JP2003348550A - Stream multiplexing method reproducing method, stream multiplexing apparatus, reproducing apparatus, and digital broadcast receiving apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stream multiplexing method, a reproducing method, a stream multiplexing apparatus reproducing apparatus, and a digital broadcast receiving apparatus in which a plurality of streams composed of different packet unit lengths are multiplexed to form a multiple transfer stream and the multiplexed bit stream is decoded to reproduce a packet signal for each of different kinds by a stream reproducing apparatus in simple configuration when reproducing the multiple transfer stream. <P>SOLUTION: Stream signals having the plurality of different packet unit lengths are temporarily aligned into packet unit length of an MPEG-TS stream, multiplexed and reproduced by adding packet headers 1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15 an 17 of the MPEG-TS stream for each packet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, and more particularly to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus for simultaneously inputting and reproducing a plurality of streams having different packet unit lengths such as BS digital broadcast, CS digital broadcast, and DVD-Video. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the practical use of BS digital broadcasting and CS digital broadcasting, digital broadcasting in which information such as video and audio is digitized, then multiplexed into packets and transmitted as a bit stream is performed. Is coming.

[0003] In such digital broadcasting, the unit length of packets when the information is packetized differs depending on the broadcasting system, medium, and the like.

For example, MPEG-TS (Transport-Stream) used for BS digital broadcasting and the like
In the case of the m) method, the packet unit length is 188 bytes. In this 188-byte unit packet, a PID (Packet Identif) which is a packet ID is included.
and a payload section for storing information such as video and audio.

On the other hand, DSS (Digital Signaling System) used for DirectTV, which is a kind of digital CS broadcasting in the United States, is used.
The packet unit length of a tal satellite system (stream) is 130 bytes. This 130
In the unit packet of bytes, the SCID which is the packet ID is similar to the packet in the MPEG-TS system.
(Service Channel Identify
, etc., and a transport block for storing information such as video and audio.

In recent years, with the rapid spread of such devices, DVDs (Dig) which have come into general use have been developed.
ital Video Disk or Digit
An alVersatile Disk) -Video stream has a packet length of 2048 bytes.

Conventionally, a plurality of pieces of stream information having different packet unit lengths are input to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, for example, a set-top box (hereinafter, referred to as STB) or the like, and an image display apparatus such as a monitor or a video When outputting to a storage device such as a tape or a disk as video output, audio output, or the like, signals having different packet unit lengths are multiplexed by a multiplexer that performs multiplexing, that is, the stream multiplexing device side has different packet unit lengths. In general, a stream is time-divided in packet units, combined and transmitted, and on the receiving side, a plurality of stream reproducing apparatuses corresponding to the type of stream before multiplexing are provided and decoded.

[0008] In such a configuration, the number of stream reproducing devices required for the number of types of streams to be multiplexed requires a large circuit scale, which has been a major problem in practical use.

In order to solve this problem, a technique of distributing and reproducing a multiplexed bit stream for different types of streams by one demultiplexer, that is, a stream reproducing apparatus, is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-2001-308.
No. 921 publication. This is a demultiplexer 101 having a configuration as shown in FIG.
In step 3, control is performed using a different clock or control parameter for each type of packet, and the separation unit 10 is controlled for each type of stream.
4, the image data is divided into the separation / storage means 106 to 108, subjected to image processing through a media processor, and output.

By configuring such a demultiplexer 101, it is not necessary to configure a demultiplexer for each signal to be reproduced and decoded, even for a bit stream in which different types of streams are multiplexed. By configuring the device, it was possible to extract streams for different types of signals.

[0011]

However, when the demultiplexer having the above-described configuration is used, complicated control for extracting a stream for each packet from a stream having a different packet unit length is performed on the demultiplexer side. This has to be performed, which increases the circuit scale of the control unit. This has been a major problem in practical use.

In the present invention, in view of the above-mentioned problems, a plurality of streams having different packet unit lengths are multiplexed to form a multiplex transfer stream, and the stream is reproduced in a simple structure. Stream multiplexing method and playback method, stream multiplexing device and playback device, and digital broadcast using them, capable of decoding multiplexed bit streams by devices and reproducing packet signals of different types An object is to provide a receiving device.

[0013]

According to the stream multiplexing method of the present invention, a plurality of streams each having a different packet unit length, each of which comprises fixed length packet information comprising a header information storage section and a data information storage section, are provided. A stream multiplexing method for performing multiplexing in accordance with a packet unit length of a predetermined stream, wherein a packet unit length of a stream to be multiplexed is shorter than a length of a data information storage unit in a unit packet of the predetermined stream. For each packet to be multiplexed in the stream to be multiplexed, a header information storage unit of the same format as the predetermined stream and a variable length packet length adjustment unit are added, and the packets are multiplex-transferred according to the packet unit length of the predetermined stream. It is characterized in that packets are composed and multiplexed.

Further, the stream multiplexing method of the present invention comprises:
A stream multiplexing method for multiplexing a plurality of streams each having a different packet unit length, each of which comprises fixed-length packet information including a header information storage unit and a data information storage unit, in accordance with the packet unit length of a predetermined stream. And the packet unit length of the stream to be multiplexed is
When the length of the data information storage unit in the unit packet of the predetermined stream is longer than the length of the data information storage unit in the unit packet of the predetermined stream, the unit packet to be multiplexed of the stream to be multiplexed is equal to the length of the data information storage unit in the unit packet of the predetermined stream. And a header information storage unit having the same format as that of the predetermined stream is added to each of the divided packets to form a multiplex transfer packet, and the unit length of the multiplex transfer packet is less than the packet unit length of the predetermined stream. For the multiplex transfer packet, a variable length packet length adjustment unit is further provided,
It is characterized in that multiplexing is performed in accordance with the packet unit length of a predetermined stream.

Further, a configuration may be employed in which flag information indicating the type of a stream before multiplexing to form a multiplex transfer packet is stored in a header information storage unit having the same format as a predetermined stream of the multiplex transfer packet.

The predetermined stream is an MPEG-TS
Stream, and the packet unit length of the predetermined stream may be 188 bytes.

Next, the stream multiplexing apparatus of the present invention
A stream multiplexing device that multiplexes a plurality of streams each having a different packet unit length, each of which is composed of fixed-length packet information including a header information storage unit and a data information storage unit, in accordance with the packet unit length of a predetermined stream. A synchronization processing unit for extracting information for each unit packet for each type of stream, a storage unit for storing the extracted information, and a packet unit of a packet constituting a stream to be multiplexed and stored in the storage unit When the length is shorter than the packet unit length of the predetermined stream, a header information storage unit having the same format as the predetermined stream and a variable length packet length adjustment unit are provided for each packet to be multiplexed of the stream to be multiplexed. A multiplexing process for adding and multiplexing a plurality of packets to be multiplexed in accordance with a packet unit length of a predetermined stream. It is characterized by comprising a.

Also, the stream multiplexing device of the present invention
A stream multiplexing device that multiplexes a plurality of streams each having a different packet unit length, each of which is composed of fixed-length packet information including a header information storage unit and a data information storage unit, in accordance with the packet unit length of a predetermined stream. For each type of stream, a synchronization processing unit for extracting information for each unit packet, a storage unit for storing the extracted information, and a packet unit length of a stream to be multiplexed are included in a unit packet of a predetermined stream. When the length is longer than the length of the data information storage unit, the unit packet to be multiplexed of the stream to be multiplexed is divided into a length equal to the length of the data information storage unit in the unit packet of the predetermined stream. When a packet is provided with a header information storage unit having the same format as a predetermined stream to form a multiplex transfer packet, For a multiplex transfer packet whose unit length is less than the packet unit length of the predetermined stream, a variable length packet length adjusting unit is further provided, and the multiplex transfer packet is adjusted to the packet unit length of the predetermined stream. It is characterized in that it has a multiplexing processing unit for making it multiplexed.

Further, a configuration may be adopted in which flag information indicating the type of a stream to be included in the multiplex transfer packet is stored in a packet header portion having the same format as a predetermined stream of the multiplex transfer packet.

Further, if the predetermined stream is MPEG-T
The stream may be an S stream, and the packet unit length of the predetermined stream may be 188 bytes.

Next, according to the stream reproducing method of the present invention, a plurality of streams having different packet unit lengths are multiplexed,
A stream reproducing method for separating a plurality of streams before multiplexing from a multiplexed transport stream composed of multiplexed transport packets having a predetermined packet unit length and reproducing each signal, wherein the stream is stored in a header information storage unit of the multiplexed transport packet. With reference to the flag information indicating the type of stream before multiplexing, the type of stream before multiplexing is determined, and for each multiplex transfer packet, the header information storage unit and the packet length adjustment unit are extracted and the remaining The reproduced information is returned to the packet configuration of the stream before multiplexing and reproduced.

Also, the stream reproducing apparatus of the present invention converts a plurality of streams of a predetermined packet unit length into a plurality of streams of a predetermined packet unit length into a plurality of streams before the multiplexing. What is claimed is: 1. A stream reproducing apparatus which separates information and reproduces each signal, comprising: a synchronization processing unit for extracting information of a multiplex transfer stream for each multiplex transfer packet; and a header information storage unit for a multiplex transfer packet for each multiplex transfer packet. The type of the stream before multiplexing is determined based on the flag information stored in the header information, the header information storage unit and the packet length adjustment unit are extracted, and the remaining information is output to a different system for each type of stream before multiplexing. It is characterized by comprising an analysis processing unit and a storage unit for storing information output for each type for each type.

