摘要:
A system for generating and sending a Logical Node identification signal as part of a data stream is disclosed. The system also includes subscriber stations capable of receiving and extracting Logical Node identification information from a data stream. The subscriber stations create new messages including the Logical Node identification signal and send the message to the transmission network system control such that switching of data streams to appropriate channel over the information transmission network is done consistent with the network topology.
摘要:
The architecture of the present invention employs dynamic data management methods, which determine whether data should reside on disk or secondary storage (130), on which disk drives data should be stored, and how data should be replicated and/or migrated to new disk drives based on observed user (120) access patterns. These methods also migrate popular data to faster disk tracks to reduce average access time and thus improve performance. User access requests are assigned to modules based on the data stored at each module, and each module's current load (the number of request: waiting to be serviced). If the requested data is not on a disk drived, the data is retrieved from secondary storage (130), and may be stored on the disk drives for rapid subsequent access. When a requested data item on the disk drive is replicated, load balancing is perfomred by assigning the request to the module holding the data with the lowest load. In addition, user access requests waiting to retrieve replicated data may be dynamically and seamlessly migrated to another module based on changes in module loads.
摘要:
In accordance with a method, a first stream associated with a first packet identifier (PID) is received and decoded (1450) to retrieve a first video sequence that includes the background for the selected video sequence (e.g., a transition background IPG page, without the guide data). The first video sequence is then provided for display. Thereafter, a second stream associated with a second PID is received and decoded to retrieve the selected video sequence. The selected video sequence is then provided for display (1460). The first video sequence may be received, decoded, and provided for display in response to receiving a channel change. The first and selected video sequences can each be encoded using picture-based encoding or slice-based encoding.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for preprocessing and postprocessing content in an interactive information distribution system. Content is retrieved from a storage medium (152) and encapsulated in accordance to an Internet Protocol (IP) format. The encapsulated content is then uploaded for storage (146) in a stream caching server (102) and for future streaming of content to different types of access networks.
摘要:
Four techniques which result in the visual improvement (Fig. 7) of transitions (510) between video streams with a same packet identifier (PID). The first technique includes two methods: a method for pre-conditioning video stream data for storage on disks (501-504); and a method for transitioning between video streams which utilizes the pre-conditioning. The second technique involves a method for transitioning between video streams where timing information in the new stream is modified so as to be consistent with timing information in the old stream. The third technique involves a method for transitioning between video streams where packets in the old stream are replaced by picture repeat packets. The fourth technique involves a method for transitioning between video streams where packets in the old stream are replaced by null packets.
摘要:
A head-end centric system and apparatus for encoding and delivery of realtime and non-realtime content including: a non-realtime content source for providing guide content; a guide encoder (416) for encoding the non-realtime content into encoded non-realtime content; a realtime content source for providing realtime video and audio content; a realtime encoder unit (408) for encoding the realtime video and audio content into encoded realtime video and audio; a remultiplexor for repacketizing the encoded non-realtime content and the encoded realtime video and audio into transport packets; and a re-timestamp unit coupled to the remultiplexer for providing timestamps to be applied to the transport packets in order to synchronize the realtime and non-realtime content therein.
摘要:
In a parallel processing computer (100) containing a plurality of processors (106n, 108n, 110n), each connected to a memory unit (112n, 114n, 116n), a method and apparatus for accessing a distributed data buffer. Each of the processors within the computer executes a first routine for processing input data to generate output data. During processing, some or all of the data associated with the processing is temporarily stored within a predefined portion of each of the memory units that form a portion of the distributed data buffer. Upon occurrence of an interrupt signal, execution of the first routine is halted. Also, the status of the computer at the time the interrupt signal occured is stored in memory. Thereafter, a second routine (an interrupt routine) is executed to access the data stored in the data buffer. Once the data is accessed, the status of the computer is restored in accordance with the previously stored computer status information. Lastly, the first stored routine is restarted at a position therein at which the first routine was interrupted to execute the second routine.
摘要:
Method and apparatus for generating, transmitting and receiving a user interface for an interactive information distribution system. The user interface is generated in a head end of the system as a digital bitstream and transmitted to subscriber equipment for display. Operation of the user interface is facilitated by functions on both a local level within the subscriber equipment and on a system level within the head end. One embodiment of the user interface is an interactive program guide.
摘要:
An apparatus and a method for constraining the delivery rate of a plurality of bitstreams, such as MPEG bitstreams, using a single software process (510-570).
摘要:
A method and apparatus for recovering data from a failed disk drive in a disk drive array. The method and apparatus includes storing data on an array of disk drives by dividing extents (406) of data into data segments and defining a parity group (404) including at least one data segment from a plurality of data segments (402) from different extents. Parity segments (410) are generated from the data segments in the parity group and stored in the parity group. Furthermore, a second parity segment (408) is generated from the parity segments and stored with the parity group. The method and apparatus then outputs data in realtime to users in a normal disk access mode from parity groups without the failed disk drive, and outputs recovered data in realtime to users in a normal disk access mode from parity groups without the failed disk drive, and outputs recovered data in realtime to the users in a parity correction mode from the parity group containing the failed disk drive.