Signalling for digital broadcasting system

An apparatus for transmitting data that includes a plurality of data streams in a wireless broadcast system, the apparatus comprising:

• a transmitter for:
• mapping the plurality of data streams onto a super-frame comprising a plurality of frames, each frame comprising a preamble section and a data section, the preamble section and the data section being time-multiplexed, the data section carrying at least parts of said plurality of data streams, and the preamble section carrying at least signalling information;
• inserting signalling information in a first signalling information field for assisting in the reception of a first number of said plurality of data streams for a given frame, the first number being less than or equal to a limit applicable to each of the plurality of frames, and the first signalling information field being of a size that is the same for each of the plurality of frames;
• dependent on a number of data streams for the given frame being greater than said limit, inserting signalling information in a second signalling information field for assisting in the reception of further of said plurality of data streams for the given frame, the second signalling information field being of a size that may vary from that of others of the plurality of frames;
• inserting said first and second signalling information fields in a preamble section of said given frame;
• and
• transmitting the plurality of frames.

A method of receiving data comprising a plurality of data streams in a wireless broadcast system, the plurality of data streams having been mapped onto a super-frame comprising a plurality of frames, the method comprising:

• receiving a first information field for a given frame from among the plurality of frames, wherein each frame comprising a preamble section and a data section, the preamble section and the data section being time-multiplexed, the data section carrying at least parts of said plurality of data streams, and the preamble section carrying at least signalling information, when a preamble section of a given frame includes:
• the first signalling information field including signalling information for assisting in the reception of a first number of said plurality of data streams for the given frame, the first number being less than or equal to a limit applicable to each of the plurality of frames, and the first signalling information field being of a size that is the same for each of the plurality of frames;
• and
• dependent on a number of data streams for the given frame being greater than said limit, a second signalling information field including signalling information for assisting in the reception of further of said plurality of data streams for the given frame, the second signalling information field being of a variable size;
• and
• receiving the second signalling information field according to an indication in the first signalling information field that indicates whether the second signalling information field is to be transmitted.

An apparatus for receiving data that includes a plurality of data streams in a wireless broadcast system, the plurality of data streams being mapped onto a super-frame comprising a plurality of frames, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver for receiving a first signalling information field for a given frame from among the plurality of frames, and receiving a second signalling information field according to an indication in the first signalling information field that indicates whether a second signalling information field is to be transmitted,
• wherein each frame includes a preamble section and a data section, the preamble section and the data section being time-multiplexed, the data section carrying at least parts of said plurality of data streams, and the preamble section carrying at least signalling information, wherein a preamble section of a given frame includes:
• the first signalling information field including signalling information for assisting in the reception of a first number of said plurality of data streams for the given frame, the first number being less than or equal to a limit applicable to each of the plurality of frames, and the first signalling information field being of a size that is the same for each of the plurality of frames;
• and
• dependent on a number of data streams for the given frame being greater than said limit, the second signalling information field including signalling information for assisting in the reception of further of said plurality of data streams for the given frame, the second signalling information field being of a variable size.