U.S. patent application number 12/712549 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-17 for remultiplexing apparatus.
Invention is credited to Yuka Fujita, Yoshiaki KATO, Tokumichi Murakami.
Application Number | 20100150179 12/712549 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 16333270 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100150179 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KATO; Yoshiaki ; et
al. |
June 17, 2010 |
REMULTIPLEXING APPARATUS
Abstract
The remultiplexing apparatus comprises a control information
selecting means for selecting a packet containing program control
information from the inputted bit stream, a program control
information editing means for editing contents of the selected
program control information and generating new program control
information corresponding to an outputted bit stream, and a
remultiplexing means for multiplexing again the packet containing
media information in the inputted bit stream and the program
control information generated by the program control information
editing means.
Inventors: |
KATO; Yoshiaki; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Fujita; Yuka; (Tokyo, JP) ; Murakami;
Tokumichi; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
16333270 |
Appl. No.: |
12/712549 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10692686 |
Oct 27, 2003 |
7697575 |
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12712549 |
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09817134 |
Mar 27, 2001 |
6661808 |
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10692686 |
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08808665 |
Feb 28, 1997 |
6233255 |
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09817134 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/486 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/242 20130101;
H04N 21/4302 20130101; H04N 21/2365 20130101; H04N 21/23611
20130101; H04N 21/23608 20130101; H04N 21/4344 20130101; H04N
21/234 20130101; H04H 60/73 20130101; H04N 21/4347 20130101; H04N
21/8547 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/486 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/56 20060101
H04L012/56; H04H 20/33 20080101 H04H020/33; H04N 7/52 20060101
H04N007/52 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 24, 1996 |
JP |
8-194964 |
Claims
1. A remultiplexing apparatus for receiving a multiplexed and
broadcasted bit stream including a combination of media information
packets with packets of program information and for remultiplexing
the bit stream comprising: a control information selecting unit
which selects packets containing program control information from
the multiplexed and broadcasted input bit stream according to
packet identification numbers and outputting multiplexed media
information packets; a program control information editing unit
which edits contents of the selected program control information
packets and generates a modified program control information
corresponding to a remultiplexed bit stream to be output; and a
remultiplexing unit which remultiplexes the modified program
control information with the multiplexed and broadcasted media
information packets containing the media information from the
multiplexed and broadcasted input bit stream to produce the
remultiplexed bit stream; wherein contents of the program control
information generated by said program control information editing
unit are selectively updated by checking whether the contents of
the program control information contained in the multiplexed and
broadcasted input bit stream is updated.
2. The remultiplexing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein ID
numbers of packets containing media information are selectively
reallocated by said program control information editing unit so
that two numbers may not be identical, further comprising an ID
number reallocating unit which relocates packet ID numbers
according to a result of reallocation performed by said program
control information editing unit.
3. The remultiplexing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
program control information editing unit updates the program
control information by checking whether a version information
contained in the multiplexed and broadcasted input bit stream is
updated.
4. The remultiplexing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said
program control information editing unit skips updating the
contents of the modified program control information when the
version information is not changed.
5. A remultiplexing apparatus for receiving a multiplexed and
broadcasted bit stream including a combination of media information
packets with packets of program information and for remultiplexing
the bit stream comprising: a control information selecting unit
which selects packets containing program control information from
the multiplexed and broadcasted input bit stream according to
packet identification numbers and outputting multiplexed and
broadcasted media information packets; a program control
information editing unit which edits contents of the selected
program control information packets and generates a modified
program control information corresponding to a remultiplexed bit
stream to be output; and a remultiplexing unit which remultiplexes
the modified program control information with the multiplexed and
broadcasted media information packets containing the media
information from the multiplexed input bit stream to produce the
remultiplexed bit stream; wherein said remultiplexing unit
preferentially multiplexes a packet containing program clock
information for regenerating a system clock in the receiving side
so that error in the program clock information is suppressed.
6. The remultiplexing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said
remultiplexing unit remultiplexes the packet containing program
clock information without any change of the program clock
information.
7. A remultiplexing apparatus for receiving a multiplexed and
broadcasted bit stream including a combination of media information
packets with packets of program information and for remultiplexing
the bit stream comprising: a control information selecting unit
which selects packets containing program control information from
the a multiplexed and broadcasted input bit stream according to
packet identification numbers and outputting multiplexed media
information packets; a program control information editing unit
which edits contents of the selected program control information
packets and generates a modified program control information
corresponding to a remultiplexed bit stream to be output; an
external information packet inserting unit which packetizes
external information; and a remultiplexing unit which remultiplexes
the modified program control information with the multiplexed and
broadcasted media information packets containing the media
information from the multiplexed and broadcasted input bit stream
to produce the remultiplexed bit stream, wherein said
remultiplexing unit multiplexes a packet containing the external
information with the remultiplexed bit stream when the multiplexed
and broadcasted bit stream has more space compared with an output
rate of said multiplexing unit.
8. The remultiplexing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said
remultiplexing unit determines whether a transmission rate of the
remultiplexed bit stream is less than the output rate of the
remultiplexing unit, if so, multiplexes the packet containing the
external information with the remultiplexed output bit stream.
9. The remultiplexing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said
remultiplexing unit selectively outputs control signal when a
transmission rate of the modified program control information and
the multiplexed media information packets is slower than an output
rate of said remultiplexing unit, and said packetizing unit sends
the packet containing the external information in accordance with
the control signal.
10. The remultiplexing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said
remultiplexing unit multiplexes the external information by
matching a processing speed of insertion of the external
information based on the output rate of said remultiplexing
unit.
11. A remultiplexing apparatus for receiving a multiplexed and
broadcasted bit stream including a combination of media information
packets with packets of program information and for remultiplexing
the bit stream comprising: a control information selecting unit
which selects packets containing program control information from
the multiplexed and broadcasted input bit stream according to
packet identification numbers and outputting multiplexed media
information packets; a program organizing unit which selects a
plurality of required programs contained in the multiplexed and
broadcasted multiplexed input bit stream in accordance with program
type information of each of the programs, the program type
information being defined in the program information and
representing a type of each of the programs; a program control
information editing unit which edits contents of the selected
program control information packets and generates a modified
program control information corresponding to a remultiplexed bit
stream to be output; a media information selecting unit which
selects specific media information packets belonging to the
requited programs from the media information packets; and a
remultiplexing unit which remultiplexes the modified program
control information with the specific media information packets to
produce the remultiplexed output bit stream, while not
remultiplexing packets belonging to a program which is not selected
by the program organizing unit.
12. The remultiplexing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
said program organizing unit selects the required programs
according to viewability restricting information defined as the
program type information.
13. The remultiplexing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
said remultiplexing apparatus remultiplexes a plurality of
multiplexed streams including said multiplexed and broadcasted
input bit stream, said program organizing unit selects the required
programs contained in the multiplexed streams and selects some of
the packet identification numbers corresponding to the required
programs, and said media information selecting unit includes a
plurality of selectors, each of said selectors receiving a
multiplexed and broadcasted input bit stream respectively and
selecting packets belonging to one of the required programs based
on one of the packet identification numbers selected by said
program organizing unit.
14. The remultiplexing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
contents of the program control information generated by said
program control information editing unit is selectively updated by
checking whether the contents of the program control information
contained in the multiplexed and broadcasted input bit stream is
updated.
15. A remultiplexing apparatus for receiving a plurality of
multiplexed and broadcasted bit stream including a combination of
media information packets with packets of program information and
for outputting a remultiplexed bit stream comprising: an all
program control information aborting unit which aborts only a
packet containing all program control information from each of the
multiplexed input bit streams and outputting plural streams of
multiplexed media information packets; and a remultiplexing unit
which remultiplexes the all program control information output from
said program control information editing unit with the plural
streams of multiplexed media information packets output from said
all program control information aborting.
16. A remultiplexing apparatus for receiving a plurality of
multiplexed and broadcasted bit stream including a combination of
media information packets with packets of program information and
for outputting a remultiplexed bit stream comprising: an all
program control information aborting unit which aborts only a
packet containing an all program control information from each of
the multiplexed and broadcasted bit streams input into the
remultiplexing apparatus; an all program control information
generating unit which generates an all program control information
packet; and a remultiplexing unit which remultiplexes an output
packet from said all program control information aborting unit, an
output packet from said program generating unit, and said all
program control information packets.
17. A remultiplexing apparatus for receiving a plurality of
multiplexed and broadcasted bit stream including a combination of
media information packets with packets of program information and
for outputting a remultiplexed bit stream comprising: a plurality
of control information selectors, each operatively connected to a
respective input that receives a multiplexed and broadcasted input
bit stream previously multiplexed with packets of program control
information and media information packets, each of said control
information selectors selecting a program control information
packet from the respective multiplexed input bit stream and
outputting multiplexed media information packets, one of said
control information selectors receiving the multiplexed input bit
stream from the corresponding input; a packet synchronizing buffer,
operatively connected between one of said control information
selectors and the corresponding input, for receiving one of said
multiplexed bit streams which are sent at different timing and
outputting packets to said connected control information selector
with insuring packet synchronism between said multiplexed bit
streams; a program control information editor, operatively
connected to said control information selectors, that edits
contents of the selected program control information packets and
generates a modified program control information packet associated
with an output bit stream; and a remultiplexer, operatively
connected to said program control information editor and said
control information selectors, that remultiplexes the modified
program control information packet with the multiplexed media
information packets to generate the output bit stream.
18. The remultiplexing apparatus according to claim 17 further
comprising: a system clock regenerating unit which regenerates a
system clock from a packet containing program clock information
included in the multiplexed and broadcasted input bit stream, and
keeping time; and a clock information reallocating unit which
rewrites the program clock information with new clock information
generated from the system clock kept at the time of remultiplexing,
by said system clock regenerating unit.
19. A remultiplexing apparatus for receiving a plurality of
multiplexed and broadcasted bit stream including a combination of
media information packets with packets of program information and
for outputting a remultiplexed bit stream comprising: a program
control information editor, operatively connected to an input, said
program control information editor outputs an identification number
for a packet containing program control information to a plurality
of multiplexing transmission devices each generating one of the
plurality of multiplexed and broadcasted input bit streams; an all
program control information aborter, operatively connected to said
program control information editor that selectively aborts only a
packet containing all program control information from each of the
plurality of multiplexed and broadcasted input bit streams and
outputting plural streams of multiplexed and broadcasted media
information packets; and a remultiplexer, operatively connected to
said all program information aborter and said program control
information editor, that remultiplexes the output from said program
control information editor with the plural streams of multiplexed
and broadcasted media information packets.
20. A remultiplexing apparatus for receiving a plurality of
multiplexed and broadcasted bit stream including a combination of
media information packets with packets of program information and
for outputting a remultiplexed bit stream comprising: an all
program control information aborter, operatively connected to an
input, said all program control information aborter aborts only a
packet containing an all program control information from each of
the multiplexed input bit streams; a program generator, operatively
connected to said all program control information aborter, said
program generator multiplexing media coded information as well as
program specific information to generate programs; and a
remultiplexer, operatively connected to said all program control
information aborter and said program generator that remultiplexes
an output packet from said all program control information aborter,
an output packet from said program generator, and an all program
control information packet.
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No.
10/692,686, filed Oct. 27, 2003, which is a divisional of
application Ser. No. 09/817,134, filed Mar. 27, 2001, which is a
continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 08/808,665, filed
on Feb. 28, 1997, the entire contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference and for which priority is claimed under
35 U.S.C. .sctn.120; and this application claims priority of
Application No. 8-194964 filed in Japan on Jul. 24, 1996 under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for coding and
multiplexing multimedia information such as, digitalized video
signals, aural signals, and other information, and transmitting the
information or accumulating the information therein. Specific
examples that the present invention can be applied to include a
digital broadcasting system, a video on demand, a community antenna
television system, and a video conference system or the like with a
transmission path such as a satellite and a ground wave, a coaxial
cable, and an optical fiber.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a transport stream
(described as TS herein after) multiplexing transmission device for
multiplexing and transmitting information as a transport stream
which is an example of a multiplexed bit stream disclosed in, for
instance, "Image and information engineering and broadcasting
technology" issued by Institute of Television Engineers of Japan,
Vol. 49, No. 4, (Whole Number 560), special number MPEG "3-4
system" (April, 1995 number thereof).
[0004] In FIG. 13, designated at the reference numeral 1 is a clock
generating section, at 2 a video coding section, at 3 an aural
coding section, at 4 a information coding section, at 5 a
program-specific information generating section, at 6 a media
multiplexing section, at 7a, 7b . . . 7n a program generating
section respectively, at 8 an all program control information
generating section, and at 9 a program multiplexing section.
[0005] Next description is made for a method of generating a
program-a in the program generating section 7a of the TS
multiplexing transmission device as operations of an example
thereof based on the conventional technology. A video signal 102,
an aural signal 103, various information signals 104 are coded as a
information source in the video coding section 2, the aural coding
section 3, and the information coding section 4 respectively, so
that video coded information 106, aural coded information 107,
information coded information 108 can be obtained. The inputted
coded information is contained in is packets which are multiplexed
as a bit stream by the media multiplexing section 6.
[0006] Description is made herein for a transport stream packet
(described as a TS packet hereinafter) with a fixed length
comprising 188 bytes as an example of packetizing. FIG. 14 shows
configuration of a TS packet, in the figure, designated at the
reference numeral at 113 is a packet header with a 4-byte length,
at 114 a packet ID number (described as a PID number hereinafter),
and at 115 packet information with a. 184-byte length. The video
coded information 106, aural coded information 107, and information
coded information 108 each coded according to the information
source are putted into packet information 115 of the TS packet
which has different PID numbers 114 respectively. As an example
herein, it is assumed that the video coded information 106 is
transmitted with a 5 packet having a PID number of PID-aV, the
aural coded information 107 with a packet having a PID number of
PID-aA, and the information coded information 108 with a packet
having a PID number of PID-aD. On the other hand, the coded
information in the packet information 115 is identified as each of
media types according to the PID numbers 114 in the packet header
113 in the receiving side.
[0007] On the other hand, the clock generating section 1 generates,
for instance, as a system clock source, a 27-MHz system clock from
a 13.5-MHz clock signal 101 used for sampling of a video signal
102, and outputs clock information 105 for the generated clock at a
specified time interval. The clock information 105 is putted in the
TS packet in the media multiplexing section 6 for transmission, and
is used for regeneration of the clock in the receiving side.
Herein, it is assumed that clock information 105 is transmitted
with a packet having a PID number of PD-aC. Detailed description
will be made later for a clock regenerating method using this clock
information 105.
[0008] In the program-specific control information generating
section 5, program-specific control information 109 shown in FIG.
15 is generated. In the information, PID numbers of a packet each
used for transmitting the video coded information 106, the aural
coded information 107, the information coded information 108 and
the clock information 105, media types to each of the coded
information, and a coding system are 5 described as information for
packet ID numbers. This program-specific control information 109 is
also designated as a program map table (PMT).
[0009] The media multiplexing section 6 generates TS packets having
PID numbers corresponding to inputted video coded information 106,
aural coded information 107, and information coded information 108
respectively, and in addition, by containing the program-specific
control information 109 in a TS packet, the media multiplexing
section 6 generates a program-specific control information packet
with a PID number of PID-aM. In this case, the clock information
105 generated by the clock generating section 1 is included in the
packet with a PID number of PID-aC. Finally, the media multiplexing
section 6 multiplies all the packets for the generated
video/audio/information/program-specific control information, and
generates a packet of program information 110a for the program-a.
Similarly, each of the program generating sections 7b to 7n
generates each program information 110b, . . . , 110n for each
program.
[0010] All program control information 111 as shown in FIG. 16 is
generated by the all program control information generating section
8. Information for all programs contained in program multiplexed
information 112 is written in the all program control information
111, and, for instance, a number of programs, all titles of the
program, a PID number of each of the program-specific control
information packets, and view ability restricting information or
the like are included therein. PID-aM, PID-bM, . . . , PID-nM as
PID numbers of program-specific control information packets for the
programs a, b, . . . , n are written in the example shown in FIG.
16. This all program control information 111 is also called as
Program Association Table (PAT).
[0011] Then, the program multiplexing section 9 packetizes the all
program control information 111 generated by the all program
control information generating section 8 to generate an all program
control information packet with PID-P (e.g. 0.times.00) as a
prespecified PID number, multiplexes the generated packet with the
TS packets for the program information 110a, 110b, . . . , 110n
generated by the program generating sections 7a, 7b, . . . , 7n,
and outputs the multiplexed packets as the program multiplexed
information 112. In a case where a information generating speed for
information to be transmitted (in this case, the program
information 110a, 110b, . . . , 110n and all program control
information 111) is slower than an output rate (speed) of the
program multiplexed information 112 specified at a speed in the
transmission path, a null packet (packet information 115 in a TS
packet is dummy information) is inserted into the program
multiplexed information to match the processing speed by the
program multiplexing section 9.
