Vinh Hien Tran

US Patent:

7266133, Sep 4, 2007

Filed:

Oct 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/696927

Inventors:

Siu-Wai Wu - San Diego CA, US
Keith J. Kelley - Encinitas CA, US
Vinh Tran - Carlsbad CA, US

Assignee:

General Instrument Corporation - Horsham PA

International Classification:

H04J 3/02
H04N 7/173

US Classification:

370539, 370541, 725116, 725117

Abstract:

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for statistical multiplexing of a large number of data streams. A plurality of encoders are associated with each first stage multiplexer. Bandwidth allocation among all encoders is controlled by a second stage multiplexer. A bandwidth request message is communicated from each the encoders to the second stage multiplexer. The second stage multiplexer allocates available bandwidth based on the bandwidth request messages. The second stage multiplexer then communicates an allocated bandwidth message to each encoder. Each encoder encodes a data stream in accordance with its allocated bandwidth to provide an encoded data stream. A plurality of the encoded data streams are multiplexed at each first stage multiplexer to provide a multiplexed data stream at a constant data rate. The second stage multiplexer mutiplexes the multiplexed data streams from the first stage multiplexers to provide a multiplexed transport stream.

US Patent:

20090222576, Sep 3, 2009

Filed:

Feb 29, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/039837

Inventors:

Erik Elstermann - Carlsbad CA, US
Vinh Tran - Carlsbad CA, US

Assignee:

GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION - Horsham PA

International Classification:

G06F 15/173
G06F 1/00

US Classification:

709238, 713323

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for transmitting multimedia content to a network communication device, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) device, via one or more IP-based networks, in a manner that reduces power consumption by the network communication device. A system stream server, such as a set-top box, transmits content using a burst transmission mode. The transmitted content includes control information indicating the time of the next transmission burst, thus allowing the device to go into a sleep mode when the content stream is not being burst. Operation of the device in this manner reduces power consumption by the device. The stream server can switch dynamically between burst and non-burst transmission modes according to the needs of the network communication device. The IP-based network is bi-directional, thus the network communication device can communicate to the stream server the manner in which transmission bursts can be received by the device.