Abstract: A system and method for substituting data packets into a data stream, is provided. In one embodiment, the data stream is a video data stream. The system includes packet buffers, a multiplexer, a packet substitution controller, a direct memory access (DMA) engine and a link list buffer controller. A method is also provided for substituting data packets - containing information of the same or different type—into a video data stream at variable rates using a selection mechanism driven by link list buffer control.

Abstract: A television on a chip (TVOC) system that provides a cost effective approach for providing television functionality on a single integrated circuit chip is disclosed. A TVOC includes the functionality necessary to receive and display television signals in a variety of input and output formats. A TVOC can be used in set-top boxes for cable and satellite television, or directly within a television. All functionality provided can be provided on a single integrated circuit. TVOC includes a data transport module, an IF demodulator, a digital audio engine, an analog audio engine, a digital video engine, and an analog video engine. The TVOC also includes three sets of interfaces including output interfaces, control interfaces and ancillary interfaces. Further features and embodiments provide enhanced functionality and increased efficiencies.

Abstract: A system and method for substituting data packets into a data stream, is provided. In one embodiment, the data stream is a video data stream. The system includes packet buffers, a multiplexer, a packet substitution controller, a direct memory access (DMA) engine and a link list buffer controller. A method is also provided for substituting data packets—containing information of the same or different type—into a video data stream at variable rates using a selection mechanism driven by link list buffer control.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention may be found in one or more systems and/or methods to encapsulate or packetize non-MPEG and MPEG data. The encapsulation or packetization allows both the non-MPEG and MPEG data to be utilized by a set-top-box that conforms or complies with the OpenCable™ Advanced Multi-Stream POD Interface Specification and/or the OpenCable™ Multi-Stream CableCARD Interface Specification. In one embodiment, a method of processing video data, by a set-top-box that is communicatively coupled to a POD card, comprises receiving video data from a provider, first packetizing the video data using a first header to generate a first packet, wherein the first header comprises a first indicator. In one embodiment, a system for providing MPEG and non-MPEG video to a subscriber comprises a circuitry and a POD card capable of receiving, processing, and facilitating the display of non-MPEG and MPEG data.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for demultiplexing video signals that have been combined using a time division multiplexing approach. The system includes synchronizers, parsers, demultiplexers, and an input buffer. Each demultiplexer within the system includes a header detect module, a slot map module, a frame sync module and a packet accept module. The method includes the steps of receiving an input stream that contains data packets for more than one program channel that have been combined in which packet identification (PID) information is used and a time division multiplexing scheme, such as transport stream multiplexing format (TSMF) is used. The PID and slot location for each packet is analyzed. Based on the PID and slot location a packet is either accepted or rejected.

Abstract: A television on a chip (TVOC) system that provides a cost effective approach for providing television functionality on a single integrated circuit chip is disclosed. A TVOC includes the functionality necessary to receive and display television signals in a variety of input and output formats. A TVOC can be used in set-top boxes for cable and satellite television, or directly within a television. All functionality provided can be provided on a single integrated circuit. TVOC includes a data transport module, an IF demodulator, a digital audio engine, an analog audio engine, a digital video engine, and an analog video engine. The TVOC also includes three sets of interfaces including output interfaces, control interfaces and ancillary interfaces. Further features and embodiments provide enhanced functionality and increased efficiencies.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for generating and using multiple synchronized local program timestamps in a media processing system. The system includes an input processor, one or more local timestamp insertion modules, one or more parsers, and an input buffer. Each local program timestamp module includes a clock reference recovery module, a local program clock synchronized to the system time clock of a program source, and a timestamp generator. The system also includes one or more processing modules such as record modules, transmission modules, and display modules. When a data packet is received by the media processing system, the local timestamp insertion module appends a timestamp to the data packet. The timestamp is based on the synchronized local program clock for the program associated with the data packet. The processing modules utilize the synchronized local timestamps and their associated local program clock in a variety of applications.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for demultiplexing video signals that have been combined using a time division multiplexing approach. The system includes synchronizers, parsers, demultiplexers, and an input buffer. Each demultiplexer within the system includes a header detect module, a slot map module, a frame sync module and a packet accept module. The method includes the steps of receiving an input stream that contains data packets for more than one program channel that have been combined in which packet identification (PID) information is used and a time division multiplexing scheme, such as transport stream multiplexing format (TSMF) is used. The PID and slot location for each packet is analyzed. Based on the PID and slot location a packet is either accepted or rejected.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include assigning a priority to a primary packet for a particular channel and replicating the primary packet to create a secondary packet for the particular channel. A primary packet may be selected in order to co-relate the primary packet to a legacy system. Similarly, a secondary packet may be selected in order to co-relate the secondary packet to a new system. The priority assigned to the primary packet may uniquely distinguish the primary packet from a priority of the other packets for the particular channel. The primary packet and the secondary packet may have the same priority and the same continuity counter.

Abstract: Certain aspects of changing message filter coefficients dynamically in a packetized network system may comprise selecting a filter for filtering data in a first portion of an incoming data stream. At initiation of a new modification process, a determination may be made as to whether the selected filter is in use and if so, data read by the selected filter may be invalidated or otherwise not utilized for its intended purpose. A selected filter may be marked as being in use prior to being updated, indicating that there is no match for the selected filter. Filter coefficients for the selected filter may be updated while the selected filter is marked as being in use. Upon completion of updating the filter, the selected filter may be marked as not being in use.

