Method and apparatus for communicating different categories of data in a single data stream
First Claim
1. A method for transmitting different categories of data in a single data stream comprising the steps of:
- generating program data for insertion into a data stream;
generating a first category of control data for insertion into said data stream;
generating a second category of control data for insertion into said data stream;
combining a set of said program data with a set of said first category of control data to form a data group;
generating a header containing data from said second category of control data;
combining said header with a plurality of said data groups to form a unit; and
constructing said data stream by joining a plurality of successive units for transmission.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for transmitting different categories of data in a single data stream generates program data, receiver control data, and program specific tag data for insertion into a single data stream. Program data is combined with receiver control data to form data groups. Headers are generated containing tag data. Each successive header is combined with a plurality of data groups to form a plurality of units. The data stream is constructed by joining successive units for transmission. A receiver for receiving the data stream detects the receiver control data and the tag data, and recovers the program data in response thereto. A program is reproduced from the recovered program data. The system runs off a master clock having a fixed frequency. Program data is sampled at a first rate that is a function of the master clock frequency. The receiver control data is sampled at a second rate that is a function of the first sampling rate. The tag data is sampled at a third rate that is a function of the second sampling rate. Preferably, the first sampling rate will be an integer factor of the master clock frequency, the second sampling rate will be an integer factor of the first rate and the third sampling rate will be an integer factor of the second rate.
156 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for transmitting different categories of data in a single data stream comprising the steps of:
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generating program data for insertion into a data stream; generating a first category of control data for insertion into said data stream; generating a second category of control data for insertion into said data stream; combining a set of said program data with a set of said first category of control data to form a data group; generating a header containing data from said second category of control data; combining said header with a plurality of said data groups to form a unit; and constructing said data stream by joining a plurality of successive units for transmission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for communicating different categories of digital data to a receiver comprising:
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first means for generating a first category of control data for insertion into a data stream; second means for generating a second category of control data for insertion into said data stream; third means for generating program data for insertion into said data stream; means operatively associated with said first and third means for combining a set of said program data with a set of said first category of control data to form a data group; means operatively associated with said second means for generating a header containing data from said second category of control data; means for combining said header with a plurality of said data groups to form a unit; and means for constructing said data stream by joining a plurality of successive units for transmission. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A digital data receiver for receiving a data stream containing successive headers including tag data, with each header followed by a plurality of data groups including program data and receiver control data, said receiver comprising:
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first means for detecting receiver control data from successive data groups contained in a received data stream; second means for detecting tag data from successive headers contained in the received data stream; means responsive to the detected tag and receiver control data for recovering program data from the received data stream; and means for reproducing a program from the recovered program data. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification