Dynamic mapping of broadcast resources
First Claim
1. In a communication system supporting a plurality of full motion video input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of broadcast resource mapping comprising:
- mapping at least a related subset of said input data streams, said broadcast resources, and said output data streams according to the relationship
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Abstract
In a data communication system such as a high capacity DBS system, dynamic mapping of broadcast resources is provided to exploit occasional redundancy in the program content of two or more input data streams, freeing at least one broadcast resource to carry alternate bitstreams, such as additional programs or existing programs at higher quality. Transmission maps defining the correspondence between input data streams and broadcast resources, and reception maps defining the correspondence between broadcast resources and output data streams, are updated as needed to dynamically modify broadcast resource mapping to increase effective utilization of available bandwidth. Beneficial n:n−y:m mapping in a high capacity consumer DBS entertainment system is provided. Apparatus and methods for efficiently generating, maintaining and updating allocation maps with reduced overhead requirements, are disclosed.
86 Citations
63 Claims
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1. In a communication system supporting a plurality of full motion video input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of broadcast resource mapping comprising:
mapping at least a related subset of said input data streams, said broadcast resources, and said output data streams according to the relationship - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. In a communication system supporting a plurality of full motion video input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of broadcast resource mapping comprising:
mapping at least a related subset of said input data streams, said broadcast resources, and said output data streams according to the relationship
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4. In a communication system supporting a plurality of full motion video input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of broadcast resource mapping comprising the step of:
mapping at least a related subset of said input data streams and said broadcast resources according to the relationship - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a communication system supporting a plurality of full motion video input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of allocating broadcast resources comprising:
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providing a remote map to said transmission processor defining the correspondence between said input data streams and said broadcast resources, providing a local map to said reception processor defining the correspondence between said broadcast resources and said output data streams, and modifying said remote and local maps dynamically in synchrony with events occurring in the content of at least one input data stream.
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12. In a communication system supporting a plurality of full motion video input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of allocating broadcast resources comprising:
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providing a remote map to said transmission processor defining the correspondence between said input data streams and said broadcast resources, providing a local map to said reception processor defining the correspondence between said broadcast resources and said output data streams, and modifying said remote and local maps dynamically in response to changing demand for broadcast bandwidth, in order to provide a number of broadcast resources required for transmission of desired input data streams.
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13. A method of program mapping in a broadcast system comprising:
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providing a remote map at a transmission processor allocating selected broadcast resources to a plurality of input data streams comprising one or more series of programs;
providing a local map at a reception processor allocating-selected broadcast resources to output data streams; and
modifying said remote and local maps dynamically to alter the allocation of broadcast resources in synchrony with events related to said series of programs.
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14. In a transmission processor of a communications system supporting a plurality of full motion video input data streams at the transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of processing information for transmission comprising:
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receiving n input data streams for transmission to said reception processor, each respective input data stream having content and where n≧
2,transmitting data to said reception processor over n−
y broadcast resources, where n>
y≧
1,providing a remote map at said transmission processor defining the correspondence between said input data streams and said broadcast resources, assigning respective ones of said input data streams to respective ones of said broadcast resources according to said remote map, and modifying said remote map to thereby modify the assignment of respective ones of said input data streams to respective ones of said broadcast resources, in synchrony with events related to one or more of said input data streams.
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15. In a reception processor of a communications system supporting a plurality of full motion video input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to said reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of processing received information comprising:
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receiving transmissions corresponding to n input data streams over n−
y broadcast resources, where n≧
2 and n>
y≧
1,generating n output data streams at said reception processor from said n−
y broadcast resources, where the n respective output data streams are substantially identical in relevant content to the n respective input data streams,providing a local map at said reception processor defining the correspondence between said broadcast resources and said output data streams, assigning respective ones of said output data streams to respective ones of said broadcast resources according to said local map, and modify said local map to thereby modify the assignment of respective ones of said output data streams to respective ones of said broadcast resources, in synchrony with events related to one or more of said input data streams.
