Compressed-video reencoder system for modifying the compression ratio of digitally encoded video programs

A method for reencoding a compressed-video program from a first compression ratio to a compressed output stream at a second compression ratio comprising the steps of:

• detecting static information in the compressed-video program;
• forwarding a copy of the static information;
• reencoding the remainder of the compressed video program data in accordance with said second compression ratio;
• and
• combining the forwarded static information with the reencoded remainder data to yield said compressed output stream.

A compressed-video reencoder for modifying the compression ratio of a compressed video program from a first compression ratio to a second compression ratio comprising:

• decoder circuitry for receiving and decoding said compressed-video program;
• a shared motion compensator circuit coupled to communicate with said decoder circuitry and for providing motion compensation for decoding said compressed-video program;
• and
• encoder circuitry coupled to receive decoded video data from said decoder circuitry and for encoding said video data in accordance with said second compression ratio, said encoder circuitry coupled to communicate with said shared motion compensator circuit,
• said shared motion compensator circuit providing motion compensation for both said encoder circuitry and for said decoder circuitry.

A statistical multiplexer comprising:

• a first compressed-video reencoder coupled to receive a first compressed data stream at a first compression ratio and for modifying said first compressed data stream to a first reencoded data stream at a second compression ratio;
• a second compressed-video reencoder coupled to receive a second compressed data stream at a third compression ratio and for modifying said second compressed data stream to a second reencoded data stream at a fourth compression ratio;
• and
• data stream multiplexing logic for selectively combining said reencoded data streams into a data stream multiplex.

A compressed-video head-end distribution system for use in a satellite video distribution system comprising:

• a satellite receiver for receiving downlink signals from transponders of a satellite;
• a plurality of tuner/demodulators coupled to receive the downlink signals from the satellite receiver for recovering multiplexes of compressed-video programs from modulated signals carried by one or more transponders of a satellite;
• a plurality of selector/demultiplexers each coupled to each of said tuner/demodulators for selectively demultiplexing a selected combination of video programs from said multiplexes;
• and
• a statistical multiplexer for combining desired video programs into statistically multiplexed data streams for distribution,
• said statistical multiplexer including a plurality of compressed-video reencoders for modifying a received compressed data stream at a first compression ratio to a reencoded data stream at a second compression ratio.