Thomson Licensing

Thomson Licensing S.a.

Thomson-csf

Thomson Broadcast Systems

Claude Chapel

Jean Le Roux

Gael Mace

Jean-Charles Guillemot

Jean-Yves Quintard

Fran&ccedil;ois Bourdon

Thierry Tapie

Serge Defrance

Franck Abelard

Olivier Marlec

Valérie Allie

A method intended to aid in the reservation of resources within a packet-switched communication network (CR) comprising a number N of relaying nodes (S-S). This method consists i), in determining for some at least of the N nodes (S-S) at least one resource reservation plan Pik defined by a plan identifier associated with a stream identifier and at least two ports, and ii) in memorizing for each of the N nodes (S-S) the various plans Pik relating to them.

Method for aiding the reservation of resources for a packet-switched network, and associated management device and aid device

A method is intended for scheduling reservations of resources in a packet-switched communication network comprising end-nodes (H-H) and core network switches (S-S). This method comprises the steps of:

Time synchronized resource reservation over packet switched networks

Method for aiding the reservation of resources for a packet switched network, and associated management device and aid device

A method and apparatus for scheduling reservations of resources in a packet-switched communication network including end-nodes and core network switches are described including a time information to each request, issued by an end-node and forwarded by at least one core network switch, and requesting a resource reservation for receiving a stream defined by specifications at a time which is represented by the time information, the reservation scheduling being handled at a data link layer of an Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model and storing the time information, included into each forwarded end-node request in correspondence with associated stream specifications, into at least one related database managed by a core network switch participating in the request forwarding.

Storage device for stream data such as digital video and for non-stream data such as computer files, comprising a single file system which features a first type of storage unit for storing audio and/or video streams and a second type of storage unit for storing non-stream data, wherein the size of the first storage unit is a multiple of the size of the second storage unit, said device further comprising means for allocating a unit of the first type either for stream storage or to split a unit of the first type into a plurality of units of the second type, for storage of non-stream data. The invention also concerns a method for storing stream data or non-stream data. Applicable in digital television systems.

Method and device for storing stream data such as digital video and non-stream data

A method intended to aid in the reservation of resources within a packet-switched communication network comprising a number N of relaying nodes. This method consists i), in determining for some at least of the N nodes at least one resource reservation plan Pik defined by a plan identifier associated with a stream identifier and at least two ports, and ii) in memorizing for each of the N nodes the various plans Pik relating to them.

Method of aiding the reservation of resources for a packet switching network, and associated management device and aid device

The inventions concerns a network data storage system comprising a storage unit, at least one network client and an intermediate network switch. The storage unit contains at least two data storage servers each comprises a local storage component containing digital file segments of at least one digital file and is adapted to execute a local digital file management method organizing the physical location of the digital file segments. Each data storage server is adapted to communicate with the other data storage servers and to execute a distributed digital file management method. The distributed digital file management method maintains a record of operations and communicates internally with the other data storage servers to obtain information concerning the digital file segments contained on the other data storage servers and an overview of all information concerning all digital files stored on the storage unit.

Network data storage system

The invention concerns a communication device including several external data sources, at least a local area network connecting peripherals, means enabling to establish connections between the local area network and the external data sources, means for controlling the incoming data from the external sources and for sending them to the local area network in order to reduce the bandwidth occupation on the local area network. The device also includes means for updating signalization tables included in the incoming data and means for inserting the modified signalization tables in the transport stream sent to the local area network. It is applicable to IEEE 1394 networks.

Incremental modular home gateway

A device is coupled to a first network and a second network and comprises a first storage element and a second storage element. The device stores data packets originating from the first network in the first storage element and stores data packets destined for the second network in the second storage element. In particular, the device slaves the writing of a data packet intended for the second network into the second storage element to the reading of the data packet from the first storage element so that the transfer time inside the device is constant for all the data packets.

Method and device for transferring data packets

A data storage medium read/write unit, designed to be installed in an electronic apparatus, comprising an electronic read/write device or electronic module and a plastic thermal non conducting housing definitively bound to the electronic read/write device. The housing holds at least one embedded metallic heat sink that is closely in contact with the lateral sides of the electronic read/write device for cooling it. Application to MPEG-2 and H.264 encoding.

Data storage medium read/write unit comprising a heat sink

The invention concerns a method comprising a step which consists in comparing a label to a value counted from a transfer clock to define the transfer time on the bus of a packet read on a recording medium. The invention is characterized in that for implementing a special mode or trick mode, it further comprises the following steps: calculating a difference between two consecutive packets based on the values of recorded labels; calculating an offset value based on said difference and parameters received on the bus defining the special mode; adding said offset value to the label value of the transmitted packet to obtain a new label value defining the transfer time on the bus of the following packet to be transmitted. The invention is applicable to the storage of MPEG data.

Method and device for video data transmission for implementing special modes

A process for synchronizing an MPEG decoder, characterized by the process of calculating an actual instant of presentation Tpres of the video of an image, this instant relating to a local clock LSTC, further calculating an offset STOC between Tpres, being the calculated instant of presentation and the PTS label corresponding to the instant of presentation desired by the coder for the video of this image, so as to define a virtual clock VSTC=STCO+LSTC, the presentation of the video corresponding to this image being made at the PTS dates relating to the virtual clock VSTC, wherein this process relates to satellite decoders, MPEG decoders, as well, as digital TV receivers, utilizing a hard disk for recording coded data.

Process and device for synchronizing an MPEG decoder

MPEG stream switching process

A control interface for the bit rate of digital data to be recorded as well as a control interface for the bit rate of digital data emanating from a reading device, particularly when the digital data constitutes a high bit rate uninterrupted data stream such as a video data stream in the MPEG II format. Each control interface comprises a memory circuit for storing the data to be recorded or to be read and a device for storing the data to be recorded or read in the memory circuit so as to fill the memory circuit to a predetermined level. The storing device includes a gauge for generating an information item giving the fill level of the memory.

Bit rate control interface for the recording and/or reading of digital data

The coder makes it possible to convert a succession of video and/or audio blocks, consisting of binary combinations of N bits, into a succession of binary data blocks consisting of combinations of N bits, each binary data block corresponding to one video and/or audio block. The coder codes each end binary combination 0 or 2,of each video and/or audio block in the form of a coded binary combination consisting of a nature information item In and a position information item Ip. The nature information item In gives the nature, 0 or 2,, of the end binary combination, and the position information item Ip gives the position which the end combination occupies in the video block. Conversely, the decoder makes it possible to reconstruct a succession of video and/or audio blocks, consisting of binary combinations of N bits, from a succession of binary data blocks such as the ones mentioned above, that is to say ones for which the end combinations 0 or 2,of each video and/or audio block are coded in the form of a nature information item In and a position information item Ip.

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Rennes, France

Claude Chapel