Abstract: In a predictive manner, bandwidth requirements for each pre-compressed information frame are sent to a concentrator so that the pre-compressed information and other information is efficiently concentrated without cropping any information. Specifically, the bandwidth requirement for each one of multiple data frames is obtained and stored with the information data frames. The multiple data frames are concentrated with additional data into one data stream, and concentration is controlled with the aggregate bandwidth requirement of the bandwidth requirements for each one of the multiple data frames. A processor with an information data input, a processed data output and a rate data output for each frame of the processed data output is coupled to a storage device. A concentrator operatively connects to the storage device. The concentrator is capable of receiving at least a first and second frame of information data and has a concentrated output.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the present invention utilize the digital packetized transmission features of a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) system to provide an automated and efficient method of conducting advertisement reconciliation. The apparatus and method of the present invention inserts advertisement reconciliation data packets into the transmitted DBS data stream. Preferably, the inserted reconciliation data packets are transmitted synchronously with the advertisement data packets to which they are related.