Apparatus and method for multiplexing packets for broadcast services in a mobile communication system based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing

Abstract

An apparatus and method for multiplexing packets for broadcast services in a mobile communication system based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). The OFDM system has a transmission structure in which one slot includes at least two symbols, and each symbol includes a plurality of subcarriers. Different broadcast service packets received from at least two channels are multiplexed into one slot and a result of the multiplexing is transmitted. Overhead information of the channel packets multiplexed into the one slot is generated and transmitted.

1. A method for providing broadcast services in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system with a transmission structure in which one slot includes at least two symbols and each symbol includes a plurality of subcarriers, comprising the steps of:
 multiplexing packets of different broadcast service into one slot, and transmitting the multiplexed packets; and 
 transmitting overhead information related to the multiplexed packets, 
 wherein the overhead information includes indicating information about whether the packets of the different broadcast service are multiplexed, first mapping information about symbol positions of the multiplexed packets when the packets of the different broadcast service are multiplexed, and second mapping information about subcarrier groups of the multiplexed packets when the packets of the different broadcast service are multiplexed. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multiplexing step comprises the step of:
 assigning packets of one broadcast service to some symbols within the one slot, and assigning packets of another broadcast service to remaining symbols. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one slot comprises four symbols, and the packets of the one broadcast service are assigned in a unit of two symbols. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multiplexing step comprises the step of:
 assigning the packets of the different broadcast service to each symbol comprised in the one slot. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the packets of the different broadcast service assigned to each symbol are assigned to at least two grouped subcarriers. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein groups of the subcarriers comprise odd and even subcarriers. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus for providing broadcast services in a base station of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system with a transmission structure in which one slot includes at least two symbols and each symbol includes a plurality of subcarriers, comprising:
 a multiplexer for multiplexing-packets of different broadcast service into one slot, and transmitting the multiplexed packets; and 
 a transmitter for transmitting overhead information related to the multiplexed packets, 
 wherein the overhead information includes indicating information about whether the packets of the different broadcast service are multiplexed, first mapping information about symbol positions of the multiplexed packets when the packets of the different broadcast service are multiplexed, and second mapping information about subcarrier groups of the multiplexed packets when the packets of the different broadcast service are multiplexed. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the multiplexer comprises:
 a symbol multiplexer for assigning packets of one broadcast service to some symbols within the one slot, and assigning packets of another broadcast service to remaining symbols; and 
 a subcarrier multiplexer for assigning to two grouped subcarriers the packets of the one broadcast service assigned to the symbols. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the multiplexer comprises:
 a symbol multiplexer for assigning the packets of different broadcast service to each symbol included in the one slot; and 
 a subcarrier multiplexer for assigning to two grouped subcarriers the different broadcast service packets assigned to each symbol. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the symbol multiplexer assigns the broadcast service packets in a unit of two symbols, wherein the one slot comprises four symbols. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the subcarrier multiplexer classifies the subcarriers into odd and even subcarrier groups. 
     
     
       12. A method for configuring a broadcast overhead message based on a multiplexing method in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system with a transmission structure in which one slot includes at least two symbols and each symbol includes a plurality of subcarriers, comprising the steps of:
 configuring indicating information about whether different broadcast service packets are multiplexed or not; 
 configuring first mapping information about symbol positions of the multiplexed packets when the different broadcast service packets are multiplexed; and 
 configuring second mapping information about subcarrier groups of the multiplexed packets when the different broadcast service packets are multiplexed. 
 
     
     
       13. A method for providing broadcast services in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system with a transmission structure in which a transmission unit is defined by at least two minimum units, the at least two minimum units comprising a symbol and a subcarrier, the method comprising the steps of:
 multiplexing packets of different broadcast services into the transmission unit to be transmitted as multiplexed packets; and   transmitting overhead information related to the multiplexed packets,   wherein the overhead information includes information about whether the packets of the different broadcast services are multiplexed, and mapping information about the multiplexed packets according to the at least two minimum units.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13, wherein the multiplexing step comprises:
 assigning packets of one broadcast service to some symbols within the transmission unit, and assigning packets of another broadcast service to remaining symbols.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, wherein the transmission unit comprises four symbols, and the packets of the one broadcast service are assigned in a unit of two symbols. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 13, wherein the multiplexing step comprises:
 assigning the packets of the different broadcast services to each symbol in the transmission unit.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16, wherein the packets of the different broadcast services assigned to each symbol are assigned to at least two grouped subcarriers. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17, wherein groups of the subcarriers comprise odd and even subcarriers. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for providing broadcast services in a base station of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system with a transmission structure in which a transmission unit is defined by at least two minimum units, the at least two minimum units comprising a symbol and a subcarrier, the apparatus comprising:
 a multiplexer for multiplexing packets of different broadcast services into the transmission unit to be transmitted as multiplexed packets; and   a transmitter for transmitting overhead information related to the multiplexed packets,   wherein the overhead information includes information about whether the packets of the different broadcast services are multiplexed, and mapping information about the multiplexed packets according to the at least two minimum units.   
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the multiplexer comprises:
 a symbol multiplexer for assigning packets of one broadcast service to some symbols within the transmission unit, and assigning packets of another broadcast service to remaining symbols; and   a subcarrier multiplexer for assigning to two grouped subcarriers the packets of the one broadcast service assigned to the symbols.   
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the multiplexer comprises:
 a symbol multiplexer for assigning the packets of different broadcast services to each symbol included in the transmission unit; and   a subcarrier multiplexer for assigning to two grouped subcarriers the different broadcast service packets assigned to each symbol.   
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the symbol multiplexer assigns the broadcast service packets in unit of two symbols, wherein the transmission unit comprises four symbols. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the subcarrier multiplexer classifies the subcarriers into odd and even subcarrier groups. 
     
     
       24. A method for configuring a broadcast overhead message based on a multiplexing method in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system with a transmission structure in which a transmission unit is defined by at least two minimum units, the at least two minimum units comprising a symbol and a subcarrier, the method comprising the steps of:
 configuring information about whether different broadcast service packets are multiplexed or not; and   configuring mapping information about the multiplexed packets according to the at least two minimum units.   
     
     
       25. A data structure of a broadcast overhead message in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system with a transmission structure in which a transmission unit is defined by at least two minimum units, the at least two minimum units comprising a symbol and a subcarrier, the data structure embodied on a processor-readable medium, comprising:
 a first portion containing information about whether different broadcast service packets are multiplexed or not; and   a second portion containing mapping information about the multiplexed packets according to the at least two minimum units.   
     
     
       26. A method for providing broadcast services in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system with a transmission structure in which one slot includes at least two symbols and each symbol includes a plurality of subcarriers, the method comprising the steps of:
 multiplexing packets of different broadcast services into one slot, and transmitting the multiplexed packets; and   transmitting overhead information related to the multiplexed packets,   wherein the overhead information includes indicating information about whether the packets of the different broadcast services are multiplexed, and mapping information about both symbol positions and subcarriers of the multiplexed packets when the packets of the different broadcast services are multiplexed.   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26, wherein the multiplexing step comprises:
 assigning packets of one broadcast service to some symbols within the one slot, and assigning packets of another broadcast service to remaining symbols.   
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27, wherein the one slot comprises four symbols, and the packets of the one broadcast service are assigned in a unit of two symbols. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 26, wherein the multiplexing step comprises:
 assigning the packets of the different broadcast services to each symbol in the one slot.   
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29, wherein the packets of the different broadcast services assigned to each symbol are assigned to at least two grouped subcarriers. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 30, wherein groups of the subcarriers comprise odd and even subcarriers. 
     
     
       32. An apparatus for providing broadcast services in a base station of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system with a transmission structure in which one slot includes at least two symbols and each symbol includes a plurality of subcarriers, comprising:
 a multiplexer for multiplexing packets of different broadcast services into one slot, and transmitting the multiplexed packets; and   a transmitter for transmitting overhead information related to the multiplexed packets,   wherein the overhead information includes indicating information about whether the packets of the different broadcast services are multiplexed, and mapping information about both symbol positions and subcarriers of the multiplexed packets when the packets of the different broadcast services are multiplexed.   
     
     
       33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the multiplexer comprises:
 a symbol multiplexer for assigning packets of one broadcast service to some symbols within the one slot, and assigning packets of another broadcast service to remaining symbols; and   a subcarrier multiplexer for assigning to two grouped subcarriers the packets of the one broadcast service assigned to the symbols.   
     
     
       34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the multiplexer comprises:
 a symbol multiplexer for assigning the packets of different broadcast services to each symbol included in the one slot; and   a subcarrier multiplexer for assigning to two grouped subcarriers the different broadcast services packets assigned to each symbol.   
     
     
       35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the symbol multiplexer assigns the broadcast service packets in a unit of two symbols, wherein the one slot comprises four symbols. 
     
     
       36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the subcarrier multiplexer classifies the subcarriers into odd and even subcarrier groups.