STATISTICAL SUB-MULTIPLEXER FOR CENTRALLY FORMATTED BROADCAST PROGRAMMING

• US 20110069614A1
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: BAUMGARTNER, FREDERICK M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,289,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1682 Allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users, e.g. concentrated multiplexers, statistical multiplexers
• 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 21/23655 Statistical multiplexing, e.g. by controlling the encoder to alter its bitrate to optimize the bandwidth utilization
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• 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

Methods and systems generate a multiplex signal including two or more different sub-multiplexes for transmission via a broadcast network. A first sub-multiplex may include several services for broadcast in multiple locations, while multiple second sub-multiplexes may include services for broadcast within particular locations. A statistical multiplexer generates the first sub-multiplex within a first bandwidth allocation. If the first sub-multiplex services cannot fit within the allocated bandwidth, the bandwidth allocation may be adjusted. The statistical multiplexer may generate a second sub-multiplex within a second bandwidth allocation. If the second sub-multiplex services do not fit within the allocated bandwidth, the bandwidth allocation may be adjusted to increase the bandwidth allocated to the second sub-multiplex and decrease the bandwidth allocated to the first sub-multiplex so that the total bandwidth capacity of a broadcast network is not exceeded. This process may be repeated for each of the second sub multiplexes.

Claims

1. A method for generating a broadcast signal including a plurality of groups of content, comprising:

forming statistical multiplex groups around each of the plurality of groups of content; and

encoding the content within each of the plurality of groups of content to form a sub-multiplex for each group so that a total bandwidth required for two or more sub-multiplexes does not exceed a maximum broadcast bandwidth.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of groups of content includes a single common group of content;

encoding the content for the common group of content generates a common sub-multiplex; and

encoding the content within each of the plurality of groups of content to form a sub-multiplex for each group is accomplished so that a total bandwidth required for the common sub-multiplex plus any one sub-multiplex for the other groups of content does not exceed the maximum broadcast bandwidth.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the maximum broadcast bandwidth is a maximum broadcast capability of a local broadcast network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein encoding the content within each of the plurality of groups of content to form a sub-multiplex for each group comprises:

increasing bandwidth allocated to the common sub-multiplex and reducing bandwidth allocated to each of the sub-multiplexes for the other groups of content if necessary to ensure acceptable broadcast quality of at least one service within the common content group; and

increasing bandwidth allocated to each of the sub-multiplexes for the other groups of content and reducing bandwidth allocated to the common sub-multiplex if necessary to ensure acceptable broadcast quality of at least one service within at least one of the other groups of content.

5. A method for centrally generating a multiplex signal for broadcast from a plurality of local broadcast networks, comprising:

setting a bandwidth allocation for a national services sub-multiplex and a bandwidth allocation for local services sub-multiplexes such that a total of the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed a maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks;

determining a bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex;

determining whether a total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex exceeds the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex;

determining whether one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed if the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex will exceed the allocated to the national services sub-multiplex;

increasing compression of one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed; and

increasing the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and decreasing the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex cannot be further compressed, wherein a total of the increased bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the decreased bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed the maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining a bandwidth required for each service to be included within one of the local services sub-multiplexes;

determining whether a total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes exceeds the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes;

determining whether one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes can be further compressed if the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes will exceed the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes;

increasing compression of one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes can be further compressed; and

increasing the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes and decreasing the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes cannot be further compressed, wherein a total of the decreased bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the increased bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed the maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

determining a bandwidth required for each service comprises encoding the service for broadcast and determining a bandwidth required by the encoded service; and

increasing compression of one or more of the services comprises re-encoding the one or more of the services so as to increase an amount of data compression.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein:

determining a bandwidth required for each service comprises estimating a bandwidth that will be required by the service when it is encoded for broadcast; and

increasing compression of one or more of the services comprises increasing an amount of data compression to a be applied when the one or more services is encoded for broadcast.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

selecting one or more one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes for further compression beyond a desired maximum level of compression if it is determined that the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes will exceed the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes, that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex cannot be further compressed, and that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed without exceeding the desired maximum level of compression.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating the national services sub-multiplex and each of the local services sub-multiplexes when it is determine that the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national sub-multiplex will not exceed the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex, and that each total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in each of the local sub-multiplexes will not exceed the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein setting a bandwidth allocation for a national services sub-multiplex and a bandwidth allocation for local services sub-multiplexes comprises setting the bandwidth allocations based upon bandwidth allocations determined in a previous time interval.

12. A broadcast system configured a broadcast signal including a plurality of groups of content, comprising:

a computer configured as a statistical multiplexer; and

a codec processor coupled to the computer,

wherein the computer and the codec processor are configured with processor-executable instructions to cooperate in performing steps comprising;

forming statistical multiplex groups around each of the plurality of groups of content; and

encoding the content within each of the plurality of groups of content to form a sub-multiplex for each group so that a total bandwidth required for two or more sub-multiplexes does not exceed a maximum broadcast bandwidth.

13. The broadcast system of claim 12, wherein the computer and the codec processor are configured with processor-executable instructions such that:

the plurality of groups of content includes a single common group of content;

encoding the content for the common group of content generates a common sub-multiplex; and

encoding the content within each of the plurality of groups of content to form a sub-multiplex for each group is accomplished so that a total bandwidth required for the common sub-multiplex plus any one sub-multiplex for the other groups of content does not exceed the maximum broadcast bandwidth.

14. The broadcast system of claim 13, wherein the computer and the codec processor are configured with processor-executable instructions such that the maximum broadcast bandwidth is a maximum broadcast capability of a local broadcast network.

15. The broadcast system of claim 14, wherein the computer and the codec processor are configured with processor-executable instructions such that encoding the content within each of the plurality of groups of content to form a sub-multiplex for each group comprises:

increasing bandwidth allocated to the common sub-multiplex and reducing bandwidth allocated to each of the sub-multiplexes for the other groups of content if necessary to ensure acceptable broadcast quality of at least one service within the common content group; and

increasing bandwidth allocated to each of the sub-multiplexes for the other groups of content and reducing bandwidth allocated to the common sub-multiplex if necessary to ensure acceptable broadcast quality of at least one service within at least one of the other groups of content.

16. A computer of a broadcast system that centrally generates a multiplex signal for broadcast from a plurality of local broadcast networks, the computer comprising:

a processor; and

a network access port coupled to the processor and configured to enable the processor to communicate with a network of the broadcast system,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps comprising;

setting a bandwidth allocation for a national services sub-multiplex and a bandwidth allocation for local services sub-multiplexes such that a total of the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed a maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks;

determining a bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex;

determining whether a total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex exceeds the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex;

determining whether one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed if the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex will exceed the allocated to the national services sub-multiplex;

directing a codec processor of the broadcast system to increase compression of one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed; and

increasing the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and decreasing the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex cannot be further compressed, wherein a total of the increased bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the decreased bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed the maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks.

17. The computer of claim 16, wherein the computer is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps further comprising:

determining a bandwidth required for each service to be included within one of the local services sub-multiplexes;

determining whether a total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes exceeds the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes;

determining whether one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes can be further compressed if the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes will exceed the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes;

directing the codec processor of the broadcast system to increase compression of one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes can be further compressed; and

increasing the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes and decreasing the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes cannot be further compressed, wherein a total of the decreased bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the increased bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed the maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks.

18. The computer of claim 17, wherein the computer is configured with processor-executable instructions such that:

determining a bandwidth required for each service comprises encoding the service for broadcast and determining a bandwidth required by the encoded service; and

directing the codec processor of the broadcast system to increase compression of one or more of the services comprises directing the codec processor to re-encode the one or more of the services so as to increase an amount of data compression.

19. The computer of claim 17, wherein the computer is configured with processor-executable instructions such that:

determining a bandwidth required for each service comprises estimating a bandwidth that will be required by the service when it is encoded for broadcast; and

directing the codec processor of the broadcast system to increase compression of one or more of the services comprises directing the codec processor to increase an amount of data compression to a be applied when the one or more services is encoded for broadcast.

20. The computer of claim 17, wherein the computer is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps further comprising:

selecting one or more one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes for further compression beyond a desired maximum level of compression if it is determined that the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes will exceed the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes, that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex cannot be further compressed, and that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed without exceeding the desired maximum level of compression.

21. The computer of claim 20, wherein the computer is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps further comprising:

generating the national services sub-multiplex and each of the local services sub-multiplexes when it is determine that the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national sub-multiplex will not exceed the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex, and that each total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in each of the local sub-multiplexes will not exceed the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes.

22. The computer of claim 16, wherein the computer is configured with processor-executable instructions such that setting a bandwidth allocation for a national services sub-multiplex and a bandwidth allocation for local, services sub-multiplexes comprises setting the bandwidth allocations based upon bandwidth allocations determined in a previous time interval.

23. A computer system within a broadcast system, the computer system comprising:

means for forming statistical multiplex groups around each of a plurality of groups of content; and

means for encoding the content within each of the plurality of groups of content to form a sub-multiplex for each group so that a total bandwidth required for two or more sub-multiplexes does not exceed a maximum broadcast bandwidth.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein:

the plurality of groups of content includes a single common group of content;

means for encoding the content for the common group of content comprises means for generating a common sub-multiplex; and

means for encoding the content within each of the plurality of groups of content to form a sub-multiplex for each group comprises means for encoding the content so that a total bandwidth required for the common sub-multiplex plus any one sub-multiplex for the other groups of content does not exceed the maximum broadcast bandwidth.

25. The computer system of claim 24, wherein the maximum broadcast bandwidth is a maximum broadcast capability of a local broadcast network.

