Formatumwandlung für Fernsehsignal mit Halterung eines gemeinsamen Kontrolldatenstroms

摘要

Television signals are converted from a first format to a plurality of different formats while retaining a common control data stream. A first television signal in a first format is separated into a first signal portion (12, 14) carrying television information and a second signal portion (12, 16) carrying control data. The first signal portion is reformatted into a second format (22). The second signal portion is combined with the reformatted first signal portion to provide a second television signal (22, 28, 32). In this manner, a plurality of television signals having different formats can be transmitted with common control data, e.g., for controlling access to television programming.