Data distribution apparatus and method, and data distribution system

• US 7,269,839 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2001
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yagasaki, Yoichi, Negishi, Shinji, Koyanagi, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Application Number:
  US09/876,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20020023269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,283 Days
• Field of Search: 725/88, 386/86
• US Class Current: 725/88
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23406 involving management of server-side video buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 Transmission by server directed to the client

Abstract

A special playback controller receives a special playback request from a user. A data storage unit stores data. In response to the special playback request received by the special playback controller, a data converter converts the data stored in the data storage unit into special playback data according to the type of special playback operation. The special playback data converted by the data converter is transmitted to a decoding terminal via a multiplexer, a transmitter, and a communication line, thereby enabling the decoding terminal to perform the special playback operation.

Claims

1. A data distribution apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a request signal from an external source;

data storage means for storing playback data and splicing data;

data switching means for selectively outputting the playback data, special playback data and the splicing data in response to the request signal received by said receiving means; and

transmission means for transmitting the playback data, the special playback data or the splicing data from said data switching means to a data receiving terminal via a transmission medium,

wherein the data switching means generates the special playback data by reading selected playback data from said data storage means in response to a type of special playback, decoding the selected playback data, and encoding the decoded special playback data when the request signal indicates the special playback, and

wherein the data switching means selectively outputs the splicing data from said data storage means when switching between the playback data and the special playback data so as to provide a continuity in the locus of used bits in a buffer of a data receiving terminal to prevent an overflow or an underflow in the buffer of the data receiving terminal.

2. A data distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the splicing data comprises repeat data which is equivalent to data positioned immediately before the splicing data.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the special playback data is intra-frame encoded, and the playback data is substantially inter-frame predictive encoded.

3. A data distribution apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a request signal from an external source;

data storage means for storing playback data and splicing data;

decoding means for reading the playback data from said data storage means in response to a type of special playback corresponding to the request signal, and for decoding the read playback data so as to generate a special playback signal;

encoding means for encoding the special playback signal generated by said decoding means so as to generate special playback data;

data switching means for selectively outputting the playback data, the special playback data obtained by said encoding means and the splicing data read from said data storage means in response to the request signal received by said receiving means, wherein the data switching means selectively outputs the splicing data from said data storage means when switching between the playback data and the special playback data so as to provide a continuity in the locus of used bits in a buffer of a data receiving terminal to prevent an overflow or an underflow in a buffer of the data receiving terminal; and

transmission means for transmitting the playback data, the special playback data or the splicing data to the data receiving terminal via a transmission medium.

4. A data distribution apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the splicing data comprises repeat data which is equivalent to data positioned immediately before the splicing data.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the special playback data is intra-frame encoded, and the playback data is substantially inter-frame predictive encoded.

5. A data distribution method for reading special playback data from a data storage unit to a receiving terminal, said data storage unit storing playback data, and also storing the special playback data and splicing data, both of which are used for playing back the playback data in a special mode, said data distribution method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request signal from an external source;

reading the playback data from said data storage unit in response to a special playback corresponding to the request signal;

decoding the playback data so as to generate a special playback signal, and encoding the special playback signal so as to generate special playback data, wherein the special playback data is generated in response to a type of special playback;

selectively outputting the playback data, the special playback data obtained by encoding the special playback signal, and the splicing data in response to the request signal received by said receiving means, wherein said selectively outputting selectively outputs the splicing data from said data storage unit when switching between the playback data and the special playback data so as to provide a continuity in the locus of used bits in a buffer of a receiving terminal to prevent an overflow or an underflow in the buffer of the receiving terminal; and

transmitting the playback data, the special playback data or the splicing data to the receiving terminal via a transmission medium.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the special playback data is intra-frame encoded, and the playback data is substantially inter-frame predictive encoded.

6. A data distribution system for distributing data which includes special playback data from a data distribution apparatus to a terminal device,

said data distribution apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a request signal from an external source;

data storage means for storing playback data, and splicing data;

data switching means for selectively outputting the playback data, the special playback data and the splicing data in response to the request signal received by said receiving means; and

transmission means for transmitting the playback data, the special playback data or the splicing data from said data switching means to said terminal device via a transmission medium,

wherein the data switching means generates the special playback data by reading selected playback data from said data storage means in response to a type of special playback, decoding the selected playback data, and encoding the decoded special playback data when the request signal indicates the special playback, and

wherein the data switching means selectively outputs the splicing data from said data storage means when switching between the playback data and the special playback data so as to provide a continuity in the locus of used bits in a buffer of the terminal device to prevent an overflow or an underflow in the buffer of the terminal device, and

said terminal device comprising;

receiving means for receiving the data transmitted from said data distribution apparatus; and

decoding means for decoding the data received by said receiving means.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the special playback data is intra-frame encoded, and the playback data is substantially inter-frame predictive encoded.

7. A data distribution system for distributing data which includes special playback data from a data distribution apparatus to a terminal device,

said data distribution apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a request signal from an external source;

data storage means for storing playback data and splicing data;

decoding means for reading the playback data from said data storage means in response to the a type of special playback corresponding to the request signal, and for decoding the read playback data so as to generate a special playback signal;

encoding means for encoding the special playback signal generated by said decoding means so as to generate special playback data;

data switching means for selectively outputting the playback data, the special playback data obtained by said encoding means and the splicing data read from said data storage means in response to the request signal received by said receiving means, wherein the data switching means selectively outputs the splicing data from said data storage means when switching between the playback data and the special playback data so as to provide a continuity in the locus of used bits in a buffer of a data receiving terminal to prevent an overflow or an underflow in the buffer of the data receiving terminal; and

transmission means for transmitting the playback data, the special playback data or the splicing data from said data switching means to said terminal device via a transmission medium, and

said terminal device comprising;

receiving means for receiving the data transmitted from said data distribution apparatus; and

decoding means for decoding the data received by said receiving means.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the special playback data is intra-frame encoded, and the playback data is substantially inter-frame predictive encoded.