Dynamic bit allocation for statistical multiplexing of compressed and uncompressed digital video signals
US6167084A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 27, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 27, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N19/70
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for allocating bits in a statistical multiplexing system (stat mux). A statistical multiplexer (stat mux) accommodates both compressed and uncompressed video programs using transcoding and encoding, respectively. Hierarchical dynamic bit allocation is used, starting from a super GOP level, then to a super frame level, and then to the regular (individual) frame level. At each level, a target number of bits is determined. A target number of bits for a super frame, which is a collection of frames across all channels at a given frame instance, is adaptive and is able to address any combination of picture types. Frames of the same picture type for a program are generally assigned the same (or similar) number of bits. Relative program quality can be controlled using a program priority weighting factor. Additionally, constraints on target bit rates and minimum and maximum bit rates are provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.