Method of measuring goodness of a module schedule for a carousel

• US 20030009763A1
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Crinon, Regis J., Stanley, James C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,269,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/92
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23617 by inserting additional data into a data carousel, e.g. inserting software modules into a DVB carousel arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26266 for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65

Abstract

A method of determining a goodness metric of a module schedule. The module schedule comprises a plurality of modules, at least one of which exhibits multiple instances, that are arranged within the period of a carousel. The goodness metric is based, at least in part, upon the interval difference associated with each instance of all modules on the carousel. The interval difference for an instance of a module is the difference between the actual interval of the instance and a desired interval for that module.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an interval difference for an instance of a module on a carousel;

applying a function to the interval difference to determine a result for the instance; and

adding the result for the instance to a sum.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an interval difference for each remaining instance of the module;

applying the function to the interval difference for each remaining instance to determine a result for each remaining instance; and

adding the result for each remaining instance to the sum.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining an interval difference for each instance of each remaining module on the carousel;

applying the function to the interval difference for each instance of each remaining module to determine a result for each instance of each remaining module; and

adding the result for each instance of each remaining module to the sum.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adding a penalty term to the sum in response to an actual interval of the instance equaling one; and

adding a penalty term to the sum in response to an actual interval of the instance equaling negative one.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an absolute value of the interval difference to determine the result for the instance.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a square of the interval difference to determine the result for the instance.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a square of the interval difference;

adding one to the square of the interval difference to determine a number; and

determining a Logarithmic of the number to determine the result for the instance.

8. A method comprising:

setting a sum variable to zero;

selecting a module of a carousel;

selecting an instance of the selected module;

determining an interval difference of the selected instance;

applying a function to the interval difference of the selected instance to determine a result for the selected instance; and

adding the result for the selected instance to the sum.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

selecting a second instance of the selected module;

determining an interval difference of the second instance;

applying the function to the interval difference of the second instance to determine a result for the second instance; and

adding the result for the second instance to the sum.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

selecting a second module of the carousel;

selecting an instance of the second module;

determining an interval difference of the selected instance of the second module;

applying the function to the interval difference of the selected instance to determine a result for the selected instance of the second module; and

adding the result for the selected instance of the second module to the sum.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

adding a penalty term to the sum when an actual interval of the selected instance equals one; and

adding a penalty term to the sum when an actual interval of the selected instance equals negative one.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining an absolute value of the interval difference to determine the result for the selected instance.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining a square of the interval difference to determine the result for the selected instance.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a square of the interval difference;

adding one to the square of the interval difference to determine a number; and

determining a Logarithmic of the number to determine the result for the selected instance.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining which of the first and second goodness metrics is an optimum goodness metric; and

selecting one of the first module schedule and the second module schedule corresponding to the optimum goodness metric.

17. The method of claim 16, the optimum goodness metric corresponding to a lowest goodness metric.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising identifying at least one module schedule of the plurality of module schedules having an optimum goodness metric.

20. The method of claim 19, the optimum goodness metric corresponding to a lowest goodness metric.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing said at least one module schedule to an insertion device for encapsulation into a transmission.

15. A method comprising:

providing a plurality of modules, at least one module of the plurality of modules having at least two instances;

generating a first module schedule for the plurality of modules;

determining a first goodness metric for the first module schedule;

generating at least a second module schedule for the plurality of modules;

determining a second goodness metric for the second module schedule;

selecting one of the first module schedule and the second module schedule in response to the first and second goodness metrics; and

encapsulating a carousel exhibiting the selected module schedule into a transmission.

18. A method comprising:

providing a plurality of modules, at least one module of the plurality of modules having at least two instances;

generating a plurality of module schedules for the plurality of modules; and

determining a goodness metric for each module schedule of the plurality of modules schedules.

22. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine accessible medium, the machine accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to

determine an interval difference for an instance of a module on a carousel;

apply a function to the interval difference to determine a result for the instance; and

add the result for the instance to a sum.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

determine an interval difference for each remaining instance of the module;

apply the function to the interval difference for each remaining instance to determine a result for each remaining instance; and

add the result for each remaining instance to the sum.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

determine an interval difference for each instance of each remaining module on the carousel;

apply the function to the interval difference for each instance of each remaining module to determine a result for each instance of each remaining module; and

add the result for each instance of each remaining module to the sum.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

add a penalty term to the sum in response to an actual interval of the instance equaling one; and

add a penalty term to the sum in response to an actual interval of the instance equaling negative one.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to determine an absolute value of the interval difference to determine the result for the instance.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to determine a square of the interval to determine the result for the instance.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

determine a square of the interval difference;

add one to the square of the interval difference to determine a number; and

determine a Logarithmic of the number to determine the result for the instance.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

select a second instance of the selected module;

determine an interval difference of the second instance;

apply the function to the interval difference of the second instance to determine a result for the second instance; and

add the result for the second instance to the sum.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

select a second module of the carousel;

select an instance of the second module;

determine an interval difference of the selected instance of the second module;

apply the function to the interval difference of the selected instance to determine a result for the selected instance of the second module; and

add the result for the selected instance of the second module to the sum.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

add a penalty term to the sum when an actual interval of the selected instance equals one; and

add a penalty term to the sum when an actual interval of the selected instance equals negative one.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to determine an absolute value of the interval difference to determine the result for the selected instance.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to determine a square of the interval difference to determine the result for the selected instance.

35. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

determine a square of the interval difference;

add one to the square of the interval difference to determine a number; and

determine a Logarithmic of the number to determine the result for the selected instance.

37. The article of manufacture of claim 36, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

determine which of the first and second goodness metrics is an optimum goodness metric; and

select one of the first module schedule and the second module schedule corresponding to the optimum goodness metric.

38. The article of manufacture of claim 36, the optimum goodness metric corresponding to a lowest goodness metric.

40. The article of manufacture of claim 39, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to identify at least one module schedule of the plurality of module schedules having an optimum goodness metric.

41. The article of manufacture of claim 40, the optimum goodness metric corresponding to a lowest goodness metric.

42. The article of manufacture of claim 40, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to provide said at least one module schedule to an insertion device for encapsulation into a transmission.

29. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine accessible medium, the machine accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to

set a sum variable to zero;

select a module of a carousel;

select an instance of the selected module;

determine an interval difference of the selected instance;

apply a function to the interval difference of the selected instance to determine a result for the selected instance; and

add the result for the selected instance to the sum.

36. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine accessible medium, the machine accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to

provide a plurality of modules, at least one module of the plurality of modules having at least two instances;

generate a first module schedule for the plurality of modules;

determine a first goodness metric for the first module schedule;

generate at least a second module schedule for the plurality of modules;

determine a second goodness metric for the second module schedule;

select one of the first module schedule and the second module schedule in response to the first and second goodness metrics; and

encapsulate a carousel exhibiting the selected module schedule into a transmission.

39. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine accessible medium, the machine accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to

provide a plurality of modules, at least one module of the plurality of modules having at least two instances;

generate a plurality of module schedules for the plurality of modules; and

determine a goodness metric for each module schedule of the plurality of modules schedules.