Robert J Plummer

US Patent:

6473137, Oct 29, 2002

Filed:

Jun 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/606381

Inventors:

John P. Godwin - Los Angeles CA
Robert H. Plummer - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N 544

US Classification:

348725, 348731, 348732, 725131

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for perceptibly masking acquisition time in a digital broadcast system transmitting programs on multiple channels is incorporated in a receiver for the information signal transmission system. The apparatus and the method generate a reduced time response, independent of the acquisition time for complete video images, and provide an output for portraying a masking display from the receiver before the acquisition time has expired. A generator and the output display are easily employed with known video transmission systems by suing a microcontroller switch to select channels and retrieve audio or visual cues in response to an output response less than that necessary for communicating the entire program image.

US Patent:

7313520, Dec 25, 2007

Filed:

May 15, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/434537

Inventors:

Robert H. Plummer - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

G10L 19/14

US Classification:

704229, 7042001

Abstract:

An adaptive variable bit rate audio encoder and method that examines audio level information and detects various information in the audio data in a psychoacoustic model to create a quantization value and assign a mode tag to a single frame of audio. A bit rate is assigned according to one of three modes, a self-adaptive mode which is free-running and takes direction only from the characteristics of the incoming audio signal, a managed mode which is controlled by rules set from a statistical multiplexer, and a combination of self-adaptive and managed in which control rules from the statistical multiplexer act to maintain limits on the self-adaptive mode.

US Patent:

7376159, May 20, 2008

Filed:

Jan 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/038174

Inventors:

Leon J. Stanger - Farmington UT, US
Hanno Basse - Santa Monica CA, US
James A. Michener - Grass Valley CA, US
Robert H. Plummer - Seattle WA, US
Richard K. Newman - North Hollywood CA, US

Assignee:

The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04J 3/00

US Classification:

370528, 370537

Abstract:

A system and method for adding auxiliary data Dto an output data stream from a statistical multiplexer is disclosed. An auxiliary multiplexer accepts a statistically multiplexed data stream, and substitutes auxiliary data packets for null data packets. The auxiliary multiplexer controls the number of null packets in the statistically multiplexed data stream by controlling the target bandwidth Bof the statistical multiplexer, or by modifying the statistical multiplexer equation to make the auxiliary data stream a participant in the negotiation process of allocating throughput among the data sources.

US Patent:

7848364, Dec 7, 2010

Filed:

Apr 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/106477

Inventors:

Leon J. Stranger - Farmington UT, US
Hanno Basse - Santa Monica CA, US
James A. Michener - Grass Valley CA, US
Robert H. Plummer - Seattle WA, US
Richard K. Newman - North Hollywood CA, US

Assignee:

The DIRECTV Group, Inc. - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04J 3/00

US Classification:

370528, 370537

Abstract:

A system and method for adding auxiliary data Dto an output data stream from a statistical multiplexer is disclosed. An auxiliary multiplexer accepts a statistically multiplexed data stream, and substitutes auxiliary data packets for null data packets. The auxiliary multiplexer controls the number of null packets in the statistically multiplexed data stream by controlling the target bandwidth Bof the statistical multiplexer, or by modifying the statistical multiplexer equation to make the auxiliary data stream a participant in the negotiation process of allocating throughput among the data sources.

US Patent:

60974354, Aug 1, 2000

Filed:

Jan 31, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/792589

Inventors:

Leon Stanger - Farmington UT
Robert H. Plummer - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N 724
H04N 726

US Classification:

348387

Abstract:

A video broadcast system is provided with an apparatus for processing a plurality of program signals corresponding to, for example, movies or other prerecorded programs, to selectively reduce the bandwidth required to transmit or broadcast the program signals. The signal processing apparatus includes a rate controller for generating a rate reduction factor based upon the data rates of the first and second program signals, a first channel processor coupled to receive the first program signal, and a second channel processor coupled to receive the second program signal. Each of the channel processors includes a data path for selectively reducing the bit rate of the program signals based upon the rate reduction factor.

US Patent:

61884367, Feb 13, 2001

Filed:

Jan 31, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/792629

Inventors:

Jim C. Williams - Anaheim CA
Robert H. Plummer - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N 724

US Classification:

348387

Abstract:

An apparatus for temporally shifting video data within a video signal is provided with a video data source for providing a video signal and a signal splitter for generating a first video data stream and a second video data stream, the first video data stream comprising video data in excess of a threshold. The apparatus includes means for temporally shifting the excess video data in the first video data stream relative to the second video data stream and means for recombining the first video data stream with the second video data stream after the first video data stream has been temporally shifted relative to the second video data stream. The means for temporally shifting the excess video data in the first video data stream relative to the second video data stream may include a first delay buffer for delaying the first video data stream by an adjustable time period and a second delay buffer for delaying the second video data stream by a fixed time period.

US Patent:

6084910, Jul 4, 2000

Filed:

Jan 31, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/792630

Inventors:

Leon Stanger - Farmington UT
Robert H. Plummer - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N 712
H04B 166

US Classification:

375240

Abstract:

An apparatus for statistically multiplexing a plurality of video signals is provided with first and second complexity detectors which generate first and second complexity signals which relate to the complexity of first and second video signals, respectively, and first and second encoders for compressing the first and second video signals at variable compression rates to generate a first and second compressed video signals. The apparatus also includes a controller for controlling the variable compression rates of the encoders based on the complexity signal signals and a multiplexer coupled to receive the compressed video signals. The apparatus may be provided in a broadcasting system, such as a satellite is broadcasting system. The broadcast system may include a transmitter coupled to receive the video signals from the multiplexer, a satellite coupled to receive the video signals from the transmitter, a receiver for receiving video signals from the satellite, and one or more decoders connected to receive video signals from the receiver.

US Patent:

60056207, Dec 21, 1999

Filed:

Jan 31, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/792627

Inventors:

Jim C. Williams - Anaheim CA
Leon Stanger - Farmington UT
Robert H. Plummer - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04N 712

US Classification:

348385

Abstract:

An apparatus for statistically multiplexing a plurality of video signals is provided with a complexity detector, coupled to receive a pre-compressed video signal, for generating a complexity signal which relates to the complexity of the pre-compressed video signal, an encoder for compressing a non-compressed video signal at a variable compression rate to generate a compressed video signal, a controller for controlling the variable compression rate of the encoder based on the complexity signal, and a multiplexer coupled to receive the pre-compressed video signal and the compressed video signal. The apparatus may be provided in a broadcasting system, such as a satellite broadcasting system. The broadcast system may include a transmitter coupled to receive the video signals from the multiplexer, a satellite coupled to receive the video signals from the transmitter, a receiver for receiving video signals from the satellite, and one or more decoders connected to receive video signals from the receiver.