Next, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention inputs a plurality of streams each having a different packet unit length, each of which comprises fixed-length packet information comprising a header information storage section and a data information storage section. A digital broadcast receiving device for outputting at least one of a signal and an audio signal, wherein the digital broadcast receiving device includes the stream multiplexing device of the present invention.

Further, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to the present invention
Digital broadcast reception in which a plurality of streams each having a different packet unit length, each composed of fixed-length packet information including a header information storage unit and a data information storage unit, are input and at least one of a video signal and an audio signal is output An apparatus comprising the stream reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) As Embodiment 1 of the present invention, a stream multiplexing method and a stream reproducing method will be described first.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of packet signals of various streams to be multiplexed. Hereinafter, for examples of packet signals of various streams to be multiplexed,
It will be described in order.

First, FIG. 1A shows an MPEG-TS (Tra) which is widely used for transmission of BS digital broadcasting and the like.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a packet configuration of an (nportStream) stream. In such an MPEG-TS stream, a T having a packet unit length of 188 bytes is used.
A bit stream is formed in a form in which packets called S packets are continuous. One TS packet has a packet ID PID (Pack
(etID) and the like, and a packet header section which is a header information storage section in which a signal such as video and audio is stored.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, a DSS stream used for transmission of some CS digital broadcasts and the like stores a prefix portion storing an SCID and information such as video and audio. The packet unit length of the total of the transport block units is 130 bytes and is formed of a unit packet. Hereinafter, in the present specification, a prefix part which is a header information storage part in a DSS stream is described as a packet header part, and a transport block part which is a data information storage part is described as a payload part.

Further, the DVD-V shown in FIG.
As for the information of the video stream, the packet unit length obtained by adding the packet header portion and the payload portion is a fixed length of 2048 bytes.

In order to multiplex such various streams having different packet unit lengths so as to output them from one output system, the stream multiplexing method of the present invention employs the packet multiplexing method shown in FIG. Form and transfer a multiplexed transport stream.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the packet structure of the multiplex transfer packet constituting the multiplex transfer stream according to the present invention is as shown in FIG.
), An MPEG-TS packet (packet A),
Packets are arranged in the order of DSS packet (packet B), MPEG-TS packet (packet C), and DVD-Video packet (packets D and E). In addition, the packet unit length of the multiplex transfer packet according to the present embodiment is set to 188 bytes, which is the same as the packet unit length of the MPEG-TS stream.

First, in order to configure the multiplex transfer stream of the present embodiment, an MPEG-stream as shown in FIG.
As for the TS stream, one packet of the MPEG-TS stream, that is, a set of packet header portions MH1
The packet including the payload portion M-PLD2 forms the multiplex transfer packet A as it is. Similarly, for packet C, a set of packet header portions MH1
1 and the payload section M-PLD12 constitute a multiplex transfer packet C as it is.

Next, when the stream to be multiplexed is a DSS stream having a packet unit length of 130 bytes as shown in FIG. 1B, as shown in packet B of FIG. The multiplex transfer packet B is composed of a packet header MH8 described in the MPEG-TS stream format, a prefix DH3 of the DSS stream, and a transport block DSS-PLD4. At this time, the packet unit length of one packet of the DSS stream is 130 bytes.
Stream prefix part DH3 and MPEG-TS
An adaptation field 7, which is a variable-length data length adjusting unit composed of null information, is stuffed between the stream packet header MH8. By adjusting the length of the adaptation field 7, the length of the multiplex transfer packet including the packet header MH8, the adaptation field 7, the DSS packet header DH3, and the DSS payload information DSS-PLD12 is adjusted to be 188 bytes.

Next, the packet unit length of the stream to be multiplexed is a predetermined stream (such as the MP-MP in this embodiment) such as a DVD-Video stream.
If the length of the payload portion of the packet unit length of the EG-TS is longer (184 bytes in the present embodiment), the multiplex transfer stream as shown in the packets D to Z in FIG. Is configured.

That is, the DVD-ROM shown in FIG.
A unit packet including a packet header portion DVDH5 and a payload portion DVD-PLD6 of the Video stream is transmitted to a predetermined stream (in this embodiment, MP
EG-TS), the payload M-
Divide evenly to the length of the PLD portion.

