Abstract:
A method of distributing video program material, includes receiving a first multi-program transport stream (MPTS) containing multiple video services and distribution constraint data specifying at least one of the video services, and creating a second transport stream that contains at least the specified video service and complies with at least one constraint specified in the distribution constraint.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a method and apparatus for constrained distribution of television program material. 
         [0002]    Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a television program provider, such as a company that operates a broadcast network, may operate a production facility  6  at which it produces a program signal AV having a baseband video component representing a sequence of pictures and at least one corresponding baseband audio component. In order to distribute the program signal to a wide audience of viewers, the program provider, a satellite uplink operator and a cable network operator enter into commercial arrangements whereby the program provider provides program content to the uplink operator, which delivers the content to the cable operator, which in turn delivers the content to viewers having decoding and presentation equipment connected to a cable distribution network  10 . 
         [0003]    The commercial arrangements between the uplink operator and the cable operator may provide that the uplink operator will supply certain services (corresponding to what are commonly referred to as channels, such as NBC or FOX, in the broadcast television domain) to the cable operator. The uplink operator has an interest in ensuring that the program material delivered by the cable operator to viewers meets quality standards prescribed by the program provider. 
         [0004]    The uplink operator receives the baseband program signal AV provided by the program provider (for example on tape or by accessing a server) and supplies the program signal to an encoder/multiplexer  12 , which encodes the pictures using a video coding algorithm and thereby creates a bitstream that represents a corresponding sequence of coded pictures (also known as video access units). For the purpose of this description we shall assume that the video coding algorithm produces a bitstream that conforms to the video coding standard known as MPEG 4. The encoder/multiplexer also encodes the corresponding audio signal(s) and creates a bitstream representing a sequence of coded audio frames (also known as audio access units). The encoder/multiplexer  12  packetizes the bitstreams as video and audio packetized elementary streams (PESs), encrypts the video and audio PESs, and combines the encrypted video and audio PESs with video and audio PESs for other services offered by the program provider to form an MPEG multi-program transport stream (MPTS). A transmitter  14  employs the MPTS bitstream to modulate an RF carrier and transmits the modulated carrier via a satellite transponder (not shown) to a cable distribution system headend  20 . Current transponder channels have sufficient capacity (up to 77 Mb/s) to transmit an MPTS containing ten or more high definition (HD) MPEG 4 services, each corresponding to a single broadcast television channel. The uplink operator may also operate other encoder/multiplexers and transmitters for creating and transmitting other MPTSs containing other program signals via respective transponder channels. 
         [0005]    The headend  20  includes several receivers  24  that are tuned to the transmission frequencies of the transponders respectively and recover the MPTS bitstreams from the respective RF carriers, extract the encrypted MPEG 4 bitstreams from the MPTSs, and decrypt the MPEG 4 bitstreams. 
         [0006]    MPEG 4 provides substantially better compression of video material than the video coding standard known as MPEG  2 , but there is a large installed base of MPEG 2 set top decoders. Accordingly, although the uplink operator typically transmits video material in the form of MPEG 4 data, as discussed above, the cable distribution system operator is constrained by the needs of the installed base to supply the video material to the subscribers in the form of MPEG 2 data. Therefore, the headend  20  also includes transcoders  26  that transcode the MPEG 4 bitstreams to MPEG 2, and a multiplexer  30  that creates one or more MPTSs each containing several MPEG 2 services. Transmitters  34  utilize respective cable channels to transmit the MPEG 2 MPTSs to subscriber nodes over the cable network  10 . 
         [0007]    The decoding and presentation equipment at a subscriber node may include a set top decoder  38  and a television set  40 . The set top decoder includes suitable devices for selecting a service based on a channel selection command provided by the subscriber, typically using a remote control unit, decomposing the cable channel MPTS that contains the selected service, and decoding the audio and video bitstreams for the selected service to create suitable audio and video signals for driving the television set  40 . 
         [0008]    Each cable distribution channel may be limited to a 38.8 Mb/s data rate. Different types of programming require different data rates to provide satisfactory viewing experiences. For example, an HD sports service generally requires a considerably higher bit rate (perhaps 17 Mb/s) than an HD movie service (15 Mb/s), which in turn requires a considerably higher bit rate than an SD sports service (3 Mb/s). In order to optimize utilization of the capacity of the cable channel, the MPEG 2 services may be statistically multiplexed. Statistical multiplexing is commonly used to compose an MPTS having a maximum bit rate that is less than the sum of the peak bit rates of the individual program streams. Currently, the manner in which the statistical multiplexing process allocates bit rate to the MPEG 2 services is under control of the cable operator, and the manner in which the cable operator exercises this control might not always be in accordance with the wishes of the uplink operator or program provider. For example, a program provider might provide three services with the intention that one of these services should be presented with a higher quality even at the expense of one of the other services, and the cable operator might not always allocate bit rate in a manner that is consistent with this goal. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In accordance with a first aspect of the disclosed subject matter there is provided a method of distributing video program material, including receiving a first multi-program transport stream (MPTS) containing multiple video services and distribution constraint data specifying at least one of said video services, and creating a second transport stream containing at least said one video service, wherein the second transport stream complies with at least one constraint specified in the distribution constraint data. 
