Compressed digital multi-channel video communications system having one or more auxiliary channels to accomodate high bit rates

摘要

A compressed digital multi-channel video communications system having at least one auxiliary channel. The other channels are assigned to respective program sources. These channels are prioritized. The auxiliary channel works with the assigned channel which has the highest priority and which also requires additional bit capacity; the two channels carry bit streams whose combined rate exceeds the highest bit rate that can be carried by a regularly assigned channel. As the needs of the assigned channels continuously change, the auxiliary channel works with different channels.