidth of 1. The LH signal is then divided by a divider 531a and mixed by a video mixer 548a with the LL signal. An output of the video mixer 548a is transferred to an H_LV_L terminal of a video mixer 548c. The video mixer 531a is identical to that of the second decoder 527 of Fig.32 and will be no more explained. Also, the HH signal is divided by a divider 531 b and fed to a video mixer 548b. At the video mixer 548b, the HH signal is mixed with the HL signal to an H_HV_H-H signal which is then divided by a divider 531 and sent to the video mixer 548c. At the video mixer 548c, H_HV_H-H is combined with the sum signal of LH and LL to a video output. The video output of the mixer 33 is then transferred to the output unit 36 of the second receiver shown in Fig.88 where it is converted to a TV signal for delivery. If the original signal has 1050 lines of vertical resolution or is an HDTV signal of about 1000-line resolution, its four different signal level components can be intercepted in their respective signal receiving areas shown in Fig.91.

The picture quality of the four different components will be described in more detail. The illustration of Fig.92 represents a combination of Figs.86 and 91. As apparent, when the C/N rate increases, the overall signal level or amount of data is increased from 862d to 862a by steps of four signal levels D_1-1,D_1-2,D_2-1,D_2-2-

Also, as shown in Fig.95, the four different level components LL, LH, HL, and HH are accumulated in proportion to the C/N rate. More specifically, the quality of a reproduced picture will be increased as the distance from a transmitter antenna becomes small. When L=Ld, LL component is reproduced. When L=Lc, LL+LH signal is reproduced. When L=Lb, LL+LH+HL signal is reproduced. When L=La, LL+LH+HL+HH signal is reproduced. As the result, if the bandwidth of the original signal is 1, the picture quality is enhanced at 1/4 increments of bandwidth from 1/4 to 1 depending on the receiving area. If the original signal is an HDTV of 1000-line vertical resolution, a reproduced TV signal is 250, 500, 750, and 1000 lines in the resolution at their respective receiving areas. The picture quality will thus be varied at steps depending on the level of a signal. Fig.96 shows the signal propagation of a conventional digital HDTV signal transmission system, in which no signal reproduction will be possible when the C/N rate is less than Vo. Also, signal interception will hardly be guaranteed at signal interference regions, shadow regions, and other signal attenuating regions, denoted by the symbol x, of the service area. Fig.97 shows the signal propagation of an HDTV signal transmission system of the present invention. As shown, the picture quality will be a full 1000-line grade at the distance La where C/N=a, a 750-line grade at the distance Lb where C/N=b, a 500-line grade at the distance Lcwhere C/N=c, and a 250-line grade at the distance Ld where C/N=d. Within the distance La, there are some unfavorable regions where the CN rate drops sharply and no HDTV quality picture will be reproduced. As understood, a lower picture quality signal can however be intercepted and reproduced according to the multi-level signal transmission system of the present invention. For example, the picture quality will be a 750-line grade at the point B in a building shadow area, a 250-line grade at the point D in a running train, a 750-line grade at the point F in a ghost developing area, a 250-line grade at the point G in a running car, and a 250-line grade at the point L in a neighbor signal interference area. As set forth above, the signal transmission system of the present invention allows a TV signal to be successfully received at a grade in the area where the conventional system is poorly qualified, thus increasing its service area. Fig.98 shows an example of simultaneous broadcasting of four different TV programs, in which three quality programs C,B,A are transmitted on their respective channels D_1-2,D_2-1,D_2-2 while a program D identical to that of a local analog TV station is propagated on the D_1-1 channel. Accordingly, while the program D is kept available at simulcast service, the other three programs can also be distributed on air for offering a multiple program broadcast service.

In the above embodiments, the low and high frequency band components are transmitted as the first and second data sreams. However, the transmitted signal may be an audio signal. In this case, low frequency or low resolution components of an audio signal may be transmitted as the first data stream, and high frequency or high resolution components of the audio signal may be transmitted as the second data stream. Accordingly, it is possible to receive high C/N portion in high sound quality, and low C/N portion in low sound quality. This can be utilized in PCM broadcast, radio portable telephone and the like. In this case, the broadcasting area or communication distance can be expanded as compared with the conventional systems.

The multi-level signal transmission method of the embodiment is intended to increase the utilization of frequencies but may be suited for not all the transmission systems since causing some type receivers to be declined in the energy utilization. It is a good idea for use with a satellite communications system for selected subscribers to employ most advanced transmitters and receivers designed for best utilization of applicable frequencies and energy. Such a specific purpose signal transmission system will not be bound by the present invention.

The present invention will be advantageous for use with a satellite or terrestrial broadcast service which is essential to run in the same standards for as long as 50 years. During the service period, the broadcast standards must not be altered but improvements will be provided time to time corresponding to up-to-date technological achievements. Particularly, the energy for signal transmission will surely be increased on any satellite. Each TV station should provide a compatible service for guaranteeing TV program signal reception to any type receivers ranging from today's common ones to future advanced ones. The signal transmission system of the present invention can provide a compatible broadcast service of both the existing NTSC and HDTV systems and also, ensure a future extension to match mass data transmission.

The present invention concerns much on the frequency utilization than the energy utilization. The signal receiving sensitivity of each receiver is arranged different depending on a signal state level to be received so that the transmitting power of a transmitter needs not to be increased largely. Hence, existing satellites which offer a small energy for reception and transmission of a signal can best be used with the system of the present invention. The system is also arranged for performing the same standards corresponding to an increase in the transmission energy in the future and offering the compatibility between old and new type receivers. In addition, the present invention will be more advantageous for use with the satellite broadcast standards.

The multi-level signal transmission method of the present invention is more preferably employed for terrestrial TV broadcast service in which the energy utilization is not crucial, as compared with satellite broadcast service. The results are such that the signal attenuating regions in a service area which are attributed to a conventional digital HDTV broadcast system are considerably reduced in extension and also, the compatibility of an HDTV receiver or display with the existing NTSC system is obtained. Furthermore, the service area is substantially increased so that program suppliers and sponsors can appreciate more viewers. Although the embodiments of the present invention refer to 16 and 32 QAM procedures, other modulation techniques including 64, 128, and 256 QAM will be employed with equal success. Also, multiple PSK, ASK, and FSK techniques will be applicable as described with the embodiments.

A combination of the TDM with the SRQAM of the present invention has been described in the above. However, the SRQAM of the present invention can be combined also with any of the FDM, CDMA and frequency dispersal communications systems.