Next, as shown in FIG.
The packet header part MH9 of the PEG-TS stream is arranged, and thereafter the packet divided earlier is arranged. That is, first, the packet header DVDH5 described in the DVD-Video stream format and the divided DV
A multiplex transfer packet D composed of the D payload information DVD-PLD 13 and having its packet unit length adjusted to 188 bytes is configured. Further, as the next packet E, the packet header MH10 of the MPEG-TS stream including the DVD payload information DVD-PLD14 following the DVD payload information DVD-PLD13 of the DVD packet divided earlier, the second DVD payload information DVD- A multiplex transfer packet E composed of the PLD 14 and having a packet unit length of 188 bytes is formed.

Hereinafter, as described above, the MPEG-TS
The packet header of the stream is stored, and the information of the divided DVD packets is sequentially arranged to have a length of 188.
Construct a plurality of byte multiplex transfer packets. FIG. 2 (b)
As shown in the multiplex transfer packet Z, when the multiplex transfer packet Z is less than 188 bytes, the adaptation field 16 composed of null information is stuffed to form a multiplex transfer packet adjusted to 188 bytes. .

Although the case where null information is stored in the adaptation field of the present embodiment has been described, the data length adjusting unit of the present invention does not limit the stored information to null information, It may be stored.

The multiplex transfer packet is constructed as described above, and the packet headers MH1, 8, 11, 9, 10 of the MPEG-TS stream stored at the head of each of the multiplex transfer packets A to Z in FIG. In the PID portion, the packet type of each multiplex transfer packet before multiplexing is input as flag information. For example, if the packet type before multiplexing is an MPEG-TS stream, the PID
= 1, PID = 2 for a DSS stream, and PID for a DVD-Video stream
= 3.

In this way, various streams having various packet unit lengths are multiplexed to form a multiplex transfer stream composed of multiplex transfer packets. As a result, a multiplex transfer packet is formed in which the packet unit length is 188 bytes and the header portion of each unit packet is the packet header portion MH described in the MPEG-TS stream system.

By configuring a multiplex transfer packet using such a stream multiplexing method of the present invention, when each multiplex transfer packet is received on the receiving side, the packet unit length is equal to 188 bytes. So, conventional MPEG
-Multiplexed packets can be extracted by synchronizing using only the synchronization device used when extracting the packet signal from the TS stream. There is no need to configure a plurality of synchronization circuits in accordance with the packet unit length of each stream.

Next, a method of reproducing a multiplexed stream multiplexed using the stream multiplexing method of the present invention will be described.

On the reproducing side, when reproducing the multiplexed stream, it is stored at the head of each multiplex transfer packet in synchronization only with the synchronizing device, which has been conventionally used for receiving the MPEG-TS stream. The packet header MH is taken out, and based on the flag information stored in the PID portion of each packet header MH, the respective stream information is stored in a plurality of storage devices for storing each stream. In this case, the null information stored in the adaptation field in each multiplex transfer packet, and the multiplex transfer packet formed by multiplexing a stream other than the MPEG-TS stream,
The information stored in the packet header MH described in the PEG-TS format may be deleted, and the remaining information may be stored in a storage device.

For example, when the multiplex transfer stream shown in FIG. 2A is sent to the playback side, the MPEG-
The packets A and C composed of the TS stream are stored as they are in the storage device provided for the MPEG-TS stream, and the packet B composed by multiplexing the DSS stream is described in the MPEG-TS stream format. Then, the packet header MH8 and the adaptation field 7 are deleted and stored in the storage device where the DSS stream is to be stored. Furthermore, DVD-V
Packet D composed by multiplexing the video stream
Or packet Z, packet headers MH9, 10, 1 and 1 described in the MPEG-TS stream format.
5, and the adaptation field 16 are deleted and stored in the storage device where the DVD-Video stream is to be stored.

By using such a multiplex stream reproducing method, a plurality of packet signals of each type can be extracted from a multiplexed stream using a single synchronous circuit without using a plurality of synchronous circuits. Becomes

As described above, according to the stream multiplexing method of the present invention, when multiplexing stream information having a plurality of types of packet unit lengths, all the stream information is adjusted so as to have a predetermined packet unit length. Become The packet header of the multiplex transfer packet created by multiplexing stores a packet header described in a packet format (in the present embodiment, an MPEG-TS stream) to be a predetermined packet unit length.

Thus, on the receiving side, a multiplexed stream is reproduced by providing one kind of synchronization circuit so that information of a predetermined packet unit length can be taken out without providing a plurality of synchronization circuits, and a packet is reproduced. Since each signal can be extracted and the contents of the packet header can be detected, each packet can be sorted by type.

In the present embodiment, the order of the multiplex transfer packet information forming the multiplex transfer stream is
Although the case of MPEG-TS, DSS, and DVD-Video has been described, the present invention does not limit the configuration order of packets of a stream to be multiplexed in a multiplex transfer stream.

In this embodiment, the streams to be multiplexed are MPEG-TS, DSS, DVD-Vi
Although the case of “deo” is shown, the stream multiplexing method and the reproducing method of the present invention are not limited to these, and it goes without saying that bit stream information composed of packets may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the predetermined packet unit length of the multiplex transfer packet is the MPEG-TS
Although the description has been made assuming that the length is 188 bytes, which is the same as the packet unit length of the stream, the stream multiplexing method and the reproducing method of the present invention are not limited thereto.
It is needless to say that the packet unit length of the multiplex transfer packet is not limited as long as the transfer and reproduction are performed by adjusting the unit length of the multiplex transfer packet to be unitary.

(Embodiment 2) Next, in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, as described in Embodiment 1,
A stream multiplexing device and a playback device for realizing the stream multiplexing method and the playback method will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the stream multiplexing apparatus and the stream reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.
In the present embodiment, description will be made assuming that there are three types of streams to be multiplexed: an MPEG-TS stream, a DSS stream, and a DVD-Video stream.

In FIG. 3, the stream multiplexing device 31
Are input terminals 44, 45, and 46, which are input ports of information of different streams, a multiplex processing unit 37 for multiplexing each stream, and a synchronization process for signal processing of an MPEG-TS stream. Unit 53, a stream storage memory 52, a synchronization processing unit 33 for processing a DSS stream, a stream storage memory 35, a synchronization processing unit 34 for processing a DVD-Video stream, a storage memory 36, and a multiplexing unit. And an output terminal 50 for outputting the converted stream.

Next, the operation of such a stream multiplexer will be described.

First, when the input signal is an MPEG-TS stream, the synchronization processing section 53 is input from the input terminal 44.
The signal for each packet is sent to the stream storage memory 5.
2 is stored. The information output from the stream storage memory 52 is sent to the multiplex processing unit 37.

The multiplexing processing unit 37 converts one of the multiplex transfer packets shown in the packets A and C in FIG. 2A based on the stream multiplexing method described in the first embodiment. Form a part. In the PID part of the packet headers MH1 and MH11, information of PID = 1 indicating that the multiplexed packet information is an MPEG-TS stream is stored.

Next, the DSS stream is sent from the input terminal 45 to the synchronization processor 33, and the signal for each packet is stored in the stream storage memory 35. The information output from the stream storage memory 35 is sent to the multiplex processing unit 37.

The multiplexing processing section 37 performs the MPEG multiplexing as shown in the packet B of FIG. 2A based on the stream multiplexing method as described in the first embodiment.
-TS stream packet header MH, adaptation field, DSS packet header DH and DS
A multiplex transfer packet composed of S payload information and having a length adjusted to 188 bytes is configured. The PID part of the packet header MH indicates that the multiplexed packet information was a DSS stream.
= 2 is stored.

Further, the DVD-Video stream is sent from the input terminal 46 to the synchronization processing section 34,
The signal for each packet is stored in the stream storage memory 36. The information output from the stream storage memory 36 is sent to the multiplexing processing unit 37, and based on the stream multiplexing method described in the first embodiment, the packets D to Z in FIG. MP as shown in
A multiplex transfer packet including the packet header MH of the EG-TS stream, the adaptation field, and the divided DVD-payload information and having a length adjusted to 188 bytes is configured. Also, the P of the packet header MH
Information of PID = 3 indicating that the multiplexed packet information is a DVD-Video stream is stored in the portions of IDs 9, 10, 15, and 17.

By forming in this manner, a plurality of pieces of stream information having different packet unit lengths input from the input terminals 44, 45, and 46 are multiplexed and will be described in the first embodiment. As shown, the packet unit length is 188 bytes, and the header part of each unit packet is M
A multiplex transfer packet, which is the packet header portion MH of the PEG-TS stream, can be configured, and the stream multiplexing device 31 that outputs the multiplex transfer packet from the output terminal 50 can be configured.

Next, the multiplex stream reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be described. In FIG. 3, a multiplexed stream reproducing device 32 analyzes an multiplexed packet by an input terminal 51 to which the multiplexed stream is input, a synchronization processing unit 38 for extracting a signal for each multiplexed packet of the multiplexed stream, and And a stream storage memories 40 and 41 for storing information of each reproduced stream, a DSS decoder 42, a DVD decoder 43, and an output terminal 4 for outputting respective signals.
7, 48, and 49. Each output signal is
It is separated into a video output and an audio output via a known media processor or the like and output to an image recording device such as a video device or an image display device such as a monitor.

The operation of such a multiplex stream reproducing apparatus will be described below.

In the multiplex stream reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the configuration and operation when reproducing a multiplex transfer stream obtained by multiplexing an MPEG-TS stream, a DSS stream, and a DVD-Video stream will be described.

First, a multiplex transfer stream having a multiplex transfer packet structure as shown in FIG.
Is entered from

The information input from the input terminal 51 is first input to the synchronization processing unit 38. Here, MPEG-T
The signal of the multiplex transfer packet forming the multiplex transfer stream is extracted for each packet in synchronization with each clock at which packet information can be extracted from the S stream.

Since the multiplex transfer stream has a packet unit length of 188 bytes, which is the same as the MPEG-TS stream, the synchronization circuit for extracting the information of the existing MPEG-TS stream for each packet is used as it is. be able to.

Next, the multiplex transfer packet extracted for each 188-byte packet is input to the analysis processing unit 39. In the analysis processing unit 39, first, the P of the packet header MH is
Packet information before multiplexing stored in the ID,
(That is, in the present embodiment, PID = 1 indicates an MPEG-TS stream, PID = 2 indicates a DSS stream, and PID = 3 indicates a DVD-V
video stream). Next, based on the extracted original stream information, the first embodiment
The decoding is performed as shown in FIG.

Then, a stream signal for each stream before multiplexing is output from the output terminals 47 to 49.

With such a configuration, the synchronous processing section of the stream reproducing apparatus can reproduce the multiplexed stream only by the synchronous processing section for extracting the signal of the MPEG-TS packet.

When the stream multiplexing apparatus and the stream reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment are used, the wiring between the stream multiplexing apparatus and the stream reproducing apparatus can be reduced to one, and the circuit configuration can be simplified. Can be achieved.

In the present embodiment, the order of the multiplex transfer packet information forming the multiplex transfer stream is
Although the case of MPEG-TS, DSS, and DVD-Video has been described, the present invention does not limit the configuration order of packets of a stream to be multiplexed in a multiplex transfer stream.

In this embodiment, the streams to be multiplexed are MPEG-TS, DSS, DVD-Vi
Although the case of “deo” is shown, the stream multiplexing apparatus and the reproducing apparatus of the present invention are not limited to these, and it goes without saying that bit stream information composed of packets may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the predetermined packet unit length of the multiplex transfer packet is the MPEG-TS
The stream multiplexing device and the reproducing device according to the present invention are described as being 188 bytes, which is the same as the unit length of the packet constituting the stream.
It is needless to say that the device unit for transferring and reproducing the data by adjusting the unit length of the multiplex transfer packet to be a single unit does not limit the packet unit length of the multiplex transfer packet.

(Embodiment 3) Next, as Embodiment 3 of the present invention, a configuration of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus provided with a stream multiplexing apparatus and a stream reproducing apparatus as described in Embodiment 2 will be described. ,explain. In the present embodiment, STB (S
The description will be made by taking the configuration of “EtTopBox” as an example.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital broadcast receiving device.

STB 200 according to the present embodiment has a configuration including stream multiplexing apparatus 215 and stream reproducing apparatus 216 as described in the second embodiment.

First, a plurality of streams having different packet unit lengths received by an antenna or the like are input to tuners 202 and 212 provided for each stream.

In the STB 200 shown in FIG. 4, for example, a DSS stream is input to the tuner 202,
The demodulated signal is demodulated by the demodulation unit 203, the error is corrected by the error correction unit 204, for example, when the data is mixed during transmission, and is input to the stream multiplexer 215.

Similarly, the MPEG-TS stream is input to the tuner 212, demodulated by the demodulation unit 213, corrected for errors such as mixing during transmission by the error correction unit 214, and input to the stream multiplexer 215. Is done.

Also, D provided inside the STB 200
The DVD-Video output from the VD 230 is also input to the stream multiplexer 215.

The stream multiplexing device 215 performs multiplexing as described in the first and second embodiments, and multiplexes the multiplexed data into 188 bytes, which is the same as the packet unit length of the MPEG-TS stream. The packet is transmitted to the stream reproducing device 216. In this case, the CPU
The control unit 22 including the program memory 224 and the program memory 225
7 gives the stream multiplexing apparatus flag information indicating the stream format before multiplexing to be stored in the PID of the header information storage unit of the multiplex transfer packet.

Next, the stream reproducing apparatus 216 reproduces and decodes the stream as described in the first and second embodiments according to the type of each stream before multiplexing. , Stored in the memory 217.

Then, the desired stream information input from the user input unit 226 is transmitted to the audio decoder 218 or the video decoder 219 according to the instruction of the control unit 227 by the panel operation or the remote control operation by the user. EPG (ElectricProgramGu) stored in the VRAM 221 displayed on the screen
ide) and the like, and are combined in the combining unit 220.
Output from STB200.

The output audio signal is sent to an audio output unit 222 such as a speaker, and the video data is sent to a video output unit 223 such as a display, so that the user can view it.

