Constant PID Mapping for Multimedia Stream Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reacquisition of program map table (PMT) information and reconfiguration of device components due to packet identifier (PID) discontinuities cause delays in channel changes and content playback in customer premise equipment (CPE) devices, particularly when processing different content streams or stitched content.
Innovation Solution
Mapping packet identifiers to a constant value for each component stream type, allowing the CPE device to replace original PIDs with constant values, ensuring continuity and eliminating the need for frequent reconfigurations during channel changes or content transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the CPE device reacquires PMT information and reconfigures device components when PID discontinuities are detected, then the device can process different content streams with correct PIDs, but delays occur in channel changes and content playback
Solution Approach 1:
The CPE device performs preliminary action by proactively mapping all possible PIDs to constant values before PID discontinuities occur. The device maintains a lookup table of PID-to-constant mappings and applies these mappings in advance, so when PID changes are detected, the device already has the prepared constant values ready, eliminating the need for reactive reacquisition and reconfiguration delays
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mapping mechanism that translates variable PIDs into constant values. This intermediary layer (the PID-to-constant mapping table) acts as a buffer between the incoming variable PIDs and the device's processing components, allowing the device to maintain consistent internal representations without directly reacting to each PID change, thus reducing processing delays
2Adaptability or versatility
If the CPE device reacquires PMT information and reconfigures device components when PID discontinuities are detected, then the device can adapt to new content streams, but processing efficiency decreases due to frequent reconfigurations
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary mapping of PIDs to constant values before actual content processing begins. By pre-establishing the mapping relationships in a lookup table, the device avoids repeated reconfiguration operations during content stream transitions, maintaining high processing efficiency while still adapting to different content streams
Solution Approach 2:
The PID-to-constant mapping table serves as an intermediary that decouples the adaptability function from the processing function. The mapping table handles the adaptation to different PIDs, while the processing components continue operating with stable constant values, thus maintaining processing efficiency without sacrificing adaptability to new content streams
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate the mapping of packet identifiers to a constant value. A multimedia device may receive one or more pieces of multimedia content and may select a constant PID value for each of one or more component streams associated with the content. The multimedia device may map PIDs of each respective one of the one or more component streams to a constant PID value designated for the component type of the respective component stream. The multimedia device may replace the PIDs of each component stream with constant PID values such that each component stream type includes the same PID value for the entirety of the stream. The modified component streams, each having continuity with respect to PID values, may be stored as a recording or output to a device for viewing.