Compressed-video distribution system having a statistical multiplexer with transcoders

摘要

A compressed video decoder/encoder (reencoder) system for varying the compression ratio of a compressed video program. The composite reencoder system implements tightly coupled elements for decoding and encoding compressed video data implementing techniques of header forwarding and utilizing an architecture in which a shared motion compensator supports both decoding and encoding operations simultaneously. The reencoder system may be introduced in a statistical multiplexer for generating a compressed video data stream multiplex suitable for use in cable distribution and other video distribution systems.