An error-correcting code for data broadcasting and its error-correction capability

Abstract

By using the vertical blanking period of television signals, it is possible to transmit coded data such as teletext, newspaper, telesoftware, music score, etc. However, the quality of ordinary TV channels is very poor for digital communications and a powerful error-correcting code is required to reliably transmit coded data. From the results of simulations using error pattern data collected in field tests and the comparison of various error-correcting codes under many conditions, it has been determined that the shortened (272, 190) majority-logic decodable difference-set cyclic code is a suitable code for NTSC TV signals. Moreover, the decoding algorithm for this code has been improved in order to increase the error-correction capability and a new LSI with this function has been developed. By using error-correcting codes proposed to date for teletext, it has been difficult to obtain a page error rate (PER) of 10 −1 in many measurement points. However, PERs of less than 10 −2 can be obtained in this system, even when random noise, ghost interference, or waveform distortion are present and bit error rates (BERs) are 10 −2. This paper also gives PERs according to the error-data collected in field tests and shows that the error-correction capability increased equivalently up to 11 error-bits in a 272-bit by improving the decoding algorithm and the results of indoor and outdoor tests.