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16. A method of generating broadcast resource maps for use in a communication system supporting a plurality of input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, comprising the steps of:
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receiving information regarding the time-relative content of n of said input data streams, where n>
2;
identifying one or more time periods during which at least two of said n input data streams are substantially identical in relevant content;
preparing at least a portion of a remote map for use at said transmission processor, said at least a portion of a remote map comprising an assignment of broadcast resources for carriage of said n input data streams, wherein at least a first input data stream which is substantially identical in relevant content to at least a second input data stream is not allocated to any broadcast resource for transmission during at least a portion of said identified one or more time periods, such that the relevant information in said n input data streams is allocated by said at least a portion of a remote map to n−
y broadcast resources, where y>
1; and
preparing at least a portion of a local map for use at said reception processor, said at least a portion of a local map comprising an assignment of the n−
y received broadcast resources to at least n output data streams during at least a portion of said identified one or more time periods, wherein the broadcast resource carrying said second input data stream is allocated by said at least a portion of a local map to at least two of said output data streams to thereby define a plurality of output data streams including n output data streams which are respectively substantially identical in relevant content to said n input data streams.- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
generating alternate remote and local maps to modify broadcast resources allocation when said substantial identity in relevant content ceases.
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22. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of identifying one or more time periods during which at least two of said n input data streams are substantially identical in relevant content comprises determining whether at least a first input data stream is substantially identical in relevant content to at least a second input data stream offset in time by a selected amount.
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23. A method of generating broadcast resource maps for use in a communication system supporting a plurality of full motion video input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, comprising the steps of:
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receiving information regarding the number of data streams desired for transmission during a given time period;
comparing said desired number to the number of broadcast resources available during said given time period;
generating local and remote maps allocating said desired number to at least a similar number of broadcast resources when said available number is at least equal to said desired number, and generating alternate remote and local maps providing a different allocation of broadcast resources when said desired number is greater than said available number. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
referencing the relative priority between at least two of said desired data streams; and
generating a remote rap which does not allocate at least the desired data stream having lower relative priority to any broadcast resource.
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25. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of generating alternate remote and local maps providing a different allocation of broadcast resources when said desired number is greater than said available number, comprises the steps of:
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identifying one or more time periods during which at least two of said desired data streams are substantially identical in relevant content; and
generating a remote map comprising an assignment of broadcast wherein a first input data stream which is substantially identical in relevant content to a second input data stream is not allocated to any broadcast resource for transmission during at least a portion of said identified one or more time periods.
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26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of:
generating a local map allocating the broadcast resource carrying said second input data stream to at least two output data streams during at least a portion of said identified one or more time periods, to thereby define a plurality of output data streams comprising first and second output data streams which are respectively substantially identical in relevant content to said first and second input data streams.
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27. In a communication system supporting a plurality of input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of allocating broadcast resources comprising:
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providing a remote map to said transmission processor defining the correspondence between said input data streams and said broadcast resources, providing a local map to said reception processor defining the correspondence between said broadcast resources and said output data streams, and modifying a portion only of said remote and local maps dynamically in response to changing demand for broadcast bandwidth, in order to provide a number of broadcast resources required for transmission of desired input data streams; and
transmitting data related to said portion only of said local map to said reception processor to dynamically update said local map when required. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A method of program mapping in a broadcast system comprising:
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providing a remote map at a transmission processor allocating selected broadcast resources to a plurality of input data streams comprising one or more series of programs;
providing a local map at a reception processor allocating selected broadcast resources to output data streams;
modifying a portion only of said remote and local maps dynamically to alter the allocation of broadcast resources in synchrony with events related to said series of programs, by transmitting data related to said portion only of said local map to said reception processor to update said local map when required, and causing the modifies local map to become effective in synchrony with said events.
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30. In a communication system supporting a plurality of input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of allocating broadcast resources comprising:
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providing a remote map to said transmission processor defining the correspondence between said input data streams and said broadcast resources;
providing a local map to said reception processor defining the correspondence between said broadcast resources and said output data streams;
modifying a portion only of said remote and local maps dynamically in synchrony with events occurring in the content of at least one input data stream;
wherein the step of providing a local map to a reception processor comprises transmitting data related to said portion only of said local map to said reception processor to modify said local map when required in synchrony with said events. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. In a communication system supporting a plurality of input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of allocating broadcast resources comprising:
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providing a plurality of selectable remote maps to said transmission processor, each of said maps defining alternate correspondence between said input data streams and said broadcast resources, providing a corresponding plurality of selectable local maps to said reception processor defining alternate correspondence between said broadcast resources and said output data streams, selecting a first of said plurality of remote maps and a first of said plurality of local maps to be effective for defining allocation of broadcast resources at said transmission processor during at least a first time period, and selecting a second of said plurality of remote maps and a second of said plurality of local maps to be effective for defining allocation of broadcast resources at said reception processor during at least a second time period. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
providing a local map selector to said reception processor, and selecting one of said plurality of local maps in response to said map selector.