26. The computer system of claim 25, wherein means for encoding the content within each of the plurality of groups of content to form a sub-multiplex for each group comprises:

means for increasing bandwidth allocated to the common sub-multiplex and reducing bandwidth allocated to each of the sub-multiplexes for the other groups of content if necessary to ensure acceptable broadcast quality of at least one service within the common content group; and

means for increasing bandwidth allocated to each of the sub-multiplexes for the other groups of content and reducing bandwidth allocated to the common sub-multiplex if necessary to ensure acceptable broadcast quality of at least one service within at least one of the other groups of content.

27. A computer system for a broadcast system, the computer system comprising:

means for setting a bandwidth allocation for a national services sub-multiplex and a bandwidth allocation for local services sub-multiplexes such that a total of the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed a maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks;

means for determining a bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex;

means for determining whether a total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex exceeds the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex;

means for determining whether one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed if the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex will exceed the allocated to the national services sub-multiplex;

means for increasing compression of one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed; and

means for increasing the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and decreasing the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex cannot be further compressed, wherein a total of the increased bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the decreased bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed the maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks.

28. The computer system of claim 27, further comprising:

means for determining a bandwidth required for each service to be included within one of the local services sub-multiplexes;

means for determining whether a total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes exceeds the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes;

means for determining whether one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes can be further compressed if the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes will exceed the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes;

means for increasing compression of one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes can be further compressed; and

means for increasing the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes and decreasing the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes cannot be further compressed, wherein a total of the decreased bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the increased bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed the maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks.

29. The computer system of claim 28, wherein:

means for determining a bandwidth required for each service comprises means for encoding the service for broadcast and determining a bandwidth required by the encoded service; and

means for increasing compression of one or more of the services comprises means for re-encoding the one or more of the services so as to increase an amount of data compression.

30. The computer system of claim 28, wherein:

means for determining a bandwidth required for each service comprises means for estimating a bandwidth that will be required by the service when it is encoded for broadcast; and

means for increasing compression of one or more of the services comprises means for increasing an amount of data compression to a be applied when the one or more services is encoded for broadcast.

31. The computer system of claim 28, further comprising:

means for selecting one or more one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes for further compression beyond a desired maximum level of compression if it is determined that the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes will exceed the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes, that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex cannot be further compressed, and that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed without exceeding the desired maximum level of compression.

32. The computer system of claim 31, further comprising:

means for generating the national services sub-multiplex and each of the local services sub-multiplexes when it is determine that the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national sub-multiplex will not exceed the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex, and that each total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in each of the local sub-multiplexes will not exceed the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes.

33. The computer system of claim 27, wherein means for setting a bandwidth allocation for a national services sub-multiplex and a bandwidth allocation for local services sub-multiplexes comprises means for setting the bandwidth allocations based upon bandwidth allocations determined in a previous time interval.

34. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium comprising;

at least one instruction for setting a bandwidth allocation for a national services sub-multiplex and a bandwidth allocation for local services sub-multiplexes such that a total of the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed a maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks;

at least one instruction for determining a bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex;

at least one instruction for determining whether a total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex exceeds the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex;

at least one instruction for determining whether one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed if the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex will exceed the allocated to the national services sub-multiplex;

at least one instruction for increasing compression of one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed; and

at least one instruction for increasing the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and decreasing the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex cannot be further compressed, wherein a total of the increased bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the decreased bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed the maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable storage medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for determining a bandwidth required for each service to be included within one of the local services sub-multiplexes;

at least one instruction for determining whether a total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes exceeds the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes;

at least one instruction for determining whether one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes can be further compressed if the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes will exceed the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes;

at least one instruction for increasing compression of one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes can be further compressed; and

at least one instruction for increasing the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes and decreasing the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes cannot be further compressed, wherein a total of the decreased bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the increased bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed the maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein:

the at least one instruction for determining a bandwidth required for each service comprises at least one instruction for encoding the service for broadcast and determining a bandwidth required by the encoded service; and

the at least one instruction for increasing compression of one or more of the services comprises at least one instruction for re-encoding the one or more of the services so as to increase an amount of data compression.

37. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein:

the at least one instruction for determining a bandwidth required for each service comprises at least one instruction for estimating a bandwidth that will be required by the service when it is encoded for broadcast; and

the at least one instruction for increasing compression of one or more of the services comprises at least one instruction for increasing an amount of data compression to a be applied when the one or more services is encoded for broadcast.

38. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the computer-readable storage medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for selecting one or more of the services to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes for further compression beyond a desired maximum level of compression if it is determined that the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the one of the local services sub-multiplexes will exceed the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes, that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex cannot be further compressed, and that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed without exceeding the desired maximum level of compression.

39. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the computer-readable storage medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for generating the national services sub-multiplex and each of the local services sub-multiplexes when it is determine that the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national sub-multiplex will not exceed the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex, and that each total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in each of the local sub-multiplexes will not exceed the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes.

40. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the at least one instruction for setting a bandwidth allocation for a national services sub-multiplex and a bandwidth allocation for local services sub-multiplexes comprises at least one instruction for setting the bandwidth allocations based upon bandwidth allocations determined in a previous time interval.