Methods and apparatus for reconfiguring protocol data when reducing multiplexed data streams

• US 20050105564A1
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: DiColli, Richard, Kuczynski-Brown, Jeffrey D., Viola, Jeffrey Paul, Elstermann, Erik, Jost, Arthur P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,653,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/537
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for reconfiguring protocol data for a multiplexed data stream which is reduced to carry fewer services for cable-side transmission in a cable television plant or the like. More particularly, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for reconfiguring protocol data for a desired combination of data streams contained within an incoming high data rate multiplexed data stream, such as a high data rate Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulated multiplexed data stream, when the incoming multiplexed data stream is reduced.

Claims

1. A method for reconfiguring protocol data when reducing a multiplexed data stream, comprising:

receiving at a transcoder an inbound multiplexed data stream having;

(1) a plurality of data streams, each of which carries a service;

(2) a protocol data set defining the plurality of data streams; and

(3) one or more hidden protocol data sets, each hidden protocol data set associated with a predefined combination of the plurality of data streams;

selecting one of said hidden protocol data sets corresponding to a desired combination of data streams; and

outputting the desired combination of data streams and the selected hidden protocol data set.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said protocol data set defining the plurality of data streams comprises;

an all-inclusive program association table (PAT) identified by a first packet identifier (PID); and

an all-inclusive protocol base PID stream identified by a second PID;

each of said hidden protocol data sets comprises;

a hidden PAT associated with one of said predefined combinations of the plurality of data streams and identified by a PID chosen from a first group of PIDS; and

a hidden protocol data (HPD) base PID stream corresponding to the hidden PAT, each HPD base PID stream identified by a PID chosen from a second group of PIDS.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said selecting of one of the hidden protocol data sets comprises selecting one hidden PAT corresponding to the desired combination of data streams.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:

determining a protocol data makeup of the desired combination of data streams from the HPD base PID associated with the selected hidden PAT;

re-mapping the selected hidden PAT to a first predetermined PID; and

re-mapping the HPD base PID stream corresponding to the selected hidden PAT to a second predetermined PID;

wherein the re-mapped PAT and the re-mapped HPD base PID stream are output with the desired combination of data streams.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

the first predetermined PID is the PID of the all-inclusive PAT; and

the second predetermined PID is the PID of the all-inclusive protocol base PID stream.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of data streams are from a plurality of sources.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

the plurality of data streams comprise a plurality of multiplexed data stream subgroups; and

each hidden protocol data set is associated with a predefined combination of the multiplexed data stream subgroups.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the desired combination of data streams and the selected hidden protocol data set are output in an intermediate frequency data stream having one of:

(i) a maximum data rate of about 27 Mbps;

or (ii) a maximum data rate of about 38.8 Mbps.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein each hidden protocol data set contains at least one of a system time table (SST), ratings region table (RRT), a master guide table (MGT), and a virtual channel table (VCT) for those services present in the associated combination of said plurality of data streams.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

discarding the protocol data set defining the plurality of data streams, any hidden protocol data sets which were not selected, and any data streams not contained in the desired combination.

11. Apparatus for reconfiguring protocol data when reducing a multiplexed data stream, comprising:

a transcoder for receiving an inbound multiplexed data stream, said multiplexed data stream having;

(1) a plurality of data streams, each of which carries a service;

(2) a protocol data set defining the plurality of data streams; and

(3) one or more hidden protocol data sets, each hidden protocol data set associated with a predefined combination of the plurality of data streams; and

a processor associated with the transcoder, said processor configured to;

(a) receive the protocol data set defining the plurality of data streams and said one or more hidden protocol data sets;

(b) select one of said hidden protocol data sets corresponding to a desired combination of data streams; and

(c) direct the transcoder to output the desired combination of data streams and the selected hidden protocol data set.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said protocol data set defining the plurality of data streams comprises;

an all-inclusive program association table (PAT) identified by a first packet identifier (PID); and

an all-inclusive protocol base PID stream identified by a second PID;

each of said hidden protocol data sets comprises;

a hidden PAT associated with one of said predefined combinations of the plurality of data streams and identified by a PID chosen from a first group of PIDS; and

a hidden protocol data (HPD) base PID stream corresponding to the hidden PAT, each HPD base PID stream identified by a PID chosen from a second group of PIDS.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein:

said selection of one of the hidden protocol data sets by the processor comprises a selection of one hidden PAT corresponding to the desired combination of data streams.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein:

the processor determines a protocol data makeup of the desired combination of data streams from the HPD base PID associated with the selected hidden PAT;

the processor re-maps the selected hidden PAT to a first predetermined PID;

the processor re-maps the HPD base PID stream corresponding to the selected hidden PAT to a second predetermined PID; and

the transcoder outputs the re-mapped PAT and the re-mapped HPD base PID stream with the desired combination of data streams.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein:

the first predetermined PID is the PID of the all-inclusive PAT; and

the second predetermined PID is the PID of the all-inclusive protocol base PID stream.

16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the plurality of data streams are from a plurality of sources.

17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

the plurality of data streams comprise a plurality of multiplexed data stream subgroups; and

each hidden protocol data set is associated with a predefined combination of the multiplexed data stream subgroups.

18. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the transcoder outputs the desired combination of data streams and the selected hidden protocol data set in an intermediate frequency data stream having one of:

(i) a maximum data rate of about 27 Mbps;

or (ii) a maximum data rate of about 38.8 Mbps.

19. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein each hidden protocol data set contains at least one of a system time table (SST), ratings region table (RRT), a master guide table (MGT), and a virtual channel table (VCT) for those services present in the associated combination of said plurality of data streams.

20. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

the protocol data set defining the plurality of data streams, any hidden protocol data sets which were not selected, and any data streams not contained in the desired combination are discarded.

21. A method for creating a multiplexed data stream which is to be reduced, comprising:

receiving a plurality of data streams, each carrying a service;

creating a protocol data set defining the plurality of data streams;

defining combinations of the plurality of data streams;

creating one or more hidden protocol data sets, each hidden protocol data set associated with one of said defined combinations of the plurality of data streams; and

combining the protocol data set defining the plurality of data streams, the one or more hidden protocol data sets, and said plurality of data streams to create a multiplexed data stream.

22. Apparatus for creating a multiplexed data stream which is to be reduced, comprising:

an encoder; and

a processor associated with the encoder;

wherein;

the encoder receives a plurality of data streams, each carrying a service;

the processor generates a protocol data set defining the plurality of data streams;

the processor defines combinations of said plurality of data streams;

the processor creates one or more hidden protocol data sets, each hidden protocol data set associated with one of said defined combinations of the plurality of data streams; and

the encoder combines the protocol data set defining the plurality of data streams, the one or more hidden protocol data sets, and said plurality of data streams to create a multiplexed data stream.