Transport Stream Merging Device Using Segmented FIFO Buffers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for merging transport streams are limited by CPU capabilities, restricting the number of streams that can be combined efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising data processing blocks, FIFO buffers, a transport stream manager, and a data formatting block that regenerates and merges transport streams with dedicated clock signals, filtering, and additional buffering for efficient packet management and synchronization, allowing for scalable merging of multiple streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a central processing unit (CPU) is used to merge transport streams, then the merging function is achieved, but the CPU capabilities limit the number of transport streams that can be merged at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the transport stream merging function into multiple independent data processing blocks (first data processing block, second data processing block, etc.), where each block handles a dedicated input transport stream. This segmentation allows the system to merge more transport streams simultaneously by distributing the workload across multiple parallel processing units, overcoming the CPU capability limitations of using a single processing unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines multiple parallel transport streams into a single merged transport stream through the action of the data formatting block, which collects packets from multiple FIFO buffers and generates the final output. This merging function is enhanced by the parallel architecture that can handle multiple input streams concurrently, increasing the adaptability and versatility of the system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transport streams are merged using a dedicated device with multiple data processing blocks, then the number of streams to be merged increases, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses identical, replicated data processing blocks for each input transport stream. Each block has the same internal structure and functionality, processing its dedicated stream independently. This modular segmentation approach allows the system to scale to handle more streams by simply adding more identical blocks, making the increased device structure manageable and systematic rather than arbitrarily complex.
Solution Approach 2:
Each data processing block is designed as a universal module that can process any transport stream with the same processing logic. The blocks perform identical functions (regenerating packets, filtering, outputting to FIFO buffers), and the same applies to the FIFO buffers and other components. This universality reduces device complexity by using standardized, multi-functional components rather than custom-designed units for each stream.
3Productivity
If transport streams are merged with high-speed processing, then the merging efficiency increases, but synchronization and data noise become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
Each data processing block performs preliminary actions on its input transport stream by regenerating packets and removing valid signals and sync signals before outputting to the FIFO buffer. This preliminary processing ensures that each stream is properly formatted and synchronized before merging, reducing data noise and synchronization challenges in the final merged stream while maintaining high merging efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The FIFO buffers act as intermediary elements between the high-speed data processing blocks and the data formatting block. These buffers provide buffering capacity that decouples the high-speed processing from the merging operation, allowing synchronization to occur at the buffer interface rather than requiring perfect synchronization throughout the entire high-speed processing chain, thus reducing data noise while maintaining efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device for merging of a plurality of input data transport streams (TSO, TS1, ... TSN) to an output transport stream (TSOUT), the device comprising: a plurality of data processing blocks (111-113), each configured to receive a dedicated input transport stream (TSO, TS1, ... TSN) and to regenerate packets of the transport stream without valid signals and sync signals; a plurality of first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffers (121-123), each connected to an output of a dedicated data processing block (111-113) to receive the regenerated packets, wherein the buffers (121-123) operate with a clock signal frequency (CLK_T0/8, CLK_T1/8, CLK_TN/8) equal to an eighth of the clock signal frequency of the dedicated data processing block (CLK T0, CLK T1, CLK_TN); a transport stream manager (103) configured to collect packets from the buffers (121-123) when the packets are available; and a data formatting block (105) configured to collect the packets from the transport stream manager (103), to generate a sync signal and a valid signal for a merged transport stream and to output the merged transport stream (TSOUT).