Patent ID: 6208691
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method of preventing data loss in a system during the switching of a signal from a first encoder source to a second encoder source, said first encoder source including a buffer for storing and outputting data, outputs of said first and second encoder sources being coupled to the input of a decoder, said decoder having a buffer for storing data outputted from said first and second encoder sources, said method including the steps of:identifying a splice point representing the point in time when the decoder is switched from said first encoder source to said second encoder source;providing a buffer in said first encoder source such that ##EQU10##for j such that j.ltoreq.i and t.sub.e (j).gtoreq.(t.sub.sp -.DELTA.) and wherein:E(t.sub.e (j).sup.-) represents the total number of bits that are in said buffer of said first encoder source just before the encoding of picture j; R(u) represents the rate at which bits are removed from the encoder buffer of said first encoder source at time u;B.sub.d is the size of the decoder buffer,MSR is the maximum splice rate and t.sub.sp is the splice point and t.sub.d (j) is the time at which the j'th picture is decoded.