Patent ID: 6744764
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
For a plurality of digital data chunks sequentially generated by a data transmitter according to a natural temporal order and a natural time alignment, and thereupon transmitted across a digital data network to a receiver, such that said digital data chunks arrive at said receiver in a received temporal order substantially independent of said natural temporal order and in a received time alignment substantially independent of said natural time alignment, a system for re-sequencing said plurality of digital data chunks at said receiver so as to transform said received temporal order into said natural temporal order, comprising:a chunk sorter for storing said digital data chunks in a data buffer and thereafter sequentially transferring, in said natural temporal order and at a chunk transfer rate compatible with a playout rate, said digital data chunks to a playout destination according to said natural temporal order, wherein said chunk sorter further includes: (i) a packet unassembly buffer for receiving a plurality of packets of said digital data chunks; (ii) a jitter buffer having a plurality of storage slots for storing said data chunks, wherein said chunk sorter zero-fills said storage slots so as to accommodate data chunks having a data width less than a width of said storage slots; and, (iii) a digital signal processor for receiving said data chunks from said jitter buffer and sequentially playing out said data chunks in said natural temporal order at said playout rate; and a chunk sequence analyzer for measuring an average time that said digital data chunks remain in said data buffer prior to playout, and for adjusting said playout rate so as to balance (a) an increase in said average time, with (b) an amount of data chunks lost due to arriving late and missing a playout deadline.