Abstract: A video stream is transcoded to provide a plurality of primary profiles. Individual frames of the video stream have a Presentation Time Stamp (PTS). A PTS is used as a token to identify particular frames to be encoded as Instantaneous Decoder Refresh (IDR) frames in each profile. An IDR frame period is determined, indicative of a desired number of video frames between two IDR frames. An IDR frame is inserted into each profile every IDR frame period. The IDR frames of each profile are aligned with the same IDR frames of the other profiles. The PTS of each IDR frame in each profile is monitored. Upon determining that a PTS is out of alignment, the next PTS of the affected profile is aligned with the corresponding PTS of remaining profiles. Backup transcoders produce backup profiles that are maintained in alignment with each other and with the primary profiles.

Abstract: A packet schedule timestamp is provided. A schedule information packet includes a packet schedule timestamp that represents the relative timing of data packets in a particular bitstream of a multiplexed transport stream. The schedule information packet further provides information about the timing of packets within a bitstream or multiple bitstreams before actual packet arrivals. Look-ahead processing techniques are provided to improve the efficiency of compressed bitstream storage and delivery, such as program stream to transport stream conversion and statistical multiplexing. The packet schedule information can be inserted into the bitstream it describes for transmission or storage with it. Other features, such as timing reconstruction, are also provided. The packet schedule information can be used to reconstruct the timing of the transport packets to their original state.

Abstract: A video stream is transcoded to provide a plurality of primary profiles. Individual frames of the video stream have a Presentation Time Stamp (PTS). A PTS is used as a token to identify particular frames to be encoded as Instantaneous Decoder Refresh (IDR) frames in each profile. An IDR frame period is determined, indicative of a desired number of video frames between two IDR frames. An IDR frame is inserted into each profile every IDR frame period. The IDR frames of each profile are aligned with the same IDR frames of the other profiles. The PTS of each IDR frame in each profile is monitored. Upon determining that a PTS is out of alignment, the next PTS of the affected profile is aligned with the corresponding PTS of remaining profiles. Backup transcoders produce backup profiles that are maintained in alignment with each other and with the primary profiles.

Abstract: A packet schedule timestamp is provided. A schedule information packet includes a packet schedule timestamp that represents the relative timing of data packets in a particular bitstream of a multiplexed transport stream. The schedule information packet further provides information about the timing of packets within a bitstream or multiple bitstreams before actual packet arrivals. Look-ahead processing techniques are provided to improve the efficiency of compressed bitstream storage and delivery, such as program stream to transport stream conversion and statistical multiplexing. The packet schedule information can be inserted into the bitstream it describes for transmission or storage with it. Other features, such as timing reconstruction, are also provided. The packet schedule information can be used to reconstruct the timing of the transport packets to their original state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disk drive storage defragmentation system, comprising providing a cache buffer system coupled to a host system, coupling a disk drive storage system to the cache buffer system, performing a defragmentation process on the disk drive storage system utilizing the cache buffer system and servicing a data access request by the host system from the cache buffer system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying two-way data communication over a one-way infrastructure are disclosed. An end user enters a control command into an input device that is capable of sending data containing the control command over a network to a content service provider. The content service provider adjusts the end user's output stream in accordance with the end user's control command. The adjusted output stream is distributed to the output display device. Further features are disclosed such as providing content descriptive metadata to the input device and/or the output display device.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for efficiently operating on RAID systems. A fast access buffer comprising an off-disk fast access memory module supports RAID operations such as recovery or reconfiguration operations, thereby minimizing or reducing the need for on-disk destructive zones and/or reducing disk drive I/O activities. In some cases the fast access memory module to serves as a read/write cache, reducing the need for frequent disk accesses of a small number of data blocks. Fast off-disk memory such as RAM enables rapid operation on in-buffer data blocks. Access to the material stored in the RAID devices may be enabled, partially enabled or disabled during RAID operations involving the fast access memory module and some data access operations may be synchronized with RAID operations. In some cases, data may be served from the fast access memory module, thereby providing rapid access to material stored in a RAID device during RAID operations.

Abstract: A data transport system for transporting data between a server (21) and a client receiver (27) over a network (23) includes a receiving proxy cache (25) coupled to a client receiver (27) via a reliable connection (29), such as a cable connection. The majority of data is transported from the server (21) to the receiving proxy cache (25) over an efficient data transmission channel (41). The receiving proxy cache (25) verifies the status of the data transmitted over the efficient channel (41). If there is an error in the data transmission, a portion of the data associated with the error is retransmitted from the server (21) to the receiving proxy cache (25) over a reliable data transmission channel (43). The complete data at the receiving proxy cache (25) is delivered to a client receiver (27) over a reliable connection (29).

Abstract: A data transport system for transporting data between a server (21) and a client receiver (27) over a network (23) includes a receiving proxy cache (25) coupled to a client receiver (27) via a reliable connection (29), such as a cable connection. The majority of data is transported from the server (21) to the receiving proxy cache (25) over an efficient data transmission channel (41). The receiving proxy cache (25) verifies the status of the data transmitted over the efficient channel (41). If there is an error in the data transmission, a portion of the data associated with the error is retransmitted from the server (21) to the receiving proxy cache (25) over a reliable data transmission channel (43). The complete data at the receiving proxy cache (25) is delivered to a client receiver (27) over a reliable connection (29).

