SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTIPLEXING A PLURALITY OF DIGITAL PROGRAM SERVICES FOR TRANSMISSION TO REMOTE LOCATIONS

摘要

2149426 9410802 PCTABS00032 A system and method for multiplexing a plurality of digital programs for transmission to a plurality of remote locations is claimed (20). An encoder (16) is provided that first generates a plurality of subframe data streams (60) each comprising a continuous sequence of subframes. For each subframe data stream, portions of the program data region of each of the subframes in that subframe data stream are allocated to selected ones of the plurality of programs. Mapping information is provided in the transport layer region of each subframe for use by a decoder in extracting a selected program from each subframe. A multiplex data stream is then generated at the encoder that comprises a continuous sequence of superframes (66). A portion of the subframe data region of each superframe is allocated to at least one subframe from each of the plurality of subframe data streams. The multiplex data stream is then transmitted to the plurality of remote locations.