Compressed Timing Indicators for Media Samples

• US 20070009049A1
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sullivan, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,633,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.280
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/66 for reducing bandwidth of signals; for improving efficiency of transmission H04B1/68 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23608 Remultiplexing multiplex streams, e.g. involving modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/52 Systems for transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals, e.g. an audio signal or a synchronizing signal assembling of a multiplex stream by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, assembling of a packetised elementary stream at server side H04N21/236; disassembling of a multiplex stream, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, extraction or processing of Service Information, disassembling of packetised elementary stream at client side H04N21/434

Abstract

A first frame of data is encoded and a first timestamp associated with the first frame of data is generated. The first timestamp includes complete timing information. The first frame of data and the associated first timestamp is transmitted to a destination. A second frame of data is encoded and a second timestamp associated with the second frame of data is generated. The second timestamp includes a portion of the complete timing information. The second frame of data and the associated second timestamp is then transmitted to the destination. Additional frames of data are encoded and additional timestamps associated with the additional frames of data are generated. The majority of the additional timestamps include a portion of the complete timing information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

encoding a first frame of data;

generating a first timestamp associated with the first frame of data, wherein the first timestamp is a full timestamp that includes complete timing information;

transmitting the first frame of data and the associated first timestamp to a destination;

encoding a second frame of data;

generating a second timestamp associated with the second frame of data, wherein the second timestamp is a compressed timestamp that omits a portion of the complete timing information; and

transmitting the second frame of data and the associated second timestamp to the destination.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

encoding a third frame of data;

generating a third timestamp associated with the third frame of data, wherein the third timestamp omits a portion of the complete timing information; and

transmitting the third frame of data and the associated third timestamp to the destination.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

identifying timing information related to transmitting the first and second frames of data; and

transmitting the timing information to the destination.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first timestamp includes hour information, minute information, second information, and a frame number.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first timestamp includes an offset value that is used to relate the time associated with a frame of data to true time.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the second timestamp includes a frame number.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

encoding a plurality of frames of data; and

generating additional timestamps associated with each of the plurality of frames of data, wherein the majority of the additional timestamps include omit a portion of the complete timing information.

8. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 1.

9. A method comprising:

receiving a first frame of data;

receiving a first timestamp associated with the first frame of data, wherein the first timestamp is a full timestamp that includes complete timing information for the first frame of data;

receiving a second frame of data; and

receiving a second timestamp associated with the second frame of data, wherein the second timestamp is a compressed timestamp that omits a portion of the timing information.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising decoding the first frame of data and the second frame of data.

11. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising:

receiving a third frame of data;

receiving a third timestamp associated with the third frame of data, wherein the third timestamp omits a portion of the timing information; and

decoding the third frame of data.

12. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising receiving timing information related to the manner in which frames of data are transmitted from a data source.

13. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein receiving the first timestamp includes updating all timing parameters with the information contained in the first timestamp.

14. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein receiving the second timestamp includes updating timing parameters with the information contained in the second timestamp.

15. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 9.

16. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

encode a first frame of data;

generate a first timestamp associated with the first frame of data, wherein the first timestamp is a full timestamp that includes complete time information;

encode a plurality of subsequent frames of data; and

generate a plurality of subsequent timestamps, wherein each of the subsequent timestamps are compressed timestamps that omits a portion of the time information.

17. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16 wherein the complete time information includes hour information, minute information, second information, and a frame number.

18. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 16 wherein each of the subsequent timestamps includes a frame number.

19. An apparatus comprising:

an encoded multimedia content source; and

a decoder coupled to receive encoded multimedia content from the encoded multimedia content source, wherein the video content includes a first frame of data having an associated first timestamp, such that the first timestamp is a full timestamp that includes complete timing information for the first frame of data, and wherein the encoded multimedia content includes a second frame of data having an associated second timestamp, such that the second timestamp is a compressed timestamp that omits a subset of the timing information included in the first timestamp.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the decoder is configured to decode the first frame of data and the second frame of data.