Signal transmission method and signal transmission apparatus
First Claim
1. A signal transmission method for selecting streams from a plurality of streams, each composed of a signal packetized in compliance with the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) Standard, and concatenating the streams into one single output stream and outputting the output stream, said signal transmission method comprising the steps of:
- assuring synchronization in System Time Clocks (STC'"'"'s) across a plurality in stream output means for outputting streams;
assuring the continuity of Program Clock Reference (PCR), Presentation Time Stamp (PTS), and Decoding Time Stamp (DTS) of the output stream when the streams are concatenated; and
controlling said stream output means so that any stream containing information is not transmitted at the switching of streams when the streams are concatenated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An encoder generates a TS packet of PSI and PCR in synchronization with reference signals generated by an STC reference signal generator and by a picture sequence reference signal generator. A switching TS of multiplexed packet is produced by encoding and packetizing the signals of pictures and voices. When a TS switch performs stream switching, a controller controls the encoder so that any stream having information is not transmitted. Encoding information amount and transmission information amount of packets are controlled. The transmission timing of a PCR packet is also controlled. A plurality of encoders performs similar processes in synchronization. The TS switch switches switching TS'"'"'s, forming a single output TS, without introducing transients and characteristic degradation.
11 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A signal transmission method for selecting streams from a plurality of streams, each composed of a signal packetized in compliance with the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) Standard, and concatenating the streams into one single output stream and outputting the output stream, said signal transmission method comprising the steps of:
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assuring synchronization in System Time Clocks (STC'"'"'s) across a plurality in stream output means for outputting streams;
assuring the continuity of Program Clock Reference (PCR), Presentation Time Stamp (PTS), and Decoding Time Stamp (DTS) of the output stream when the streams are concatenated; and
controlling said stream output means so that any stream containing information is not transmitted at the switching of streams when the streams are concatenated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A signal transmission apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of stream output means which encodes and packetizes a signal in compliance the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) Standard, multiplexes packetized signals, and then outputs the multiplexed signal in a stream;
a stream switching means which creates a single output stream by switching and concatenating streams output from said plurality of stream output means, thereby forming and outputting a single output stream;
a control means for controlling the operation of said plurality of stream output means and said stream switching means; and
a reference signal generator means for generating a reference signal serving as a reference for the operation performed by said plurality of stream output means and said stream switching means, wherein said control means controls said plurality of stream output means, thereby synchronizing the System Time Clocks (STC) across said stream output means, assures the continuity of a Progress Clock Reference (PCR), a Presentation Time Stamp (PTS), and a Decoding Time Stamp (DTS) while not transmitting any stream having information when the streams are concatenated. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A transport stream generation system for generating a single output transport stream by switching a plurality of transport streams, comprising:
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an extractor means for extracting Program Clock Reference (PCR) information, Presentation Time Stamp (PTS) information, and Decoding Time Stamp (DTS) information contained in the plurality of transport streams;
a switching means for generating the single output transport stream by switching the plurality of transport streams; and
a control means for controlling said switching means referencing the PCR information, the PTS information, and the DTS information extracted by said extractor means, wherein said control means controls said switching means to assure continuity of the PCR information, the PTS information, and the DTS information contained in the output transport stream.
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26. A transport stream generation system for generating a single output transport stream by switching a plurality of transport streams, comprising:
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an extractor means for extracting Program Clock Reference (PCR) information, Presentation Time Stamp (PTS) information, and Decoding Time Stamp (DTS) information contained in the plurality of transport streams;
a switching means for generating the single output transport stream by switching the plurality of transport streams on a per transport stream packet basis; and
a control means for controlling said switching means referencing the PCR information, the PTS information, and the DTS information extracted by said extractor means, wherein there is arranged, within a predetermined period of time in the vicinity of a switching point of said switching means, a time gap during which a transport packet containing information relating to the plurality of transport streams is not output from said switching means, and said control means controls said switching means to switch the plurality of transport streams within the time gap.
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27. A transport stream generation system for generating a single output transport stream by switching a plurality of transport streams, comprising:
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an extractor means for extracting time information contained in the plurality of transport streams;
a switching means for generating the single output transport stream by switching the plurality of transport streams on a per transport stream packet basis; and
a control means for controlling said switching means referencing the time information extracted by said extractor means, wherein there is arranged, within a predetermined period of time in the vicinity of a switching point of said switching means, a time gap during which a transport packet containing information relating to the plurality of transport streams is not output from said switching means, and said control means controls said switching means to switch the plurality of transport streams within the time gap.
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28. A transport stream generation method for generating a single output transport stream by switching a plurality of transport streams, comprising:
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the step of extracting time information contained in the plurality of transport streams;
the step of generating the output transport stream by performing a switching process in which the plurality of transport streams is switched at a switching point on a per transport stream packet basis referencing the time information; and
the step of controlling said switching process to switch the plurality of transport streams during a gap time, wherein there is arranged, within a predetermined period of time in the vicinity of the switching point, the time gap during which a transport packet containing information relating to the plurality of transport streams is not output as the output transport stream.
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Specification