Abstract: An I/O decoupling system comprising an I/O accelerator coupled between a host interface and a channel interface, wherein the I/O accelerator comprises a host manager, a buffer manager a function manager, and a disk buffer. The host manager is coupled to the host interface to receive a request from a connected host computer. The function manager in response to receiving the request allocates the disk buffer and determines a threshold offset for the buffer while coordinating the movement of data to the disk buffer through the channel interface coupled to the disk buffer.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides a video analysis tool to assist a computer programmer working on a program that effects video data. The tool may be integrated with program code. When enacted, the tool obtains statistical information related to the video data and information corresponding to functions of the code. The code may be responsible for encoding, transcoding, and/or decoding video data, for example. The tool is integrated with a video decoder to allow the information to be output with raw video data. The present invention is particularly useful for developing, debugging and analyzing programs responsible for encoding, transcoding, and/or decoding video data, such as video data compressed according to an MPEG standard.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disk drive storage defragmentation system, comprising providing a cache buffer system coupled to a host system, coupling a disk drive storage system to the cache buffer system, performing a defragmentation process on the disk drive storage system utilizing the cache buffer system and servicing a data access request by the host system from the cache buffer system.

Abstract: A packet schedule timestamp is provided. A schedule information packet includes a packet schedule timestamp that represents the relative timing of data packets in a particular bitstream of a multiplexed transport stream. The schedule information packet further provides information about the timing of packets within a bitstream or multiple bitstreams before actual packet arrivals. Look-ahead processing techniques are provided to improve the efficiency of compressed bitstream storage and delivery, such as program stream to transport stream conversion and statistical multiplexing. The packet schedule information can be inserted into the bitstream it describes for transmission or storage with it. Other features, such as timing reconstruction, are also provided. The packet schedule information can be used to reconstruct the timing of the transport packets to their original state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disk drive storage defragmentation system, comprising providing a cache buffer system coupled to a host system, coupling a disk drive storage system to the cache buffer system, performing a defragmantation process on the disk drive storage system utilizing the cache buffer system and servicing a data access request by the host system from the cache buffer system.

Abstract: A data transport system for transporting data between a server (21) and a client receiver (27) over a network (23) includes a receiving proxy cache (25) coupled to a client receiver (27) via a reliable connection (29), such as a cable connection. The majority of data is transported from the server (21) to the receiving proxy cache (25) over an efficient data transmission channel (41). The receiving proxy cache (25) verifies the status of the data transmitted over the efficient channel (41). If there is an error in the data transmission, a portion of the data associated with the error is retransmitted from the server (21) to the receiving proxy cache (25) over a reliable data transmission channel (43). The complete data at the receiving proxy cache (25) is delivered to a client receiver (27) over a reliable connection (29).

Abstract: The present invention provides a disk drive storage defragmentation system, comprising providing a cache buffer system coupled to a host system, coupling a disk drive storage system to the cache buffer system, performing a defragmantation process on the disk drive storage system utilizing the cache buffer system and servicing a data access request by the host system from the cache buffer system.

Abstract: The present invention provides efficient methods for performing motion compensation. The methods are particularly useful during motion compensation based decoding and recoding. In one aspect, motion compensation in accordance with the present invention improves on-chip memory usage. This is done by creating and storing a reference window in the on-chip memory. The reference window is constructed such that the reference frame portions required for motion compensation of a current frame are contained within the reference window and in the on-chip memory with a high frequency. In another aspect, selective methods are provided to recode compressed video data. The methods selectively apply re-quantization and motion compensation to the residual error between frames of the bitstream based on the amount of motion in the video data.

Abstract: The present invention addresses the issue of jitter compounded by clock drifting in streaming media applications. In addressing jitter, the present invention attempts to recover the desired (de-jittered) arrival time at a gateway even if there is a frequency difference between the clocks of the original media source and the gateway. The desired arrival time is used with the addition of a constant to schedule the packet delivery time for delivery to a user via a network. Each packet arriving at the gateway contains an arrival timestamp. Using packets, which also contain sending time stamps, the invention determines the delivery time for each packet.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for efficiently operating on RAID systems. A fast access buffer comprising an off-disk fast access memory module supports RAID operations such as recovery or reconfiguration operations, thereby minimizing or reducing the need for on-disk destructive zones and/or reducing disk drive I/O activities. In some cases the fast access memory module to serves as a read/write cache, reducing the need for frequent disk accesses of a small number of data blocks. Fast off-disk memory such as RAM enables rapid operation on in-buffer data blocks. Access to the material stored in the RAID devices may be enabled, partially enabled or disabled during RAID operations involving the fast access memory module and some data access operations may be synchronized with RAID operations. In some cases, data may be served from the fast access memory module, thereby providing rapid access to material stored in a RAID device during RAID operations.

Abstract: Efficient methods for performing motion compensation are described. The methods are particularly useful during motion compensation based decoding and recoding. In one aspect, the look ahead motion compensation methods obtain motion vector information for a macroblock being reconstructed in advance of motion compensation of the macroblock. The information is then converted into memory transfer instruction; that can be used to perform transferring of reference image data in advance of the motion compensation operations. A reference sub-region needed for motion compensation, as identified by the motion vector, is then obtained in advance of motion compensation of the macroblock.