By using the STB having such a configuration, it is possible to transfer between the stream multiplexing device 215 and the stream reproducing device 216 by transferring a 188-byte multiplex transfer packet which is the packet unit length of the MPEG-TS stream. Since it is possible, only one wire is required between the stream multiplexing device 215 and the stream reproducing device 216. Even when such a device is created using an LSI or the like, only one connection is required between the module forming the stream multiplexing device 215 and the module forming the stream reproducing device 216, and the circuit scale is reduced. can do.

Also, by using a digital broadcast receiving apparatus such as the STB of the present embodiment, the multiplex transfer packet has the same packet unit length as the MPEG-TS stream. The clock generating device and the signal detecting device of the stream reproducing device for the MPEG-TS stream can be used as they are.

By using the digital broadcast receiving apparatus having such a configuration, MPEG-TS, DSS, DVD-Video can be realized with a simple configuration based on a conventional stream multiplexing apparatus and stream reproducing apparatus for MPEG-TS.
A digital broadcast receiving apparatus that inputs a plurality of different signals such as “o” and performs video output and audio output can be configured.

In this embodiment, STB2
The types of streams input to 00 are DSS stream, MPEG-TS stream, and DVD-Vid.
eo stream has been described as three types,
The digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention does not limit the type of input stream or the number of inputs. For example, C
It is needless to say that digital stream information from devices such as D and HDD may be input.

Further, in STB 200 of the present embodiment, the embodiment in which DVD 230 is incorporated has been described, but the digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, external DVD, CD, HDD, I
It goes without saying that a configuration in which a digital stream is directly input from a device such as a C card via a line or the like, or a configuration in which a device such as a CD, HDD, or IC card is incorporated may be employed.

The digital broadcast receiving apparatus of the present invention
The present invention is not limited to the STB described in this embodiment. For example,
It goes without saying that the digital broadcast receiving device of the present invention may be a video or audio device that receives and reproduces digital information such as a television receiver, a video deck, a video disk device, and a digital radio.

[0092]

As described above, when the stream multiplexing method and the reproducing method, the stream multiplexing apparatus and the reproducing apparatus, and the digital broadcast receiving apparatus using the same according to the present invention are used, a plurality of different packet unit lengths are obtained. The stream signal is once adjusted to the packet unit length of the MPEG-TS stream, and the MPEG-T
Since the packet is multiplexed and reproduced by adding the packet header of the S stream, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus can be configured with a simple configuration using an existing MPEG-TS synchronization circuit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a packet structure of a stream to be multiplexed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a packet structure of a multiplex transport stream according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a stream multiplexing device and a stream reproducing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional stream reproducing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 17 Packet header section MH 2, 12 Payload section M-PLD 3 Prefix section DH 4 Transport block section DSS-PLD 5 Packet header section DVDH 6 Payload section DVD-PLD 7, 16 Adaptation fields 13, 14 DVD payload information DVD-PLD 31, 215 Stream multiplexers 32, 216 Stream reproducers 33, 34, 38, 53 Synchronization processors 35, 36, 52 Stream storage memory 37 Multiplexer 39 Analysis Processing units 40, 41 Stream storage memory 42 DSS decoder 43 DVD decoder 44, 45, 46, 51 Input terminal 47, 48, 49, 50 Output terminal 200 STB 202, 212 Tuner 203, 213 Demodulation unit 204, 214 Error correction unit 2 17 Memory 218 Audio decoder 219 Video decoder 220 Compositing unit 221 VRAM 222 Audio output unit 223 Video output unit 224 CPU 225 Program memory 226 User input unit 227 Control unit 230 DVD

