Adaptive rate control for insertion of data into arbitrary bit rate data streams

A method for adaptively controlling the rate of outgoing MPEG table packet insertion into an outgoing MPEG bit stream, comprising the steps of:

• receiving an incoming MPEG bit stream into an input buffer;
• de-multiplexing said incoming MPEG bit stream;
• determining available capacity for insertion into said outgoing MPEG bit stream;
• determining a desired rate of insertion of said outgoing MPEG table packets into said outgoing MPEG bit stream;
• determining an actual rate of insertion of said outgoing MPEG table packets into said outgoing MPEG bit stream based on said available capacity and said desired rate;
• creating said outgoing MPEG table packets;
• and
• inserting said outgoing MPEG table packets into said outgoing MPEG bit stream at said actual rate of insertion, wherein said outgoing MPEG bit stream includes at least a portion of said incoming MPEG bit stream.

A method for adaptively controlling the rate of insertion of outgoing MPEG table packets into an outgoing MPEG bit stream, comprising the steps of:

• receiving an incoming MPEG bit stream, said incoming MPEG bit stream including video packets, audio packets, data packets, incoming MPEG table packets, and information specific to said incoming MPEG bit stream;
• de-multiplexing said incoming MPEG bit stream to separate said video packets, said audio packets, said data packets, said incoming MPEG table packets, and said information specific to said incoming MPEG bit stream;
• analyzing said incoming MPEG table packets to produce incoming MPEG table information;
• determining a desired rate of insertion of said outgoing MPEG table packets into said outgoing MPEG bit stream;
• establishing an initial set insertion time for each of said outgoing MPEG table packets, based on said desired rate of insertion;
• determining if a said outgoing MPEG packet can be inserted in said outgoing MPEG bit stream at said initial set insertion time;
• determining an actual rate of insertion of said outgoing MPEG table packets into said outgoing MPEG bit stream, such that when said outgoing MPEG packet can be inserted at said initial set insertion time, said actual rate of insertion equals said desired rate of insertion, and when said outgoing MPEG packet cannot be inserted at said initial set insertion time, reducing said actual rate of insertion;
• establishing an actual set insertion time for each of said outgoing MPEG table packets, based on said actual rate of insertion;
• creating, based on said actual set insertion time, said outgoing MPEG table packets, said outgoing MPEG table packets including at least a portion of said incoming MPEG table information and information specific to said outgoing MPEG bit stream;
• and
• inserting said outgoing MPEG table packets into said outgoing MPEG bit stream containing said video packets, said audio packets, and said data packets.

An apparatus for adaptively controlling the rate of insertion of outgoing MPEG table packets into an outgoing MPEG bit stream, comprising:

• an input buffer for receiving an incoming MPEG bit stream;
• an output buffer for buffering said outgoing MPEG bit stream;
• and
• a packet handler operative to
• determine and adjust said rate of insertion of said outgoing MPEG table packets into said outgoing MPEG bit stream,
• route MPEG packets from said input buffer to said output buffer to form said outgoing MPEG bit stream, and
• insert said outgoing MPEG table packets into said outgoing MPEG bit stream at said insertion rate.

A system for adaptively controlling the rate of insertion of data into an outgoing bit stream based on an available capacity for insertion, comprising:

• an input source for providing a signal;
• equipment for encoding the signal into a bit stream;
• means for determining an available capacity for insertion of said data into said bit stream
• means for determining a desired insertion rate of said data;
• means for varying the actual insertion rate of said data, based on said available capacity for insertion of said data into said bit stream and said desired insertion rate of said data;
• a distribution system for transmitting said bit stream;
• and
• equipment for decoding said bit stream into a form usable by a system subscriber.