Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for maximizing utilization of a dynamically varying channel are provided. A transmitter comprising a video source encoder encodes and transmits data over one or more digital data channels. A forward error correction coder is associated with the video source encoder for error correction coding of one or more blocks of the data. The forward error correction coder receives the data from the video source encoder at an encoding data rate. The blocks of error correction coded data are transmitted at a predetermined transmitting rate over the one or more digital data channels to a receiving module. The encoding data rate of the data provided by the video source encoder to the forward error correction coder is modified to fully utilize available channel bandwidth of the one or more digital data channels while maintaining the predetermined transmitting rate of the error correction coded data.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation of commonly owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/790,231 filed on Mar. 8, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/609,520 filed on Mar. 12, 2012, both of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of digital data transmission. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for maximum utilization of a dynamic varying digital data channel. 
         [0003]    One of the challenges of sending data through a dynamically varying digital data channel is how to send a correct amount of data which matches the actual bandwidth of the digital data channel. If the transmitter is sending too much data, data will be dropped during the transmission. If the transmitter is not sending enough data, the channel bandwidth is not fully utilized. There are a number of different protocols currently used to address this issue. TCP is one such commonly used protocol. However, the TCP protocol does not follow the available channel bandwidth very well. In particular, the TCP protocol also under utilizes the channel bandwidth, especially if the latency between the transmitter and receiver is long. 
         [0004]    Error correction coding techniques are used to recover data lost during transmission and are based on the principal of encoding and transmitting redundant sets of data such that the receiver can correct errors without the need for retransmission of data. One example of such an error correction technique is forward error correction (FEC). Such error correction techniques require additional bandwidth for the redundant data. Typically, error correction parameters are set to accommodate acceptable loss rates to provide a tradeoff between data quality and bandwidth. For example, with FEC coding, a fixed coding rate is used to provide a target quality for the receiver based on an expected packet loss rate. 
         [0005]    The challenges of maximizing bandwidth usage and dealing with data loss are greater when transmitting real-time data over a dynamic varying channel. 
         [0006]    It would be advantageous to provide methods and apparatus for maximizing utilization of a dynamic varying digital data channel for sending real-time data, as well as for sending stored data. 
         [0007]    The methods and apparatus of the present invention provide the foregoing and other advantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for maximum utilization of a dynamic varying digital channel. 
         [0009]    In one example embodiment of an apparatus for maximizing utilization of a dynamically varying channel in accordance with the present invention, a transmitter is provided for encoding and transmitting data over one or more digital data channels. A forward error correction coder is associated with the transmitter for error correction coding of one or more blocks of the data. The one or more blocks of error correction coded data are transmitted at a predetermined transmitting rate over the one or more digital data channels to a receiving module. 
         [0010]    A rate control module is provided for controlling a data rate of the transmitter and the sending of the error correction coded data of the forward error correction coder based on feedback from the receiving module. The feedback may comprise at least one of a receiving data rate of received data and an error correction decoding status. 
         [0011]    The receiving module may provide a receiving status and error correction decoding status of each block of data to the rate control module. 
         [0012]    Based on the feedback, the rate control module will either modify a block transmitting rate of each of the error correction coded blocks of data or notify the forward error correction coder to stop sending any additional error correction coded data for that error correction coded block and begin sending data for a next error correction coded block. 
         [0013]    Based on one of a prior or current receiving data rate of the error correction coded data, the transmitter may modify the data rate. 
         [0014]    Aggregated error correction coded data of the one or more blocks of data may be sent at the predetermined transmitting rate for each digital data channel, irregardless of an actual bandwidth of the corresponding digital data channel. 
         [0015]    Alternatively, aggregated error correction coded data of the one or more blocks of data may be sent at the predetermined transmitting rate for an aggregation of the one or more digital data channels, irregardless of an actual aggregated bandwidth of the digital data channels. 
         [0016]    The data may comprise one of real-time data or stored data. 
         [0017]    At least one of the one or more digital data channels may be a two-way communication channel. 
         [0018]    The transmitter may comprise a variable rate encoder. The forward error correction coder may comprise an FEC encoder using rateless erasure codes. An FEC decoder and a variable rate decoder may be associated with the receiving module. 
