Packet timing method and apparatus of a receiver system for controlling digital TV program start time

Abstract

A packet timing method and apparatus for use with a system for controlling digital TV program start time. An encoder inserts a program clock reference (PCR) timing field, in at least two intervals in transport packets. A decoder generates a decoder-clock signal from the PCR timing signal, which has the same frequency as an encoder-clock signal used for encoding. In response to the PCR timing field, a rate of consumption of data is synchronized with a rate of production of data, and chroma sub-carrier is synchronized.

1 - 34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . A method for scheduling a packet to produce a valid multi-program transport stream (MPTS) transport packet, comprising the steps of: 
 inserting, at an encoder, a program clock reference (PCR) timing field having a plurality of bits, in at least two intervals in transport packets;    generating, at a decoder, responsive to the PCR timing field, a decoder-clock signal having a same frequency as an encoder-clock signal used for encoding;    synchronizing, at the decoder, responsive to the PCR timing field, a rate of consumption of data with a rate of production of data;    synchronizing, at the decoder, responsive to the PCR timing field, elementary streams; and    generating, at the decoder, responsive to the PCR timing field, a chroma-clock signal for controlling a chroma sub-carrier.    
   
   
       36 . The method as set forth in  claim 35 , further including the step of synchronizing the rate of consumption to the decoder-clock signal.  
   
   
       37 . The method as set forth in  claim 35 , further comprising the step of shifting a time value in an output transport packet to a same time as an input transport packet, thereby adjusting a phase difference between the output transport packet and the input transport packet.  
   
   
       38 . A method for scheduling a packet to produce a valid multi-program transport stream (MPTS) transport packet, comprising the steps of: 
 inserting, at an encoder, a program clock reference (PCR) timing field having a plurality of bits, in at least two intervals in transport packets;    generating, at a decoder, responsive to the PCR timing field, a decoder-clock signal having a same frequency as an encoder-clock signal used for encoding;    synchronizing, at the decoder, responsive to the PCR timing field, a rate of consumption of data with a rate of production of data;    synchronizing, at the decoder, responsive to the PCR timing field, elementary streams; and    synchronizing, responsive to the PCR timing field, a chroma-clock signal for controlling a chroma sub-carrier.    
   
   
       39 . The method as set forth in  claim 38 , further including the step of synchronizing the rate of consumption to the decoder-clock signal.  
   
   
       40 . The method as set forth in  claim 38 , further comprising the step of shifting a time value in an output transport packet to a same time as an input transport packet, thereby adjusting a phase difference between the output transport packet and the input transport packet.  
   
   
       41 . A method for scheduling a packet to produce a valid multi-program transport stream (MPTS) transport packet, comprising the steps of: 
 inserting, at an encoder, a program clock reference (PCR) timing field having a plurality of bits, in at least two intervals in each single-program transport stream (SPTS) transport packet of a plurality of SPTS transport packets;    storing the plurality of SPTS transport packets in a memory;    multiplexing, from the memory, the plurality of SPTS transport packets to a multi-program transport stream MPTS transport packet;    generating, at a decoder, responsive to the PCR timing field, a decoder-clock signal having a same frequency as an encoder-clock signal used for encoding;    synchronizing, at the decoder, responsive to the PCR timing field, a rate of consumption of data with a rate of production of data;    synchronizing, at the decoder, responsive to the PCR timing field, elementary streams; and    synchronizing, at the decoder, responsive to the PCR timing field, a chroma-clock signal for controlling chroma sub-carrier.    
   
   
       42 . The method as set forth in  claim 41 , further including the step of synchronizing the rate of consumption to the decoder-clock signal.  
   
   
       43 . The method as set forth in  claim 41 , further comprising the step of shifting a time value in an output transport packet to a same time as an input transport packet, thereby adjusting a phase difference between the output transport packet and the input transport packet.  
   
   
       44 . An apparatus for scheduling a packet to produce a valid multi-program transport stream (MPTS) transport packet, comprising: 
 an encoder for inserting a program clock reference (PCR) timing field having a plurality of bits, in at least two intervals in transport packets; and    a decoder, responsive to the PCR timing field, for generating a decoder-clock signal having a same frequency as an encoder-clock signal used for encoding, for synchronizing responsive to the PCR timing field, a rate of consumption of data with a rate of production of data and for generating, responsive to the PCR timing field, a chroma-clock signal for controlling a chroma sub-carrier.    
   
   
       45 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 44 , with the decoder further for synchronizing the rate of consumption to the decoder-clock signal.  
   
   
       46 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 44 , with the decoder further for shifting a time value in an output transport packet to a same time as an input transport packet, thereby adjusting a phase difference between the output transport packet and the input transport packet.  
   
   
       47 . An apparatus for scheduling a packet to produce a valid multi-program transport stream (MPTS) transport packet, comprising: 
 an encoder for inserting a program clock reference (PCR) timing field having a plurality of bits, in at least two intervals in transport packets; and    a decoder, responsive to the PCR timing field, for generating a decoder-clock signal having a same frequency as an encoder-clock signal used for encoding, and responsive to the PCR timing field, for synchronizing a rate of consumption of data with a rate of production of data, and responsive to the PCR timing field, for synchronizing a chroma-clock signal for controlling a chroma sub-carrier.    
   
   
       48 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 47 , with the decoder further for synchronizing the rate of consumption to the decoder-clock signal.  
   
   
       49 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 47 , with the decoder further for shifting a time value in an output transport packet to a same time as an input transport packet, thereby adjusting a phase difference between the output transport packet and the input transport packet.  
   
   
       50 . An apparatus for scheduling a packet to produce a valid multi-program transport stream (MPTS) transport packet, comprising: 
 encoder means for inserting a program clock reference (PCR) timing field having a plurality of bits, in at least two intervals in each single-program transport stream (SPTS) transport packet of a plurality of SPTS transport packets;    memory means for storing the plurality of SPTS transport packets in a memory;    multiplexer means for multiplexing, from the memory means, the plurality of SPTS transport packets to a multi-program transport stream MPTS transport packet;    decoder means, responsive to the PCR timing field, for generating a decoder-clock signal having a same frequency as an encoder-clock signal used for encoding, and responsive to the PCR timing field, for synchronizing a rate of consumption of data with a rate of production of data, and responsive to the PCR timing field, for generating a chroma-clock signal for controlling a chroma sub-carrier.    
   
   
       51 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 50 , with the decoder means for synchronizing the rate of consumption to the decoder-clock signal.  
   
   
       52 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 50 , with the decoder means for shifting a time value in an output transport