Patent ID: 7526001

Claim:
A statistical multiplexer for multiplexing at least two bit streams each comprising video signals into a single multiplexed encoded bit stream, comprising: a plurality of primary encoders each receiving one of the bit streams and generating an encoded bit stream; at least one backup encoder that is activated and on-line in the event of a failure of one of the plurality of primary encoders, said backup encoder receiving the bit stream that would otherwise be directed to the failed primary encoder; at least two multiplexers such that at any given time one of the multiplexers is in an active state and the other is in a backup state, said multiplexer in the active state receiving each of the encoded bit streams from the encoders and generating a multiplexed encoded bit stream, said multiplexer in the backup state transitioning to the active state and receiving each of the encoded bit streams from the encoders in the event of a failure in the other multiplexer; a rate processor for adjusting a distribution of bit rate allocation among the plurality of primary encoders; a communications channel operatively associated with the encoders, the multiplexers and the rate processor, said communication channel supporting messages among and between the encoders, the multiplexers and the rate processor; and wherein the encoders, the multiplexers, and the rate processor employ a dynamic identity allocation arrangement for identifying a source of the messages such that messages originating from the encoders indicate whether the source is a primary or backup encoder and messages originating from the multiplexers include a character selected from among a predetermined sequence of characters that is incremented to the next character in the sequence each time one of the multiplexers transitions between an active and a backup state.