Statistical sub-multiplexer for centrally formatted broadcast programming
First Claim
1. A method for centrally generating a multiplex signal for broadcast from a plurality of local broadcast networks, comprising:
- setting a bandwidth allocation for a national services sub-multiplex and a bandwidth allocation for local services sub-multiplexes such that a total of the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed a maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks;
determining a bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex;
determining whether a total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex exceeds the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex;
determining whether one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed if the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex will exceed the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex;
increasing compression of one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed; and
increasing the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and decreasing the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex cannot be further compressed, wherein a total of the increased bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the decreased bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed the maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems generate a multiplex signal including two or more different sub-multiplexes for transmission via a broadcast network. A first sub-multiplex may include several services for broadcast in multiple locations, while multiple second sub-multiplexes may include services for broadcast within particular locations. A statistical multiplexer generates the first sub-multiplex within a first bandwidth allocation. If the first sub-multiplex services cannot fit within the allocated bandwidth, the bandwidth allocation may be adjusted. The statistical multiplexer may generate a second sub-multiplex within a second bandwidth allocation. If the second sub-multiplex services do not fit within the allocated bandwidth, the bandwidth allocation may be adjusted to increase the bandwidth allocated to the second sub-multiplex and decrease the bandwidth allocated to the first sub-multiplex so that the total bandwidth capacity of a broadcast network is not exceeded. This process may be repeated for each of the second sub multiplexes.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for centrally generating a multiplex signal for broadcast from a plurality of local broadcast networks, comprising:
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setting a bandwidth allocation for a national services sub-multiplex and a bandwidth allocation for local services sub-multiplexes such that a total of the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed a maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks; determining a bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex; determining whether a total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex exceeds the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex; determining whether one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed if the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex will exceed the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex; increasing compression of one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed; and increasing the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and decreasing the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex cannot be further compressed, wherein a total of the increased bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the decreased bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed the maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer of a broadcast system that centrally generates a multiplex signal for broadcast from a plurality of local broadcast networks, the computer comprising:
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a processor; and a network access port coupled to the processor and configured to enable the processor to communicate with a network of the broadcast system, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps comprising; setting a bandwidth allocation for a national services sub-multiplex and a bandwidth allocation for local services sub-multiplexes such that a total of the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed a maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks; determining a bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex; determining whether a total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex exceeds the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex; determining whether one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed if the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex will exceed the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex; directing a codec processor of the broadcast system to increase compression of one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed; and increasing the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and decreasing the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex cannot be further compressed, wherein a total of the increased bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the decreased bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed the maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer system for a broadcast system, the computer system comprising:
a processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps comprising; setting a bandwidth allocation for a national services sub-multiplex and a bandwidth allocation for local services sub-multiplexes such that a total of the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed a maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks; determining a bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex; determining whether a total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex exceeds the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex; determining whether one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed if the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex will exceed the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex; increasing compression of one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed; and increasing the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and decreasing the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex cannot be further compressed, wherein a total of the increased bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the decreased bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed the maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer program product, comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising; at least one instruction for setting a bandwidth allocation for a national services sub-multiplex and a bandwidth allocation for local services sub-multiplexes such that a total of the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed a maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks; at least one instruction for determining a bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex; at least one instruction for determining whether a total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex exceeds the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex; at least one instruction for determining whether one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed if the total of the determined bandwidth required for each service to be included in the national services sub-multiplex will exceed the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex; at least one instruction for increasing compression of one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex can be further compressed; and at least one instruction for increasing the bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and decreasing the bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes if it is determined that one or more of the services to be included in the national services sub-multiplex cannot be further compressed, wherein a total of the increased bandwidth allocated to the national services sub-multiplex and the decreased bandwidth allocated to the local services sub-multiplexes does not exceed the maximum bandwidth capacity of any one of the plurality of local broadcast networks. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
Specification