METHODS AND DEVICES FOR LIVE STREAMING USING PRE-INDEXED FILE FORMATS

• US 20110246603A1
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Original Assignee: Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Inventors: Lee, Yiubun
• Application Number:
  US13/061,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20110246603A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/196 being specially adapted for the computation of encoding parameters, e.g. by averaging previously computed encoding parameters processing of motion vectors H04N19/513
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23611 Insertion of stuffing data into a multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bitrate synchronisation arrangements in time-division multiplex systems using bit stuffing for systems with different or fluctuating information rates H04J3/073
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

Provided are methods and devices for live streaming a plurality of media data units using a media file format. The method may comprise the steps of pre-generating indexing information of each of the media data units; encoding each of the media data units; transmitting the pre-generated indexing information to a receiver; and transmitting a sequence of the encoded media data units to the receiver after the transmission of the indexing information.

Claims

1. A method for live streaming a plurality of media data units using a pre-indexed media file format, the method comprising:

pre-generating indexing information of each of the media data units;

encoding each of the media data units;

transmitting the pre-generated indexing information to a receiver; and

transmitting a sequence of the encoded media data units to the receiver after the transmission of the indexing information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-generating of the indexing information is based on encoding parameters and an encoder profile determined by a selected encoding scheme.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the encoding parameters comprise a frame rate and a bit-rate used for the encoding.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the encoder profile comprises a pattern of I-frames, P-frames and B-frames including size ratios between each two of the I-frames, P-frames and B-frames.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the pre-generating of the indexing information is further based on configuration information associated with the receiver.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the indexing information comprises size information, location information and time information for each of media data units to be encoded,

wherein the size information is calculated from the encoding parameters and the encoder profile, the location information, and

wherein the time information is calculated from the size information and the configuration information of the receiver.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the pre-generation of the indexing information is further based on an overshoot ratio determined by an encoder to be used.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting each of the encoded media data units to match corresponding indexing information before the step of transmitting the encoded media data units.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the adjusting further comprises:

stuffing a first type of encoded media data unit in the encoded media data units to match a target size for the first type of encoded data unit specified in the indexing information, wherein the first type of encoded media data unit is smaller than the target size for the first type of encoded data unit specified in the corresponding indexing information; and

discarding data from a second type of encoded media data unit in the encoded media data units to match a target size for the second type of encoded media data unit specified in corresponding indexing information, wherein the second type of encoded media data unit is larger than the target size for the second type of encoded data unit specified in the corresponding indexing information.

10. A method for live streaming a plurality of media data units using a pre-indexed media file format to a plurality of receivers, the method comprising:

pre-generating a set of indexing information for each of the receivers, respectively, each set of indexing information including indexing information of each of the media data units;

encoding each of the media data units;

transmitting a corresponding set of indexing information to each of the receivers; and

transmitting a sequence of the encoded media data units to each of the receivers after the transmission of the indexing information.

11. A device for live streaming a plurality of media data units using a pre-indexed media file format, the device comprising:

a processor configured to determine indexing information of each of the media data units;

an encoder configured to encode each of the media data units; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the calculated indexing information for all the media data units to a receiver and to transmit a sequence of the encoded media data units to the receiver after the transmission of the indexing information.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to determine the indexing information based on encoding parameters and an encoder profile determined by a selected encoding scheme.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the encoding parameters comprise a frame rate and a bit-rate used for the encoding.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the encoder profile comprises a pattern of I-frames, P-frames and B-frames including size ratios between each two of the I-frames, P-frames and B-frames.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to determine the indexing information further based on configuration information associated with the receiver.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the indexing information comprises size information, location information and time information for each of the encoded media data units, wherein the size information is calculated from the encoding parameters and the encoder profile, the location information and the time information is calculated from the size information and the configuration information of the receiver.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to determine the indexing information further based on an overshoot ratio.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust each of the encoded media data units to match corresponding indexing information.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to stuff a first type of encoded media data unit of the encoded media data units to match a target size for the first type of encoded data unit specified in the indexing information, wherein the first type of encoded media data unit is smaller than the target size for the first type of encoded data unit specified in the corresponding indexing information;

and

the processor is configured to discard data from a second type of encode media data unit of the encoded media data units to match a target size for the second type of encoded media data unit specified in corresponding indexing information, wherein the second type of encoded media data unit is larger than the target size for the second type of encoded data unit specified in the corresponding indexing information.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to determine a plurality of sets of indexing information for a plurality of receivers, wherein each set of indexing information is used for a corresponding receiver and includes indexing information of each of the media data units;

and

the transmitter is configured to transmit a corresponding set of indexing information to each of the receivers and to transmit a sequence of the encoded media data units to each of the receivers after the transmission of the indexing information.

21. A method for generating a pre-indexed media file, wherein the media file includes a plurality of media data units, the method comprising:

pre-generating indexing information of each of the media data units;

encoding each of the media data units;

storing the pre-generated indexing information of all the media data units; and

storing a sequence of the encoded media data units following the stored indexing information.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the pre-generation of the indexing information is based on encoding parameters and an encoder profile determined by a selected encoding scheme.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the encoding parameters comprise a frame rate and a bit-rate used for the encoding.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the encoder profile comprises a pattern of I-frames, P-frames and B-frames including size ratios between each two of the I-frames, P-frames and B-frames.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the pre-generating of the indexing information is further based on configuration information associated with the receiver

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the indexing information comprises size information, location information and time information for each of the encoded media data units, wherein the size information is calculated from the encoding parameters and the encoder profile, the location information and the time information is calculated from the size information and the configuration information of the receiver.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the pre-generation of the indexing information is further based on an overshoot ratio determined by an encoder to be used.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

adjusting each of the encoded media data units to match corresponding indexing information before the step of transmitting the encoded media data units.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the adjusting further comprises:

stuffing a first type of encoded media data unit in the encoded media data units to match a target size for the first type of encoded data unit specified in the indexing information, wherein the first type of encoded media data unit is smaller than the target size for the first type of encoded data unit specified in the corresponding indexing information; and

discarding data from a second type of encoded media data unit in the encoded media data units to match a target size for the second type of encoded media data unit specified in corresponding indexing information, wherein the second type of encoded media data unit is larger than the target size for the second type of encoded data unit specified in the corresponding indexing information.