US6885680B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for synchronizing to a data stream
Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Ltd
•
Filing: 2000-01-24
•
Granted: 2005-04-26
•
Expires: 2020-01-24
Abstract
Abstract In accordance with a specific aspect of the present invention, a compressed video stream, such as an MPEG-2 video stream, is received by a transport demultiplexor, synchronized, parsed into separate packet types, and written to buffer locations external the demultiplexor. Adaptation field is handled by a separate parser. In addition, primary elementary stream data can be handled by separate primary elementary stream parsers based upon the packet identifier of the primary elementary stream. Video packets can be parsed based upon stream identifier values. Specific packets of data are stored in one or more system memory or video memory buffers by an output controller based upon allocation table information. Private data associated with specific elementary streams or packet adaptation fields are repacketized, and written to an output buffer location. In specific implementations, the hardware associated with the system is used to acquire the data stream without any knowledge of the specific protocol of the stream. In another embodiment, the hardware is used to implement a splicing of streams of data.
Inventors
- 👤 Branko Kovacevic
- 👤 Kevork Kechichian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:10
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/434; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/236; H04N21/2368; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N21/42607; H04N21/42615; H04N21/4302; H04N21/4305; H04N21/4341; H04N21/438; H04N21/4385
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A method comprising: receiving a transport stream having unknown transport characteristics representable by characteristic values; identifying the characteristic values using a transport stream acquisition routine that iteratively selects a combination of characteristic values from a plurality of possible combinations of characteristic values to determine a combination of characteristic values for the transport characteristics that enables synchronization to the transport stream.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
60 words
A method comprising: receiving a transport stream having unknown transport characteristics representable by characteristic values; identifying the characteristic values using a transport stream acquisition routine that iteratively selects a combination of characteristic values from a plurality of possible combinations of characteristic values to determine a combination of characteristic values for the transport characteristics that enables synchronization to the transport stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the characteristic values includes identifying the characteristic values in less than 10 seconds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein identifying the characteristic values includes identifying the characteristic values in less than 2 seconds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the characteristic values includes initializing the transport stream acquisition routine based upon a manually initiated request.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the characteristic values includes identifying a first combination of characteristic values and determining if synchronization to the transport stream has been acquired using the first combination of characteristic values.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the unknown transport characteristics include a bit ordering of a portion of data, and wherein the transport stream includes a plurality of portions of data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein a portion of data is 8 bits of data, and the bit ordering is one of the first bit of 8 bits of data being the most significant bit, or the last bit of the 8 bits of data being the most significant bit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the unknown transport characteristics include a latching edge of a clock signal used to sample the transport stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the unknown transport characteristics include a polarity of a active logic level of an error signal transmitted as part of the transport stream.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the unknown transport characteristics include a polarity of a transport packet start signal transmitted as part of the transport stream.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the unknown transport characteristics include a polarity of a transport packet valid signal transmitted as part of the transport stream.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the characteristic values includes the determining if a framer is locked to the transport stream.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the framer is locked to the transport stream if a predefined number of packets with a predefined start code are received.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the predefined number of packets are sequentially received.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the predefined number of packets is programmable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein the predefined number of packets is stored in a register.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the predefined start code is 47h.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of characteristics are based on at least one of a data input, a clock input, a start indicator input, a valid indicator input, or an error indicator input.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for synchronizing to a transport stream, the method comprising setting a first transport stream characteristic register to a first value; setting a second transport stream characteristic register to a second value; determining if a synchronization indicator is generated within a first amount of time; repeating the step of determining for a number of times when the synchronization indicator is generated, wherein synchronization is successful if a synchronization indicator is generated for the number of times; changing the first transport stream register to have a third value when the synchronization indicator is not generated within the first amount of time, and repeating the steps of determining and repeating; and changing the second transport stream register to have a fourth value when the synchronization indicator is not generated within the first amount of time, and repeating the steps of determining and repeating.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for synchronizing to a transport stream, the method comprising setting a first transport stream characteristic register to a first value; setting a second transport stream characteristic register to a second value; determining if a synchronization indicator is generated within a first amount of time; repeating the step of determining for a number of times when the synchronization indicator is generated, wherein synchronization is successful if a synchronization indicator is generated for the number of times; changing the first transport stream register to have a third value when the synchronization indicator is not generated within the first amount of time, and repeating the steps of determining and repeating; and changing the second transport stream register to have a fourth value when the synchronization indicator is not generated within the first amount of time, and repeating the steps of determining and repeating.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the first amount of time is a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the number of times is a predetermined number of times.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the first amount of time is a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
90 words
A method comprising: receiving a set of signals to provide a transport stream, the set of signals comprising unknown transport characteristics representable by a set of characteristic values; identifying the characteristic values using a transport stream acquisition routine that iteratively selects a combination of characteristic values from a plurality of possible combinations of characteristic values to determine a combination of characteristic values for the unknown transport characteristics that enables synchronization to the transport stream; and synchronizing to the transport stream based at least in part on the identified characteristic values.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
90 words
A method comprising: receiving a set of signals to provide a transport stream, the set of signals comprising unknown transport characteristics representable by a set of characteristic values; identifying the characteristic values using a transport stream acquisition routine that iteratively selects a combination of characteristic values from a plurality of possible combinations of characteristic values to determine a combination of characteristic values for the unknown transport characteristics that enables synchronization to the transport stream; and synchronizing to the transport stream based at least in part on the identified characteristic values.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein identifying the characteristic values includes identifying the characteristic values in less than 10 seconds.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein identifying the characteristic values includes identifying the characteristic values in less than approximately 2 seconds.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein identifying the characteristic values includes initializing the transport stream acquisition routine based upon a manually initiated request.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein identifying the characteristic values includes identifying a first combination of values for the set of transport characteristics and determining if synchronization to the transport stream has been acquired using the first combination of values.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the unknown transport characteristics include a bit ordering of a portion of data, wherein the transport stream includes a plurality of portions of data.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein a portion of data is 8 bits of data, and the bit ordering is one of the first bit of 8 bits of data being the most significant bit, or the last bit of the 8 bits of data being the most significant bit.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the unknown transport characteristics include a latching edge of a clock signal used to sample the transport stream.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein the unknown transport characteristics include a polarity of an active logic level of an error signal transmitted as part of the transport stream.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the unknown transport characteristics include a polarity of a transport packet start signal transmitted as part of the transport stream.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the unknown transport characteristics include a polarity of a transport packet valid signal transmitted as part of the transport stream.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein identifying the characteristic values include determining if a framer is locked to the transport stream.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the framer is locked to the transport stream if a predefined number of packets with a predefined start code are received.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein the predefined number of packets are sequentially received.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein the predefined number of packets is programmable.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein the predefined number of packets is stored in a register.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein the predefined start code is 47h.