Dynamic mapping of broadcast resources

摘要

In a data communication system such as a high capacity DBS system, dynamic mapping of broadcast resources (BR) is provided to exploit occasional redundancy in the program content of two or more input data streams (IN), freeing at least one broadcast resource to carry alternate bitstreams, such as additional programs or existing programs at higher quality. Transmission maps (30) defining the correspondence between input data streams and broadcast resources, and reception maps (40) defining the correspondence between broadcast resources and output data streams, are updated as needed to dynamically modify broadcast resource mapping to increase effective utilization of available bandwidth. Beneficial n : n-y : m mapping in a high capacity consumer DBS entertainment system is provided. Apparatus and methods for efficiently generating, maintaining and updating allocation maps (30, 40) with reduced overhead requirements, are disclosed.