EP0837609A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Splicing compressed packetized digital video streams
Assignee: Arris Technology Inc
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Filing: 1997-10-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A secondary packetized data stream (IS), such as a commercial, is spliced with a primary packetized data stream (MS), such as a network television program. The system does not require decompression of the data in the primary data stream, and is particularly suitable for use at a cable system headend to allow the insertion of commercials from local businesses into a nationally broadcast television program. When a start signal (T_in)is received, a pre-splicing packet (700, 800, 900, 1000) of the primary stream is determined. The pre-splicing packet is the packet closest to the start time which carries an anchor frame (e.g., I or P frame) start code (706, 804, 905, 1003). To prevent a potential discontinuity at the decoder (168), the pre-splicing packet (700, 800, 900, 1000) is processed to discard the anchor frame data, and to insert a number of stuffing bytes (712, 812, 912, 1012) which is equal to the number of bytes discarded into an adaptation field of the pre-splicing packet. To further maintain continuity at the decoder, identifying data of the primary stream such as PID and PSI data, is retrieved and provided to the secondary stream. A number of null packets (430) are inserted into the output stream (OS) at the transition point between the main program and the commercial to prevent a buffer overflow at a decoder (168) which receives the output stream (OS).
Inventors
- 👤 David Chen
- 👤 Weidong Mao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/236; H04N21/23611; H04N21/21; H04N21/222; H04N21/2221; H04N21/234; H04N21/23406; H04N21/23424; H04N21/23608; H04N21/2365; H04N21/242; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/434; H04N21/4344; H04N21/4347; H04N21/44; H04N21/44004; H04N21/44016; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165; H04N7/24; H04N7/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for splicing a secondary
packetized data stream with a primary packetized
data stream, comprising the steps of: providing a start signal indicating a time to
initiate said splicing; determining a pre-splicing packet of said
primary stream according to said start signal; and providing an output stream where a first packet
of said secondary stream is positioned to follow
said pre-splicing packet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 1,
wherein the packets of said primary stream have
identifying data associated therewith, comprising
the further steps of: retrieving said identifying data of said
primary stream; and providing said secondary stream with said
identifying data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 2,
comprising the further steps of: providing a number L of null packets in said
output stream to prevent a buffer overflow at a
decoder which receives said output stream; and inserting said null packets between said pre-splicing
packet and said first packet; wherein said number L is determined according
to respective data rates of said primary and
secondary streams.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
59 words
A method in accordance with one of the
preceding claims, comprising the further steps of: determining a post-splicing packet of said
primary stream which follows said pre-splicing
packet; discarding data of said pre-splicing packet
which is associated with said post-splicing packet;
and adding an amount of stuffing data to said pre-splicing
packet according to the amount of data
discarded.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
34 words
A method in accordance with one of the
preceding claims, wherein said pre-splicing packet
is a packet of said primary stream with an anchor
frame start code which is closest to said start
time.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with one of the
preceding claims, wherein said primary stream
carries compressed digital data, and said splicing
does not require decompression of said compressed
digital data.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
46 words
A method in accordance with one of the
preceding claims, comprising the further steps of: determining a post-splicing packet of said
primary stream which follows said pre-splicing
packet; and positioning said post-splicing packet to follow
a last packet of said secondary stream in said
output stream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method in accordance with claim 7,
comprising the further steps of: discarding data of said post-splicing packet
which is associated with a packet of said primary
stream which immediately precedes said post-splicing
packet; and adding an amount of stuffing data to said post-splicing
packet according to the amount of data
discarded.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method in accordance with claim 7 or 8,
wherein said post-splicing packet is a packet of
said primary stream with a sequence start code which
directly follows a sequence end code which is
associated with said last packet of said secondary
stream.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for splicing a secondary
packetized data stream with a primary packetized
data, comprising: means for providing a start signal indicating a
time to initiate said splicing; means for determining a pre-splicing packet of
said primary stream according to said start signal;
and means for providing an output stream where a
first packet of said secondary stream is positioned
to follow said pre-splicing packet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 10,
wherein the packets of said primary stream have
identifying data associated therewith, further
comprising: means for retrieving said identifying data of
said primary stream; and means for providing said secondary stream with
said identifying data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 10
or 11, further comprising: means for providing a number L of null packets
in said output stream to prevent a buffer overflow
at a decoder which receives said output stream; and means for inserting said null packets between
said pre-splicing packet and said first packet; wherein said number L is determined according
to respective data rates of said primary and
secondary streams.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus in accordance with one of
claims 10 to 12, further comprising: means for determining a post-splicing packet of
said primary stream which follows said pre-splicing
packet; means for discarding data of said pre-splicing
packet which is associated with said post-splicing
packet; and means for adding an amount of stuffing data to
said pre-splicing packet according to the amount of
data discarded.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
35 words
An apparatus in accordance with one of
claims 10 to 13, wherein said pre-splicing packet is
a packet of said primary stream with an anchor frame
start code which is closest to said start time.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
31 words
An apparatus in accordance with one of
claims 10 to 14, wherein said primary stream carries
compressed digital data, and said splicing does not
require decompression of said compressed digital
data.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
48 words
An apparatus in accordance with one of
claims 10 to 15, further comprising: means for determining a post-splicing packet of
said primary stream which follows said pre-splicing
packet; and means for positioning said post-splicing packet
to follow a last packet of said secondary stream in
said output stream.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16,
further comprising: means for discarding data of said post-splicing
packet which is associated with a packet of said
primary stream which immediately precedes said post-splicing
packet; and means for adding an amount of stuffing data to
said post-splicing packet according to the amount of
data discarded.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16
or 17, wherein said post-splicing packet is a packet
of said primary stream with a sequence start code
which directly follows a sequence end code which is
associated with said last packet of said secondary
stream.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
108 words
A decoder for decoding a transport data
stream which comprises a secondary packetized data
stream which is spliced with a primary packetized
data stream, wherein a first packet of said
secondary stream is positioned to follow a pre-splicing
packet of said primary stream, said decoder
comprising: a buffer for storing said transport data; and a processor coupled to receive data from said
buffer for processing said transport data; wherein: a number L of null packets are provided between
said pre-splicing packet and said first packet to
prevent overflow of said buffer; and said number L is determined according to
respective data rates of said primary and secondary
streams.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A decoder in accordance with claim 19,
wherein said number L is determined according to a
decoding delay time of said decoder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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