Transmitter quieting and different encoding rates for portions of a set of frames

• US 8,780,982 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2010
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Raveendran, Vijayalakshmi R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anyikire, Chikaodili E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beck, Leron
• Application Number:
  US12/829,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20110002379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 37524001-24029
• US Class Current: 375/240.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/41 for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices

Abstract

A method comprises defining a period of time for encoding a set of frames of multimedia data, encoding a first portion of the set of frames of multimedia data at a first encoding rate, encoding a second portion of the set of frames of multimedia data at a second encoding rate, wherein the second encoding rate is less than the first encoding rate so as to create a null interval during the period of time, transmitting the encoded set of frames via a transmitter, and blanking the transmitter during the null interval.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

defining a period of time for encoding a set of frames of multimedia data;

encoding a first portion of the set of frames of multimedia data at a first encoding rate;

encoding a second portion of the set of frames of multimedia data at a second encoding rate, wherein the second encoding rate is less than the first encoding rate so as to create a null interval during the period of time;

transmitting the encoded set of frames via a transmitter; and

blanking the transmitter during the null interval, wherein blanking the transmitter during the null interval comprises refraining from transmitting data via the transmitter during the null interval, wherein the null interval is not less than six milliseconds to provide a sufficient time for reliable spectrum sensing to be performed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a final frame of the set of frames, and the first portion comprises all frames of the set of frames except the final frame.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

encoding the first portion of the set of frames at the first encoding rate and encoding the second portion of the set of frames at a second encoding rate in response to determining that the period of time overlaps with a blanking interval.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of frames comprise one of:

a set of audio frames,

a set of video frames, and

a combined set of audio frames and video frames.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting non-essential data into an encoding bitstream during the null interval.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the non-essential data comprises packets of redundant data relative to the set of frames.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the non-essential data comprises null data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the null data comprises a set of packets having all zeros within packet payloads of the set of packets.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein inserting the non-essential data comprises inserting the non-essential data via a multiplexer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of frames of multimedia data comprises audio frames and video frames, and wherein the multiplexer combines the audio frames, the video frames and the non-essential data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the multiplexer also combines ancillary data with the audio frames, the video frames and the non-essential data.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the multiplexer is associated with an encoder.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

aligning an application layer boundary of an encoded bitstream associated with the set of frames with a physical layer boundary of a physical layer transport stream that includes the set of frames.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the null interval comprises a data field that immediately precedes the application layer boundary that is aligned with the physical layer boundary.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the application layer boundary comprises a group of picture (GOP) boundary, and

the physical layer boundary corresponds to a field sync of a transmitted signal.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the application layer boundary comprises a scene boundary, and

the physical layer boundary corresponds to a field sync of a transmitted signal.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a sensing operation while blanking the transmitter during the null interval.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein performing the sensing operation includes sensing for other wireless signals at one or more particular frequencies.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein sensing for other wireless signals comprises sensing for a licensed signal at the one or more particular frequencies.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising switching the transmitter to a different frequency upon sensing another wireless signal at the one or more particular frequencies.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising periodically repeating the method in compliance with a wireless communication standard that requires periodic sensing with unlicensed use of the one or more particular frequencies.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the method is repeated periodically for periodic sensing operations.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of frames is a first set of frames, and the period of time is a first period of time, the method further comprising:

defining a second period of time for encoding a second set of frames of multimedia data;

encoding a first portion of the second set of frames of multimedia data at the first encoding rate;

encoding a second portion of the second set of frames of multimedia data at a third encoding rate, wherein the third encoding rate is less than the first encoding rate so as to create a null interval during the second period of time;

transmitting the second set of encoded set of frames via a transmitter; and

blanking the transmitter during the null interval within the second period of time.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of frames is a first set of frames, and the period of time is a first period of time, the method further comprising:

defining a second period of time for encoding a second set of frames of multimedia data, wherein no blanking occurs during the second period of time;

encoding the second set of frames at the first encoding rate; and

transmitting the second set of encoded frames via the transmitter.

54. The method of claim 1, further comprising encoding and transmitting the set of frames such that the blanking of the transmitter combined with a latency time associated with decoding and demodulating the set of frames is less than a pre-defined duration associated with real-time multimedia presentation to a user.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the pre-defined duration is less than approximately 100 milliseconds.

56. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the encoded set of frames at a first frequency, wherein performing the sensing operation includes sensing for other wireless signals at the first frequency, the method further comprising:

switching the transmitter to a second frequency upon sensing another wireless signal at the first frequency.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein performing the sensing operation further comprises sensing for other wireless signals at the second frequency, the method further comprising:

switching the transmitter to the second frequency upon not sensing another wireless signal at the second frequency.

25. A device comprising:

a multimedia encoding unit that defines a period of time for encoding a set of frames of multimedia data, encodes a first portion of the set of frames of multimedia data at a first encoding rate, and encodes a second portion of the set of frames of multimedia data at a second encoding rate, wherein the second encoding rate is less than the first encoding rate so as to create a null interval during the period of time; and

a transmitter unit that transmits the encoded set of frames, and blanks during the null interval, wherein to blank during the null interval, the transmitter refrains from transmitting data via the transmitter during the null interval, wherein the null interval is not less than six milliseconds to provide a sufficient time for reliable spectrum sensing to be performed.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the second portion comprises a final frame of the set of frames, and the first portion comprises all frames of the set of frames except the final frame.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the multimedia encoding unit encodes the first portion of the set of frames at the first encoding rate and encodes the second portion of the set of frames at a second encoding rate in response to determining that the period of time overlaps with a blanking interval.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein the set of frames comprise one of:

a set of audio frames,

a set of video frames, and

a combined set of audio frames and video frames.

29. The device of claim 25, further comprising a multiplexer that inserts non-essential data into an encoding bitstream during the null interval.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the non-essential data comprises packets of redundant data relative to the set of frames.

31. The device of claim 29, wherein the non-essential data comprises null data.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the null data comprises a set of packets having all zeros within packet payloads of the set of packets.

33. The device of claim 29, wherein the set of frames of multimedia data comprises audio frames and video frames, and wherein the multiplexer combines the audio frames, the video frames and the non-essential data.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the multiplexer also combines ancillary data with the audio frames, the video frames and the non-essential data.

35. The device of claim 29, wherein the multiplexer is associated with the multimedia encoding unit.

36. The device of claim 25, wherein an application layer boundary of an encoded bitstream associated with the set of frames is aligned with a physical layer boundary of a physical layer transport stream that includes the set of frames.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the null interval comprises a data field that immediately precedes the application layer boundary that is aligned with the physical layer boundary.

38. The device of claim 36, wherein:

the application layer boundary comprises a group of picture (GOP) boundary, and

the physical layer boundary corresponds to a field sync of a transmitted signal.

39. The device of claim 36, wherein:

the application layer boundary comprises a scene boundary, and

the physical layer boundary corresponds to a field sync of a transmitted signal.

40. The device of claim 25, further comprising:

a sensor unit that performs a sensing operation while the transmitter unit blanks during the null interval.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein in performing the sensing operation, the sensor unit senses for other wireless signals at one or more particular frequencies.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein the sensor unit senses for a licensed signal at the one or more particular frequencies.

43. The device of claim 41, wherein the transmitter unit switches to a different frequency when the sensor unit senses another wireless signal at the one or more particular frequencies.

44. The device of claim 41, wherein the sensor unit periodically repeats the sensing operation and the transmitter unit periodically repeats blanking in compliance with a wireless communication standard that requires periodic sensing with unlicensed use of the one or more particular frequencies.

