Hughes Electronics Corporation

The Directv Group, Inc.

Robert H Plummer

Leon J Stanger

Chao-Kung Yang

James A Michener

Hanno Basse

Jim C Williams

Richard Kent Newman

John P Godwin

Leon J Stranger

Richard J Echeita

Thomas G McGiffen

A system and method for adding auxiliary data Dto an output data stream from a statistical multiplexer is disclosed. An auxiliary multiplexer accepts a statistically multiplexed data stream, and substitutes auxiliary data packets for null data packets. The auxiliary multiplexer controls the number of null packets in the statistically multiplexed data stream by controlling the target bandwidth Bof the statistical multiplexer, or by modifying the statistical multiplexer equation to make the auxiliary data stream a participant in the negotiation process of allocating throughput among the data sources.

Exploitation of null packets in packetized digital television systems

An adaptive variable bit rate audio encoder and method that examines audio level information and detects various information in the audio data in a psychoacoustic model to create a quantization value and assign a mode tag to a single frame of audio. A bit rate is assigned according to one of three modes, a self-adaptive mode which is free-running and takes direction only from the characteristics of the incoming audio signal, a managed mode which is controlled by rules set from a statistical multiplexer, and a combination of self-adaptive and managed in which control rules from the statistical multiplexer act to maintain limits on the self-adaptive mode.

Adaptive variable bit rate audio compression encoding

A method and apparatus for perceptibly masking acquisition time in a digital broadcast system transmitting programs on multiple channels is incorporated in a receiver for the information signal transmission system. The apparatus and the method generate a reduced time response, independent of the acquisition time for complete video images, and provide an output for portraying a masking display from the receiver before the acquisition time has expired. A generator and the output display are easily employed with known video transmission systems by suing a microcontroller switch to select channels and retrieve audio or visual cues in response to an output response less than that necessary for communicating the entire program image.

Method and apparatus for audio-visual cues improving perceived acquisition time

A system and method for distributing high definition television (HDTV) and standard definition television (SDTV) signals via satellite is disclosed. At the transmission station an MPEG-2 video encoder compresses a video signal and a digital encoder encodes an audio signal. The compressed video and the encoded audio are coupled to PES packetizers, which generate video and audio packetized elementary data streams having PES headers and PES payloads. Within each PES header is a presentation time stamp (PTS), which is representative of the time at which the payload is to be displayed to the user. The packetized elementary data streams are multiplexed together by a transport multiplexer and repacketizer and broadcast to receiver stations, via satellite. The receiver stations receive the PES information and obtain the PTS. A receiver station multiplies the PTS by 300 and compares its local clock reference to that time. When the local clock reference and the PTS are identical, the PES audio and video information is displayed to the user according to the local clock reference.

Method and apparatus for transmitting high definition television programming using a digital satellite system transport and MPEG-2 packetized elementary streams (PES)

An apparatus for temporally shifting video data within a video signal is provided with a video data source for providing a video signal and a signal splitter for generating a first video data stream and a second video data stream, the first video data stream comprising video data in excess of a threshold. The apparatus includes means for temporally shifting the excess video data in the first video data stream relative to the second video data stream and means for recombining the first video data stream with the second video data stream after the first video data stream has been temporally shifted relative to the second video data stream. The means for temporally shifting the excess video data in the first video data stream relative to the second video data stream may include a first delay buffer for delaying the first video data stream by an adjustable time period and a second delay buffer for delaying the second video data stream by a fixed time period.

Video broadcast system with video data shifting

A video broadcast system is provided with an apparatus for processing a plurality of program signals corresponding to, for example, movies or other prerecorded programs, to selectively reduce the bandwidth required to transmit or broadcast the program signals. The signal processing apparatus includes a rate controller for generating a rate reduction factor based upon the data rates of the first and second program signals, a first channel processor coupled to receive the first program signal, and a second channel processor coupled to receive the second program signal. Each of the channel processors includes a data path for selectively reducing the bit rate of the program signals based upon the rate reduction factor.

Video system with selectable bit rate reduction

An apparatus for statistically multiplexing a plurality of video signals is provided with first and second complexity detectors which generate first and second complexity signals which relate to the complexity of first and second video signals, respectively, and first and second encoders for compressing the first and second video signals at variable compression rates to generate a first and second compressed video signals. The apparatus also includes a controller for controlling the variable compression rates of the encoders based on the complexity signal signals and a multiplexer coupled to receive the compressed video signals. The apparatus may be provided in a broadcasting system, such as a satellite is broadcasting system. The broadcast system may include a transmitter coupled to receive the video signals from the multiplexer, a satellite coupled to receive the video signals from the transmitter, a receiver for receiving video signals from the satellite, and one or more decoders connected to receive video signals from the receiver.

Statistical multiplexer for video signals

In a predictive manner, bandwidth requirements for each pre-compressed information frame are sent to a concentrator so that the pre-compressed information and other information is efficiently concentrated without cropping any information. Specifically, the bandwidth requirement for each one of multiple data frames is obtained and stored with the information data frames. The multiple data frames are concentrated with additional data into one data stream, and concentration is controlled with the aggregate bandwidth requirement of the bandwidth requirements for each one of the multiple data frames. A processor with an information data input, a processed data output and a rate data output for each frame of the processed data output is coupled to a storage device. A concentrator operatively connects to the storage device. The concentrator is capable of receiving at least a first and second frame of information data and has a concentrated output. A controller operatively connects to the storage device and is capable of receiving at least one bandwidth requirement. The controller has a data flow control output connected to the concentrator.

System for allocating available bandwidth of a concentrated media output

An apparatus for statistically multiplexing a plurality of video signals is provided with a complexity detector, coupled to receive a pre-compressed video signal, for generating a complexity signal which relates to the complexity of the pre-compressed video signal, an encoder for compressing a non-compressed video signal at a variable compression rate to generate a compressed video signal, a controller for controlling the variable compression rate of the encoder based on the complexity signal, and a multiplexer coupled to receive the pre-compressed video signal and the compressed video signal. The apparatus may be provided in a broadcasting system, such as a satellite broadcasting system. The broadcast system may include a transmitter coupled to receive the video signals from the multiplexer, a satellite coupled to receive the video signals from the transmitter, a receiver for receiving video signals from the satellite, and one or more decoders connected to receive video signals from the receiver.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Robert H Plummer