         [0019]    The present invention also encompasses methods for maximizing utilization of a dynamically varying channel. In accordance with one example embodiment, the method may comprise encoding and transmitting data over one or more digital data channels, error correction coding of one or more blocks of the data, and transmitting the one or more blocks of error correction coded data at a predetermined transmitting rate over the one or more digital data channels to a receiving module. 
         [0020]    The method embodiments of the present invention may also include various features of the apparatus embodiments discussed above. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawing FIGURE: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an example embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The ensuing detailed description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention. Rather, the ensuing detailed description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an embodiment of the invention. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0024]    The methods and apparatus of the present invention use a class of forward error correction methods, rateless erasure codes, and rate control to achieve the maximum utilization of a dynamic varying digital data channel. As rateless erasure codes are used, there is no need to adjust the error correction coding rate or any of the other error correction parameters. As a simplified example, with rateless erasure codes, 1 MB of data may be encoded into 10 MB of error corrected data and transmitted to a receiver at a 50% loss rate, and as long as any random 1 MB of data is recovered at the receiver, the original stream or data can be recovered. 
         [0025]    The present invention efficiently uses a digital data channel for communication of data (either real-time data or stored data) by adapting the encoding rate for the data based on feedback from the receiver as to the number of packets received. Therefore, the encoding rate (also referred to herein as the “data rate” of the transmitter) is adjusted to that which the channel or network can support and ensures that the packets arrive on time. The invention is especially applicable to real-time data. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an example embodiment of the invention. A transmitter  10  is provided for encoding and transmitting data over one or more digital data channels  14 . The transmitter  10  generates one or more blocks of data from a video input signal  8  and provides them to an associated forward error correction coder (FEC encoder)  12  at a particular data rate. The forward error correction coder performs error correction coding on the one or more blocks of data. The one or more blocks of error correction coded data are transmitted at a predetermined transmitting rate over the one or more digital data channels to a receiving module  16 . 
         [0027]    For each data block, the FEC encoder  12  will continuously generate redundant error correction symbols, which are transmitted over the one or more digital data channels  14  to the receiving module  16  at the predetermined transmitting rate, regardless of what the actual data rate is. 
         [0028]    A rate control module  20  is provided for controlling a data rate of the transmitter  10  and the sending of the error correction coded data of the forward error correction coder  12  based on feedback from the receiving module  16 . The feedback may comprise at least one of a receiving data rate of received data and an error correction decoding status. 
         [0029]    The receiving module  16  and/or an associated forward error correction decoder (FEC Decoder)  18  may provide a receiving status and error correction decoding status of each block of data to the rate control module  20 . 
         [0030]    Based on the feedback, the rate control module  20  may modify a block transmitting rate of each of the error correction coded blocks of data. In particular, based on the feedback, the forward error correction coder  12  may be instructed by the rate control module  20  to modify the block transmitting rate of the error correction coded data transmitted for each block of data that is received from the transmitter  10 . Thus, although the overall transmitting rate at which the one or more blocks of error correction coded data is sent over the one or more digital data channels  14  remains constant, an individual block transmitting rate for each block of the error correction coded data may be increased or decreased. Due to delay incurred in receiving the feedback, the rate control module  20  will predict whether sufficient data is being sent to the receiver  16  for a particular error correction coded block of data. For example, when the rate control module  20  predicts that sufficient data will be received for an error correction coded block of data, it will instruct the forward error correction coder  12  to reduce the block transmitting rate for that particular error correction coded block of data. Therefore, less unnecessary forward error correction coded data is sent for that particular error correction coded block of data. Conversely, when the rate control module  20  predicts that insufficient data will be received for an error correction coded block of data, it will instruct the forward error correction coder  12  to increase the block transmitting rate for that particular error correction coded block of data. In this instance, additional forward error correction coded data will be sent for that particular error correction coded block of data. 
         [0031]    In addition, based on the feedback, the rate control module may notify the forward error correction coder  12  to stop sending any additional error correction coded data for that error correction coded block and begin sending data for a next error correction coded block. 
         [0032]    Based on one of a prior or current receiving data rate of the error correction coded data, the transmitter  10  may modify the data rate. 
         [0033]    Aggregated error correction coded data of the one or more blocks of data may be sent at the predetermined transmitting rate for each digital data channel  14 , irregardless of an actual bandwidth of the corresponding digital data channel  14 . 
         [0034]    Alternatively, aggregated error correction coded data of the one or more blocks of data may be sent at the predetermined transmitting rate for an aggregation of the one or more digital data channels  14 , irregardless of an actual aggregated bandwidth of the digital data channels  14 . 
         [0035]    The video input signal  8  data may comprise one of real-time data or stored data. 
         [0036]    At least one of the one or more digital data channels  14  may be a two-way communication channel. The receiving module  16  will send the feedback information to the rate control module  20  through one or more of such two-way communication channels. 
         [0037]    The transmitter  10  may comprise a variable rate encoder. The forward error correction coder  12  may comprise an FEC encoder using rateless erasure codes. The receiving module  16  may provide the received forward error correction coded data to an associated FEC decoder  18 . A decoded compressed signal may be provided from the FEC Decoder  18  to a decoder  22  (which may be, for example, a variable rate decoder), which produces a decoded output video signal  24  for display (e.g., at a television, computer, tablet computer, mobile phone, or other display device). 
         [0038]    Although  FIG. 1  shows the transmitter  10  and forward error correction coder  12  as separate modules, it should be appreciated that the transmitter  10  and forward error correction coder  12  can be combined into an integrated unit. Similarly, although the receiving module  16 , the forward error correction decoder  18 , and the decoder  22  are shown as separate modules in  FIG. 1 , it should be appreciated that these modules can also be combined into an integrated unit. In addition, the rate control module  20  is shown as a distinct module in  FIG. 1  for ease of explanation, and those skilled in the art should appreciate that various elements of the rate control module  20  can be implemented at either the transmitting end or the receiving end. 
         [0039]    As used herein and in connection with  FIG. 1 , the term “data rate” denotes the rate at which the transmitter  10  sends encoded data to the forward error correction coder  12 , the term “transmitting rate” denotes the rate at which the forward error correction coder  12  sends aggregated forward error correction coded data blocks over the digital data channels  14 , the term “block transmitting rate” denotes the rate at which an individual block of forward error correction coded data is transmitted, and the term “receiving data rate” is the rate at which the error correction coded data blocks are received at receiving module  16 . 
         [0040]    In an example embodiment of the present invention, symbols/data blocks will be transmitted over each digital channel at a predetermined transmitting rate which is equal to or greater than the projected channel capacity of the corresponding digital channel  14 . The FEC encoder  12  will not stop generating redundant error correction symbols for all the blocks which are currently transmitting until the rate control module  20  instructs it to do so. On the receiving side, the receiver  16  will count the number of symbols for every error correction coded block which it receives. When the receiver  16  has received sufficient symbols for a error correction coded block for the decoder  22  to correctly decode the original data of the receiving block, the receiver  16  will send a decode success status indicator to transmitter rate control module  20 . The rate control module  20  will then instruct the FEC encoder  12  to stop generating redundant error correction symbols for that block and to stop sending any more symbols for that block. The FEC encoder  12  will then start to generate redundant error correction symbols for a new block and then start to send error correction coded symbols for the new block. 
         [0041]    According to the receiving data rate at which the receiver  16  receives data from the digital data channels  14 , the transmitter rate control module  20  will adjust the transmitter  10  to encode the video input signal  8  at a corresponding data rate, in order to match the data rate from the transmitter  10  with the aggregated bandwidth of one or more digital data channels  14 . For example, the transmitter  10 , which may comprise a variable rate encoder, may be instructed by the rate control module  20  to encode the data at a certain data rate based on the receiving data rate such that the channel bandwidth of the one or more digital data channels  14  is fully utilized. For example, if the receiving data rate is high, more bandwidth is available and the rate control module  20  will instruct the transmitter  10  to increase the data rate, resulting in an increased amount of data being provided to the forward error correction coder  12 , which will send the error correction coded block over the digital data channel  14  at the predetermined transmitting rate. Conversely, if the receiving data rate is low, the data rate may exceed the channel bandwidth, and the rate control module  20  may instruct the transmitter  10  to decrease the data rate, resulting in a corresponding decrease in the amount of data being provided to the forward error correction coder  12 , which sends the error correction coded block over the digital data channel  14  at the predetermined transmitting rate. 
         [0042]    It should now be appreciated that the present invention provides advantageous methods and apparatus for maximum utilization of a dynamic varying digital channel during transmission of stored or real-time data. 
         [0043]    Although the invention has been described in connection with various illustrated embodiments, numerous modifications and adaptations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.