Hardware Apparatus and Method Having Video/Audio Encoding and Multiplexing Functionality

A video/audio data processing apparatus for respectively receiving video signals and audio signals from a video signal input device and an audio signal input device, and encoding and outputting them as a bit stream, comprising:

• a video signal acquisition device comprising a first programmable logic component, receiving the video signals from the video signal input device, and converting them into frame-based digital video data;
• an audio signal acquisition device comprising a second programmable logic component, receiving the audio signals from the audio signal input device, and converting them into frame-based digital audio data;
• a time information processing device comprising a first processor and receiving a clock signal for synchronization of the frame-based digital video data and the frame-based digital audio data;
• a video signal encoding device comprising a second processor and encoding the frame-based digital video data;
• an audio signal encoding device comprising a third processor and encoding the frame-based audio video data;
• a multiplexing device comprising a fourth processor and converting the encoded video and audio signals, which are provided by the video signal encoding device and the audio signal encoding device, into a single piece of bit stream data;
• and
• an output device outputting the bit stream data provided by the multiplexing device.

A method of operating a video/audio data processing apparatus for respectively receiving video signals and audio signals from a video signal input device and an audio signal input device and compressing and outputting them, comprising the steps of:

• a video signal acquisition device receiving the video signals from the video signal input device and converting them into frame-based digital video data;
• an audio signal acquisition device receiving the audio signals from the audio signal input device and converting them into frame-based digital audio data;
• a time information processing device acquiring time information about when the video signals are input from the video input device to the video signal acquisition device as a video reference clock and time information about when the audio data is input from the audio signal input device to the audio signal acquisition device as an audio reference clock;
• a video signal encoding device receiving the frame-based digital video data from the video signal acquisition device and encoding it;
• an audio signal encoding device receiving the frame-based digital audio data from the audio signal acquisition device and encoding it;
• the video signal encoding device and the audio signal encoding device respectively providing the encoded video and audio signals to a multiplexing device;
• the time information processing device providing the video reference clock and the audio reference clock to the multiplexing device;
• a multiplexing device multiplexing the video reference clock and the audio reference clock into a single piece of bit stream data as capture time points for the encoded video and audio signals when converting the encoded video and audio signals, which are provided by the video signal encoding device and the audio signal encoding device, into a single piece of bit stream data;
• and
• an output device outputting the bit stream data provided by the multiplexing device.