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38. The method of claim 37 wherein said map selector comprises a map select command, and the step of providing a local map selector comprises receiving said map select command over a transmission medium.
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39. The method of claim 38 wherein said transmission medium comprises at least one of said broadcast resources.
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40. The method of claim 39 wherein said transmission medium comprises all broadcast resources which are mapped to at least one output data stream.
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41. The method of claim 37 wherein said map selector comprises a map select command, and the step of providing a local map selector comprises generating said map select command at the reception location.
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42. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of generating said map select command comprises receiving a manual input.
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43. The method of claim 37 wherein said map selector comprises a timestamp defining an event upon which occurrence a specified map will be selected and made active.
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44. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of reverting to said first of said plurality of remote and local maps.
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45. The method of claim 44 wherein the selection of said second remote and local maps occurs at the start of one or more commercials in an input data stream, and wherein the reversion to the first of said remote and local maps occurs at the end of said one or more commercials.
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46. In a communication system supporting a plurality of input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of allocating broadcast resources comprising:
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providing a plurality of selectable remote maps to said transmission processor, each of said maps defining alternate correspondence between said input data streams and said broadcast resources, and providing a corresponding plurality of selectable local maps to said reception processor defining alternate correspondence between said broadcast resources and said output data streams;
selecting a first of said plural of remote maps and a fist of said plurality of local maps to be effective for defining allocation of broadcast resources at said transmission processor during at least a first time period, and selecting a second of said plurality of remote maps and a second of said plurality of local maps to be effective for defining allocation of broadcast resources at said reception processor during at least a second time period;
said steps of selecting a first and a second of said plural of local maps comprising providing a local map selector to said reception processor, and selecting one of said plurality of local maps in response to said map selector, said map selector comprising a timestamp defining an event upon which occurrence a specified map will be selected and made active. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. In a communication system supporting a plurality of input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of allocating broadcast resources comprising:
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providing a plurality of selectable remote maps to said transmission processor, each of said maps defining alternate correspondence between said input data streams and said broadcast resources, providing a corresponding plurality of selectable local maps to said reception processor defining alternate correspondence between said broadcast resources and said output data streams, dynamically selecting a first of said plurality of remote maps and a first of said plurality of local maps to be effective for defining allocation of broadcast resources at said transmission processor during at least a first time period in synchrony with events occurring in the content of at least one input data steam, and dynamically selecting a second of said plurality of remote maps and a second of said plurality of local maps to be effective for defining allocation of broadcast resources at said reception processor during at least a second time period in synchrony with events occurring in the content of at least one input data stream. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60)
providing a local map selector to said reception processor for selecting one of said plurality of local maps in response to said map selector, and generating a series of differing dynamic broadcast resource allocations by providing a series of map selectors.
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58. The method of claim 57 wherein said series of map selectors are in synchrony with events occurring in the content of at least one of said data streams.
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59. The method of claim 58 wherein at least one of said input data streams comprises program segments and commercials, and wherein said map selectors are in synchrony with the beginning and ending of at least certain commercials.
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60. The method of claim 58 wherein said input data streams comprise first and second input data streams having program segments which are substantially similar in content, and wherein said first maps allocate a single broadcast resource for carriage of said substantially similar content during at least some of said program segments, and said second maps allocate individual broadcast resources to each of said first and second input data streams during at least one commercial.
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61. In a communication system supporting a plurality of input data streams at a transmission processor, a plurality of broadcast resources conveying information contained in one or more of said input data streams to a reception processor, and a plurality of output data streams at said reception processor, a method of allocating broadcast resources comprising
receiving a plurality of input data streams comprising sequences of programs, each program having a start and an end time, processing said input broadcast data streams, each broadcast data stream comprising a sequence of programs, allocating said broadcast data streams to broadcast resources according to a remote map at a transmission processor, allocating said broadcast resources to output data streams according to a local map at a reception processor, transmitting at least a portion of said local map to said reception processor, and modifying said remote and local maps in synchrony with the start or end times of at least some programs, to direct individual programs to desired output data streams irrespective of the broadcast resource or resources allocated for carriage of the program.
Specification