Patent US5796743A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5796743A
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Data word indicator in a system for assembling transport data packets
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1993-11-30
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Granted: 1998-08-18
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Expires: 2013-11-30
Abstract
Abstract In a digital television signal processing system, a special codeword, a Packet Alignment Flag (PAF), is inserted into an MPEG codeword bitstream to signify the presence of a Group of Pictures (GOP). The PAF immediately precedes a Picture Start codeword for an "I" frame, which initiates a GOP. A data packet under construction when a PAF appears is terminated since a GOP is intended to begin at a packet boundary. Such termination may result in an abbreviated packet of MPEG codewords less than a prescribed number of bits needed to complete a data packet. The last word of each packet is designated as such to facilitate the subsequent combining of data packets with respective headers. An incomplete data packet is filled with null (zeroed bits) words to make up a complete data packet with a prescribed number of bits.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Michael Bunting
- 👤 David Isaac Harris
- 👤 Alfonse Anthony Acampora
- 👤 Charles Alan Brooks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:18
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/12; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/434; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/236
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for processing an image representative datastream, comprising: means (14) for providing a datastream including a succession of Groups of Pictures; first processing means (12) for forming variable length datastream data words into fixed length data packets, said data packets subject to containing an unpredictable variable number of data words; means (12,37 (FIG. 2c); 46 (FIG. 4)) for providing a Last Word indicator designating a last one of said unpredictable number of data words in a data packet; and second processing means (15) responsive to said data packets and to said Last Word indicator for producing output packed data transport packets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for processing an image representative datastream, comprising: means (14) for providing a datastream including a succession of Groups of Pictures; first processing means (12) for forming variable length datastream data words into fixed length data packets, said data packets subject to containing an unpredictable variable number of data words; means (12,37 (FIG. 2c); 46 (FIG. 4)) for providing a Last Word indicator designating a last one of said unpredictable number of data words in a data packet; and second processing means (15) responsive to said data packets and to said Last Word indicator for producing output packed data transport packets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said Last Word indicator is associated with a packet boundary.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, and further including means (15,76 (FIG. 17)) for filling SHORT data packets with no-operation null words as needed in response to said Last Word indicator so that said packed data transport packets exhibit a prescribed number of words.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a Picture Start codeword is associated with each said Group of Pictures; and said Last Word indicator is associated with a data packet preceding said Picture Start codeword.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said datastream comprises MPEG codewords including said Picture Start codeword.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second processing means (15) includes means (78 (FIG. 17))for combining data packets with a header to form each said transport packet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus for processing an image representative MPEG compatible datastream including a Group of Pictures and a Picture Start codeword associated with each said Group of Pictures; said apparatus comprising: first processing means responsive to said datastream for forming variable length datastream data words into fixed length data packets, said data packets subject to containing an unpredictable variable number of data words; means for providing a Last Word indicator associated with a last one of said unpredictable number of data words in a data packet preceding a Picture Start codeword; and second processing means responsive to said data packets and to said Last Word indicator for producing output packed data transport packets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus for processing an image representative MPEG compatible datastream including a Group of Pictures and a Picture Start codeword associated with each said Group of Pictures; said apparatus comprising: first processing means responsive to said datastream for forming variable length datastream data words into fixed length data packets, said data packets subject to containing an unpredictable variable number of data words; means for providing a Last Word indicator associated with a last one of said unpredictable number of data words in a data packet preceding a Picture Start codeword; and second processing means responsive to said data packets and to said Last Word indicator for producing output packed data transport packets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 and further comprising: a forward error correction (FEC) network for processing said output packets.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-17 | 2002-02-16 | 2002-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-17 | 2006-02-16 | 2006-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-17 | 2010-02-16 | 2010-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |