The invention provides systems and methods for providing compressed video
data from multiple bit streams. The systems and methods apply a two-stage
strategy. In the first stage, a conditioning step is performed on a bit
stream comprising compressed video data which outputs a conditioned bit
stream that is able to receive digital insertions without subsequent
decompression of the compressed video data or removal from network
packets. The conditioning includes recoding an incoming bit stream such
that compressed video data in the bit stream immediately before and after
a splice point does not have temporal reliance across the splice point.
In the second stage, e.g., at a downstream network device, splicing of
compressed video data from a second bit stream into the conditioned bit
stream is performed. The splicing takes advantage of the changes made to
the conditioned bit stream and may occur at the network packet level.