         [0010]    In accordance with a second aspect of the disclosed subject matter there is provided apparatus for distributing encoded video services, comprising an input section for receiving n video services, where n is an integer, encoded in accordance with a first compression standard and for receiving distribution constraint data for m of the video services, where m is an integer greater than 1 and not greater than n, in-band with the video services, a transcode section for transcoding the m video services from the first compression standard to a second compression standard, and an output section for creating and outputting the m transcoded video services as a multi-program transport stream (MPTS) that complies with at least one constraint specified in the distribution constraint data. 
         [0011]    In accordance with a third aspect of the disclosed subject matter there is provided a computer readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a computing machine receiving a first multiprogram transport stream (MPTS) containing multiple video services and distribution constraint data specifying at least one of said video services, cause the computing machine to create a second transport stream containing at least said one video service, wherein the second transport stream complies with at least one constraint specified in the distribution constraint data. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a system for distributing television program material to viewers, 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a system including headend equipment embodying the invention for distributing television program material to viewers, 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating operation of the headend equipment of the system shown in  FIG. 2 , 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a first modification of the headend equipment shown in  FIG. 2 , 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a second modification of the headend equipment shown in  FIG. 2 , and 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a block schematic diagram of a computing machine that may be used to implement parts of the headend equipment shown in  FIG. 2 ,  4  or  5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    An uplink operator negotiates with a cable operator to provide television program services desired by the cable operator and determines how many cable MPTSs (each containing three HD MPEG 2 services) will be required to supply these services to the subscribers and which services should be provided in a given cable MPTS in order to optimize use of the cable channel without impairing the quality of services. The uplink operator&#39;s determination will be based in part on the service packages offered by the cable operator and on the bit rate requirement of the different services. For example, it would not generally be desirable to allocate more than one HD sports service to a given cable MPTS because of the high bit rate required for a satisfactory viewing experience. Let us assume that the uplink operator and the cable operator determine that m cable MPTSs will be needed. 
         [0020]    The commercial arrangements between the uplink operator and the cable operator require that for each cable MPTS the cable operator utilize an integrated receiver/decrypter (IRD) having specific features and that the cable MPTS produced by the IRD should contain services specified by the uplink operator. In practice, of course, the cable operator will utilize m IRDs, producing respective cable MPTSs, to provide the services offered by the cable operator to its subscribers. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the uplink operator supplies several baseband signals AV 1 -AVn provided by a television program provider to an encoder/encrypter/multiplexer  112  (referred to hereinafter simply as the multiplexer  112 ). The signals AV 1 -AVn may be in the HD-SDI format specified in SMPTE  292 M, with the audio component embedded in the ancillary data space. The uplink operator also supplies m distribution constraint signals (one for each cable MPTS) that convey distribution constraint data DC 1 -DCm to the multiplexer  112 . The nature of the distribution constraint data embodied in the distribution constraint signals will be discussed in more detail below, but it is sufficient at this point to say that the multiplexer  112  generates m MPTSs where MPTSj (j=1 . . . m) contains as many as ten HD MPEG 4 services and a packetized data elementary stream containing the distribution constraint data DCj. Since the distribution constraint data is included in the same MPTS as the services, it is in-band with the services. 
         [0022]    Transmitters  114 j employ the MPEG 4 MPTS bitstreams to modulate respective RF carriers and transmit the modulated carriers via respective satellite transponders to the cable distribution system headend  120 . The headend  120  includes m IRDs, only one of which is shown in  FIG. 2 . The IRD is partially under control of the uplink operator by means of the distribution constraint data. 
         [0023]    Referring to both  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  of the drawings, the IRD includes a receiver  100  that is tuned to one of the m satellite transponder channels and thus receives a carrier that is modulated with a multi-program transport stream containing, for example, ten encrypted MPEG 4 services. Assume that the IRD is tuned to the transponder channel that conveys MPTS 1  and that MPTS 1  contains services AV 1 -AV 10 . The receiver demodulates the carrier and outputs the MPTS bitstream, which contains not only the ten encrypted MPEG 4 services AV 1 -AV 10  but also the packetized data stream that contains the distribution constraint data DC 1 , to a demultiplexer  104 . The demultiplexer  104  receives ( FIG. 3 , step  131 ) the MPTS and extracts the packetized data stream (step  132 ), which conveys the distribution constraint data, from the MPTS and supplies the data stream to an IRD controller  108 . 
