Apparatus and method for frame rate preserving re-sampling or re-formatting of a video stream

A method for processing an input video stream that includes video data transmitted at an input frame rate, comprising:

• receiving the video data,
• temporarily storing the video data in a memory buffer at the input frame rate,
• monitoring the fullness of the memory buffer to determine whether the fullness reaches a pre-defined threshold, and
• sampling the threshold signals received from the memory buffer at one or more positions in the output frame;
• regulating, based on the fullness of the memory buffer, between two or more different timing settings of an output frame rate at which video data are output by the memory buffer and sent to an output frame generator, to selectively slow down or speed up the output frame rate.

An apparatus configured to match timing of an input video stream with timing of an output video stream, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one memory buffer for receiving and storing video data at an input frame rate of the input video stream, the at least one memory buffer configured to generate a threshold signal indicative of a fullness of the at least one memory buffer;
• and
• an output frame generator coupled to the at least one memory buffer for receiving video data from the at least one memory buffer and generating output frames of video data, said output frame generator configured to sample threshold signal;
• a threshold measurement unit,
• wherein the output frame generator selects among two or more different timing settings depending on the threshold signal, the two or more different timing settings including:
• a fast timing setting where the output frame generator generates output frames that are slightly shorter in duration than the shortest possible input frame to ensure that video data is output from the at least one memory buffer faster than video data is input to the at least one memory buffer, and
• a slow timing setting where the output frame generator generates output frames that are slightly longer in duration than the longest possible input frame to ensure that video data is output from the at least one memory buffer slower than video data is input to the at least one memory buffer.