Method and apparatus for time-multiplexed processing of multiple digital video programs
First Claim
1. A method for processing a plurality of digital video program streams, wherein each stream includes packets sequenced for continuous presentation, said method comprising:
- receiving packets, each packet being associated with a respective one of said plurality of digital video program streams;
assigning a priority for video processing of each stream based on a delivery deadline for at least one packet in that stream;
monitoring the packets of each stream;
reassigning the video processing priorities of the plurality of streams based on delivery deadlines of the monitored packets; and
performing video processing operations on packets from the plurality of streams in order of the priorities assigned to the associated streams.
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to the processing of multiple data streams with common resources. More particularly, this invention relates to a technique for time-multiplexed processing o, for example, multiple digital video programs. In one embodiment, an exemplary method provides for time-multiplexed processing of a set of digital streams includes storing each received packet in a random access memory. For each stream, the deadline for the arrival of the next packet at the receiver is determined and a priority based on the deadline is assigned. The stream with the highest assigned priority is identified as an identified stream. In some embodiments, the processing state of the identified stream is then restored. One or more packets of data corresponding to the identified stream are retrieved from random access memory to produce retrieved packets. The processing state is saved after the retrieved packets have been processed.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for processing a plurality of digital video program streams, wherein each stream includes packets sequenced for continuous presentation, said method comprising:
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receiving packets, each packet being associated with a respective one of said plurality of digital video program streams;
assigning a priority for video processing of each stream based on a delivery deadline for at least one packet in that stream;
monitoring the packets of each stream;
reassigning the video processing priorities of the plurality of streams based on delivery deadlines of the monitored packets; and
performing video processing operations on packets from the plurality of streams in order of the priorities assigned to the associated streams. - 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. Apparatus for processing a plurality of digital video program streams, wherein each stream includes packets sequenced for continuous presentation, said apparatus comprising:
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a packet receiver adapted to receive packets that are each associated with a respective one of said plurality of digital video program streams;
means for assigning a priority for video processing of each stream based on a delivery deadline for at least one packet in that stream;
means for continuously monitoring the packets of each stream;
means for reassigning the video processing priorities of the plurality of streams based on delivery deadlines of the continuously monitored packets; and
a video processor coupled to process packets from the plurality of streams in order of the priorities assigned to the associated streams. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification