Multi-tier buffering system and method which combines video, data, and voice packets
First Claim
1. A digital headend system for communicating a plurality of video packets, a plurality of data packets, a plurality of voice packets, and a plurality of control packets, comprising:
- a buffering module configured to receive said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, said plurality of voice packets, and said plurality of control packets;
a first re-packetization module in communication with said buffering module, said first re-packetization module configured to combine said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, said plurality of voice packets, and said plurality of control packets to generate a first re-packetization module output; and
a first synchronizing module configured to receive said first re-packetization output and configured to generate a first synchronous output stream having said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, said plurality of voice packets and said plurality of control packets.
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Abstract
The present invention is a digital headend system for communicating a plurality of video packets, data packets, voice packets, and control packets. The system includes a buffering module, a re-packetization module, and a synchronization module. The buffering module receives the plurality of video packets, data packets, voice packets, control packets or any combination of packets. Preferably, the buffering module generates a destination address which identifies a particular re-packetization module. The identified re-packetization module is in communication with the buffering module. The first re-packetization module combines the plurality of video packets, data packets, voice packets, control packets or any combination thereof. The synchronizing module receives the re-packetization output and generates a synchronous output stream having the plurality of video packets, data packets, voice packets, control packets or any combination thereof. Preferably, the synchronous output stream is comprised of MPEG transport packets.
The present invention also provides a method for communicating the plurality of video packet, data packet, voice packet, control packets, or any combination thereof. The method provides for receiving the plurality of video, data, voice, control packets or any combination thereof. The method then proceeds to communicate the plurality of video packets, data packets, voice packets, control packets, or any combination thereof across a shared bus. The plurality of video packets, data packets, voice packets, control packets or any combination thereof which are communicated across said shared bus are managed by a processor resident on the re-packetization module.
189 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A digital headend system for communicating a plurality of video packets, a plurality of data packets, a plurality of voice packets, and a plurality of control packets, comprising:
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a buffering module configured to receive said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, said plurality of voice packets, and said plurality of control packets;
a first re-packetization module in communication with said buffering module, said first re-packetization module configured to combine said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, said plurality of voice packets, and said plurality of control packets to generate a first re-packetization module output; and
a first synchronizing module configured to receive said first re-packetization output and configured to generate a first synchronous output stream having said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, said plurality of voice packets and said plurality of control packets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28)
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11. A digital headend system for communicating a plurality of video packets, a plurality of data packets, and a plurality of control packets, comprising:
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a buffering module configured to receive said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, and said plurality of control packets;
a first re-packetization module in communication with said buffering module, said first re-packetization module configured to combine said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, and said plurality of control packets to generate a first re-packetization module output; and
a first synchronizing module configured to receive said first re-packetization output and configured to generate a first synchronous output stream having said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, and said plurality of control packets. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A digital headend system for communicating a plurality of video packets, a plurality of voice packets, and a plurality of control packets, comprising:
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a buffering module configured to receive said plurality of video packets, said plurality of voice packets, and said plurality of control packets;
a first re-packetization module in communication with said buffering module, said first re-packetization module configured to combine said plurality of video packets, said plurality of voice packets, and said plurality of control packets to generate a first re-packetization module output; and
a synchronizing module configured to receive said first re-packetization output and configured to generate a first synchronous output stream having said plurality of video packets, said plurality of voice packets and said plurality of control packets. - View Dependent Claims (27, 29, 30)
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31. A method for communicating a plurality of video packets, a plurality of data packets, a plurality of voice packets, and a plurality of control packets, comprising:
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receiving said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, said plurality of voice packets, and said plurality of control packets;
communicating said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, said plurality of voice packets, and said plurality of control packets across a shared bus; and
processing said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, said plurality of voice packets, and said plurality of control packets communicated across said shared bus to occupy one communications channel. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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36. A method for communicating a plurality of video packets, a plurality of data packets, and a plurality of control packets, comprising:
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receiving said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, and said plurality of control packets;
communicating said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, and said plurality of control packets across a shared bus; and
processing said plurality of video packets, said plurality of data packets, and said plurality of control packets communicated across said shared bus to occupy one communications channel.
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41. A method for communicating a plurality of video packets, a plurality of voice packets, and a plurality of control packets, comprising:
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receiving said plurality of video packets, said plurality of voice packets, and said plurality of control packets;
communicating said plurality of video packets, said plurality of voice packets, and said plurality of control packets across a shared bus; and
processing said plurality of video packets, said plurality of voice packets, and said plurality of control packets communicated across said shared bus to occupy one communications channel. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification