Patent ID: 7523482
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A system for smoothing channel changing in a digital video environment, the system comprising: a decoder that receives a digital video stream, the decoder decoding the digital video stream into a plurality of intra macroblocks, and amalgamating the plurality of intra macroblocks to produce a series of uncompressed images over time; an image holding buffer that accepts uncompressed images of the series of uncompressed images; an encoder that is capable of receiving at least one uncompressed image from the image holding buffer, the encoder adapted to encode the at least one uncompressed image into an intra frame; and a channel change message handler that is capable of communicating with the encoder, the channel change message handler adapted to activate the encoder to encode the at least one uncompressed image into the intra frame responsive to receipt of a channel change message from a client device to avoid a waterfall effect.