Frame structure and signalling for wireless broadcast system

摘要

The invention seeks to provide a more concise frame structure by sending configuration data with a repetition length rather than sending configuration data in every frame as is typical. In transmission of data in a wireless communication system, the data may be transmitted in frames, each of which comprises a data section carrying data streams, and a preamble section carrying configuration data items comprising configuration data for use in receiving one or more corresponding data streams. In what is described herein, different repetition lengths are set for different respective types of configuration item, each repetition length defining a number of frames that sequentially follow within a frame structure before the respective type of data item is repeated. Data is transmitted in a sequence of frames such that the configuration data items are transmitted according to the respective repetition lengths. Thus, a relatively short repetition length may be set for configuration data items that can tolerate only minimal delay, and a longer repetition rate set for configuration data items that may tolerate longer delays; this enables a saving to be made in the signalling overhead associated with the transmission of the configuration data items, whilst maintaining a good quality of service. Figure shows a L1-config signaling portion comprising constant data 202 and configuration 204. The configuration data items 204a, 204N are of different types with different repetition lengths n shown in the format Pnm.