Multi-channel video pump

Abstract

A system for streaming a plurality of video or other recorded signals from storage to receiving devices maintains each of the signal streams at their encoded bit rate. The bit rate of each stream is detected from the stored signals and a corresponding queue is set up in a network interface card for outputting data at the detected bit rate. A channel timing module in the signal streaming device contains pairs of counters, one pair for each stream. The primary counter in each pair is set to have a period slightly less than the period of the stored signal. A secondary counter in each pair is set to have a period that is larger than an integer multiple of the primary counter by an amount equal to the difference between the multiple periods of the primary counter and the same multiple of the stored signals. Every time either the primary or the secondary counter times out, a packet of data is sent to the corresponding queue in the network interface. As a result, the network interface is able to output isochronous signals with an average bit rate within one bit per second of desired bit rates between one megabit/second and 20 megabit/second and with a jitter of less than one millisecond.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.