Reducing channel-change time
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for processing image data, the apparatus comprising:
- a buffer configured to receive image signals from one or more sources;
a processor configured to encode the image signals to create a group of pictures (GOP) structure, the GOP structure including a header, a data portion, and a trailer, wherein the processor is further configured to encode the image signals to create forward error correction (FEC) capable of correcting errors in the GOP structure, wherein the processor is configured to encode the header to include information pertaining to the relationship between the GOP structure and the FEC; and
a driver configured to transmit the GOP structure and FEC, wherein the FEC lags the GOP structure by an amount that allows a device receiving the GOP structure and FEC to utilize both the GOP structure and FEC during a channel-change event in order to decrease a channel-change time.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, among others, a method for executing a change from one communication channel to another includes receiving a channel-change indication and obtaining data and FEC that corresponds to the data. The data and FEC are related to a new channel, and the data includes a portion of data within a data packet. By utilizing the FEC, the method further includes recreating portions of data of the data packet that were missed due to the channel-change indication occurring in the middle of the transmission of the data packet. As an example, the data packet can be associated with video data arranged in a group of pictures (GOP) structure.
214 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for processing image data, the apparatus comprising:
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a buffer configured to receive image signals from one or more sources; a processor configured to encode the image signals to create a group of pictures (GOP) structure, the GOP structure including a header, a data portion, and a trailer, wherein the processor is further configured to encode the image signals to create forward error correction (FEC) capable of correcting errors in the GOP structure, wherein the processor is configured to encode the header to include information pertaining to the relationship between the GOP structure and the FEC; and a driver configured to transmit the GOP structure and FEC, wherein the FEC lags the GOP structure by an amount that allows a device receiving the GOP structure and FEC to utilize both the GOP structure and FEC during a channel-change event in order to decrease a channel-change time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A set-top box comprising:
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an input device for receiving a group of pictures (GOP) structure and forward error correction (FEC) code, wherein the FEC code is offset, with respect to time, from the GOP structure; and a processor configured to decode the GOP structure and FEC during a channel-change event, wherein the processor is configured to encode a header of the GOP to include information pertaining to the relationship between the GOP structure and the FEC. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for executing a change from one communication channel to another, the method comprising:
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receiving a channel-change indication; obtaining data and obtaining forward error correction (FEC) that corresponds to the data, wherein the data and FEC are related to a new channel, and the data includes a portion of data within a data packet; utilizing the FEC to recreate portions of data of the data packet that were missed due to the channel-change indication occurring in the middle of the transmission of the data packet; and encoding the header of the data packet to include information pertaining to the relationship between the GOP structure and the FEC. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification