Patent · US Expired

Brandwidth optimization of video program bearing transport streams

US6351471B1 · kind B1 · utility

139Cited by
80References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 14, 1998
Grant dateFeb 26, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 14, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/8547
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system are provided for remultiplexing program bearing data. The remultiplexing method and system are applicable to MPEG-2 compliant transport streams carrying video programs. A descriptor based system is used for scheduling the timely output of transport packets wherein each descriptor records a dispatch time as well as a receipt time for each transport packet. The receipt time is used for estimating program clock reference adjustments, but final program clock reference adjustment is performed in hardware in relation to the precise output timing of each transport packets. A descriptor and transport packet caching technique is used for decoupling the synchronous receipt and transmission of transport packets from any asynchronous processing performed thereon. The descriptors can also be used for managing scrambling and descrambling control words (encryption and decryption keys). Remultiplexing functions may be distributed across a network. The remultiplexer can furthermore optimize the bandwidth of transport streams by replacing null transport packets with transport packet data to be inserted into the output transport stream. Program data transmitted via asynchronous co…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.