US 6,212,201 B1Granted

Method and apparatus for dynamic allocation of transmission bandwidth resources and for transmission of multiple audio signals with a video signal

AssigneeStarguide Digital Networks, Inc.

InventorsLarry W. Hinderks, Laurence A. Fish, Ian Lerner, Roswell R. Roberts, III

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Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for dynamically allocated multiple slots within a multi-channel multi-carrier transmission system. The slots may be allocated sequentially or non-sequentially. The data transmission rate for each slot remains constant, while multiple slots may be allocated to a single user service. Each carrier signal contains header data regarding all other carriers associated with the transmission system to identify the allocation of slots to user services. In an alternative embodiment, an encoding and transmitting system is provided for transmitting one or more video and audio encoded signals in a time division multiplexed manner along separate channels having fixed bandwidths. Multiple audio channels may be transmitted simultaneously with a related single video channel, and vice versa. The time division multiplexed audio/video signals may be transmitted over a single carrier or over multiple carriers.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for dynamic allocation of transmission bandwidth resources, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving data from a plurality of user services having predefined data service transmission rates, one of the plurality of user services having a transmission rate M and a second of the plurality of user services having a transmission rate N;
providing a plurality of slots within the transmission bandwidth resources, each of said slots represent a channel having a predefined data channel transmission rate Y;
selectively allocating either consecutive or nonconsecutive slots to said one and second user services, said first one of the plurality of user services being allocated a number of consecutive or non-consecutive slots W, where W*Y is equal to or greater than the transmission rate of the one of the user services said second user service being allocated a number of consecutive or non-consecutive slots Z, where Z*Y is equal to or greater than the transmission rate of the second of the user services, wherein M, N, W, and Y are integers;
and
transmitting data received from said user services in said slots according to said selective allocation step to a satellite receiver.

2 more elements

A multiple channel, multiple carrier transmission system for transmitting data from a plurality of user services over dynamically allocated transmission bandwidth resources, said system comprising:

a plurality of input channels, each for carrying data at a predefined service data rate;
a multiplexor for combining the data from said input channels into an aggregate bitstream comprising a plurality of data slots, each of said data slots having a predefined data channel transmission rate rate Y;
a modulator for converting said aggregate bitstream into an RF signal for transmission to a satellite;
and
a slot allocator, communicating with said input channels, for selectively allocating input channels and associated slots to a first user service having a transmission rate of M and a second user service having a transmission rate of N, the slot allocator selectively allocating a first consecutive or non-consecutive number of slots W to the first user service where W*Y is greater than or equal to the transmission rate M, the slot allocator selectively allocating a second consecutive or non-consecutive number of slots Z to the second user service where Z*Y is greater than or equal to the transmission rate N, wherein M, N, W, and Y are integers.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/347,103Filed 2 Jul 1999 · continuation
Priority: 16 Aug 1995
Granted: 3 Apr 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H04L 27/2601
Systems using multi-frequency codes: multicarrier modulation systems
H04J 3/1682
In which the time allocation to individual channels within a transmission cycle is variable, e.g. to accommodate varying complexity of signals,…
H04L 5/023
Channels characterised by the type of signal: multiplexing of multicarrier modulation signals, e.g. multi-user orthogonal frequency division…
H04N 21/2368
Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL…:…