Patent ID: 7590178
Filing Date: 2009-09-15
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A multiplexer apparatus, comprising: an input switching device configured to simultaneously receive in parallel a plurality of input video signals and generate a single output stream, each of the input video signals including an ordered stream of television pictures, the output stream including all of the television pictures of the plurality of input video signals, wherein the input switching device is configured to interleave the television pictures from each of the input video signals into the output stream so that a first television picture from each input video signal is placed in the output stream before a second television picture from any of the input video signals is placed in the output stream; a compressor configured to receive the output stream from the input switching device, to compress the first television picture of each input video signal into a corresponding intermediate compressed image for each input video signal, and subsequently to compress a plurality of successive television pictures of each particular input video signal as a function of the intermediate compressed image corresponding to the particular input video signal, wherein the compressor is configured to compress the television pictures of the input video signals in the order in which they are placed in the output stream so that the second television picture from each input video signal is compressed before a third television picture of any of the input video signals is compressed; and a memory to store the intermediate compressed images corresponding to the plurality of input video signals.