Apparatus and method for parallel multimedia processing

• US 7,116,712 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC (FIG LLC (d/b/a Fortress Investment Group LLC))
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Vogelaar, Rob, Janssen, Johan G., Bruls, Fons
• Primary Examiner(s): RAO, ANAND SHASHIKANT
• Application Number:
  US10/003,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20030085902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 348/390.1, 348/397, 37524002-24029, 341/67, 386/5
• US Class Current: 375/240.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234354 by altering signal-to-noise ratio parameters, e.g. requantization
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2389 Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream encrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42607 for processing the incoming bitstream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4385 Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting

Abstract

An apparatus and method for processing a multimedia digital bitstream is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a processing chain made up of a plurality of media processors. Each media processor processes a portion of the multimedia digital bitstream in real time. Each portion of the multimedia digital bitstream is split into a primary bitstream and a secondary bitstream. The primary bitstream is processed and merged with the unprocessed secondary bitstream. The parallel processing method of the present invention enables the processing chain to output a fully processed bitstream in real time. The processing chain may be used to transcode a high definition (HD) video bitstream in real time using a plurality of bitrate transcoder units.

Claims

1. An apparatus capable of processing a multimedia digital bitstream, said apparatus comprising:

a processing chain comprising;

a plurality of N media processors wherein each of said plurality of media processors including a bitrate transcoder unit capable of transcoding a portion of said multimedia digital bitstream, said media processors being capable of processing a portion of said multimedia digital bitstream, wherein said bitrate transcoder unit includes at least one of a split unit a BRT′

transcoder, and a merge unit, and said portion represents a (1/N)^th interleaved portion of the bitstream, each of said plurality of media processors capable of splitting said portion of said multimedia digital bitstream into a primary bitstream and a secondary bitstream, and capable of processing said primary bitstream, and capable of merging a processed primary bitstream with said secondary bitstream.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the number of said plurality of media processors may vary from two to N, where N is an integer number greater than two.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said multimedia digital bitstream comprises a high definition digital video signal.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bitrate transcoder unit comprises:

an output component that is capable of generating empty data packets and adding said empty data packets to the output of said bitrate transcoder unit.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a clock control circuit in an output component of a last bitrate transcoder unit that is located at an output end of said processing chain, wherein said clock control circuit is capable of adjusting a clock rate of an output of said last bitrate transcoder unit in said processing chain.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said processing chain further comprises:

an input block coupled to a first media processor in said processing chain, wherein said input block is capable of receiving multimedia data in real time from one of;

a computer file, a bitpump, and a radio frequency front end; and

an output block coupled to a last media processor in said processing chain, wherein said output block is capable of outputting multimedia data in real time in one of;

a computer file format, and a transport stream format.

7. A television unit comprising an apparatus capable of processing a multimedia digital bitstream, said apparatus comprising:

a processing chain comprising;

a plurality of N media processors wherein each of said plurality of media processors including a bitrate transcoder unit capable of transcoding a portion of said multimedia digital bitstream, said media processors being capable of processing a portion of said multimedia digital bitstream, said bitrate transcoder unit includes at least one of a split unit, a BRT′

transcoder, and a merge unit, and said portion represents a (1/N)^th interleaved portion of the bitstream, each of said plurality of media processors is capable of splitting said portion of said multimedia digital bitstream into a primary bitstream and a secondary bitstream, and capable of processing said primary bitstream, and capable of merging a processed primary bitstream with said secondary bitstream.

8. The television unit as claimed in claim 7 wherein the number of said plurality of media processors may vary from two to N, where N is an integer number greater than two.

9. The television unit as claimed in claim 7 wherein said multimedia digital bitstream comprises a high definition digital video signal.

10. The television unit as claimed in claim 7 wherein said bitrate transcoder unit comprises an output component that is capable of generating empty data packets and adding said empty data packets to the output of said bitrate transcoder unit.

11. The television unit as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a clock control circuit in an output component of a last bitrate transcoder unit that is located at an output end of said processing chain, wherein said clock control circuit is capable of adjusting a clock rate of an output of said last bitrate transcoder unit in said processing chain.

12. The television unit as claimed in claim 7 wherein said processing chain further comprises:

an input block coupled to a first media processor in said processing chain, wherein said input block is capable of receiving multimedia data in real time from one of;

a computer file, a bitpump, and a radio frequency front end; and

an output block coupled to a last media processor in said processing chain, wherein said output block is capable of outputting multimedia data in real time in one of;

a computer file format, and a transport stream format.

14. The method for processing a multimedia digital bitstream as claimed in claim 9 wherein the step of processing said primary bitstream comprises the step of:

transcoding said primary bitstream in a bitrate transcoder unit.

15. The method for processing a multimedia digital bitstream as claimed in claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

generating empty data packets in an output component of said bitrate transcoder unit; and

adding said empty data packets to the output of said bitrate transcoder unit.

16. The method for processing a multimedia digital bitstream as claimed in claim 15 further comprising the step of:

adjusting a clock rate of an output of at least one bitrate transcoder unit in said processing chain with a clock control circuit.

13. A method for processing a multimedia digital bitstream, wherein at least a portion of said multimedia digital bitstream is capable of being transcoded via at least one bitrate transcoder associated with one or more N media processors suitable for processing at least a portion of said multimedia digital bitstream, each bitrate transcoder including at least one of a split unit, a BRT′

transcoder, and a merge unit, said method comprising the steps of;

processing a portion of said multimedia digital bitstream in each of said N media processors of a processing chain, wherein said portion represents a (1/N)^th interleaved portion of the bitstream, each of said media processors executing the steps of;

splitting an associated portion of said multimedia digital bitstream into a primary bitstream and a secondary bitstream;

processing said primary bitstream; and

merging a processed primary bitstream with said secondary bitstream.