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of streams each having a packet unit length different from each other and composed of fixed-length packet information comprising a header information storage unit and a data information storage unit are multiplexed in accordance with the packet unit length of a predetermined stream. A stream multiplexing method, wherein a packet unit length of a stream to be multiplexed is shorter than a length of a data information storage unit in a unit packet of the predetermined stream. A header information storage unit having the same format as the predetermined stream, and a variable length packet length adjustment unit, and multiplexed packets are configured and multiplexed in accordance with the packet unit length of the predetermined stream. A stream multiplexing method characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. A plurality of streams each having a different packet unit length, each comprising a fixed-length packet information comprising a header information storage unit and a data information storage unit, are multiplexed to a predetermined stream packet unit length. A stream multiplexing method, comprising: when a packet unit length of a stream to be multiplexed is longer than a length of a data information storage unit in a unit packet of the predetermined stream, a unit packet to be multiplexed of the stream to be multiplexed. Is divided into a length equal to the length of the data information storage unit in the unit packet of the predetermined stream, and a header information storage unit of the same format as that of the predetermined stream is added to each of the divided packets to multiplex transfer packets. And the unit length of the multiplex transfer packet is less than the packet unit length of the predetermined stream. A stream multiplexing method, further comprising: adding a variable length packet length adjusting unit to a multiplexed transfer packet to make the packet unit length of the predetermined stream equal to the packet unit length. 3. A header information storage unit having the same format as the predetermined stream of the multiplex transfer packet, wherein flag information indicating the type of a stream before multiplexing to form the multiplex transfer packet is stored. The stream multiplexing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined stream is an MPEG-TS
4. The stream multiplexing method according to claim 1, wherein the stream is a stream, and a packet unit length of the predetermined stream is 188 bytes. 5. A plurality of streams each having a different packet unit length, each of which comprises fixed-length packet information comprising a header information storage unit and a data information storage unit, are multiplexed in accordance with a predetermined stream unit packet length. A stream multiplexing device, comprising: a synchronization processing unit for extracting information for each unit packet for each type of stream; a storage unit for storing the extracted information; and a multiplexing unit stored in the storage unit. When a packet unit length of a packet constituting a stream is shorter than a packet unit length of the predetermined stream, a header information storage unit having the same format as the predetermined stream for each packet to be multiplexed of the stream to be multiplexed. When,
A stream multiplexing device, comprising: a multiplexing processing unit which is provided with a variable length packet length adjusting unit, and configures and multiplexes a multiplexed transfer packet in accordance with the packet unit length of the predetermined stream. 6. A plurality of streams each having a different packet unit length, each comprising a fixed-length packet information comprising a header information storage unit and a data information storage unit, are multiplexed in accordance with a predetermined stream unit packet length. A stream multiplexing device, wherein, for each type of stream, a synchronization processing unit for extracting information for each unit packet; a storage unit for storing the extracted information; and a packet unit length of a stream to be multiplexed, If the length of the data information storage unit in the unit packet of the predetermined stream is longer than the length of the data information storage unit in the unit packet of the predetermined stream, the unit packet to be multiplexed of the stream to be multiplexed is equal to the length of the data information storage unit in the unit packet of the predetermined stream. Divided into lengths, and in each divided packet, store header information in the same format as the predetermined stream And a multiplex transfer packet is configured, and for a multiplex transfer packet whose unit length of the multiplex transfer packet is less than the packet unit length of the predetermined stream, a variable length packet length adjusting unit is further provided, A stream multiplexing apparatus, comprising: a multiplexing processing unit that multiplexes the stream in accordance with the packet unit length of the predetermined stream. 7. The packet header part of the same format as that of the predetermined stream of the multiplex transfer packet, the flag information indicating a type of a stream that should form the multiplex transfer packet is stored. Claim 6
Stream multiplexing apparatus. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined stream is an MPEG-TS
The stream multiplexing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the stream multiplexing apparatus is a stream, and a packet unit length of the predetermined stream is 188 bytes. 9. A method for separating a plurality of streams before multiplexing from a multiplexed transport stream composed of multiplexed transport packets of a predetermined packet unit length, in which a plurality of streams of different packet unit lengths are multiplexed. A stream reproduction method for reproducing the stream, wherein the type of the stream before the multiplexing is determined by referring to the flag information indicating the type of the stream before the multiplexing stored in the header information storage unit of the multiplex transfer packet. A stream reproducing method for extracting the header information storing unit and the packet length adjusting unit for each of the multiplex transfer packets, and restoring the remaining information to the packet structure of the stream before multiplexing and reproducing the stream; . 10. A plurality of stream information before multiplexing is separated from a multiplex transfer stream composed of multiplex transfer packets of a predetermined packet unit length in which a plurality of streams of different packet unit lengths are multiplexed. A stream reproducing apparatus that reproduces a signal, comprising: a synchronization processing unit that extracts information of the multiplex transfer stream for each of the multiplex transfer packets; and a synchronization processing unit that stores the information of the multiplex transfer packet in a header information storage unit of the multiplex transfer packet. The type of the stream before multiplexing is determined based on the flag information, the header information storage unit and the packet length adjusting unit are extracted, and the remaining information is output to a different system for each type of stream before multiplexing. An analysis processing unit; and a storage unit for storing the information output for each type, for each type. Ream playback device. 11. A plurality of streams each having a different packet unit length, each of which is composed of fixed-length packet information comprising a header information storage section and a data information storage section, and receives at least one of a video signal and an audio signal. A digital broadcast receiving device for outputting, comprising the stream multiplexing device according to any one of claims 5 to 8. 12. A plurality of streams each having a different packet unit length, each comprising a fixed-length packet information comprising a header information storage section and a data information storage section, and at least one of a video signal and an audio signal is input. A digital broadcast receiving apparatus for outputting, comprising the stream reproducing apparatus according to claim 10.