Multiplexing system

A multiplexing system for multiplexing coded picture data with data from a plurality of terminal units, said multiplexing system comprising:

• encoding means, operating at a first clock frequency, for encoding a picture signal and generated coded picture data;
• buffer means for storing the coded picture data generated by said encoding means;
• detection means for detecting the presence or absence of data reception from each of said plurality of terminal units;
• multiplexing means for generating a multiplexed signal having time slots allocated to said plurality of terminal units and a time slot allocated to said coded picture data, said multiplexing means inserting said coded picture data received from said buffer means into the time slots allocated to terminal units from which an absence of data reception has been detected by said detection means, and
• transmission means, coupled to said multiplexing means, for transmitting said multiplexed signal at a second clock frequency.

A method of operating a multiplexing system for multiplexing coded picture data with data from a plurality of terminal units, said method comprising the steps of:

• encoding a picture signal with an encoder and generating coded picture data at a first clock frequency;
• storing the coded picture data generated by said encoder in a buffer;
• detecting, with a detection circuit, the presence or absence of data reception from each of said plurality of terminal units;
• generating, with a multiplexing circuit, a multiplexed signal having time slots allocated to said plurality of terminal units and a time slot allocated to said coded picture data, said multiplexing circuit inserting coded picture data received from said buffer into the time slots allocated to terminal units from which an absence of data reception has been detected by said detection circuit, and
• transmitting said multiplexed signal at a second clock frequency.