# US 6,298,088 B1 · Method and apparatus for splicing compressed information signals

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- Number: US 6,298,088 B1
- Document ID: US6298088B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 08/864,310
- Filed: 1997-05-28
- Granted: 2001-10-02
- Earliest claimed: 1997-05-28
- Assignees: Sarnoff Corporation
- Inventors: Bhavesh Bhatt; Raymond Lowe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6298088B1

## CPC

- H04H 20/10: Arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or the distribution
- H04N 7/56: Synchronising systems therefor
- H04N 21/23424: {involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement}
- H04N 21/242: Synchronisation processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Programme Clock References] {(arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18)}
- H04N 21/2187: Live feed
- H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A method and apparatus for splicing a first information stream into a second information stream to produce an output information stream containing compressed digital data. The first and second information streams are synchronized using a common timing reference, thereby avoiding temporal discontinuity errors in an information stream decoder.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for splicing a first information stream into a second information stream to produce an output information stream, said second information stream and said output information stream comprising transport streams containing compressed digital data, said method comprising the steps of:
generating a timing signal, said timing signal being adapted to recovering a transport stream;
recovering said second information stream using said timing signal;
coupling said recovered second information stream to an output;
producing said first information stream using said timing signal, said first information stream being contemporaneously produced with respect to said recovery of said second information stream; and
coupling said recovered first information stream to said output when said first information stream is produced.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said first information stream is stored in a storage medium and said first information stream producing step further comprises the steps of:
comparing an indicium of real time to a predetermined start time indicium; and
producing said first information stream when said indicium of real time matches said predetermined start time indicium.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said second information stream is received by a receiver and continuously recovered, and said method further comprises the steps of:
comparing an indicium of real time to a predetermined stop time indicium; and
coupling said recovered second information stream to said output when said indicium of real time matches said predetermined stop time indicium.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said timing information signal comprises a transport bitstream data clock.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein:
said first information stream comprises one of either a non-packetized information stream or a packetized information stream having been formed in a manner asynchronous to said second information stream; and
said recovering of said first information stream further comprises the step of encoding said first information stream into a transport stream.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
deriving at least a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal using said timing information signal;
synchronizing a camera using said horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals to produce an image signal; and
encoding said image signal using said timing information signal to produce said first information stream.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:
monitoring said second information stream to identify a parameter of said second information stream; and
modifying said step of deriving to adapt said horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals to said identified parameter.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein said parameter is a frame rate, and said deriving step comprises the steps of:
multiplying said timing information signal by an amount related to a desired frame rate to produce a resultant clock signal;
detecting cycles of said resultant clock signal;
providing a horizontal synchronizing pulse each time a predetermined number of cycles are detected; and
providing a vertical synchronizing pulse each time a predetermined number of horizontal pulses are provided.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein said modifying step comprises the step of adjusting said amount related to said desired frame rate.

### Claim 10

Apparatus for splicing a first compressed information stream into a second compressed information stream to produce an output information stream, said apparatus comprising:
a timing generator for producing a timing signal, said timing signal being adapted to recovering a transport stream;
a receiver for receiving a signal including said second compressed information stream;
a decoder, coupled to said timing generator and said receiver, for recovering said second compressed information stream from said received signal using said timing signal; and
a switch for coupling said first compressed information stream to an output in a first operating mode and coupling said second compressed information stream to said output in a second operating mode.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:
a controller coupled to a source of an indicium of real time;
said controller causing said switch to enter said first operating mode when said indicium of real time indicates that a predetermined start time has arrived.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:
said controller causing said switch to enter said second operating mode when said indicium of real time indicates that a predetermined stop time has arrived.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said receiver continuously recovers said second information stream, said apparatus further comprising:
a controller coupled to a source of an indicium of real time, said controller causing said switch to enter said first operating mode when said indicium of real time indicates that a predetermined start time has arrived, said controller causing said switch to enter said second operating mode when said indicium of real time indicates that a predetermined stop time has arrived.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said timing signal comprises a transport bitstream data clock.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first compressed information stream source comprises an encoder for encoding an elementary information stream to form said first compressed information stream.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:
a synchronization signal generator, coupled to said timing generator, for producing at least a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal using said timing signal;
a camera, coupled to said synchronization signal generator, and using said horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals to produce an image signal; and
an encoder, coupled to said camera, for encoding said image signal using said timing signal to produce said first compressed information signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a controller, coupled to said synchronization signal generator, receiving at least a portion of said second compressed information signal, said controller identifying a parameter of said second compressed information signal, said synchronization signal generator modifying said horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals in response to said identified parameter.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said parameter is a frame rate and said synchronization signal generator comprises:
a multiplier, for multiplying said timing signal by a predetermined amount related to a desired frame rate to produce a resultant clock signal; and
a counter, coupled to said multiplier, for counting cycles of said resultant clock signal;
said counter responsively providing a horizontal synchronizing pulse each time a predetermined number of cycles are counted and providing a vertical synchronizing pulse each time a predetermined number of horizontal pulses are provided.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein:
said synchronization signal generator modifies said horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals by modifying said predetermined number of horizontal pulses, said predetermined number of horizontal pulses being related to a desired frame rate.

### Claim 20

In a digital television processing system receiving an input transport stream, a method for forming an output transport stream by multiplexing said input transport stream and one or more of a plurality of information streams, said output transport stream and each of said plurality of information streams including timing information indicative of a temporal ordering of respective included information packets, said method comprising the steps of:
generating a transport clock signal using a timing reference source;
using said transport clock signal to couple said received transport stream to a multiplexer input; and
in a first mode of operation:
using said transport clock signal to transport encode a first of said plurality of information streams to produce a first transport stream; and
using said transport clock signal to couple said first transport stream to a multiplexer output;
in a second mode of operation:
using said transport clock signal to couple said received transport stream to said multiplexer output; wherein
said timing information included within said output transport stream indicates a substantially continuous temporal ordering of included information packets.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein said first of said plurality of information streams is encoded contemporaneously with the reception of said received transport stream.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein said step of transport encoding said first of said plurality of information streams comprises the steps of:
comparing an indicium of real time to a predetermined start time indicium;
retrieving, from a storage device, said first of said plurality of information streams when said indicium of real time compares favorably to said predetermined start time indicium; and
transport encoding said first of said plurality of information streams; wherein
said timing information included within said first transport encoded stream and said received transport stream are contemporaneously indicative of a substantially equivalent temporal ordering of said respective included information packets.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein said step of transport encoding said first of said plurality of information streams comprises the steps of:
comparing an indicium of real time to a predetermined start time indicium;
retrieving, from a camera, said first of said plurality of information streams when said indicium of real time compares favorably to said predetermined start time indicium; and
transport encoding said first of said plurality of information streams; wherein
said timing information included within said first transport encoded stream and said received transport stream are contemporaneously indicative of a substantially equivalent temporal ordering of said respective included information packets.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein:
said first information stream comprises one of either a non-packetized information stream or a packetized information stream having been formed in a manner asynchronous to said received transport stream.

### Claim 25 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:
deriving at least a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal using said transport clock signal;
synchronizing a camera using said derived horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals to produce said first of said plurality of information streams.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein said step of transport encoding said first of said plurality of information streams comprises the steps of:
comparing an indicium of real time to a predetermined start time indicium;
retrieving, from said camera, said first of said plurality of information streams when said indicium of real time compares favorably to said predetermined start time indicium; and
transport encoding said first of said plurality of information streams; wherein
said timing information included within said first transport encoded stream and said received transport stream are contemporaneously indicative of a substantially equivalent temporal ordering of said respective included information packets.

### Claim 27 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein said further comprising the steps of:
in a third mode of operation:
using said transport clock signal to transport encode a second of said plurality of information streams to produce a second transport stream; and
using said transport clock signal to couple said second transport stream to said multiplexer output.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein:
said step of transport encoding said first of said plurality of information streams comprises the steps of:
comparing an indicium of real time to a first predetermined start time indicium;
retrieving, from a storage device, said first of said plurality of information streams when said indicium of real time compares favorably to said first predetermined start time indicium; and
transport encoding said first of said plurality of information streams;
said step of transport encoding said second of said plurality of information streams comprises the steps of:
comparing said indicium of real time to a second predetermined start time indicium;
retrieving, from a camera, said second of said plurality of information streams when said indicium of real time compares favorably to said second predetermined start time indicium; and
transport encoding said second of said plurality of information streams; wherein
said timing information included within said first transport encoded stream, said second transport encoded stream and said received transport stream are contemporaneously indicative of a substantially equivalent temporal ordering of said respective included information packets.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein:
said first operating mode being entered when said indicium of real time compares favorably to said first predetermined start time indicium; and
said second operating mode being entered when said indicium of real time compares favorably to said second predetermined start time indicium.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of:
comparing said indicium of real time to a third predetermined start time indicium;
said second operating mode being entered when said indicium of real time compares favorably to said third predetermined start time indicium.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein information defining said third predetermined start time indicium is included within said received transport stream.

### Claim 32 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 further comprising the steps of:
monitoring said received transport stream to identify a video frame rate parameter of said second information stream; and
modifying said step of deriving to adapt said horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals to said identified video frame rate parameter.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32 wherein step of deriving comprises the steps of:
multiplying said transport clock signal by an amount related to a desired frame rate to produce a resultant clock signal;
detecting cycles of said resultant clock signal;
providing a horizontal synchronizing pulse each time a predetermined number of cycles are detected; and
providing a vertical synchronizing pulse each time a predetermined number of horizontal pulses are provided.