SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENCODING, TRANSMITTING AND DECODING

• US 20120069911A1
• Filed: 09/20/2011
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bevara Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: OneCodec Limited (Vcodex Ltd.)
• Inventors: Richardson, Iain E., Bystrom, Maja
• Granted Patent: US 9,369,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/12 Selection from among a plurality of transforms or standards, e.g. selection between discrete cosine transform [DCT] and sub-band transform or selection between H.263 and H.264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/162 User input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/164 Feedback from the receiver or from the transmission channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/44 Decoders specially adapted therefor, e.g. video decoders which are asymmetric with respect to the encoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/46 Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process H04N19/517, H04N19/68, H04N19/70 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/70 characterised by syntax aspects related to video coding, e.g. related to compression standards

Abstract

Systems and methods for encoding, transmitting, and decoding are disclosed. The systems and methods include multimedia encoding, transmitting, and decoding instantiation systems which are capable of being modified on the basis of associated IPR costs. Further, the systems and methods include the capabilities of recording or transmitting the IPR and/or IPR costs associated with the instantiated encoders, transmitters, or decoders.

Claims

1. A multimedia encoding engine comprising:

an encoder configured to;

receive multimedia data;

encode the multimedia data; and

output the encoded multimedia data,

wherein the multimedia encoding engine identifies intellectual property rights (IPR) used in, or required for, the processes of receiving the multimedia data, encoding the multimedia data, decoding the encoded multimedia data, and/or transmitting the encoded multimedia data.

2. The multimedia encoding engine of claim 1, wherein an indication of the identified IPR is output by the multimedia encoding engine.

3. The multimedia encoding engine of claim 1, wherein an indication of the identified IPR is multiplexed with the encoded multimedia data.

4. The multimedia encoding engine of claim 1, wherein an indication of the identified IPR is recorded.

5. The multimedia encoding engine of claim 1, wherein an indication of cost associated with the identified IPR is calculated.

6. The multimedia encoding engine of claim 1, wherein one or more of the processes of receiving, encoding and/or outputting multimedia data depend at least in part on the identified IPR.

7. The multimedia encoding engine of claim 1, wherein one or more of the processes of receiving the multimedia data, encoding the multimedia data and/or outputting the encoded multimedia data depend at least in part on a cost associated with the identified IPR.

8. A transmitter system comprising:

a transmitter engine configured to;

select transmission algorithms and/or parameters wholly or in part on the basis of information related to intellectual property rights (IPR) associated with the algorithms and/or parameters; and

generate a transmitter,

wherein the generated transmitter is configured to receive encoded multimedia and transmit it according to the selected transmission algorithms and/or parameters.

9. The transmitter system of claim 8, wherein an indication of the identified IPR is output by the transmitter engine.

10. The transmitter system of claim 8, wherein an indication of the identified IPR is multiplexed and transmitted with the multimedia data.

11. The transmitter system of claim 8, wherein an indication of the identified IPR is recorded.

12. The transmitter system of claim 8, wherein an indication of cost associated with the identified IPR is calculated.

13. A data format comprising at least:

coded audio, video and/or other multimedia data; and

one indicator portion denoting intellectual property rights (IPR) used in, or required for, the process of encoding, transmitting, and/or decoding the coded multimedia data.

14. A multimedia decoding engine comprising:

a decoder configured to;

receive encoded multimedia data;

decode the encoded multimedia data; and

output multimedia data,

wherein the multimedia decoding engine identifies intellectual property rights (IPR) used in, or required for, the processes of receiving encoded multimedia data, decoding encoded multimedia and/or outputting multimedia data.

15. The multimedia decoding engine of claim 14, wherein an indication of the identified IPR is recorded.

16. The multimedia decoding engine of claim 14, wherein an indication of the identified IPR is output by the multimedia decoding engine.

17. The multimedia decoding engine of claim 14, wherein an indication of cost associated with the identified IPR is calculated.

18. The multimedia decoding engine of claim 14, wherein one or more of the processes of receiving, decoding and/or outputting multimedia data depend at least in part on the identified IPR.

19. The multimedia decoding engine of claim 14, wherein one or more of the processes of receiving encoded multimedia, decoding encoded multimedia and/or outputting multimedia data depend at least in part on a cost associated with the identified IPR.

20. A multimedia processing engine comprising:

an encoding decision component that determines an encoding functionality for encoding multimedia data based on at least intellectual property rights (IPR) costs;

a decoding decision component that determines a decoding functionality corresponding to the encoding functionality;

an encoder configured to encode the multimedia data using the determined encoding functionality; and

a processing unit configured to prepare the encoded multimedia data and the determined decoding functionality for communication to the decoder.

21. The multimedia processing engine of claim 20, wherein the encoding decision component can additionally determine encoding functionality based on a channel for transmitting the functionality.

22. The multimedia processing engine of claim 20, wherein the encoding decision component can additionally determine encoding functionality based on at least one of:

user input, a power source of the decoder, a processing power of the decoder, a memory availability of the decoder, and an available configuration time period.

23. An encoded multimedia transmission engine comprising:

a transmission decision component that determines transmission functionality for encoded multimedia data based on at least intellectual property rights (IPR) costs; and

a transmitter instantiator to instantiate a transmitter based on the selected transmission functionality and communicate the associated IPR costs.

24. The encoded multimedia transmission engine of claim 23, wherein the transmission decision component is configured to receive functionality with associated IPR costs from a local library.

25. The encoded multimedia transmission engine of claim 23, wherein the transmission decision component is configured to receive an IPR cost constraint and to determine functionality on the basis of this constraint.

26. The encoded multimedia transmission engine of claim 23, wherein the transmission decision component is configured to receive functionality and associated IPR costs through user input and to determine functionality on the basis of this user input.

27. A multimedia processing engine comprising:

a functionality interpreter configured to;

receive data corresponding to a functionality;

generate the functionality based on the data and intellectual property rights (IPR) costs; and

instantiate a decoding algorithm using the functionality; and

a decoder configured to;

receive encoded multimedia data;

receive the decoding algorithm from the functionality interpreter; and

decode the encoded multimedia data using the decoding algorithm.

28. The multimedia processing engine of claim 27, wherein the functionality interpreter is configured to store the generated functionality and associated IPR costs in a library of functionality.

29. The multimedia processing engine of claim 28, wherein the library comprises a data store local to the audio/video processing engine.

30. The multimedia processing engine of claim 28, wherein the library comprises a data store on an external device.

31. The multimedia processing engine of claim 27, wherein the decoder comprises at least an electronic circuit.

32. A multimedia decoder instantiation system, comprising:

a functionality interpreter configured to receive configuration syntax elements and interpret the received syntax elements;

an instantiation module configured to instantiate a decoder in response to the received syntax elements and associated intellectual property rights (IPR) costs; and

a decoding module configured to decode received encoded multimedia data, wherein said decoding is based on the interpreted syntax elements.

33. The multimedia decoding instantiation system of claim 32, wherein the received encoded multimedia data is multiplexed with the received configuration encoded or non-encoded syntax elements.

34. The multimedia decoding instantiation system of claim 32, wherein the instantiation module comprises an interpreter configured to generate machine code segments based on the received codewords.

35. The multimedia decoding instantiation system of claim 32, wherein the interpreter includes scheduling instructions for the generated machine code.

36. The multimedia decoding instantiation system of claim 32, wherein the instantiation module comprises a compiler configured to generate compiled code segments based on the received syntax elements.

37. The multimedia decoding instantiation system of claim 36, wherein the compiler includes a linking function configured to link the compiled code segments.

38. The multimedia decoding instantiation system of claim 32, wherein the instantiation module further includes instructions for inter-connecting processing structures in response to the received syntax elements.

39. The multimedia decoding instantiation system of claim 32, wherein the instantiation module further includes instructions for parameterizing software code segments in response to the received syntax elements.

40. The multimedia decoding instantiation system of claim 32, wherein receipt and interpretation of the configuration syntax elements does not interrupt continuous playback of output video frames, output audio or other time sensitive multimedia data.

41. The multimedia decoding instantiation system of claim 32, wherein decoding the received multimedia data based on the interpreted syntax elements does not interrupt continuous playback of output video frames, output audio or other time sensitive multimedia data.

42. The multimedia decoding instantiation system of claim 32, wherein the instantiation is subject to an overall IPR cost constraint.