         [0024]    The IRD has a unique access control address (similar in function to the MAC address assigned to a network adapter). The distribution constraint data is in the form of vectors each having an access address field, a service selection field and a statmux field. The uplink operator generates the distribution constraint data based on the commercial arrangements with the cable operators. For example, for each IRD that is designated to transmit a cable MPTS containing one or more of the services contained in MPTSj, the distribution constraint data conveyed by the data stream included in MPTSj contains a vector that includes the access control address of the designated IRD, service selection data identifying the services that are to be included in the cable MPTS produced by the IRD, and statmux data (discussed below) for each of those services. The service selection data that is recovered from the MPEG 4 MPTS specifies the three services that are to be included in the MPEG 2 MPTS. 
         [0025]    Suppose, for example, that k IRDs are designated to transmit a cable MPTS containing one or more of the services contained in MPTSj and the particular IRD shown in  FIG. 2  is designated to produce a cable MPTS containing the services AV 1 , AV 2  and AV 3 . 
         [0026]    The IRD controller  108  compares the address field of the vector i (i=1−k) with the access control address of the particular IRD ( 133 ) and selects the particular vector whose address field matches. The IRD controller supplies the service selection data contained in the selected vector to the demultiplexer  104  (step  134 ), which employs this information to select (in this case) the PESs for the services AV 1 , AV 2  and AV 3 . The IRD controller also outputs the statmux data contained in the selected vector. If the access control address of the IRD does not match the address field of any of the distribution constraint data vectors, the IRD is not enabled to utilize the audio and video PESs in MPTS 1  to create a cable MPTS. 
         [0027]    The demultiplexer supplies the encrypted audio and video PESs for the three selected services AV 1 , AV 2  and AV 3  to respective decrypters, which decrypt the selected services (step  135 ) and supply the respective decrypted MPEG 4 audio and video PESs to respective transcoders  116 . The transcoders convert the MPEG 4 PESs to corresponding MPEG 2 PESs (step  136 ). The transcoder may decode the MPEG 4 video access units and create a sequence of decoded pictures and then encode the pictures using an MPEG 2 coder. The transcoding may alternatively be accomplished without completely decoding the MPEG 4 video access units. However, because the frequency decomposition algorithms for MPEG 4 and MPEG 2 are different, it will generally be necessary to decode the MPEG 4 video access units at least to the level of blocks of chroma and luma values. 
         [0028]    The transcoders  116  supply the audio and video PESs of the three MPEG 2 services to a statistical multiplexer  120  for creating a multi-program transport stream. The three program streams are statistically multiplexed (step  137 ) in order to fit in the available 38.8 Mb/s bit rate of a cable channel, but bit rate allocation decisions are made on the basis of the statmux data provided by the IRD controller  108 . The statmux data may, for example, specify minimum bit rate and maximum bit rate for each service. By including the statmux data in the transponder MPTS, the uplink operator is able to ensure that the MPEG 2 services meet the quality standards set by the uplink operator or program service provider. 
         [0029]    The MPTS created by the statistical multiplexer  120  is supplied to a transmitter  124 , which modulates an RF carrier with the MPTS bit stream in accordance with a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) scheme and transmits (step  138 ) the modulated carrier over the cable network  110  to subscriber nodes. 
         [0030]    Another cable operator may be authorized to distribute a cable MPTS containing services AV 1 , AV 2  and AV 4 . This cable operator employs headend equipment including an IRD (not shown) having a receiver that is tuned to the transponder that conveys MPTS 1  and the vector that includes the access control address of that IRD includes service selection data that specifies the services AV 1 , AV 2  and AV 4  and statmux data for those three services. 
         [0031]    The IRD shown in  FIG. 2  is a simplified embodiment of the subject matter disclosed in this application. A more preferred embodiment of the subject matter is shown in  FIG. 4 . The IRD shown in  FIG. 4  has dual receivers  100 A,  100 B tuned to different transponder channels. For example, the receiver  100 A might receive the carrier that is modulated with the bit stream of MPTS 1 , as in the case of  FIG. 2 , whereas the receiver  100 B might receive the carrier that is modulated with the bit stream of MPTS 3 , containing services AV 21 -AV 30  (and DC 3 ). In this case, the arrangements between the uplink operator and the cable operator may provide that the IRD should provide a cable MPTS that contains, for example, AV 1 , AV 2  and AV 21 . 
