ENCODING AND DECODING METHOD, AND ENCODING AND DECODING DEVICES WITH A TWO-STAGE ERROR PROTECTION PROCESS
First Claim
1. A method of streaming media content in the form of a series of data packets transmitted via at least one unidirectional transmission channel comprising:
- dividing the series of data packets into partial blocks, each being formed from a plurality of successive data packets, and applying a first error protection process to encode each partial block of successive data packets to protect the data packets against transmission errors occurring during streaming of the media content;
applying a second error protection process to encode all data packets to protect the data packets against transmission errors occurring during streaming of the media content;
applying a first decoding process corresponding to the first error protection process to a partial block and if the partial block contains no errors, providing the partial block for play back of the content represented by the partial block;
in the event that reconstruction of the data packets of the partial block by applying the first decoding process is unable to provide error-free reconstructed data packets, storing the data packets instead of playing back the content represented by the partial block; and
applying a second decoding process corresponding to the second error protection process to correct errors in order that the data packets comprising the media content, once downloaded, are stored free of any errors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An encoding method and device are provided for a series of data packets transmitted in the framework of a combined streaming and downloading application by a two-stage error protection process and only one unidirectional transmission channel. A partial block of successive data packets is protected against some transmission errors occurring during streaming with the aid of a first error protection process while all data packets are protected against the transmission errors that can remain after streaming is completed with the aid of a second error protection process. In a decoding process, a series of data packets that are encoded according to the encoding are decoded.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of streaming media content in the form of a series of data packets transmitted via at least one unidirectional transmission channel comprising:
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dividing the series of data packets into partial blocks, each being formed from a plurality of successive data packets, and applying a first error protection process to encode each partial block of successive data packets to protect the data packets against transmission errors occurring during streaming of the media content; applying a second error protection process to encode all data packets to protect the data packets against transmission errors occurring during streaming of the media content; applying a first decoding process corresponding to the first error protection process to a partial block and if the partial block contains no errors, providing the partial block for play back of the content represented by the partial block; in the event that reconstruction of the data packets of the partial block by applying the first decoding process is unable to provide error-free reconstructed data packets, storing the data packets instead of playing back the content represented by the partial block; and applying a second decoding process corresponding to the second error protection process to correct errors in order that the data packets comprising the media content, once downloaded, are stored free of any errors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for streaming media content in the form of a series of data packets transmitted via at least one unidirectional transmission channel comprising:
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a partial block generator to divide the series of data packets into partial blocks, each being formed from a plurality of successive data packets, and apply a first error protection process to encode each partial block of successive data packets to protect the data packets against transmission errors occurring during streaming of the media content; an encoder to apply a second error protection process to all data packets to protect the data packets against transmission errors occurring during streaming of the media content; a block handler to apply a first decoding process corresponding to the first error protection process to a received partial block and if the partial block contains no errors, to provide the partial block for play back of the content represented by the partial block, and if reconstruction of the data packets of the partial block by applying the first decoding process is unable to provide error-free reconstructed data packets, reconstructed data packets are provided for storing instead of playing back the content represented by the partial block; and a decoder to apply a second decoding process corresponding to the second error protection process to correct errors in order that the data packets comprising the media content, once downloaded, are capable of being stored free of any errors.
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17. A decoding device for decoding streaming media content in the form of a series of data packets received via at least one unidirectional transmission channel, the series of data packets comprising a series of partial blocks, comprising:
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a block handler to apply a first decoding process corresponding to the first error protection process to a received partial block and if the partial block contains no errors, to provide the partial blocks for play back of the content represented by the partial block, and if reconstruction of the data packets of the partial block by applying the first decoding process is unable to provide error-free reconstructed data packets, reconstructed data packets are provided for storing instead of playing back the content represented by the partial block; and a storage handler to apply a second decoding process corresponding to the second error protection process to correct errors in order that the data packets comprising the media content, once downloaded, are capable of being stored free of any errors.
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Specification