Automation System for iTV Data Synchronization in MPEG-2 Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for inserting interactive television data into MPEG-2 transport streams are costly and inefficient, particularly for national deployment, as they require extensive hardware redundancy and independent local management systems for advertisement insertion.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves using an automation system to control a multiplexer, data carousel, and packager, allowing for time synchronization of audio and video content with interactive TV data, and enabling network ad insertion to generate enhanced interactive advertisements by splicing both iTV applications and advertisements into the MPEG-2 transport stream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If generic interactive data is inserted into all packets within the transport stream, then interactive television data is provided, but hardware investment for redundancy is required and the solution is not suited for national deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the automation system that controls content origination with the interactive data insertion process. The automation system generates control signals that instruct the multiplexer when to insert interactive data packets, eliminating the need for separate local management systems and hardware redundancy while maintaining reliable data transmission across the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces control signals as an intermediary mechanism between the automation system and the multiplexer. These control signals carry timing and synchronization information that coordinate interactive data insertion with content delivery, enabling centralized control without requiring complex local hardware at each insertion point.
2Loss of information
If a filter application is added to the transport stream to filter out data PIDs where they are not needed, then interactive data is properly delivered, but the solution is cost prohibitive due to hardware investment for redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The automation system performs preliminary action by generating control signals before interactive data insertion occurs. These control signals pre-coordinate with the multiplexer to insert data packets only at appropriate locations and times, eliminating the need for subsequent filtering operations and associated hardware redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback through control signals that carry information about content timing and synchronization requirements. This feedback mechanism allows the multiplexer to autonomously determine when to insert interactive data packets without requiring external filtering, reducing both hardware complexity and information loss.
3Reliability
If interactive applications are spun continuously on the DSM-CC carousel, then data availability is maintained, but control over which applications are tied to which audio and video content is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the interactive data insertion dynamic by using control signals that vary over time based on content requirements. The automation system adjusts which interactive data packets are inserted at different time intervals, enabling flexible pairing of applications with specific audio and video content while maintaining continuous data availability through the carousel.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system is presented for utilizing an automation server and/or a traffic control manager in the content origination workflow to control a multiplexer, data carousel, and/or packager of an interactive television (iTV) system to synchronize the content (audio, video) with the interactive application data. Further, other aspects provide methods and systems for network ad insertion to generate iTV enhanced advertisements by placing a local ad splicer in the network to allow for splicing of both iTV enhanced advertisements and splicing of iTV applications into an MPEG-2 transport stream.