Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and apparatus for transmitting information with a video signal. At least one client application creates a message to be transmitted to a receiver. The client application transmits the message to a data encoder and the encoder receives the message and other messages from other client applications. The encoder transforms the message and the other messages into packets and multiplexes them into a bitstream to be encoded with a video programming signal. The multiplexing is performed according to priorities assigned to the at least one client application and the other client applications. The encoder transmits the bitstream to a video encoder to transmit the bitstream with the video programming signal in order to be received by a decoder. The decoder can then decode the information from the video signal and transmit the information to at least one decoder client application. The client applications may include: a status application which transmits a status information (e.g. time references) at regular intervals; a program application which transmits descriptive information of the video programming synchronized with the video signal (e.g. program markers and/or program text, such as closed-captions and/or subtitles); and a non-program application. The status application may have a highest priority, the program application has a next highest of priority, and the non-programming signal has a lowest priority.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim