Patent ID: 6831949
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An apparatus for the switching of compressed video bitstreams comprising: a first video compression decoder for receiving a first input compressed video bitstream and providing a first compression decoded video signal and a first coding decision signal, said first coding decision signal representing coding decisions taken in the compression of the first input compressed video bitstream; a second video compression decoder for receiving a second compressed video input bitstream and providing a second compression decoded video signal and a second coding decision signal, said second coding decision signal representing coding decisions taken in the compression of the second input compressed video bitstream; a video switch unit for switching between said first and second compression decoded video signals; coding decision processing means for receiving said first and second coding decision signals and outputting coding decisions and a video compression coder for receiving said coding decisions and re-coding said switched video signal utilizing said coding decisions, such that said coder and at least one of said first decode and said second decoder remain continuously in circuit, said decoding and re-coding being as a coder of said coding decisions, substantially transparent in the steady state.