[0012] Description is made for operations of a TS receiver for
receiving the program multiplexed information 112 transmitted from
the TS multiplexing transmission device and regenerating the
received information in accordance with the flow of a media
regenerating processing shown in FIG. 17.
[0013] The TS receiver, when starting to receive program
multiplexed information 112 after starting up, at first, fetches
thereinto a packet with the prespecified PID number of PID-P, and
obtains all program control information.
[0014] Then, it is known that programs a, b, . . . , n are
contained in the program multiplexed information 112 according to
the obtained.-all program control information. Herein, in a case
where the program-a is selected, it is known that program-specific
control information therefore is contained in a packet with PID-aM.
The receiver fetches thereinto the packet with the PID number of
PID-aM, and obtains PID numbers, corresponding to the packets in
which the media (video, voice, information) each constituting the
program-a and clock information required for media regenerating
processing are contained, from the program-specific control
information for the program-a. The receiver regenerates each of the
media information by receiving each of the packets with the
obtained PID numbers.
[0015] Herein, description is made for a method of synchronizing
frequencies of operating clocks (system clocks) in the transmitting
side as well as in the receiving side with the clock information
105 with reference to FIG. 18.
[0016] In FIG. 18, in a case where a system clock is generated, for
instance, with respect to the video signal 102, the video coding
section 2 fetches a 13.5-MHz clock used when the video signal 102
is subjected to sampling as a clock signal 101, and from this
signal, a 27-MHz system clock is generated by a PLL 13 (Phase
Locked Loop) incorporated in the clock generating section 1. A
counter value of a counter 14 for counting the system clock is
transmitted to the receiving side at a specified cycle (e.g. once
in 100 milliseconds) as clock information 105.
[0017] Clock information 116 for a program to be generated is
separated from the received program multiplexed information 112 in
a separating section 16 of the TS receiver 12. When receiving is
started, a value of the separated clock information 116 is set in
the counter 14 of the clock generating section 17, and the 27 MHz
system clock is operated in the PLL 13 for counting up the counter
14. Then, the received and separated value of the clock information
116 is compared to the counter 14 by a comparator 18, a difference
is given to the PLL 13, and the frequency of the system clock is
corrected according to the difference. After the step and on, the
same comparison and correction as those described above are
executed to received and separated clock information 116, so that,
by decoding coded information with the system clock 7 in the
transmitting side, accurate video signals and aural signals can be
regenerated. It should be noted that, in a case where fluctuation
is generated in transmission of the clock information during the
transmission thereof, turbulence is generated in the regeneration
of the system clock in the receiving side, and an overflow or an
underflow is generated in the buffer of the decoder because of
inconsistency between the frequency of the system clock in the
transmitting side and that in the receiving side. As a result,
turbulence is generated in a received video and a sound or the
like.
[0018] By the way, in the latest community antenna television
system or the like, the TS multiplexing transmission device as
already described above multiplexes a plurality of programs and
transmits the multiplexed programs. In a case where a viewer
subscribes to a plurality of broadcasters as described above, at
first, the viewer selects one of the broadcasters, and then selects
a program that the viewer wants to look at out of the plurality of
programs broadcasted from the broadcaster according to the flow
shown in FIG. 17.
[0019] FIG. 19 is an example showing the broadcasting system, and
there is shown herein a case where the TS multiplexing transmission
devices 10a, 10b, . . . , 10n described above are provided in each
of the broadcasters, and each of the viewers has the TS receiver 12
provided therein and views a program thereby. As for the TS
receiver 12, one out of the TS multiplexing transmission devices
10a, 10b, . . . , 10n provided in the broadcasters to which the
viewer subscribes is selected by the receive selecting section 11,
and a line is connected thereto with a method specified in a
transmission path (e.g. a satellite or a ground wave, a coaxial
cable, and an optical fiber or the like) between the TS receiver
and the selected TS multiplexing transmission device Then, all
program control information, program-specific control information,
and media information are obtained from the bit stream transmitted
through the selected line and each of the obtained information is
regenerated.
[0020] The transport stream multiplexing transmission device based
on the conventional technology has the functional configuration
described above, so that, in the TS receiver, a plurality of
transport stream multiplexing transmission devices, namely
transport stream cannot simultaneously be obtained from a plurality
of broadcasters.
[0021] Only by remultiplexing transport streams from the plurality
of transport stream multiplexing transmission devices simply into
one transport stream for transmission, ID numbers of packets each
containing all program control information have the same values in
all the transport streams, which makes it impossible to identify
which transport stream multiplexing transmission device the
transport stream corresponding to one unit of all program control
information is sent from.
[0022] Even if all program control information contained in
transport streams sent from the plurality of transport stream
multiplexing transmission devices are taken out therefrom to
generate new all program control information, media information can
not be obtained because the packet ID number for the media
information contained in these transport streams may sometimes be
the same as that for others.
[0023] The transport stream which has a small amount of capacity of
program information and is transmitted by inserting a null packet
to match the processing speed is low in transmission efficiency, so
that the transmission path can not effectively be utilized.
[0024] In a case, for instance, where a plurality of transport
streams transmitted through a transmission path with a low speed
are remultiplexed into one transport stream and is transmitted
through a transmission path with a high speed, it is difficult to
match the speed therebetween.
[0025] A transport stream from a transport stream multiplexing
transmission devices comprises a plurality of programs, so that
there is a case where an unnecessary program is also
transmitted.
[0026] A transport stream from a transport stream multiplexing
transmission devices comprises a plurality of programs, so that
there is a case where all-ages programs and programs for adult
people are mixed therein, and for this reason viewability
restriction has to be set in each program.
[0027] A transmission delay of packets is sometimes generated due
to remultiplication of a plurality of transport streams, so that
program clock information contained in the transport stream can not
accurately be transmitted, and for this reason, the clock can not
accurately be regenerated in the receiving side.
[0028] Transmission of each of transport streams from the plurality
of transport stream multiplexing transmission devices is discretely
executed respectively, so that one of transport streams is not
synchronized to others, and for this reason, it is difficult to
obtain synchronism between inputted transport streams when packets
are remultiplexed.
[0029] The conventional type of transport stream multiplexing
transmission device has only a function of packetizing media
information therein for transmission, so that the device can not
fetch the transport stream already multiplexed as input information
thereinto, for remultiplexing the information generated in the
devices together with media information packets for
transmission.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0030] It is an object of the present invention to provide more
numbers of programs without any change in the configuration of a
receiving terminal of bit streams by remultiplexing a plurality of
multiplexed bit streams (e.g. transport streams) and transmitting
the new remultiplexed bit streams. By transmitting a number of
programs in batch, it is possible to obtain a high transmission
efficiency, to transmit a bit stream to transmission paths each
having a different transmission speed, and to realize transmission
of only required programs or of only programs with the same
viewability with the function for selectively remultiplexing bit
streams. Also with the function for correcting program clock
information contained in a bit stream or the function for
preferentially transferring packets each containing program clock
information, program clock information contained in a bit stream
after subjected to remultiplexing can be compensated.
[0031] A remultiplexing apparatus according to the present
invention comprises a control information selecting means for
selecting a packet containing program control information from
inputted bit streams, a program control information editing means
for editing contents of the selected program control information
and generating new program control information corresponding to a
bit stream to be outputted, and a remultiplexing means for
remultiplexing the program control information generated by the
program control information editing means with a packet containing
media information in the inputted bit stream.
[0032] The remultiplexing apparatus comprises the program control
information editing means also for updating contents of the program
control information in a case where the contents of the program
control information contained in the inputted bit stream is
updated.
[0033] The remultiplexing apparatus comprises the control
information selecting means or the remultiplexing means for
removing a null packet from inputted bit stream.
[0034] The remultiplexing apparatus comprises a means for
preferentially multiplexing a packet containing program clock
information for regenerating a system clock in the receiving side.
The remultiplexing apparatus comprises a null packet inserting
means for matching a processing speed to an output rate of the
outputted bit stream.
[0035] The remultiplexing apparatus comprises an external
information packet inserting means for matching a processing speed
to an output rate of the outputted bit stream.
[0036] The remultiplexing apparatus comprises a program organizing
means for deciding program organization for the outputted bit
stream from the program control information, the program control
information editing means for editing contents of the program
control information according to an instruction from the program
organizing means, and a remultiplexing means for multiplexing again
only packets each containing necessary media information.
[0037] The remultiplexing apparatus comprises a program organizing
means for obtaining viewability restricting information from the
program control information and deciding program organization for
the outputted bit stream which decides program organization
according to the viewability restricting information, the program
control information editing means for editing contents of the
program control information according to an instruction from the
program organizing means, and the remultiplexing means for
multiplexing again only packets each containing necessary media
information.
[0038] The remultiplexing apparatus comprises the program control
information editing means for reallocating ID numbers of packets
each containing media information so that ID numbers are not used
redundantly, and an ID number reallocating means for reallocating
packet ID numbers according to a result of reallocation by the
program control information editing means.
[0039] The remultiplexing apparatus comprises a means for
outputting the bit stream in synchronism to a clock inputted from
an external means.
[0040] The remultiplexing apparatus comprises a packet synchronism
insuring means with a packet synchronizing buffer for insuring
packet synchronism between the plurality of inputted bit
streams.
[0041] The remultiplexing apparatus comprises a system clock
regenerating means for regenerating a system clock from a packet
containing program clock information included in an inputted bit
stream, and a means for inserting a system clock value from the
system clock regenerating means as program clock information when
the packet is remultiplexed by the remultiplexing means.
[0042] The remultiplexing apparatus comprises a program clock
information rewriting means for rewriting a packet containing
program clock information for regenerating a system clock in the
receiving side to program clock information with time fluctuation
generated in remultiplication having been corrected.
[0043] The remultiplexing apparatus according to the present
invention comprises a program control information editing means for
instructing an ID number for a packet containing information except
all program control information to a multiplexing transmission
device generating a bit stream to be inputted into the
remultiplexing apparatus, an all program control information
aborting means for aborting only a packet containing all program
control information from the inputted bit stream, and a
remultiplexing means for remultiplexing the all program control
information outputted from the program control information editing
means and an output from the all program control information
aborting means.
[0044] The remultiplexing apparatus according to the present
invention comprises an all program control information aborting
means for aborting only a packet containing the all program control
information from the inputted bit stream, one or more units of
program generating means for multiplexing media coded information
prepared by coding not less than one media information as well as
program-specific control information with fixed-length packets and
generating one program, an all program control information
generating means for generating an all program control information
packet, and a remultiplexing means for remultiplexing an output
packet from the all program control information aborting means, an
output packet from the program generating means, and the all
program control information packet.
[0045] Other objects and features of this invention will become
understood from the following description with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0046] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a remultiplexing apparatus
according to one of embodiments of the present invention;
[0047] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of new all program control
information for remultiplication according to one of the
embodiments of the present invention;
[0048] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a remultiplexing apparatus
according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;
[0049] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a remultiplexing apparatus
according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;
[0050] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a remultiplexing apparatus
according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;
[0051] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a remultiplexing apparatus
according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;
[0052] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a remultiplexing apparatus
according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;
[0053] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a remultiplexing apparatus
according to one of the embodiments of the present invention;
[0054] FIG. 9 is an explanatory view for explanation of a function
of a packet synchronizing buffer according to one of the
embodiments of the present invention;
[0055] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a remultiplexing
apparatus according to one of the embodiments of the present
invention;
[0056] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a remultiplexing
apparatus according to one of the embodiments of the present
invention;
[0057] FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a remultiplexing
apparatus according to one of the embodiments of the present
invention;
[0058] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a TS multiplexing
transfer apparatus based on the conventional technology;
[0059] FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a packet format of
the TS;
[0060] FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing an example of
configuration of a program-specific control information packet in
the TS multiplexing transfer apparatus based on the conventional
technology;
[0061] FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing an example of
configuration of an all program control information packet in the
TS multiplexing transfer apparatus based on the conventional
technology;
[0062] FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing processing of media
regeneration in a TS receiver;
[0063] FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing an outline of clock
regeneration; and
[0064] FIG. 19 is a system block diagram showing a plurality of TS
multiplexing transmission devices based on the conventional
technology.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0065] Description is made hereinafter for one of embodiments of
the remultiplexing apparatus according to the present invention
with reference to FIG. 1.
[0066] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the remultiplexing apparatus
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0067] In the figure, designated at the reference numerals 31a,
31b, . . . , 31n are a control information selecting section as a
control information selecting means respectively, at 32 a program
control information editing section as a program control
information editing means, and at 33 a remultiplexing section as a
remultiplexing means.
[0068] Next description is made for operations in the
remultiplexing apparatus in FIG. 1.
[0069] At first, description is made for operations of the control
information selecting sections 31a, 31b, . . . , 31n with reference
to the control information selecting section 31a as an example.
[0070] The control information selecting section 31a separates a
packet containing coded media information and a packet containing
program control information from program multiplexed information
112a received through a transmission path according to each of PID
numbers;, and outputs the program control information packet 131 a
and the media information packet 132a.
[0071] Herein, the program control information includes, for
instance, program-specific control information (PMT) and all
program control information (PAT). The all program control
information is contained in a packet with the prespecified PID
number of PID-P (e.g. 0.times.00), which makes it possible to
identify it at once. On the other hand, as for the program-specific
control information, a list of PID numbers (PID-aM, PID-bM, . . . ,
PID-nM) in which program-specific control information is contained
is written in the all program control information. As a result, the
control information selecting section 31 a outputs a packet with
PID numbers including therein PID-P, PID-aM, PID-bM, . . . , and
PID-nM to the program control information editing section 32 as a
program control information packet 131a, and also a media
information packet 132a with the PID numbers other than the numbers
described above to the remultiplexing section 33.
[0072] Similarly, each of the control information selecting
sections 31b, . . . , 31n selectively picks out each of program
control information packets 131b, . . . , 131n from program
multiplexed information 112b, . . . , 112n respectively, and
transfers the packet taken out as described above to the program
control information editing section 32, and also transfers each of
remained media information packets 132b, . . . , 132n to the
remultiplexing section 33.
[0073] Next description is made for contents of PAT and PMT to be
edited in the program control information editing section 32. At
first, the program control information editing section 32 takes out
the PAT with the PID number of PID-P from the inputted program
control information packets 131a, 131b, . . . , 131n, and obtains n
units of different PAT. Then, the section 32 obtains all of the PID
numbers of PMT corresponding to programs each written in each of
the PAT, and generates a packet containing a new PAT in which the n
units of different PAT are integrated to one unit thereof as shown
in FIG. 2. In the case where a PID number of the PMT is the same as
that of other one, the PID number of the information in the PAT is
reallocated to a new PID number so as to avoid identification of
the two.
[0074] On the other hand, in a case where the PID numbers in the
PAT corresponding to the packet containing the PMT from the program
control information 131a, 131b, . . . , 131n have been reallocated,
the PID numbers in the corresponding packet (PMT) are rewritten.
The all program control information packet and the packet
containing all the program-specific control information each
generated as described above are transferred to the remultiplexing
section 33 as program control information 133 for
remultiplication.
[0075] Finally, the remultiplexing section 33 again multiplexes the
program control information 133 transferred from the program
control information editing section 32 for remultiplication and the
packets 132a, 132b, . . . , 132n each containing media information
transferred from each of the control information selecting section
31a, 31b, . . . , 31n with a packet, and transmits the
remultiplexed packet as new program multiplexed information
112x.
[0076] As described above, the remultiplexing section 33 selects a
packet containing program control information from inputted
plurality of bit streams, generates new program control information
by performing edits of the packet to contents matching to an
outputted bit stream, multiplexes again the packet containing media
information in the inputted bit stream and the newly generated
program control information, and generates a new bit stream, which
makes it possible to obtain more numbers of program with one bit
stream without any change to be executed to the configuration in
the bit stream receiver.
[0077] Description is made for another embodiment of the method of
generating program control information with reference to FIG.
1.
[0078] Herein, new program control information 133 is generated
only when the contents of each of the inputted program control
information 131a, 131b, . . . , 131n has been updated, and the
updated information is transmitted to the remultiplexing section
33. Whether the contents has been updated or not can be checked by
a method in which each of inputted program control information
131a, 131b, . . . , 131n is temporarily stored in the
remultiplexing section and the stored information is successively
compared to newly inputted program control information 131a, 131b,
. . . , 131n one by one, or by a method in which a version number
is previously written in each of the program control information
131a, 131b, . . . , 131n, the version number is changed when the
contents is changed, and whether the contents is changed or not can
be known by checking whether the version number has been changed or
not.
[0079] In a case where contents of inputted program control
information 131a, 131b, . . . , 131n has not been updated, new
program control information 133 is not required to be generated.
For instance, in a case where the program control information 133
is periodically transmitted, the same program control information
133 may be sent.
[0080] As described above, in a case where the contents of program
control information included in inputted plurality of bit streams
has been updated, correct program control information and media
information can be obtained in the bit stream receiver by updating
the contents of generated program control information.
[0081] Description is made for an example in which transmission
efficiency can be improved by omitting null packets.
[0082] Each of the control information selecting sections 31a, 31b,
. . . , 31n aborts a null packet contained in each of the program
multiplexed information 112a, 112b, . . . , 112n received through
the transmission path, and separates the program control
information 131a, 131b, . . . , 131n from the packets 132a, 132b, .
. . , 132n each containing media information therein. Each of the
control information selecting sections transmits each of the
program control information 131a, 131b, . . . , 131n to the program
control information editing section 32, and also transmits the
packets 132a, 132b, . . . , 132n containing media information
therein with null packet having beam aborted to the remultiplexing
section 33 like in Embodiment 1. The remultiplexing section 33
multiplexes only packets not containing null packets, so that each
of the sections outputs the program multiplexed information 112x
not containing null packets.
[0083] It is assumed in the example described above that null
packets are aborted in the control information selecting sections
31a, 31b, . . . , 31n, but the same effect can be obtained even if
the null packets are aborted when the packets are multiplexed again
by the remultiplexing section 33.
[0084] As described above, by removing null packets from inputted
packets, the transmission efficiency can be improved, and the
transmission path can effectively be utilized.
[0085] Description is made for an example in which an error to the
program clock information is suppressed.
[0086] Controls are provided so that if there is any packet
containing program clock information in packets, the program clock
information is preferentially multiplexed again and an error of the
clock information is made to be a minimum value without any change
of the clock information for transmission when each of packets
141a, 141b, . . . , 141n containing media information transferred
from each of the control information selecting sections 31a, 31b, .
. . , 31n is multiplexed again. Whether the program clock
information is contained therein or not can be identified according
to a PID number for the packet with clock information written in
the PMT.
[0087] As described above, in packets including program clock
information, the packet containing the program clock information
therein is preferentially remultiplexed and is transmitted, so that
an error to the program clock information can be made to the
minimum value with a simple sequential operation.
[0088] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a remultiplexing apparatus
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0089] In FIG. 3, the reference numeral 35 indicates a null packet
inserting section, and the same reference numerals are assigned to
the sections corresponding to those shown in FIG. 1 excluding the
section described above.
[0090] Next description is made for different points from
Embodiment 1.
[0091] The program control information editing section 32 transfers
the program control information packet 133 generated anew to the
remultiplexing section 33 like that in Embodiment 1, and the
control information selecting section 31a, 31b, . . . , 31n
transfer media information packets 132a, 132b, . . . , 132n thereto
respectively.
[0092] When the transferred program control information packet 133
and the media information packets 132a, 132b, . . . , 132n are
multiplexed again as new program multiplexed information 112x by
the remultiplexing section 33, and in a case where a rate of
information to be transmitted is less than an output rate of the
program multiplexed information 112x, a null packet inserting
signal 134 is outputted from the remultiplexing section 33 to a
null packet inserting section 35. The null packet inserting section
35 outputs a null packet 135 to the remultiplexing section 33
according to the null packet inserting signal 134, the null packet
135 is multiplexed on the program multiplexed information 112x, so
that the processing speed is matched to the output rate.
[0093] As described above, in a case where a rate of the
remultiplexed bit stream is slower than an output rate, it is
possible to match a processing speed to the output rate of a bit
stream to be outputted by inserting a null packet.
[0094] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a remultiplexing apparatus
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0095] In FIG. 4, the reference numeral 36 indicates an external
information packet inserting section, and the same reference
numerals are assigned to the sections corresponding to those shown
in FIG. 1 excluding the section described above.
[0096] Next description is made for a different point from that in
Embodiment 1. The program control information editing section 32
inserts an external information packet 136 inputted from outside to
the program multiplexed information 112x, and outputs control
information 137 concerning to the external information packet
containing information for a PID number or the like required for
remultiplication to the external information packet inserting
section 36.
[0097] When the transferred program control information packet 133
and the media information packets 132a, 132b, . . . , 132n are
multiplexed again as new program multiplexed information 112x by
the remultiplexing section 33, and in a case where a rate of
information to be transmitted is less than an output rate of the
program multiplexed information 112x, an external information
packet inserting signal 138 is outputted from the remultiplexing
section 33 to the external information packet inserting section 36.
The external information packet inserting section 36 packetizes
external information 136 with control information 137 according to
the external information packet inserting signal 138, and outputs
an external information packet 136a to the remultiplexing section
33. The remultiplexing section 33 multiplies the external
information packet 136a on the program multiplexed information
112x, so that the processing speed is matched to the output rate of
the information 112x.
[0098] As described above, in a case where a transmission speed
(rate) of the remultiplexed bit stream is slower than an output
rate, it is possible to match a processing speed to the output rate
of a bit stream to be outputted by inserting a information packet
inputted from outside, and also to effectively utilize a
transmission path by transmitting external information.
[0099] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a remultiplexing apparatus
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0100] In FIG. 5, designated at the reference numeral 37 is a
program organizing section as a program organizing means for
deciding program organization to be remultiplexed, at 38a, 38b, . .
. , 38n a media information selecting section for selecting only
specified media information respectively, and the same reference
numerals are assigned to the sections corresponding to those shown
in FIG. 1 excluding the section described above. Herein, the
remultiplexing means for remultiplexing only necessary media
information comprises media information selecting sections 38a,
38b, . . . , 38n and the remultiplexing section 33.
[0101] Next description is made for a different point from that in
Embodiment 1. The control information selecting sections 31a, 31b,
. . . , 31n transfer the taken-out program control information
packets 131a, 131b, . . . , 131n to the program organizing section
37, and also transfer other media information packets 132a, 132b, .
. . , 132n to the media information selecting sections 38a, 38b, .
. . , 38n respectively.
[0102] The program organizing section 37 takes out a packet with
PID-P containing all program control information (PAT) from the
program control information packets 131a, 131b, . . . , 131n
transferred from the control information selecting sections 31a,
31b, . . . , 31n, and selects required programs out of the
programs. This selection is executed by, for instance, previously
setting it in the program organizing section 37, or setting it in
an inputting means provided therein, or there is a method of
selecting it according to information in the program control
information.
[0103] Also, the program organizing section 37 generates PID
information for a packet containing program-specific control
information for the selected program corresponding to each of the
program multiplexed information 112a, 112b, . . . , 112n as program
organized information 139, and transfers the generated information
to the program control information editing section 32.
[0104] The program organizing section 37 takes out all of the
program-specific control information for the selected program
corresponding to each of the control information selecting sections
31a, 31b, . . . , 31n according to the program organized
information 139, obtains PID indicating all the media information
contained in the selected program, and transfers the PID to each of
the media information selecting sections 38a, 38b, . . . , 38n as
selected PID information 140a, 140b, . . . , 140n respectively, and
also transfers a packet 131 containing program control information
transferred from the control information selecting sections 31a,
31b, . . . , 31n for the program control information editing
section 32.
[0105] The program control information editing section 32 takes out
PID information for a packet containing program-specific control
information for all the programs shown in the program organized
information 139 transferred from the program organizing section 37,
and stores the PID as PID information before PID converted
information for a packet containing the program-specific control
information is converted.
[0106] Then, the program control information editing section 32
checks the PID information before the information is converted, and
takes a new PID to avoid duplication in a case where there are two
same PIDs therein, and stores the PIDs as PID converted information
before and after the information is converted.
[0107] When there is any duplication as described above, the
program control information editing section 32 generates a new
program control information packet 133 from the program control
information packet 131 transferred from the program organizing
section 37 according to the PID converted information for the
stored program-specific control information packet, and transfers
the new packet to the remultiplexing section 33. It there is not
any duplication, the program control information editing section 32
transfers the program control information packet 131 as it is to
the remultiplexing section 33 as a the program control information
packet 133.
[0108] Next description is made for operations in the media
information selecting sections 38a, 38b, . . . , 38n with reference
to the media information selecting section 38a as an example.
[0109] The media information selecting section 38a, at first,
stores selected PID information 140a transferred from the program
organizing section 37. Then the media information selecting section
38a selectively takes out only a packet with the PID number
specified in this selected PID information 140a from the packet
132a containing the media information transferred from the control
information selecting section 31a, and transfers the packet to the
remultiplexing section 33 as a media information packet 141a with
the selected PID.
[0110] Similarly, each of the media information selecting section
38b, . . . , 38n selectively takes out only a packet with the PID
number specified in the selected PID information 140b, . . . , 140n
transferred from the program organizing section 37, and transfers
the selected packet to the remultiplexing section 33 as each of
media information packets 141b, . . . , 141n with the selected
PID.
[0111] The remultiplexing section 33 multiplies again the selected
program control information packet 133 according to the program
organizing information 139 and the media information packets 141a,
141b, . . . , 141n each with the selected PID as program
multiplexed information 112x for transmission.
[0112] As described above, by remultiplexing only a selected
program from program control information contained in an inputted
bit stream, only a required program can be transmitted. In a case
where a bit stream generated by remultiplexing all programs
contained in all the inputted bit streams is faster than a
transmission rate in transmission path, the generated bit rate can
be transmitted by selectively transmitting a program.
[0113] Next description is made for an example in which a
viewability restricted program is organized as an embodiment in
which the media information described above is selected and
remultiplexed. Herein, description is made for operations in a case
where the program organizing section 37 generates program
multiplexed information comprising only programs for adult as the
example described above.
[0114] The program organizing section 37 obtains packets containing
all of the all program control information each with PID-P from the
packets 131a, 131b, . . . , 131n each containing the program
control information transferred from each of the control
information selecting sections 31a, 31b, . . . , 31n, obtains
program-specific information corresponding to all the programs
obtained from the packets containing the obtained all of the all
program control information, and gets viewability restricting
information from the program-specific control information.
[0115] The program organizing section 37 selects a program with
restricted viewability to adult people according to the viewability
restricting information to all the obtained programs, and stores
PID information for packets containing program-specific control
information for selected programs for adult people corresponding to
the program multiplexed information 112a, 112b, . . . , 112n
respectively as program organized information 139 for programs with
restricted viewability for adult people.
[0116] Also the program organizing section 37, at first, takes out
all the program-specific control information for selected programs
with restricted viewability for adult people corresponding to the
control information selecting sections 31a, 31b, . . . , 31n
according to the stored program organized information 139 for
programs with restricted viewability for adult people, obtains PIDs
indicating all the media information contained in the selected
programs with restricted viewability for adult people, and
transfers the obtained PIDs to the media information selecting
section 38a, 38b, . . . , 38n, as selected PID information 140a,
140b, . . . , 140n for programs with restricted viewability for
adult people.
[0117] Then, the program organizing section 37 transfers the stored
program organized information 139 for programs with restricted
viewability for adult people, and the packet 131 containing the
program control information transferred from the control
information selecting sections 31a, 31b, 31n to the program control
information editing section 32.
[0118] Description is made for operations of the program control
information editing section 32.
[0119] The program control information editing section 32 takes out
PID information for a packet containing program-specific control
information for all the programs shown in the program organized
information 139 for programs with restricted viewability for adult
people transferred from the program organizing section 37, and
stores them as PID information before the PID converted information
for the packet containing the program-specific control information
for programs with restricted viewability for adult people is
converted.
[0120] Then, the program control information editing section 32
checks the PID information before the information is converted, and
in a case where there are the same PIDs therein, the program
control information editing section 32 takes a new PID so as to
avoid duplication, and stores it as PID converted information for
the packet containing the program-specific control information for
programs with restricted viewability for adult people before and
after the PID converted information is converted.
[0121] The program control information editing section 32 takes out
all of the packets each containing program-specific control
information shown in the information before PID information is
converted of the PID converted information for the program-specific
control information for the stored programs with restricted
viewability for adult people from the packet containing the program
control information transferred from the program organized section
37. And in a case where there are the same PIDs therein, the PID is
reallocated to a PID after the PID is converted according to the
PID converted information, and in a case where there are no
duplicated PIDs, the packet containing the program-specific control
information for the stored programs with restricted viewability for
adult people is updated as it is.
[0122] The program control information editing section 32 generates
a packet containing a new unit of all program control information
with restricted viewability to adult people according to the PID
converted information for packets containing the program-specific
control information for the stored programs with restricted
viewability for adult people.
[0123] As described above, the program control information editing
section 32 transfers the packet containing the updated
program-specific control information for the programs with
restricted viewability to adult people and the packet containing
the new unit of all program control information generated with
restricted viewability for adult people as a packet 133 containing
the new program control information to the remultiplexing section
33.
[0124] Next description is made for operations in the media
information selecting sections 38a, 38b, . . . , 38n with the media
information selecting section 38a used as an example.
[0125] The media information selecting section 38a, at first,
stores selected PID information 140a for the programs with
restricted viewability to adult people transferred from the program
organizing section 37, selectively takes out only a packet with the
PID number specified in the selected PID information 140a for the
programs with restricted viewability to adult people from the
packet 132a containing the media information transferred from the
control information selecting section 31a, and transfers the packet
to he remultiplexing section 33 as a packet 141a containing the
media information with the selected PID.
[0126] Similarly, each of the media information selecting section
38b, . . . , 38n selectively takes out only a packet with the PID
number specified in the selected PID information 140b, . . . , 140n
for the programs with restricted viewability for adult people
transferred from the program organizing section 37, and transfers
the packet containing the media information for the programs with
restricted viewability to adult people to the remultiplexing
section 33 as each of the packets 141b, . . . , 141n containing
media information with the selected PID.
[0127] The remultiplexing section 33 multiplexes again the packet
133 containing the program control information for the programs
with restricted viewability to adult people transferred from the
program control information editing section 32 and the packets
141a, 141b, . . . , 141n each containing the media information with
the selected PID for the programs with restricted viewability to
adult people transferred from the media information selecting
section 38a, 38b, . . . , 38n as program multiplexed information
112x for the programs with restricted viewability to adult people
for transmission.
[0128] As described above, by obtaining the viewability restricting
information contained in the program control information for an
inputted bit stream, and remultiplexing only the selected program
according to the viewability restricting information described
above, only a required program can be transmitted.
[0129] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a remultiplexing apparatus
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0130] In FIG. 6, designated at the reference numerals 39a, 39b, .
. . , 39n are PID reallocating sections each as a PID reallocating
means for reallocating a PID for a packet containing media
information respectively, and the same reference numerals are
assigned to the sections corresponding to those shown in FIG. 1
excluding the sections described above.
[0131] Next description is made for a different point from that in
Embodiment 1. Firstly, description is made for operations in the
control information selecting sections 31a, 31b, . . . , 31n.
[0132] The control information selecting sections 31a, 31b, . . . ,
31n transfer the packets 131a, 131b, . . . , 131n containing the
selectively taken-out program control information to the program
control information editing section 32, and also transfer media
information packets 132a, 132b, . . . , 132n which are the
remainders after the program control information packets 131a,
131b, . . . , 131n have been selectively taken out to the PID
reallocating sections 39a, 39b, . . . , 39n, respectively.
[0133] The program control information editing section 32 obtains
PID information for packets containing all of the program-specific
control information from all the all program control information
for PID-P contained in the packets 131a, 131b, . . . , 131n each
containing the program control information transferred from each of
the control information selecting sections 31a, 31b, . . . , 31n,
obtains a new PID so that PID information for the packets
containing the obtained all of the program-specific control
information are not duplex, and stores PIDs corresponding to the
program multiplexed information 112a, 112b, . . . , 112n before and
after the PIDs are converted respectively as PID converted
information for the packets containing the program-specific control
information.
[0134] The program control information editing section 32 obtains
PID information for all of the media information packets shown in
all the program-specific control information according to all the
packets containing the program-specific control information
described above.
[0135] If there is any media information packet with an identical
PID number in the PID information for all of the media information
packets for all the obtained programs, the program control
information editing section 32 obtains a new PID number to avoid
the identical numbers, and stores PIDs corresponding to the program
multiplexed information 112a, 112b, . . . , 112n after the PIDs are
converted respectively as PID converted information for the packets
containing the media information.
[0136] The program control information editing section 32 transfers
PID reallocating information 142a, 142b, . . . , 142n, for
instructing reallocation of the PID for the packet containing media
information which includes the PID information before the media
information packet is not converted and the PID information after
it is converted on each of the program multiplexed information
112a, 112b, . . . , 112n according to the PID converted information
for the stored media information packets, to the PID reallocating
sections 39a, 39b, . . . , 39n.
[0137] The program control information editing section 32 generates
a new unit of all program control information and corrects the PID
information for the packet containing all of the program-specific
control information according to the PID converted information for
the stored media information packet, and corrects PID information
for the packet containing media information for all the programs
contained in the packet containing all of the program-specific
control information of which PID information is corrected according
to the PID converted information for the packet containing the
stored program-specific control information, and updates all the
program-specific control information.
[0138] The program control information editing section 32 transfers
the newly generated all program control information packet and the
updated all of the program-specific control information to the
remultiplexing section 33 as the program control information 133
for remultiplication.
[0139] Next description is made for operations in the PID
reallocating sections 39a, 39b, . . . , 39n with the PID
reallocating section 39a used as an example.
[0140] The PID reallocating sections 39a stores PID information
before and after the media information packet contained in the PID
reallocated information 142a transferred from the program control
information editing section 32 is converted.
[0141] The PID reallocating sections 39a reallocates the PID for
the media information packet 132a transferred from the control
information selecting section 31 a to other one according to the
PID information before and after the stored media information
packet is converted, and transfers it to the remultiplexing section
33 as the media information packet 143a with the reallocated
PID.
[0142] The PID reallocating sections 39b, . . . , 39n reallocate
the PID, like the PID reallocating section 39a, for each of the
media information packets 132b, . . . , 132n transferred from the
control information selecting sections 31b, . . . , 31n to other
one according to the PID information before and after the media
information packet contained in each of the PID reallocated
information 142b, . . . , 142n from the program control information
editing section 32 is converted, and transfer it to the
remultiplexing section 33 as the packets 143b, . . . , 143n
containing media information each with the reallocated PID.
[0143] The remultiplexing section 33 multiplies again the packet
133 containing the program control information selected according
to the program organizing information 139 and the media information
packets 143a, 143b, . . . , 143n each with the reallocated PID as
program multiplexed information 112x for transmission.
[0144] As described above, in an bit stream in which ID numbers of
packets each containing media information are reallocated so that
the two numbers are not identical, the ID numbers of the packets
each containing the media information are reallocated to other
number, and the packets each with the reallocated ID number are
remultiplexed, one packet ID number can be given to one unit of
media information, so that the bit stream receiver can obtain media
information by identifying them.
[0145] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a remultiplexing apparatus
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0146] In FIG. 7, the reference numeral 40 indicates an external
clock generating section for generating a system clock from the
clock signals inputted from outside, and the same reference
numerals are assigned to the sections corresponding to those shown
in FIG. 1 excluding the sections described above.
[0147] Next description is made for a different point from that in
Embodiment 1. The external clock generating section 40 generates a
frequency clock used for transmitting the program multiplexed
information 112x, and the remultiplexing section 33 receives the
generated clock as a transmission path clock signal 144.
[0148] When it is to transmit the packet 133 containing the program
control information transferred from the program control
information editing section 32 and the packets 141a, 141b, . . . ,
141n each containing media information transferred from each of the
control information selecting section 31a, 31b, . . . , 31n as
program multiplexed information 112x by multiplexing them again,
the remultiplexing section 33 remultiplies the packets described
above by synchronizing to the received transmission path clock
signal 144 and outputs program multiplexed information 112x.
[0149] As described above, by synchronizing to the inputted clock
from outside and outputting the bit stream, synchronization in
transmission is easily provided.
[0150] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a remultiplexing apparatus
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0151] In FIG. 8, designated at the reference numerals 41a, 41b, .
. . , 41n are FIFO (First In First Out) type of packet
synchronizing buffers for temporarily storing program multiplexed
information 112a, 112b, . . . , 112n respectively, and the same
reference numerals are assigned to the sections corresponding to
those shown in FIG. 1 excluding the sections described above.
[0152] Next description is made for a different point from that in
Embodiment 1. At first, as shown in FIG. 9, the program multiplexed
information 112a, 112b, . . . , 112n transferred at each of
transmission timing respectively are stored in the packet
synchronizing buffers 41a, 41b, . . . , 41n. At this point of time,
program multiplexed information 112a, 112b, . . . , 112n to be
inputted are discretely inputted at a different speed, so that the
starting byte between TS packets is not always identical
(synchronism) to each other. For this reason, each of the packet
synchronizing buffers 41a, 41b, . . . , 41n synchronizes the
starting byte of each of the packets to that thereof to insure
packet synchronism of the program multiplexed information 112a,
112b, . . . , 112n, and outputs while the processing speed is being
matched.
[0153] As described above, by providing a packet synchronizing
buffer in the apparatus to synchronizing to packets, it is possible
to insure packet synchronism between a plurality of bit streams to
be inputted.
[0154] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a remultiplexing
apparatus according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0155] In FIG. 10, designated at the reference numerals 42a, 42b, .
. . , 42n are clock regenerating sections as system clock
regenerating means each for regenerating clock information by
regenerating a clock according to clock information of each program
respectively, at 43a, 43b, . . . , 43n clock information
reallocating sections each for generating new clock information and
reallocating them, and the same reference numerals are assigned to
the sections corresponding to those shown in FIG. 1 excluding the
sections described above.
[0156] Next description is made for a different point from that in
Embodiment 1. At first, description is made for operations in the
control information selecting sections 31a, 31b, . . . , 31n with
the control information selecting section 31a used as an
example.
[0157] The control information selecting section 31a takes out all
of the program-specific control information from the transmitted
program multiplexed information 112a, and obtains PID information
for packets containing clock information for all of the programs
from all the program-specific control information taken out and
stores them.
[0158] The control information selecting section 31a, in a case
where clock information is contained in the packet with a PID
identical to the stored PID information from the transmitted
program multiplexed information 112a, takes out only the clock
information from the packet, and transfers the clock information to
the clock generating section 42a as clock information 146a
contained in the media information.
[0159] Next description is made for operations in the clock
regenerating sections 42a, 42b, . . . , 42n with reference to the
clock regenerating section 42a as an example.
[0160] The clock regenerating sect-ions 42a has the same
configuration as that of a clock regenerating section 17 in a
method of regenerating a clock shown in FIG. 18, and regenerates a
system clock from the clock information for a packet 146a
containing clock information transferred from the control
information selecting section 31 a according to the incorporated
PLL.
[0161] On the other hand, the clock information reallocating
section 43a, in a case where clock information is contained in a
packet with a PID identical to the stored PID information from the
packet 132a containing media information transferred from the
control information selecting section 31a, reallocates the clock
information for the packet to clock information 147a generated in
the clock regenerating section 42a, and multiplexes the information
again in the remultiplexing section 33 for transmission.
[0162] As described above, by regenerating a clock from a packet
containing program clock information and multiplexing again a
packet containing new program clock information generated from the
regenerated clock, it is possible to transmit a bit stream
containing accurate program clock information.
[0163] Next description is made for an example of transmission of
the accurate program clock information.
[0164] At first, the remultiplexing section 33 takes out PID
information for a packet containing clock information for all of
the program from the packet containing program-specific control
information out of the packet 133 containing new program control
information transferred rom the program control information editing
section 32, and stores the PID information.
[0165] Then, in the remultiplexing section 33, when the packets
141a, 141b, . . . , 141n each containing media information
transferred from the control information selecting sections 31a,
31b, . . . , 31n are multiplexed again, a delay in multiplication
of packets is generated due to an operation for matching an output
of other packet. In a case where clock information is present in a
transmission-delayed packet, the remultiplexing section 33 computes
the delayed time from a number of delayed bytes and an output rate
from the transmission path to be outputted, adds the computed
delayed time to the clock information, and transmits the packet in
which an error of the clock information is corrected.
[0166] As described above, the packet containing the program clock
information is rewritten to the program clock information in which
time fluctuation generated in the process of remultiplication is
corrected, and the program clock information included in the bit
stream after remultiplication is compensated, so that it is
possible to transmit accurate program clock information.
[0167] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a remultiplexing apparatus
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0168] In FIG. 11, designated at the reference numerals 10a, 10b, .
. . , 10n are TS multiplexing transmission devices respectively, at
32 the program control information editing section as a program
control information editing means, at 33a remultiplexing section,
at 34a remultiplexing apparatus, and at 44a, 44b, . . . , 44n all
program control information aborting sections as all program
control information aborting means respectively.
[0169] At first, description is made for operations in the program
control information editing section 32.
[0170] The program control information editing section 32 decides
PIDs to be allocated to a packet containing program-specific
control information for all programs as well as to a packet
containing media information based on information, such as a number
of programs and types of media constituting each program or the
like, previously given thereto about program multiplexed
information 112a, 112b, . . . , 112n each transmitted through the
TS multiplexing transmission devices 10a, 10b, . . . , 10n.
[0171] The program control information editing section 32 takes out
required PID information from the determined PID information to be
given to the program-specific control information for all programs
as well as to media information therefore, and transmits the
information as PID information 148a, 148b, 148n to the TS
multiplexing transmission devices 10a, 10b, . . . , 10n.
[0172] The program control information editing section 32 generates
a packet containing all program control information with PID-P from
the determined PID information to be given to the packet containing
program-specific control information for all the programs as well
as to the packet containing media information therefore, and
transfers the packet 111 containing the generated all program
control information with PID-P to the remultiplexing section 33 at
prespecified time intervals after the processing of
remultiplication of the information has been started in the
remultiplexing section 33.
[0173] Next description is made for operations in the TS
multiplexing transmission devices 10a, 10b, . . . , 10n with the TS
multiplexing transmission device 10a used as an example. The TS
multiplexing transmission device 10a stores the PID information
148a transmitted from the program control Information editing
section 32 in the remultiplexing apparatus 34, gives PIDs to a
packet containing the program-specific control information for each
program as well as to a packet containing media information
therefore according to the stored PID information 148a, generates a
packet containing all program control information with PID-P,
multiplexes the information for transmission.
[0174] Next description is made for operations in the all program
control information aborting sections 44a, 44b, . . . , 44n with
all program control information aborting section 44a used as an
example. The all program control information aborting sections 44a
selectively takes out the packet containing the all program control
information with PID-P from the program multiplexed information
112a transmitted from the TS multiplexing transmission device 10a
and aborts it.
[0175] The all program control information aborting sections 44a
transfers the remained packets after the packet containing the all
program control information with PID-P has been aborted from the
program multiplexed information 112a to the remultiplexing section
33 as a packet 149a after abortion of the all program control
information therefrom.
[0176] Finally, the remultiplexing section 33 multiplexes again the
packets 111 containing the all program control information
transferred from the program control information editing section 32
and the packets 149a, 149b, . . . , 149n each after abortion of the
all program control information transferred from the all program
control information aborting sections 44a, 44b, . . . , 44n
respectively, and transmits the packet as program multiplexed
information 121x.
[0177] As described above, by previously instructing an ID number
of a packet excluding all program control information to a
multiplexing transmission device for generating bit streams to be
remultiplexed from the remultiplexing apparatus, the packet
containing all program control information is selected and aborted,
so that only the remained packets and a packet containing the newly
generated all program control information are remultiplexed, which
makes it possible to constitute a simple remultiplexing
apparatus.
[0178] FIG. 12 is a block diagram of remultiplexing apparatus
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0179] In FIG. 12, designated at the reference numerals 7a, 7b, . .
. , 7n are program generating sections as program generating means
respectively, at 8 an all program control information generating
section as an all program control information generating means, at
10a, 10b, . . . , 10n the TS multiplexing transmission devices
respectively, at 32 the program control information editing section
as a program control information editing means, at 33 the
remultiplexing section, at 34 the remultiplexing apparatus, and at
44a, 44b, . . . , 44n the all program control information aborting
sections as all program control information aborting means
respectively.
[0180] Next description is made for operations.
[0181] Description is made for operations in the all program
control information aborting sections 44a, 44b, . . . , 44n with
reference to the all program control information aborting section
44a as an example.
[0182] The all program control information aborting sections 44a
selectively takes out the packet containing the all program control
information with PID-P from the program multiplexed information
112a transmitted from the TS multiplexing transmission device 10a
and aborts it.
[0183] The all program control information aborting sections 44a
transfers the remained packets after the packet containing the all
program control information with PID-P has been aborted from the
program multiplexed information 112a to the remultiplexing section
33 as a packet 149a after the all program control information has
been aborted therefrom.
[0184] Next description is made for operations in the all program
control information generating section 8.
[0185] The all program control information generating section 8
generates a packet 111 containing a new unit of all program control
information to the packets 149a, 149b, . . . , 149n each after
abortion of the all program control information transferred from
the all program control information aborting sections 44a, 44b, . .
. , 44n and to information for one program 110a, 110b, . . . , 110n
generated in the program generating sections 7a, 7b, . . . , 7n
respectively, and transfers the generated packet to the
remultiplexing section 33.
[0186] Finally, the remultiplexing section 33 multiplexes again the
packets 149a, 149b, . . . , 149n each after abortion of the all
program control information transferred from the all program
control information aborting sections 44a, 44b, . . . , 44n,
information for one program 110a, 110b, . . . , 110n generated in
the program generating sections 7a, 7b, . . . , 7n respectively,
and the packet 111 containing the new unit of all program control
information transferred from the all program control information
generating section 8, and transmits the remultiplexed packet as
program multiplexed information 121x.
[0187] As described above, by aborting only all program control
information from the bit streams received by the remultiplexing
apparatus and only multiplexing again the program information
packet from the program generating section and the packet
containing the newly generated all program control information, a
simple remultiplexing apparatus can be constructed.
[0188] It should be noted that each means can be realized with
software.
[0189] As described above, in the present invention, the
remultiplexing apparatus selects a packet containing program
control information from a plurality of inputted bit streams, edits
contents of the selected program control information to generate
new program control information corresponding to a bit stream to be
outputted, and multiplies again a packet containing media
information in the inputted bit stream and the newly generated
program control information to generate a new bit stream, whereby a
single bit stream insures a larger number of programs without
changing the configuration in the bit stream receiver.
[0190] In a case where contents of program control information
contained in a plurality of inputted bit streams Is updated,
contents of program control information to be generated is updated,
whereby appropriate program control information and media
information can be obtained in the bit stream receiver.
[0191] Removing a null packet from inputted packets improves
transmission efficiency, which makes it possible to make use of a
transmission path effectively.
[0192] In a packet containing program clock information, the packet
containing program clock information is preferentially
remultiplexed and transmitted, whereby an error to the program
clock information is kept to a minimum with simple procedures.
[0193] In a case where a rate of a remultiplexed bit stream is
slower than an output rate, it is possible to match a processing
speed to the output rate of an outputted bit stream by inserting a
null packet.
[0194] In a case where a transmission speed (rate) of a
remultiplexed bit stream is slower than an output rate, a
processing speed is matched to the output rate of an outputted bit
stream by inserting a information packet inputted from an external
means to transmit external information, which makes it possible to
make use of a transmission path effectively.
[0195] It is possible to transmit only a necessary program by
remultiplexing only a program selected from program control
information contained in an inputted bit stream. Moreover, in such
a case where a bit stream generated after remultiplexing all
programs contained in all inputted bit streams is faster than a
transmission rate in a transmission path, a program is selected and
transmitted, which makes it possible to transmit a generated bit
rate.
[0196] By obtaining viewability restricting information contained
in program control information of an inputted bit stream and
remultiplexing only a program selected according to the viewability
restricting information, only a necessary program can be
transmitted.
[0197] In a bit stream in which ID numbers of packets each
containing media information are reallocated so that the two
numbers are not identical, ID numbers of packet each containing
media information are reallocated to other number, and the packets
each other with the reallocated ID numbers are remultiplexed,
one-packet ID number is given to one media information, so that
each media information can be obtained discriminately in a bit
stream receiving device.
[0198] The bit stream is outputted in synchronism to a clock
inputted from an external means, whereby synchronism in
transmission is easily obtained.
[0199] By comprising a packet synchronizing buffer for insuring
packet synchronism, packet synchronism between a plurality of
inputted bit streams is insured.
[0200] By regenerating a clock from a packet containing program
clock information and multiplexing again a packet containing new
program clock information generated by the regenerated clock, a bit
stream containing accurate program clock information is
transmitted.
[0201] By rewriting a packet containing program clock information
to program clock information with time fluctuation generated in
remultiplication having been corrected, and compensating program
clock information contained in a bit stream after remultiplication,
accurate program clock information can be transmitted.
[0202] By instructing in advance an ID number for a packet
containing information except all program control information to
the multiplexing transmission device generating a bit stream to be
remultiplexed from the remultiplexing apparatus, a packet
containing all program control information is selected to be
aborted, and only a remained packet and a packet containing newly
generated all program control information are multiplexed again; as
a result, a simple remultiplexing apparatus can be constructed.
[0203] Moreover, only all program control information is aborted
from a bit stream inputted into the remultiplexing apparatus, and
only a program information packet from the program generating
section and a packet containing newly generated all program control
information are multiplexed again, whereby a simple remultiplexing
apparatus can be constructed.
[0204] This application is based on Japanese patent application No.
HEI 8-194964 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Jul. 24, 1996,
the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
[0205] Although the invention has been described with respect to a
specific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the
appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed
as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that
may occur to one skilled in the art which fairly fall within the
basic teaching herein set forth.
* * * * *