The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 06, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 14, 2000
Paul Haskell, Saratoga, CA (US);
Dackary Busch, Spokane, WA (US);
Harmonic, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A statistical multiplexing apparatus and method for encoding and combining a diversity of video signal resolutions and formats. Higher resolution signals are reduced to lower resolution signals for simplifying the a priori statistics gathering process. Alternately, input video signals in multiple formats are converted to a single common format prior to their application to an a priori statistics gatherer. A storage device contains the a priori statistics which are indicative of the encoding complexity of the video signals from which the encoded video bit streams will be generated. The original video signals are applied to encoders which compress the signals in accordance with bit allocation decisions generated by a statistics computer. The statistics computer uses the a priori statistics from the storage device to generate bit allocation decisions. Subsequently, the statistics computer may use both the a priori statistics and the a posteriori statistics received from the encoders in allocating bits. The resulting compressed video bit streams are applied to a multiplexer and combined into a single multiplexed bit stream for transmission on a single channel.