         [0032]    The two receivers  100 A,  100 B demodulate the respective carriers and output the MPTS bit streams to respective demultiplexers  104 A,  104 B, which supply the packetized data streams containing distribution constraint data DC 1  and DC 3  to the IRD controller  108 . The IRD controller supplies the service selection data for the two transponder MPTSs to the demultiplexers  104 A and  104 B respectively, and supplies the statmux data for the selected services to the statistical multiplexer  120 . Three outputs of each demultiplexer  104 A,  104 B are connected to a routing switch  144  which, responsive to the IRD controller, selects the appropriate combination of outputs and routes the selected outputs to respective decrypter/transcoders  148 . As described with reference to  FIG. 2 , each decrypter/transcoder  148  decrypts the MPEG 4 audio and video PESs and converts the MPEG 4 PESs to corresponding MPEG 2 PESs. As also described with reference to  FIG. 2 , the three MPEG 2 bit streams are supplied to the statistical multiplexer  120  for creating a cable MPTS, which is transmitted over the cable network  110 . 
         [0033]    Currently, some uplink operators provide both HD services and SD services to cable operators in order to enable the cable operators to accommodate customers who do not subscribe to HD service. However, in case the uplink operator should discontinue providing SD services, the transcoder  116  may convert the incoming HD service to SD service in order to accommodate customers who do not subscribe to the HD level of service. Thus, referring to  FIG. 5 , the transcoder may not only convert the HD MPEG 4 video access units to pictures and encode the pictures as HD MPEG 2 pictures but also downconvert ( 150 ) the decoded HD pictures to SD and encode ( 152 ) the SD pictures as SD MPEG 2 pictures and thus provide an SD MPEG 2 service in addition to the HD MPEG 2 service. The SD MPEG 2 bit streams are supplied to a statistical multiplexer  154  that creates a cable MPTS for transmission over the cable  110 . It will be appreciated that the SD cable MPTS may contain more than three services. 
         [0034]    The distribution constraint data provided to the IRD that includes the transcoder shown in  FIG. 5  includes the service selection data for the demultiplexer and statmux data for controlling the statistical multiplexers  120  and  134  and, in addition, may contain picture format data utilized by the downconverter  130  to determine how the 16×9 aspect ratio of the HD picture format should be adapted to the 4×3 aspect ratio of the SD picture format. 
         [0035]    Although  FIG. 5  illustrates two statistical multiplexers  120  and  154  creating an HD MPTS and an SD MPTS respectively, it will be appreciated that SD services and HD services may be included in the same MPTS. For example, instead of providing one MPTS containing HD services and another MPTS containing SD services, it may be preferable to provide two HD services and the corresponding SD services in the same MPTS. 
         [0036]    Although the description with reference to  FIGS. 2-5  indicates that each transponder MPTS conveys only the distribution constraint data for the IRDs that are authorized to receive that particular transponder MPTS, the distribution constraint data is relatively static and accordingly it may be possible for each transponder MPTS to contain the distribution constraint data pertaining to all of the services. In addition, although the disclosed subject matter has been described with reference to distribution of television program material, it will be appreciated that the disclosed subject matter is also applicable to distribution of other video material, such as motion pictures by video-on-demand service. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , suitable headend equipment may be implemented using a computer  160  comprising one or more processors  161 , random access memory  162 , read only memory  163 , I/O devices  164 , a user interface  165 , a CD ROM drive  166  and a hard disk drive  167 , configured in a generally conventional architecture. The computer operates in accordance with a program that is stored in a computer readable medium, such as the hard disk drive  167  or a CD ROM  168 , and is loaded into the random access memory  162  for execution. The program is composed of instructions such that when the computer receives a bit stream representing an MPTS including a packetized data elementary stream, as described above, by way of a suitable interface included in the I/O devices  164 , the computer allocates memory to appropriate buffers and utilizes other suitable resources and functions to perform the various operations that are described above as being performed by the headend equipment, with reference to the flow chart shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0038]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the program might not be loadable directly from the CD ROM  168  into the random access memory utilizing the CD ROM drive  166  and that generally the program will be stored on the CD ROM or other program distribution medium in a form that requires the program to be installed on the hard disk drive  167  from the CD ROM  168 . 
         [0039]    It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment that has been described, and that variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, as interpreted in accordance with principles of prevailing law, including the doctrine of equivalents or any other principle that enlarges the enforceable scope of a claim beyond its literal scope. Unless the context indicates otherwise, a reference in a claim to the number of instances of an element, be it a reference to one instance or more than one instance, requires at least the stated number of instances of the element but is not intended to exclude from the scope of the claim a structure or method having more instances of that element than stated. The word “comprise” or a derivative thereof, when used in a claim, is used in a nonexclusive sense that is not intended to exclude the presence of other elements or steps in a claimed structure or method.