Patent ID: 8218651
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for splicing a first data stream that conveys a first single program transport stream (SPTS) and a second data stream that conveys a second SPTS, the method comprises: receiving first data stream metadata units representative of first data stream packets, second data stream metadata units representative of second data stream packets and a request to perform a splicing operation at a n′th splicing point; performing, in response to the splicing request, transport stream layer processing of the first data stream metadata units and of the second data stream metadata units to provide a control output stream; and transmitting an output stream in response to the control output stream: wherein the performing of the transport stream layer processing comprises: sorting first data stream metadata units and second data stream metadata units in response to timing information associated with the first and second data stream metadata units and in response to a n′th video out time, a n′th video in time, a n′th audio in time and a n′th audio out time; selectively generating output stream metadata units representative of entitled control messages to be inserted between a splicing event from the first SPTS to another splicing event to the first SPTS, wherein the first SPTS is encrypted; and performing the transport stream layer processing of the first and second data stream metadata units after retrieving the first and second data stream metadata units from a first and second data streams metadata memory unit that differs from an output queue that stores first and second data stream data packets.