Methods and apparatus for reconfiguring protocol data when reducing multiplexed data streams
First Claim
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1. A method for reconfiguring protocol data when reducing a multiplexed data stream, comprising the steps of:
- receiving at a transcoder an inbound multiplexed data stream having;
an all-inclusive program association table (PAT) identified by a first packet identifier (PID);
and an all-inclusive protocol base PID stream identified by a second PID;
a plurality of pre-defined multiplexed data stream subgroups, each subgroup carrying one or more services;
one or more hidden PATs, each of said hidden PATs being associated with an allowable predefined combination of said multiplexed data stream subgroups and identified by a PID chosen from a first set of PIDs; and
a hidden protocol data (HPD) base PID stream corresponding to each hidden PAT, each HPD base PID stream identified by a PID chosen from a second set of PIDs;
selecting one hidden PAT corresponding to a desired multiplexed data stream subgroup combination;
determining the protocol data makeup of the desired multiplexed data stream subgroup combination from the HPD base PID stream corresponding to the selected hidden PAT;
discarding one or more of the all-inclusive PAT, the all-inclusive protocol base PID stream, any unused hidden PATs and HPD base PID streams, and any subgroups not contained in the desired multiplexed data stream subgroup combination;
re-mapping the selected hidden PAT to a first predetermined PID;
re-mapping the HPD base PID stream corresponding to the selected hidden PAT to a second predetermined PID; and
outputting the re-mapped PAT and the re-mapped HPD base PID stream from the transcoder with the desired multiplexed data stream subgroup combination.
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for reconfiguring protocol data for a multiplexed data stream which is reduced to carry fewer services for cable-side transmission in a cable television plant or the like. More particularly, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for reconfiguring protocol data for a desired combination of multiplexed data stream subgroups contained within an incoming high data rate data stream, such as a high data rate Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulated multiplexed data stream, when the incoming multiplexed data stream is reduced.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for reconfiguring protocol data when reducing a multiplexed data stream, comprising the steps of:
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receiving at a transcoder an inbound multiplexed data stream having;
an all-inclusive program association table (PAT) identified by a first packet identifier (PID);
and an all-inclusive protocol base PID stream identified by a second PID;
a plurality of pre-defined multiplexed data stream subgroups, each subgroup carrying one or more services;
one or more hidden PATs, each of said hidden PATs being associated with an allowable predefined combination of said multiplexed data stream subgroups and identified by a PID chosen from a first set of PIDs; and
a hidden protocol data (HPD) base PID stream corresponding to each hidden PAT, each HPD base PID stream identified by a PID chosen from a second set of PIDs;
selecting one hidden PAT corresponding to a desired multiplexed data stream subgroup combination;
determining the protocol data makeup of the desired multiplexed data stream subgroup combination from the HPD base PID stream corresponding to the selected hidden PAT;
discarding one or more of the all-inclusive PAT, the all-inclusive protocol base PID stream, any unused hidden PATs and HPD base PID streams, and any subgroups not contained in the desired multiplexed data stream subgroup combination;
re-mapping the selected hidden PAT to a first predetermined PID;
re-mapping the HPD base PID stream corresponding to the selected hidden PAT to a second predetermined PID; and
outputting the re-mapped PAT and the re-mapped HPD base PID stream from the transcoder with the desired multiplexed data stream subgroup combination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. Apparatus for reconfiguring protocol data when reducing a multiplexed data stream, comprising:
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a transcoder for receiving an inbound multiplexed data stream having;
an all-inclusive program association table (PAT) identified by a first packet identifier (PID);
an all-inclusive protocol base PID stream identified by a second PID;
a plurality of predefined multiplexed data stream subgroups, each subgroup carrying one or more services;
one or more hidden PATs, each of said hidden PATS being associated with an allowable predefined combination of said multiplexed data stream subgroups and identified by a PID chosen from a first set of PIDs; and
a unique hidden protocol data (HPD) base PID stream corresponding to each hidden PAT, each HPD base PID stream identified by a PID chosen from a second set of PIDs;
a processor associated with said transcoder for reconfiguring the protocol data for a selected multiplexed data stream subgroup combination;
wherein;
said processor is coupled to receive from the transcoder said all-inclusive PAT, said all-inclusive protocol base PID stream, said hidden PATs, and said HPD base PID streams;
the processor is configured to select one hidden PAT corresponding to a desired multiplexed data stream subgroup combination;
the processor determines the protocol data makeup of the desired multiplexed data stream subgroup combination from the HPD base packet stream corresponding to the selected hidden PAT;
the processor discards one or more of the all-inclusive PAT, the all-inclusive protocol base PID stream, any unused hidden PATs and HPD PID streams, and any subgroups not contained in the desired multiplexed data stream subgroup combination;
the processor causes the transcoder to re-map the selected hidden PAT to a first predetermined PID;
the processor causes the transcoder to re-map the HPD base PID stream corresponding to the selected hidden PAT to a second predetermined PID; and
the transcoder outputs the re-mapped PAT and the re-mapped HPD base PID stream with the selected multiplexed data stream subgroup combination. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method for creating a multiplexed data stream which is to be reduced, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of multiplexed data stream subgroups, each subgroup having one or more services;
creating an all-inclusive PAT identified by a first packet identifier (PID) and corresponding to all the services contained in the plurality of data stream subgroups;
creating an all-inclusive protocol base PID stream identified by a second PID and corresponding to all the services contained in the plurality of data stream subgroups;
defining a plurality of data stream subgroup combinations;
creating for each defined combination of data stream subgroups a hidden PAT identified by a PID chosen from a first set of PIDs, each hidden PAT corresponding to the services contained in said defined combination of data stream subgroups;
creating for each hidden PAT a corresponding hidden protocol data (HPD) base PID stream identified by a PID chosen from a second set of PIDs;
combining said all-inclusive PAT, said all-inclusive protocol base PID stream, said hidden PATs, said HPD base PID streams, and said data stream subgroups to create a multiplexed data stream.
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44. Apparatus for creating a multiplexed data stream which is to be reduced, comprising:
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an encoder; and
a processor associated with the encoder;
wherein;
the encoder receives a plurality of multiplexed data stream subgroups, each subgroup carrying one or more services;
the processor generates an all-inclusive PAT identified by a first packet identifier (PID) and corresponding to all the services contained in the plurality of data stream subgroups;
the processor generates an all-inclusive protocol base PID stream identified by a second PID and corresponding to all the services contained in the plurality of data stream subgroups;
the processor defines a plurality of data stream subgroup combinations;
the processor creates for each defined combination of data stream subgroups a hidden PAT identified by a PID chosen from a first set of PIDs, each hidden PAT describing the services contained in said defined combination of data stream subgroups;
the processor creates for each hidden PAT a hidden protocol data (HPD) base PID stream, each HPD base PID stream identified by a PID chosen from a second set of PIDs; and
the encoder combines said all-inclusive PAT, said all-inclusive protocol base PID stream, said hidden PATs, said HPD base PID streams, and said data stream subgroups to create a multiplexed data stream.
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Specification