Transport Stream Content Replacement in SFN Broadcasting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current terrestrial digital television broadcasting systems face challenges in efficiently switching between main and secondary content without disrupting the broadcast signal, particularly in SFN networks, where synchronization and frequency accuracy are critical, and existing solutions require modifications at the network head or involve complex packet management.
Innovation Solution
A method for replacing main content with secondary content within the transport stream at individual broadcasting sites, modifying only the transport layer fields like reference clock and continuity counters, ensuring deterministic behavior and synchronization, without altering the elementary streams or requiring network head modifications, and allowing immediate or delayed switching with seamless user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If content replacement is implemented by modifying the transport stream at the network head, then centralized control is achieved, but network complexity and modification requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the content replacement functionality from the network head and relocates it to individual broadcasting sites. Each site receives the original transport stream and independently performs packet replacement based on local configuration, eliminating the need for complex network-wide modifications while maintaining centralized control through configuration management.
Solution Approach 2:
The content replacement function is segmented and distributed to individual broadcasting sites rather than being centralized at the network head. Each site operates independently to replace packets in the transport stream, allowing localized content customization without affecting other sites or requiring network infrastructure changes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If content replacement is performed at individual broadcasting sites, then flexibility and localization are improved, but synchronization accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses packet copying and insertion techniques where secondary content packets are inserted into the transport stream at predetermined locations. The system carefully manages packet continuity counters and timing information to ensure that the inserted packets maintain proper synchronization with the SFN broadcast timeline, preserving synchronization accuracy while enabling local content flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts transport stream parameters such as continuity counters, packet timestamps, and adaptation field values when inserting secondary content packets. These parameter changes ensure that the modified transport stream maintains proper synchronization with the SFN network while allowing flexible local content replacement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If transport stream packets are replaced with secondary content packets, then content customization is achieved, but stream continuity and synchronization may be disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring replacement rules, packet insertion points, and continuity counter values before actual content replacement occurs. This advance preparation ensures that when packets are replaced, the transport stream maintains proper continuity and synchronization without disruptions to the broadcast flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements feedback mechanisms that monitor the transport stream for packet continuity, timing information, and synchronization status. When secondary content packets are inserted, the system continuously adjusts continuity counters and timing parameters based on feedback from the stream state, ensuring that synchronization is maintained throughout the content replacement process.
Data Source
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Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for replacing a main content with at least one secondary content. According to the invention, such a method implements the following steps: determining (21) a video breaking time and at least one audio or subtitle breaking time, from at least one breaking packet of the source stream; replacing (22), in the source stream, at least one video, audio or subtitle packet, respectively, of said main content with at least one video, audio or subtitle packet, respectively, of said secondary content, producing a modified stream; updating (23), in the modified stream, a reference clock, continuity counters of video, audio or subtitle packets, respectively, and at least one piece of time information for video, audio or subtitle reconstruction, respectively, in the one or more replacement video, audio or subtitle packets, respectively.