Paul F Haskell

US Patent:

6490298, Dec 3, 2002

Filed:

Feb 26, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/258508

Inventors:

Amanda L. Chin - Fremont CA
Paul E. Haskell - Saratoga CA
William L. Helms - Rollinsville CO

Assignee:

Harmonic Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

H04J 304

US Classification:

370532, 370537, 3703954, 370232, 370235

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods for multiplexing data received from a plurality of sources to a communication channel. Each of the sources is assigned to one of at least two scheduling layers based in part upon one or more bit rate characteristics of the sources.

US Patent:

7016407, Mar 21, 2006

Filed:

Apr 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/837496

Inventors:

James E. Kaye - Pleasanton CA, US
Paul E. Haskell - Saratoga CA, US
Arthur C. Manansala - Tracy CA, US

Assignee:

General Instrument Corporation - Horsham PA

International Classification:

H04N 7/12

US Classification:

37524001, 375240, 37524002, 37524012

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for bit rate allocation, or statistical multiplexing, in a multi-channel video data encoder. A pre-processor in each channel determines a bit rate need prior to compression and encoding. A control processes the bit rate need in each channel to arrive at an allocated bit rate for each channel. The video data is then compressed and encoded according to the allocated bit rate. The bit rate demand accounts for various characteristics of the current picture data in each channel, including spatial activity, temporal activity, image size, frame rate, scene change, brightness, flash, fade, and horizontal pixel resolution. The system also biases the bit rate allocation according to inter-frame distance, whether the average spatial activity level is below a lower threshold, whether the inter-frame distance is above an upper threshold or below a lower threshold, whether the quantization of previous frames is above an upper threshold, the length of the Group of Pictures (GOP), and a user-selectable priority factor. The system also allocates any surplus bit rate among the channels to avoid having unused bandwidth.

US Patent:

20060062293, Mar 23, 2006

Filed:

Nov 10, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/271181

Inventors:

James Kaye - Pleasanton CA, US
Paul Haskell - Saratoga CA, US
Arthur Manansala - Tracy CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 11/04
H04N 11/02
H04B 1/66
H04N 7/12

US Classification:

375240030, 375240010

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for bit rate allocation, or statistical multiplexing, in a multi-channel video data encoder. A pre-processor in each channel determines a bit rate need prior to compression and encoding. A control processes the bit rate need in each channel to arrive at an allocated bit rate for each channel. The video data is then compressed and encoded according to the allocated bit rate. The bit rate demand accounts for various characteristics of the current picture data in each channel, including spatial activity, temporal activity, image size, frame rate, scene change, brightness, flash, fade, and horizontal pixel resolution. The system also biases the bit rate allocation according to inter-frame distance, whether the average spatial activity level is below a lower threshold, whether the inter-frame distance is above an upper threshold or below a lower threshold, whether the quantization of previous frames is above an upper threshold, the length of the Group of Pictures (GOP), and a user-selectable priority factor. The system also allocates any surplus bit rate among the channels to avoid having unused bandwidth.

US Patent:

62597337, Jul 10, 2001

Filed:

Jun 16, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/097645

Inventors:

James E. Kaye - Pleasanton CA
Paul E. Haskell - Saratoga CA
Arthur C. Manansala - Tracy CA

Assignee:

General Instrument Corporation - Horsham PA

International Classification:

H04N 712

US Classification:

375240

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for bit rate allocation, or statistical multiplexing, in a multi-channel video data encoder. A pre-processor in each channel determines a bit rate need prior to compression and encoding. A control processes the bit rate need in each channel to arrive at an allocated bit rate for each channel. The video data is then compressed and encoded according to the allocated bit rate. The bit rate demand accounts for various characteristics of the current picture data in each channel, including spatial activity, temporal activity, image size, frame rate, scene change, brightness, flash, fade, and horizontal pixel resolution. The system also biases the bit rate allocation according to inter-frame distance, whether the average spatial activity level is below a lower threshold, whether the inter-frame distance is above an upper threshold or below a lower threshold, whether the quantization of previous frames is above an upper threshold, the length of the Group of Pictures (GOP), and a user-selectable priority factor. The system also allocates any surplus bit rate among the channels to avoid having unused bandwidth.