45. The device of claim 40, wherein the sensor unit periodically repeats the sensing operation.

46. The device of claim 25, wherein the set of frames is a first set of frames, and the period of time is a first period of time,

wherein the multimedia encoding unit defines a second period of time for encoding a second set of frames of multimedia data, encodes a first portion of the second set of frames of multimedia data at the first encoding rate, and encodes a second portion of the second set of frames of multimedia data at a third encoding rate, wherein the third encoding rate is less than the first encoding rate so as to create a null interval during the second period of time, and

wherein the transmitter transmits the second set of encoded set of frames, and blanks during the null interval within the second period of time.

47. The device of claim 25, wherein the set of frames is a first set of frames, and the period of time is a first period of time,

wherein the multimedia encoding unit defines a second period of time for encoding a second set of frames of multimedia data, wherein no blanking of the transmitter occurs during the second period of time, and encodes the second set of frames at the first encoding rate, and

wherein the transmitter unit transmits the second set of encoded frames.

48. The device of claim 25, wherein the multimedia encoding unit and the transmitter unit encode and transmit the set of frames such that the blanking of the transmitter combined with a latency time associated with decoding and demodulating the set of frames is less than a pre-defined duration associated with real-time multimedia presentation to a user.

49. The device of claim 25, wherein the pre-defined duration is less than approximately 100 milliseconds.

58. The device of claim 40, wherein the transmitter unit is configured to transmit the encoded set of frames at a first frequency, wherein in performing the sensing operation, the sensor unit senses for other wireless signals at the first frequency, and wherein the transmitter unit switches to a second frequency when the sensor unit senses another wireless signal at the first frequency.

59. The device of claim 58, wherein in performing the sensing operation, the sensor unit senses for other wireless signals at the second frequency, and wherein the transmitter unit switches to the second frequency when the sensor unit does not sense another wireless signal at the second frequency.

50. A device comprising:

means for defining a period of time for encoding a set of frames of multimedia data;

means for encoding a first portion of the set of frames of multimedia data at a first encoding rate;

means for encoding a second portion of the set of frames of multimedia data at a second encoding rate, wherein the second encoding rate is less than the first encoding rate so as to create a null interval during the period of time;

means for transmitting the encoded set of frames via a transmitter; and

means for blanking the means for transmitting during the null interval, wherein the means for blanking the means for transmitting during the null interval comprises means for refraining from transmitting data via the transmitter during the null interval, wherein the null interval is not less than six milliseconds to provide a sufficient time for reliable spectrum sensing to be performed.

51. The device of claim 50, further comprising:

means for performing a sensing operation while blanking the means for transmitting.

60. The device of claim 51, wherein the means for transmitting the encoded set of frames via the transmitter comprise means for transmitting the encoded set of frames via the transmitter at a first frequency, wherein the means for performing the sensing operation comprise means for sensing for other wireless signals at the first frequency, the device further comprising:

means for switching the transmitter to a second frequency upon sensing another wireless signal at the first frequency.

52. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that upon execution cause one or more processors to:

define a period of time for encoding a set of frames of multimedia data;

encode a first portion of the set of frames of multimedia data at a first encoding rate;

encode a second portion of the set of frames of multimedia data at a second encoding rate, wherein the second encoding rate is less than the first encoding rate so as to create a null interval during the period of time;

transmit the encoded set of frames via a transmitter; and

blank the transmitter during the null interval, wherein the instructions that cause the one or more processors to blank the transmitter during the null interval further cause the one or more processors to refrain from transmitting data via the transmitter during the null interval, wherein the null interval is not less than six milliseconds to provide a sufficient time for reliable spectrum sensing to be performed.

53. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 52, further comprising instructions that upon execution cause the one or more processors to perform a sensing operation while blanking the transmitter.

61. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein the instructions that cause the one or more processors to transmit the encoded set of frames via the transmitter comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to transmit the encoded set of frames via the transmitter at a first frequency, wherein the instructions that cause the one or more processors to perform the sensing operation comprise instructions that cause the one or more processors to sense for other wireless signals at the first frequency, the computer-readable storage medium further comprising instructions that upon execution cause the one or more processors to switch the transmitter to a second frequency upon sensing another wireless signal at the first frequency.