METHOD AND APPARATUS OF TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING VARIABLE BIT RATE STREAMS

摘要

A method of encoding variable bit rate (VBR) data includes converting a source VBR data stream to a continuous bit rate (CBR) data stream by inserting null packets into the source VBR data stream. Time stamps are inserted into packets of the CBR data stream at an insertion interval. Consecutive null packets in the CBR data stream are replaced with replaced to provide an output VBR data stream. The indication of the member of consecutive null packets indication of the number of consecutive null packets is carried in a user data packet (UDP), ATM cell or Internet Protocol packet. The output VBR data stream is transmitted over a communications medium and received at a decoder. At the decoder, the UDP, ATM cell or IP packet is replaced with the number of consecutive null packets replaced to provide a received CBR data stream. Time stamps can be retrieved from the CBR data stream to derive a local system clock for use in further decoding the CBR data stream content.