Apparatus and method for event tagging for multiple audio, video, and data streams

• US 5,675,511 A
• Filed: 12/21/1995
• Issued: 10/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Chary, Ram V., Prasad, Rama R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ellis B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEESO, THOMAS R
• Application Number:
  US08/576,519
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 364/514 R, 380/19, 348/7, 348/467, 340/825.14, 370/60, 370/61, 370/47, 370/99
• US Class Current: 715/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5315 where the non-audio components are still images or video still image mailbox systems H04N1/324, intermediate storage of video signals for videophones H04N7/147
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and storage medium for event tagging of at least one audio, video, or data (AVD) stream, each AVD stream comprising a plurality of AVD stream chunks. According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one AVD stream is stored. An event tag is stored in response to a signal indicating the beginning of an event, the event tag having an event stream information data (ESID) structure comprising an ESID entry for each AVD stream of the at least one AVD stream, each ESID entry comprising an offset for locating a corresponding AVD stream chunk of each active AVD stream of the at least one AVD stream.

Claims

1. A method for event tagging of at least one audio, video, or data (AVD) stream, each AVD stream comprising a plurality of AVD stream chunks, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing the at least one AVD stream; and

(b) storing an event tag in response to a signal indicating the beginning of an event, the event tag having an event stream information data (ESID) structure comprising an ESID entry for each AVD stream of the at least one AVD stream, each ESID entry comprising an offset for locating a corresponding AVD stream chunk of each active AVD stream of the at least one AVD stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is generated by a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is generated automatically by the computer in accordance with a preselected event type.

4. The method of claim 1, the event tag further comprising an event identifier for identifying the event and a time stamp for indicating the time of the corresponding AVD stream chunk for each of the at least one AVD stream corresponding to the beginning of the event.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the time stamp indicates the absolute time of the corresponding AVD stream chunk for each of the at least one AVD stream corresponding to the beginning of the event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the ESID structure further comprises a number of entries field for indicating the number of ESID entries in the ESID structure; and

each ESID entry further comprises a stream identifier field for identifying the corresponding AVD stream and a stream status field for indicating the current status of the corresponding AVD stream.

7. The method of claim 6, the event tag further comprising an event identifier for identifying the event and a time stamp for indicating the time of the corresponding AVD stream chunk for each of the at least one AVD stream corresponding to the beginning of the event.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the event identifier is unique and is mapped to a symbolic name that describes the event.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the status field of each SIDS chunk entry indicates whether the corresponding AVD stream is active paused, active unpaused, or inactive.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the at least one AVD stream comprises at least two AVD streams of a data conference between at least two users;

each AVD stream of the at least two AVD streams has a unique conference identifier; and

the identifier field of each SIDS chunk entry identifies the unique conference identifier for the corresponding AVD stream.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the offset of each ESID entry is a 32-bit pointer;

the stream identifier field of each ESID entry is a 32-but stream identifier field;

the stream status field of each ESID entry is a 32-but stream status field;

the event identifier is a 32-bit event identifier field;

the time stamp is a 32-bit time stamp field; and

the number of entries field is a 32-bit number of entries field.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(c) storing a sequence of event tags for a plurality of corresponding events in an event track.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein each AVD chunk of an AVD stream of the at least two AVD streams is a chunk of data in accordance with whether the AVD stream is an audio, video, or data stream.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein each AVD chunk of an AVD stream of the at least two AVD streams is a video frame if the each AVD chunk is a video stream and an audio sample if the each AVD chunk is an audio stream.

15. An apparatus for event tagging of at least one audio, video, or data (AVD) stream, each AVD stream comprising a plurality of AVD stream chunks, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for storing the at least one AVD stream; and

(b) means for storing an event tag in response to a signal indicating the beginning of an event, the event tag having an event stream information data (ESID) structure comprising an ESID entry for each AVD stream of the at least one AVD stream, each ESID entry comprising an offset for locating a corresponding AVD stream chunk of each active AVD stream of the at least one AVD stream.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the signal is generated by a user.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the signal is generated automatically by the computer in accordance with a preselected event type.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, the event tag further comprising an event identifier for identifying the event and a time stamp for indicating the time of the corresponding AVD stream chunk for each of the at least one AVD stream corresponding to the beginning of the event.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the time stamp indicates the absolute time of the corresponding AVD stream chunk for each of the at least one AVD stream corresponding to the beginning of the event.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the ESID structure further comprises a number of entries field for indicating the number of ESID entries in the ESID structure; and

each ESID entry further comprises a stream identifier field for identifying the corresponding AVD stream and a stream status field for indicating the current status of the corresponding AVD stream.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, the event tag further comprising an event identifier for identifying the event and a time stamp for indicating the time of the corresponding AVD stream chunk for each of the at least one AVD stream corresponding to the beginning of the event.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the event identifier is unique and is mapped to a symbolic name that describes the event.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the status field of each SIDS chunk entry indicates whether the corresponding AVD stream is active paused, active unpaused, or inactive.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the at least one AVD stream comprises at least two AVD streams of a data conference between at least two users;

each AVD stream of the at least two AVD streams has a unique conference identifier; and

the identifier field of each SIDS chunk entry identifies the unique conference identifier for the corresponding AVD stream.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the offset of each ESID entry is a 32-bit pointer;

the stream identifier field of each ESID entry is a 32-but stream identifier field;

the stream status field of each ESID entry is a 32-but stream status field;

the event identifier is a 32-bit event identifier field;

the time stamp is a 32-bit time stamp field; and

the number of entries field is a 32-bit number of entries field.

26. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

(c) means for storing a sequence of event tags for a plurality of corresponding events in an event track.

27. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each AVD chunk of an AVD stream of the at least two AVD streams is a chunk of data in accordance with whether the AVD stream is an audio, video, or data stream.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein each AVD chunk of an AVD stream of the at least two AVD streams is a video frame if the each AVD chunk is a video stream and an audio sample if the each AVD chunk is an audio stream.

29. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions for event tagging of at least one audio, video, or data (AVD) stream, each AVD stream comprising a plurality of AVD stream chunks, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by a processor of a computer, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

(a) storing the at least one AVD stream; and

(b) storing an event tag in response to a signal indicating the beginning of an event, the event tag having an event stream information data (ESID) structure comprising an ESID entry for each AVD stream of the at least one AVD stream, each ESID entry comprising an offset for locating a corresponding AVD stream chunk of each active AVD stream of the at least one AVD stream.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the signal is generated by a user.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the signal is generated automatically by the computer in accordance with a preselected event type.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, the event tag further comprising an event identifier for identifying the event and a time stamp for indicating the time of the corresponding AVD stream chunk for each of the at least one AVD stream corresponding to the beginning of the event.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the time stamp indicates the absolute time of the corresponding AVD stream chunk for each of the at least one AVD stream corresponding to the beginning of the event.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein:

the ESID structure further comprises a number of entries field for indicating the number of ESID entries in the ESID structure; and

each ESID entry further comprises a stream identifier field for identifying the corresponding AVD stream and a stream status field for indicating the current status of the corresponding AVD stream.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, the event tag further comprising an event identifier for identifying the event and a time stamp for indicating the time of the corresponding AVD stream chunk for each of the at least one AVD stream corresponding to the beginning of the event.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the event identifier is unique and is mapped to a symbolic name that describes the event.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the status field of each SIDS chunk entry indicates whether the corresponding AVD stream is active paused, active unpaused, or inactive.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein:

the at least one AVD stream comprises at least two AVD streams of a data conference between at least two users;

each AVD stream of the at least two AVD streams has a unique conference identifier; and

the identifier field of each SIDS chunk entry indentifies the unique conference identifier for the corresponding AVD stream.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein:

the offset of each ESID entry is a 32-bit pointer;

the stream identifier field of each ESID entry is a 32-but stream identifier field;

the stream status field of each ESID entry is a 32-but stream status field;

the event identifier is a 32-bit event identifier field;

the time stamp is a 32-bit time stamp field; and

the number of entries field is a 32-bit number of entries field.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the processor to perform the step of:

(c) storing a sequence of event tags for a plurality of corresponding events in an event track.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein each AVD chunk of an AVD stream of the at least two AVD streams is a chunk of data in accordance with whether the AVD stream is an audio, video, or data stream.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, wherein each AVD chunk of an AVD stream of the at least two AVD streams is a video frame if the each AVD chunk is a video stream and an audio sample if the each AVD chunk is an audio stream.

43. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores a plurality of instructions for event tagging of at least one audio, video, or data (AVD) stream, each AVD stream comprising a plurality of AVD stream chunks, wherein;

(a) the at least one AVD stream is stored; and

(b) an event tag is stored in response to a signal indicating the beginning of an event, the event tag having an event stream information data (ESID) structure comprising an ESID entry for each AVD stream of the at least one AVD stream, each ESID entry comprising an offset for locating a corresponding AVD stream chunk of each active AVD stream of the at least one AVD stream.

44. The computer system of claim 43, the event tag further comprising an event identifier for identifying the event and a time stamp for indicating the time of the corresponding AVD stream chunk for each of the at least one AVD stream corresponding to the beginning of the event.

45. The computer system of claim 43, wherein:

the ESID structure further comprises a number of entries field for indicating the number of ESID entries in the ESID structure; and

each ESID entry further comprises a stream identifier field for identifying the corresponding AVD stream and a stream status field for indicating the current status of the corresponding AVD stream.

46. The computer system of claim 45, the event tag further comprising an event identifier for identifying the event and a time stamp for indicating the time of the corresponding AVD stream chunk for each of the at least one AVD stream corresponding to the beginning of the event.

47. The computer system of claim 46, wherein the event identifier is unique and is mapped to a symbolic name that describes the event.

48. The computer system of claim 46, wherein the status field of each SIDS chunk entry indicates whether the corresponding AVD stream is active paused, active unpaused, or inactive.

49. The computer system of claim 46, wherein:

the at least one AVD stream comprises at least two AVD streams of a data conference between at least two users;

each AVD stream of the at least two AVD streams has a unique conference identifier; and

the identifier field of each SIDS chunk entry identifies the unique conference identifier for the corresponding AVD stream.

50. The computer system of claim 46, wherein:

the offset of each ESID entry is a 32-bit pointer;

the stream identifier field of each ESID entry is a 32-but stream identifier field;

the stream status field of each ESID entry is a 32-but stream status field;

the event identifier is a 32-bit event identifier field;

the time stamp is a 32-bit time stamp field; and

the number of entries field is a 32-bit number of entries field.