Abstract: A first primary packet to create a second primary packet for a particular PID. Different CRC checksum may be generated for the first and the second primary packet. The first primary packet may be replicated in order to create a first secondary packet and the second primary packet may be replicated to create a second secondary packet. The CRC checksum for the primary packets may be stored within their corresponding secondary packets. In response to receipt of a new stream with replicated packets, the first or said second primary packet may be selected and the first or second secondary packet may be selected for a particular PID based on the generated CRC checksum. The selections may co-relate the selected first and/or second primary packet with a legacy system or the selected first and/or second secondary packet with a new system.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention may include replicating a first primary packet to create a second primary packet for a particular channel. A unique identifier may be assigned to the first primary packet and a different unique identifier may be assigned to the second primary packet. The first primary packet may be replicated in order to create a first secondary packet and the second primary packet may be replicated to create a second secondary packet. In response to the receipt of the new stream with replicated packets, the first or said second primary packet may be selected and the first or second secondary packet may be selected for a particular PID based on the assigned unique identifier. The selections may be done to co-relate the selected first and/or second primary packet with a legacy system or the selected first and/or second secondary packet with a new system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing media information are disclosed and may include tracking a number of times that at least one stored identifier that identifies program content for a particular data channel that is received via one of a plurality of multiplexed transport data streams is modified. At least a portion of the received program content for the particular data channel may be discarded based on the tracking. The at least one stored identifier that identifies the program content for the particular data channel may include a packet identifier (PID) and a processor identifier associated with the PID that identifies at least one of a plurality of processors that parses at least a portion of the program content for the particular data channel that is received via one of the plurality of multiplexed transport data streams.

Abstract: A system and method for processing information may include broadcasting information, which indicates program content for each of a plurality of channels communicated via a plurality of transport streams, to a plurality of processors. The plurality of processors identify which of the program content is associated with a particular one of the plurality of channels in each of the plurality of transport streams. The broadcasted information may be stored in a table in memory. The broadcasted information may include a packet identifier (PID) and/or a processor identifier associated with the PID that identifies at least one of the plurality of processors, such as parsers. The information may be stored in a table in memory prior to the broadcasting. The table may be indexed according to the plurality of channels.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for switching between a live video decoding and a recorded playback in a digital video and recording system. A received video data stream is transmitted to a first-in first-out video decoder buffer without first looping the video data stream through a playback buffer. The video data stream is transmitted from the video decoder buffer to a video decoder. If a “pause” command is received, the video data stream is transmitted to a first-in first-out playback buffer, while continuing to transmit the video data stream to the video decoder buffer. Transmission of the video data stream to the video decoder buffer is halted when the video decoder buffer fills up. The last byte of the video data stream that was transmitted to the video decoder buffer is marked. If a “play” command is received, the video data stored in the video decoder buffer is transmitted to the video decoder.

Abstract: An aspect of the of the invention may include the transfer of a block of data from a first memory location to a second memory location in a DRAM. During the transfer of the block of data from the first memory location, if an encryption mode is selected, the data may be buffered, encrypted, and then stored in the second memory location. If a decryption mode is selected, the transferred data may be buffered, decrypted and then stored in the second memory location. If a bypass mode is selected, the data may be buffered and then stored in the second memory location. In this regard, the encryption/decryption operations may be bypassed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for switching between a live video decoding and a recorded playback in a digital video and recording system. A received video data stream is transmitted to a first-in first-out video decoder buffer without first looping the video data stream through a playback buffer. The video data stream is transmitted from the video decoder buffer to a video decoder. If a “pause” command is received, the video data stream is transmitted to a first-in first-out playback buffer, while continuing to transmit the video data stream to the video decoder buffer. Transmission of the video data stream to the video decoder buffer is halted when the video decoder buffer fills up. The last byte of the video data stream that was transmitted to the video decoder buffer is marked. If a “play” command is received, the video data stored in the video decoder buffer is transmitted to the video decoder.

Abstract: A video, audio and graphics system uses multiple transport processors to receive in-band and out-of-band MPEG Transport streams, to perform PID and section filtering as well as DVB and DES decryption and to de-multiplex them. The system processes the PES into digital audio, MPEG video and message data. The system is capable of decoding multiple MPEG SLICEs concurrently. Graphics windows are blended in parallel, and blended with video using alpha blending. During graphics processing, a single-port SRAM is used equivalently as a dual-port SRAM. The video may include both analog video, e.g., NTSC/PAL/SECAM/S-video, and digital video, e.g., MPEG-2 video in SDTV or HDTV format. The system has a reduced memory mode in which video images are reduced in half in horizontal direction only during decoding. The system is capable of receiving and processing digital audio signals such as MPEG Layer 1 and Layer 2 audio and Dolby AC-3 audio, as well as PCM audio signals. The system includes a memory controller.

Abstract: A video, audio and graphics system uses multiple transport processors to receive in-band and out-of-band MPEG Transport streams, to perform PID and section filtering as well as DVB and DES decryption and to de-multiplex them. The system processes the PES into digital audio, MPEG video and message data. The system is capable of decoding multiple MPEG SLICEs concurrently. Graphics windows are blended in parallel, and blended with video using alpha blending. During graphics processing, a single-port SRAM is used equivalently as a dual-port SRAM. The video may include both analog video, e.g., NTSC/PAL/SECAM/S-video, and digital video, e.g., MPEG-2 video in SDTV or HDTV format. The system has a reduced memory mode in which video images are reduced in half in horizontal direction only during decoding. The system is capable of receiving and processing digital audio signals such as MPEG Layer 1 and Layer 2 audio and Dolby AC-3 audio, as well as PCM audio signals. The system includes a memory controller.

Abstract: Methods and systems for random data access for security applications are disclosed and may comprise generating on a chip, a random process index. A data process may be randomly selected on the chip utilizing the generated random process index. A time interval may be randomly allocated on the chip. After the time interval, the randomly selected data process may initiate processing of data. The processing of the data may comprise accessing the data and/or acquiring the data. The data may be verified by the selected data process prior to the processing of the data. The data may be verified utilizing a digital signature verification algorithm, for example.