Method and apparatus of an input unit of a method and apparatus for controlling digital TV program start time

Abstract

A method of an input unit of a method and apparatus for controlling digital TV program start time. The input unit and method of the input unit receive digital channels from multiple sources, as a plurality of digital-transport streams, respectively. Each digital-transport stream has a multiplicity of transport packets. The input unit and method time-stamp each of the received transport packets of the multiplicity of transport packets, thereby generating a plurality of time-stamped packets, and aggregate the plurality of time-stamped packets, and scramble the aggregated plurality of time-stamped packets. The scrambled-aggregated plurality of time-stamped packets are encapsulated.

1 - 34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . A method of an input unit of a method for controlling digital TV program start time, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving digital channels from multiple sources, as a plurality of digital-transport streams, respectively, each digital-transport stream having a multiplicity of transport packets;    time-stamping each of the received transport packets of the multiplicity of transport packets, thereby generating a plurality of time-stamped packets;    aggregating the plurality of time-stamped packets;    scrambling the aggregated plurality of time-stamped packets; and    encapsulating the scrambled-aggregated plurality of time-stamped packets.    
   
   
       36 . The method as set forth in  claim 35 , further including the step of filtering unnecessary packets from the received multiplicity of transport packets.  
   
   
       37 . The method as set forth in  claim 35 , further including the step of removing null frames to decrease data rate.  
   
   
       38 . The method as set forth in  claim 35 , further including the step of mapping, from the plurality of digital-transport streams, individual digital channels to MPEG-IP/Ethernet transport streams.  
   
   
       39 . The method as set forth in  claim 35 , further including the step of transmitting the encapsulated plurality of time-stamped packets via unicast and multicast service over Ethernet interface.  
   
   
       40 . The method as set forth in  claim 35 , with the step of encapsulating including the step of encapsulating from ASI to Ethernet the scrambled-aggregated plurality of time-stamped packets.  
   
   
       41 . The method as set forth in  claim 35 , with the step of encapsulating including the step of encapsulating from DHEI to Ethernet the scrambled-aggregated plurality of time-stamped packets.  
   
   
       42 . An input unit of an apparatus for controlling digital TV program start time, comprising: 
 a receiver for receiving digital channels from multiple sources, as a plurality of digital-transport streams, respectively, each digital-transport stream having a multiplicity of transport packets;    time-stamping means for time-stamping each of the received transport packets of the multiplicity of transport packets, thereby generating a plurality of time-stamped packets;    aggregating means for aggregating the plurality of time-stamped packets;    a scrambler for scrambling the aggregated plurality of time-stamped packets; and    encapsulating means encapsulating the scrambled-aggregated plurality of time-stamped packets.    
   
   
       43 . The input unit as set forth in  claim 42 , further including a filter for filtering unnecessary packets from the received multiplicity of transport packets.  
   
   
       44 . The input unit as set forth in  claim 42 , further including a filter removing null frames to decrease data rate.  
   
   
       45 . The input unit as set forth in  claim 42 , further including mapping means for mapping, from the plurality of digital-transport streams, individual digital channels to MPEG-IP/Ethernet transport streams.  
   
   
       46 . The input unit as set forth in  claim 42 , further including means for transmitting the encapsulated plurality of time-stamped packets via unicast and multicast service over Ethernet interface.  
   
   
       47 . The input unit as set forth in  claim 42 , with the encapsulating means for encapsulating from ASI to Ethernet the scrambled-aggregated plurality of time-stamped packets.  
   
   
       48 . The input unit as set forth in  claim 42 , with encapsulating means for encapsulating from DHEI to Ethernet the scrambled-aggregated plurality of time-stamped packets.