Digitally compressed video/audio bit streams, when transmitted over digital
communication channels such as digital subscriber loop (DSL) access networks, ATM
networks, satellite, or wireless digital transmission facilities, can be corrupted
due to lack of sufficient channel bandwidth. This invention describes schemes to
ensure lossless transmission of bit streams containing pre-compressed video signals
within the communication channels. The schemes herein comprises a rate conversion
system that converts the bit rate of a pre-compressed video bit stream from one
bit rate to another, and that is integrated with a digital communication channel,
and to convey the maximum channel transmission rate to the rate conversion system
to allow satisfactory transmission of the bit stream from the input of the rate
converter through the transmission facility.
