Device and method for generating and decoding a side channel signal transmitted with a main channel signal

A device for generating a signal to be transmitted, comprising:

• an encoder configured to generate an encoded signal from an information signal, wherein the encoder is implemented to:
• generate a main channel and a side channel which are capable of being decoded separate from each other and represent the information signal;
• and
• generate the main channel and the side channel so that the side channel is more resistant against transmission-channel influences than the main channel.

A device for generating a decoded signal, comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a receive signal comprising a main channel and a side channel which are capable of being decoded separate from each other, wherein a minimal signal/noise ratio used to decode the side channel is smaller than a minimal signal/noise ratio used to decode the main channel;
• a decoder configured to generate a main channel which is separate from the side channel;
• a quality observer configured to assess a receive quality;
• and
• a changeover switch which is controllable by the quality observer to provide the side channel as a decoded signal when the receive quality is lower than a threshold quality and to provide the main channel as a decoded signal when the receive quality is higher than or equal to the threshold quality.

A method for generating a decoded signal, comprising:

• receiving, by a receiver, a receive signal comprising a main channel and a side channel which are capable of being decoded separate from each other, wherein a minimal signal/noise ratio used to decode the side channel is smaller than a minimal signal/noise ratio used to decode the main channel;
• generating, by a decoder, a main channel separate from the side channel;
• assessing, by a quality observer, a receive quality;
• and
• providing, by a changeover switch, as a decoded signal, the side channel, when the receive quality is lower than a threshold quality, or providing, as a decoded signal, the main channel, when the receive quality is higher than or equal to the threshold quality,
• wherein at least one of the receiver, the decoder, the quality observer, and the changeover switch comprises a hardware implementation.

A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising a program code for executing, when the computer program runs on a computer, a method of generating a decoded signal, the method comprising:

• receiving a receive signal comprising a main channel and a side channel which are capable of being decoded separate from each other, wherein a minimal signal/noise ratio used to decode the side channel is smaller than a minimal signal/noise ratio used to decode the main channel;
• generating a main channel separate from the side channel;
• assessing a receive quality;
• and
• providing, as a decoded signal, the side channel, when the receive quality is lower than a threshold quality, or providing, as a decoded signal, the main channel, when the receive quality is higher than or equal to the threshold quality.