Video FIFO overflow control method that blocks video encoder data when overflow is imminent and resumes flow when frames sizes have returned to nominal size
First Claim
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1. A multimedia terminal having a host processor, an encoder, a system clock (STC), the output of said encoder being input as compressed digital video frames into a multiplexer, said multiplexer comprising:
- (a) a mux processor for packetizing the compressed video frames;
(b) a FIFO buffer coupled to the encoder operative to buffer digital video data and responsive to the MUX processor to output data from the buffer to the MUX processor;
(c) a video mux logic circuit coupled to said mux processor and said video FIFO buffer, operative to provide status signals to the MUX processor concerning FIFO buffer status, to monitor video FIFO buffer fullness and to signal the mux processor when there is sufficient video data in said video FIFO buffer to form the payload of a transport packet in accordance with an encoder/decoder protocol.
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Abstract
A multimedia terminal having a host processor, an audio and video encoder and a system time clock. The encoders are input as digital video elementary frames into a multiplexer. The multiplexer includes a mux processor, a video FIFO and a video mux logic circuit coupled to both the mux processor and the video FIFO. Mux logic is operative to monitor video FIFO fullness and to signal the mux processor when there is sufficient video data in the FIFO to form the payload of a transport packet.
47 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A multimedia terminal having a host processor, an encoder, a system clock (STC), the output of said encoder being input as compressed digital video frames into a multiplexer, said multiplexer comprising:
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(a) a mux processor for packetizing the compressed video frames; (b) a FIFO buffer coupled to the encoder operative to buffer digital video data and responsive to the MUX processor to output data from the buffer to the MUX processor; (c) a video mux logic circuit coupled to said mux processor and said video FIFO buffer, operative to provide status signals to the MUX processor concerning FIFO buffer status, to monitor video FIFO buffer fullness and to signal the mux processor when there is sufficient video data in said video FIFO buffer to form the payload of a transport packet in accordance with an encoder/decoder protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of controlling video FIFO buffer overflows caused by a high rate of compressed digital video signals being sent by a video encoder, comprising:
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(a) detecting imminent video FIFO buffer overflows by monitoring the output of the video encoder prior to entry into the video FIFO buffer; (b) blocking all subsequent compressed data from entering the video FIFO buffer; (c) monitoring frame sizes out of said video encoder while the compressed data is blocked from entering the video FIFO buffer; and (d) allowing data to begin entering said video FIFO buffer again when frame-sizes from said encoder have returned to a nominal size. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A multimedia terminal having a host processor, an encoder, a system clock (STC), the output of said encoder being input as compressed digital video frames into a multiplexer, said multiplexer comprising:
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(a) a mux processor; (b) a FIFO buffer operative to buffer digital video data; and (c) a video mux logic circuit coupled to said mux processor and said video FIFO, operative to monitor video FIFO fullness and to signal the mux processor when there is sufficient video data in said video FIFO to form the payload of a transport packet in accordance with an encoder/decoder protocol wherein said video mux logic circuit signals said mux processor when a video start-code is in the transport packet payload that it is about to read.
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8. A multimedia terminal having a host processor, an encoder, a system clock (STC), the output of said encoder being input as compressed digital video frames into a multiplexer, said multiplexer comprising:
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(a) a mux processor; (b) a FIFO buffer operative to buffer digital video data; and (c) a video mux logic circuit cupled to said mux processor and said video FIFO, operative to minitor vidor FIFO fullness and to signal the mux processor when there is sufficient video data in said video FIFO to form the payload of a transport packet in accordance with an encoder/decoder protocol wherein said video mux logic includes a video state machine coupled to said video FIFO operative to track video start-codes through said video FIFO.
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9. A multimedia terminal having a host processor, an encoder, a system clock (STC), the output of said encoder being input as compressed digital video frames into a multiplexer, said multiplexer comprising:
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(a) a mux processor; (b) a FIFO buffer operative to buffer digital video data; and (c) a video mux logic circuit coupled to said mux processor and said video FIFO, operative to monitor video FIFO fullness and to signal the mux processor when there is sufficient video data in said video FIFO to form the payload of a transport packet in accordance with an encoder/decoder protocol; and (d) video FIFO write logic coupled to said video FIFO and operative to control writing of compressed data to said video FIFO. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method of controlling video FIFO overflows caused by a high rate of compressed digital video signals being sent by a video encoder, comprising:
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(a) detecting imminent video FIFO overflows; (b) blocking all subsequent compressed data from entering the video FIFO; (c) monitoring frame sizes out of said video encoder; (d) allowing data to begin entering said video FIFO when frame-sizes from said encoder have returned to a nominal size; and (e) informing said mux processor of elementary video stream frame drop events so that it may insert corresponding error codes into the elementary video stream.
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Specification