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the unknown set of transport characteristics are based on at least one of a data input, a clock input, a start indicator input, a valid indicator input, and an error indicator input.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of synchronizing to a transport stream, the method comprising setting a first register to a first value representing a first transport stream characteristic; setting a second register to a second value representing a second transport stream characteristic; determining if a transport stream synchronization indicator is generated within a first amount of time; repeating the step of determining for a number of times when the transport stream synchronization indicator is generated, wherein synchronization to the system is successful if a synchronization indicator is generated for the number of times; changing the first transport stream register to have a third value when the synchronization indicator is not generated within the first amount of time, and repeating the steps of determining and repeating; and changing the second transport stream register to have a fourth value when the synchronization indicator is not generated within the first amount of time, and repeating the steps of determining and repeating.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of synchronizing to a transport stream, the method comprising setting a first register to a first value representing a first transport stream characteristic; setting a second register to a second value representing a second transport stream characteristic; determining if a transport stream synchronization indicator is generated within a first amount of time; repeating the step of determining for a number of times when the transport stream synchronization indicator is generated, wherein synchronization to the system is successful if a synchronization indicator is generated for the number of times; changing the first transport stream register to have a third value when the synchronization indicator is not generated within the first amount of time, and repeating the steps of determining and repeating; and changing the second transport stream register to have a fourth value when the synchronization indicator is not generated within the first amount of time, and repeating the steps of determining and repeating.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 41 , wherein the first amount of time is a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 41 , wherein the number of times is a predetermined number of times.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein the first amount of time is a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
99 words
A method comprising: receiving a set of signals carrying a transport stream, the set of signals comprising a clock signal and a data signal, the clock signal and the data signal having unknown characteristics; assuming a set of characteristics to be the unknown characteristics; receiving a data stream from the set of signals based upon the assumed set of characteristics; and assuming as the set of characteristics a different set of characteristics and repeating the steps of receiving the data and determining until reception of a transport stream is verified based at least in part on the data stream.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
99 words
A method comprising: receiving a set of signals carrying a transport stream, the set of signals comprising a clock signal and a data signal, the clock signal and the data signal having unknown characteristics; assuming a set of characteristics to be the unknown characteristics; receiving a data stream from the set of signals based upon the assumed set of characteristics; and assuming as the set of characteristics a different set of characteristics and repeating the steps of receiving the data and determining until reception of a transport stream is verified based at least in part on the data stream.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5768292A
Cited
US5392212A
Cited
US5506904A
Cited
US5457701A
Cited
US6223211B1
Cited
US5534944A
Cited
US5559999A
Cited
US5841472A
Cited
US5521927A
Cited
US5703887A
Cited
US5517250A
Cited
US5948119A
Cited
US6449352B1
Cited
US5920572A
Cited
US5598415A
Cited
US5742623A
Cited
US5805602A
Cited
US5778191A
Cited
US5726989A
Cited
US5959659A
Cited
US5703877A
Cited
US6310922B1
Cited
US5835493A
Cited
US6134272A
Cited
US5691664A
Cited
US5754783A
Cited
US5809538A
Cited
US5901178A
Cited
US5859660A
Cited
US6233256B1
Cited
US6157674A
Cited
US5828416A
Cited
US5812976A
Cited
US6043828A
Cited
US6333938B1
Cited
US5668490A
Cited
US6137834A
Cited
US5812760A
Cited
US5838678A
Cited
US6058459A
Cited
US5856973A
Cited
US5917830A
Cited
US6226291B1
Cited
US6512775B1
Cited
US5831690A
Cited
US6269107B1
Cited
US6067303A
Cited
US6122123A
Cited
US6236432B1
Cited
US6275534B1
Cited
US5946318A
Cited
US5982436A
Cited
US6310652B1
Cited
US6038000A
Cited
US5990958A
Cited
US5923860A
Cited
US6118462A
Cited
US6301248B1
Cited
US6173333B1
Cited
US6141358A
Cited
US6567471B1
Cited
US6188703B1
Cited
US6557031B1
Cited
US6181706B1
Cited
US6275507B1
Cited
US6356567B2
Cited
US5936640A
Cited
US5949436A
Cited
US6529550B2
Cited
US6064236A
Cited
US6181713B1
Cited
US6226769B1
Cited
US6351471B1
Cited
US6292490B1
Cited
US6310898B1
Cited
US6330285B1
Cited
US6538999B1
Cited
EP0942603A2
Cited
US6323910B1
Cited
US20030206605A1
Cited
US6285408B1
Cited
US6414954B1
Cited
US6128026A
Cited
US6336200B1
Cited
US6108046A
Cited
US6526175B2
Cited
US6573942B1
Cited
US6425021B1
Cited
US6380991B1
Cited
US6359911B1
Cited
US6463059B1
Cited
US6438145B1
Cited
US6434170B1
Cited
US6434146B1
Cited
US6298089B1
Cited
EP1014730A1
Cited
US6424658B1
Cited
US6463486B1
Cited
US6378035B1
Cited
US6621870B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-04-25 | 2008-10-25 | 2009-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-04-25 | 2012-10-25 | 2013-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-04-25 | 2016-10-25 | 2017-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |