摘要:
A video server is taught which is capable of outputting a plurality of video streams simultaneously. Each video stream is synchronized at two levels of synchronization: coarse-grain and fine-grain. The coarse-grain synchronization is carried out in software over a plurality of packets of data, and the fine-grain synchronization carried out using the network clock. By utilizing both coarse-grain and fine-grain synchronization as taught by this invention, drift and jitter are controlled, providing accurate presentation of constant bit rate data to a receiving device. As another feature of this invention, a bit pump is utilized which includes header information such as constant bit rate information, and information regarding the rates associated with the coarse-grain and fine-grain synchronization. By utilizing this preinitialized header information, CPU demands are reduced as compared with prior art systems in which the CPU must look up timing information from the data to be transmitted.
摘要:
A cable television communication system network (10) comprising a remote hub (14) which is in communication with a plurality of head ends/central office (18) via a fibre optic interface, a plurality of user terminals (16) associated with each head end via a hybrid fibre coax interface and a plurality of interactive and broadcast video information providers (VIPs) (12) which are in communication with the remote hub (14). The remote hub includes means for formatting broadcast signals received from selected VIPs of the broadcast VIPs (12) for direct transmission to the head end/user terminal interfaces such that the user terminals (16) receive said formatted broadcast signals without reformatting by said headends, means for selectively controlling distribution of communication signals between said interactive VIPs and said headends (18), means for tracking usage of VIP services by said user terminals for at least billing purposes. Each said headend (18) means for facilitating interactive VIP communications between its associated user terminals 16) and said VIPs (12).
摘要:
The hybrid medium access control (MAC) system is configurable to the type of communication required to support a desired application or service. The MAC system analyzes services requested from a settop terminal, or a network controller client, and determines the best MAC component for transmitting signals upstream based on the resources required by the service and the available network resources. A portion of the upstream channel spectrum is allocated to each of the MAC components: 1) POP; 2) assigned static TDMA; 3) assigned dynamic multi-rate TDMA; and 4) random slot reservation - dynamic slot allocation TDMA. Depending upon the communication requirements of the service desired, the configurable MAC system will select the MAC component best suited to support the service. A frequency agile transmitter is then tuned to the channel which has been preallocated for the selected MAC component(s). As communication traffic varies over time, the system reallocates portions of the upstream channel spectrum among the different MAC components and may also reconfigure a specific MAC component.
摘要:
A circuit and method for optimizing efficiency in transferring a block of data having a plurality of frames of limited size from a memory element. The circuit comprises a transmit ("TX") DMA engine and a TX Segmentation engine. The TX DMA engine is responsible for accessing overhead information for the block of data within a TX data buffer from a data descriptor dedicated to that particular TX data buffer. The TX DMA engine is further responsible for reading the block of data from the memory element to be stored local thereto. The TX Segmentation engine is responsible for segmenting the block of data into a plurality of cell packets corresponding in number to the plurality of frames. Each cell packet contains in common said overhead information for the block of data to avoid the TX DMA engine reaccessing the data descriptor to obtain the same overhead information for each frame being transferred.
摘要:
The invention, an electronic book selection and delivery system (200), distributes text to subscribers (258). The system includes a subsystem for placing text in a video signal format (204) and a subsystem for receiving and selecting video format text (216). The system contains an operation center (250), a video distribution system (208), a home subsystem (258), and a billing and collection system. The operation center (250) and/or video distribution points (1020) perform the functions of manipulation of text data, security and coding of text, cataloging of books, message center, and uplink functions. The home subsystem (258) connects to a video distribution system (208), generates menus and stores text, and transacts through communicating mechanisms (611, 613, 617). A portable book-shaped viewing device (266) is used for viewing the text. The billing system (278) performs the transaction, management, authorization, collection and payments utilizing the telephone system (274).
摘要:
The hybrid medium access control (MAC) system is configurable to the type of communication required to support a desired application or service. The MAC system analyzes services requested from a settop terminal, or a network controller client, and determines the best MAC component for transmitting signals upstream based on the resources required by the service and the available network resources. A portion of the upstream channel spectrum is allocated to each of the MAC components: 1) POP; 2) assigned static TDMA; 3) assigned dynamic multi-rate TDMA; and 4) random slot reservation - dynamic slot allocation TDMA. Depending upon the communication requirements of the service desired, the configurable MAC system will select the MAC component best suited to support the service. A frequency agile transmitter is then tuned to the channel which has been preallocated for the selected MAC component(s). As communication traffic varies over time, the system reallocates portions of the upstream channel spectrum among the different MAC components and may also reconfigure a specific MAC component.
摘要:
A television signal and ATM cell switching system for switching ATM cells of data other than television signals and for supplying one channel among a plurality of channels of television signals transmitted from a source to a subscriber to carry out one-way communication of the television signals from the source to the subscribers and two-way communication of the data other than the television signals between the network and the subscribers comprising, a television signal transmitting means (4) for transmitting television signals in the form of ATM cells, an ATM switching means (3) for switching ATM cell data other than the television signals, a television signal cell inserting circuit (1) for receiving a plurality of channels of the television signals from the television signal transmitting means (4), and for receiving the ATM cell data other than the television signals after being switched by the ATM switching means (3), the television signal inserting circuit (1) comprising, a demultiplexing circuit (10) for demultiplexing the output of the ATM switching means (3) to provide a plurality of outputs corresponding to respective subscribers, and a plurality of multiplexing circuits (11) each for multiplexing the demultiplexed ATM cell received from one corresponding output of the demultiplexing circuit (10) and one channel of the ATM cells selected in accordance with a request from the corresponding subscriber.
摘要:
The invention relates to a system for supplying a plurality of ATM cells corresponding to a plurality of channels to a plurality of subscribers, comprising: a detection means (3511, 3512) for detecting an ATM cell corresponding to a channel which each subscriber requests to receive; and a transfer means (3513, 3514, 3515) for transferring said ATM cell detected by the detection means, to said each subscriber requesting the ATM cell.
摘要:
A cell including a time stamp, first cell sending rate, first requested cell sending rate is transmitted from a transmitting side to a receiving side. At the receiving side a second cell sending rate is determined based on the first requested cell sending rate, and a second requested sending rate is determined based on the first cell sending rate and the cell discard information. The second requested cell sending rate is transmitted from the receiving side to the transmitting side to determine the first cell sending rate based on the cell discard information detected at the receiving side. Therefore, the cell sending rate is determined in accordance with a frequency of the discard of the cells so that the cell sending rate is decreased when the cell discard occurs and the cell sending rate is increased when the cell discard does occur.
摘要:
A television signal and ATM cell switching system for switching ATM cells of data other than television signals and for supplying one channel among a plurality of channels of television signals transmitted from a source to a subscriber to carry out one-way communication of the television signals from the source to the subscribers and two-way communication of the data other than the television signals between the network and the subscribers comprising, a television signal transmitting means (4) for transmitting television signals in the form of ATM cells, an ATM switching means (3) for switching ATM cell data other than the television signals, a television signal cell inserting circuit (1) for receiving a plurality of channels of the television signals from the television signal transmitting means (4), and for receiving the ATM cell data other than the television signals after being switched by the ATM switching means (3), the television signal inserting circuit (1) comprising, a demultiplexing circuit (10) for demultiplexing the output of the ATM switching means (3) to provide a plurality of outputs corresponding to respective subscribers, and a plurality of multiplexing circuits (11) each for multiplexing the demultiplexed ATM cell received from one corresponding output of the demultiplexing circuit (10) and one channel of the ATM cells selected in accordance with a request from the corresponding subscriber.