Video broadcast system with video data shifting

• US 6,188,436 B1
• Filed: 01/31/1997
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Plummer, Robert H., Williams, Jim C.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, BRYAN T
• Application Number:
  US08/792,629
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 348/384, 348/385, 348/387, 348/390, 348/423, 348/426, 348/432, 348/6, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 455/6.1, 455/5.1, 455/3.1
• US Class Current: 348/387.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/115 Selection of the code volume for a coding unit prior to coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/124 Quantisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/14 Coding unit complexity, e.g. amount of activity or edge presence estimation H04N19/146 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/149 by estimating the code amount by means of a model, e.g. mathematical model or statistical model
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/15 by monitoring actual compressed data size at the memory before deciding storage at the transmission buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/152 by measuring the fullness of the transmission buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/184 the unit being bits, e.g. of the compressed video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/37 with arrangements for assigning different transmission priorities to video input data or to video coded data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2389 Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream encrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4385 Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server

Abstract

An apparatus for temporally shifting video data within a video signal is provided with a video data source for providing a video signal and a signal splitter for generating a first video data stream and a second video data stream, the first video data stream comprising video data in excess of a threshold. The apparatus includes means for temporally shifting the excess video data in the first video data stream relative to the second video data stream and means for recombining the first video data stream with the second video data stream after the first video data stream has been temporally shifted relative to the second video data stream. The means for temporally shifting the excess video data in the first video data stream relative to the second video data stream may include a first delay buffer for delaying the first video data stream by an adjustable time period and a second delay buffer for delaying the second video data stream by a fixed time period.

Claims

1. A video broadcast system for generating a plurality of program signals and broadcasting said program signals, said system comprising:

a first program generator for generating a first program signal, said first program generator comprising;

a first video data source for providing a first video signal;

a first signal splitter coupled to receive said first video signal, said signal splitter generating a first video data stream and a second video data stream, said first video data stream comprising video data in excess of a threshold;

means for temporally shifting said excess video data in said first video data stream relative to said second video data stream; and

means for recombining said first video data stream with said second video data stream after said first video data stream has been temporally shifted relative to said second video data stream;

a second program generator for generating a second program signal, said second program generator comprising;

a second video data source for providing a second video signal;

a second signal splitter coupled to receive said second video signal, said second signal splitter generating a third video data stream and a fourth video data stream, said third video data stream comprising video data in excess of a threshold;

means for temporally shifting said excess video data in said third video data stream relative to said fourth video data stream; and

means for recombining said third video data stream with said fourth video data stream after said third video data stream has been temporally shifted relative to said fourth video data stream;

a multiplexer for combining said first and second program signals; and

means for broadcasting said program signals to a plurality of remote locations.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said broadcasting means comprises satellite broadcasting means.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said broadcasting means comprises:

a transmitter coupled to receive said program signals from said multiplexer;

a satellite coupled to receive said program signals from said transmitter;

a receiver for receiving signals from said satellite; and

a decoder connected to receive signals from said receiver.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first program generator additionally comprises means for determining the presence of extra channel capacity not utilized by said second video data stream.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said determining means comprises:

a rate detector coupled to sense said first video signal and generate a rate signal corresponding to the data rate of said first video signal; and

a controller for comparing said data rate of said first video signal with a threshold data rate.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for temporally shifting said excess video data in said first video data stream relative to said second video data stream comprises:

a first delay buffer for delaying said first video data stream, said first delay buffer delaying said first video data stream by an adjustable time period; and

a second delay buffer for delaying said second video data stream, said second data buffer delaying said second video data stream by a fixed time period.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for recombining said first video data stream with said second video data stream after said first video data stream has been temporally shifted relative to said second video data stream comprises a multiplexer.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first program signal has a video portion and an audio portion and wherein said system additionally comprises:

an audio/video separator for separating said audio portion of said first program signal from said video portion of said first program signal;

a buffer for delaying said audio portion of said first program signal; and

an audio encoder for encoding said audio portion of said first program signal.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first program generator additionally comprising a video encoder for encoding said first video signal before said first video signal is transmitted to said signal splitter.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first program generator additionally comprises:

a complexity detector for generating a complexity signal relating to the complexity of said first video signal; and

a video encoder for encoding said video signal based upon said complexity signal before said first video signal is transmitted to said first signal splitter.

11. An apparatus for temporally shifting video data within a video signal, said apparatus comprising:

a video data source for providing a video signal;

a signal splitter coupled to receive said video signal, said signal splitter generating a first video data stream and a second video data stream, said first video data stream comprising video data in excess of a threshold;

means for temporally shifting said excess video data in said first video data stream relative to said second video data stream; and

means for recombining said first video data stream with said second video data stream after said first video data stream has been temporally shifted relative to said second video data stream.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 additionally comprising means for determining the presence of extra channel capacity not utilized by said second video data stream.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said determining means comprises:

a rate detector coupled to sense said video signal and generate a rate signal corresponding to the data rate of said video signal; and

a controller for comparing said data rate of said video signal with a threshold data rate.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for temporally shifting said excess video data in said first video data stream relative to said second video data stream comprises:

a first delay buffer for delaying said first video data stream, said first delay buffer delaying said first video data stream by an adjustable time period; and

a second delay buffer for delaying said second video data stream, said second data buffer delaying said second video data stream by a fixed time period.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for recombining said first video data stream with said second video data stream after said first video data stream has been temporally shifted relative to said second video data stream comprises a multiplexer.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said video data source also provides a program signal having a video portion and an audio portion and wherein said apparatus additionally comprises:

an audio/video separator for separating said audio portion of said program signal from said video portion of said program signal;

a buffer for delaying said audio portion of said program signal; and

an audio encoder for encoding said audio portion of said program signal.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 additionally comprising a video encoder for encoding said video signal before said video signal is transmitted to said signal splitter.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 additionally comprising:

a complexity detector for generating a complexity signal relating to the complexity of said video signal; and

a video encoder for encoding said video signal based upon said complexity signal before said video signal is transmitted to said signal splitter.