Multiplex communications – Communication techniques for information carried in plural... – Combining or distributing information via time channels
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-07
2001-02-06
Olms, Douglas W. (Department: 2732)
Multiplex communications
Communication techniques for information carried in plural...
Combining or distributing information via time channels
C348S423100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185229
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for multiplexing video data, audio data and additional data such as subtitles and generating a transport stream for transmission, wherein the video data and audio data may be compressed and encoded according to a MPEG standard or the like.
In digital television broadcasting systems, audio data and video data may be processed for particular applications such as movies or music promotions. More specifically, in such digital television broadcasting systems, data may be processed into data suitable for a so-called surround system, audio data may be processed so as to presented in several languages, or audio data, video data and additional data may be multiplexed so as to generate a transport stream wherein a dialogue may be superimposed in a number of languages, and broadcasted to viewers.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a data multiplexer and a method thereof for enabling audio data, video data and additional data to be multiplexed in a digital television broadcasting system or the like.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a data multiplexer and a method as aforesaid wherein the data may be multiplexed at a relatively high speed and wherein changes in the type of the additional data and in processing may be readily accommodated.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a data multiplexing apparatus is provided which comprises a data size detecting device for detecting data sizes of input video data and audio data, a buffer device for buffering the input video data and audio data, a device for formulating a multiplexing plan for the input video data and audio data in response to the detected data sizes and for controlling the multiplexing of the video data and audio data in response to the multiplexing plan so as to obtain a multiplexed data stream, a bus for connecting the data size detecting means and the controlling device, a data supply line for supplying the input video data and audio data to the buffer device, and a data output line for outputting the multiplexed data stream to an external apparatus. The bus is separate from the data supply line means and the data output line means so that the video data and audio data do not pass through the bus.
Preferably, the controlling device may include a computer, the bus may include a computer bus connected to the computer. Further, the present data multiplexer may also include an encoding device(s) for encoding the video data, the audio data and first additional data and for supplying the encoded data to the data size detecting device and the buffer device. Furthermore, the present data multiplexer may also include a data receiving device for receiving second additional data from outside for supply to a data selecting device.
The present data multiplexer may multiplex video data, audio data and first additional data such as subtitles for use in a digital television broadcasting system and may further multiplex second additional data (private data) such as superimposed dialogue into multiplexed data so as to generate a transport data stream. In such data multiplexer; a multiplexing system for directly multiplexing video data and other data (such as audio data and so forth) and a control system, separate from the multiplexing system, for controlling the multiplexing may be provided and arranged such that the video and other data to be multiplexed and data associated with multiplexing control may be respectively processed in the corresponding system.
In the present data multiplexer, the data size determining or counting device may be arranged within the control system and may count video data, audio data and first additional data after such data has been compressed and encoded according to a MPEG standard or the like so as to obtain data size information thereof. The buffer device may be arranged within the multiplexing system and may include FIFO (first in first out) memories or the like for buffering the video data, the audio data, and the first additional data. First and second data multiplexing portions may be included within the multiplexing system, wherein the first data multiplexing portion may select and multiplex the buffered video data, audio data, and/or first additional data, and the second data multiplexing portion may select any of the video data, the audio data and the first additional data which are selected and multiplexed by the first data multiplexing portion or may select the second additional data such as superimposed dialogue data under the control of the control system and may multiplex any of the video data, the audio data and the first additional data which are multiplexed and the second additional data. The controlling device may be arranged within the control system and may formulate a plan for multiplexing the video data, the audio data, the first additional data and the second additional data, timing adjustment, scheduling or the like based on the data size of the video data, the audio data and the additional data as determined or counted by the data size counting device. The controlling device may also control the selection by the first and second data multiplexing portions based on the multiplexing plan so as to control the multiplexing of the data in the first and second data multiplexing portions.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a data multiplexing method is provided which comprises the steps of receiving video data, audio data, first additional data, and second additional data; obtaining data sizes of the received video data, audio data and first additional data; buffering the received video data, audio data and first additional data; selecting the buffered video data, audio data or first additional data; selecting the received second additional data or the selected one of the buffered video data, audio data, and first additional data; formulating a plan for multiplexing the video data, the audio data, the first additional data, and the second additional data based on the data size of the video data, the audio data and the additional data; and controlling the selection of the buffered video data, audio data or first additional data and the selection of the second additional data or the selected one of the buffered video data, audio data, and first additional data based on the multiplexing plan so as to multiplex the video data, the audio data, the first additional data, and the second additional data.
Other objects, features and advantages according to the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which corresponding components are identified by the same reference numerals.
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Fernseh und Kinotechnik, vol. 48, No. 10, published Oct. 1, 1994, Heidelberg, DE.
Kitazawa Toshihiko
Miyazawa Satoshi
Obikane Nobuhisa
Setogawa Toshiaki
Chang Dexter T.
Frommer William S.
Frommer Lawrence & Haug LLP.
Olms Douglas W.
Sony Corporation
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