Technique for processing data

• US 6,275,827 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1998
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eureka Database Solutions, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: AltaVista Company (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eberman, Brian, Kovalcin, David E., deVries, Arjen P., Sokolov, Michael, Dufaux, Frederic, Kontothanassis, Leondias
• Primary Examiner(s): Amsbury, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAVAN, THU THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/204,287
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103, 707/102, 707/530, 707/512, 707/4, 707/526, 709/205, 709/217, 364/926, 364/927, 704/8, 704/235, 704/236, 348/12, 348/13, 345/302, 345/329, 345/348, 345/356
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/7343 Query language or query format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/738 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/914 Video
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/955 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/961 Associative
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

A technique for processing data is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by receiving a first representation of data at a processing device, which then processes the first representation of data so as to generate a second representation of data. The second representation of data includes a plurality of dependent data representations and a plurality of independent data representations. Each of the plurality of dependent data representations is substantially aligned in time with a corresponding one of the plurality of independent data representations.

Claims

1. A method for processing data, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first representation of data at a processing device; and

processing the first representation of data so as to generate a second representation of data, the second representation of data including a plurality of dependent data representations and a plurality of independent data representations, each of the plurality of dependent data representations being aligned in time with a corresponding one of the plurality of independent data representations, each of the plurality of dependent data representations representing a respective one of a plurality of difference frames of a video sequence, each of the plurality of independent data representations representing a respective one of a plurality of complete frames of the video sequence.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first representation of data includes the plurality of dependent data representations.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the first representation of data further includes less than all of the plurality of independent data representations.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of dependent data representations is dependent upon at least another of the plurality of dependent data representations or one of the plurality of independent data representations.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of dependent data representations are arranged in a sequence; and

each of the plurality of dependent data representations is determined based upon a difference from a previous one of the plurality of dependent data representations in the sequence.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of independent data representations is independent of all other of the plurality of independent data representations.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the processing of the first representation of data includes:

combining the plurality of dependent data representations and the plurality of independent data representations so as to generate the second representation of data.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the processing of the first representation of data includes:

digitizing the first representation of data; and

encoding the digitized first representation of data so as to generate the plurality of dependent data representations.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the processing of the first representation of data further includes:

generating a prediction of the digitized first representation of data; and

encoding the prediction of the digitized first representation of data so as to generate the plurality of independent data representations.

10. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein the processing of the first representation of data further includes:

encoding the digitized first representation of data so as to generate the plurality of independent data representations.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the processing of the first representation of data includes:

decoding the first representation of data; and

encoding the decoded first representation of data so as to generate the plurality of dependent data representations.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the processing of the first representation of data further includes:

generating a prediction of the decoded first representation of data; and

encoding the prediction of the decoded first representation of data so as to generate the plurality of independent data representations.

13. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the processing of the first representation of data further includes:

encoding the decoded first representation of data so as to generate the plurality of independent data representations.

14. An apparatus for processing data, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving a first representation of data; and

a processor for processing the first representation of data so as to generate a second representation of data, the second representation of data including a plurality of dependent data representations and a plurality of independent data representations, each of the plurality of dependent data representations being aligned in time with a corresponding one of the plurality of independent data representations, each of the plurality of dependent data representations representing a respective one of a plurality of difference frames of a video sequence, each of the plurality of independent data representations representing a respective one of a plurality of complete frames of a video sequence.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of dependent data representations is dependent upon at least another of the plurality of dependent data representations or one of the plurality of independent data representations.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein:

the plurality of dependent data representations are arranged in a sequence; and

each of the plurality of dependent data representations is determined based upon a difference from a previous one of the plurality of dependent data representations in the sequence.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of independent data representations is independent of all other of the plurality of independent data representations.

18. An article of manufacture for processing data, the article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable storage medium; and

computer programming stored on the storage medium;

wherein the stored computer programming is configured to be readable from the computer readable storage medium by a computer and thereby cause the computer to operate so as to;

receive a first representation of data; and

process the first representation of data so as to generate a second representation of data, the second representation of data including a plurality of dependent data representations and a plurality of independent data representations, each of the plurality of dependent data representations being aligned in time with a corresponding one of the plurality of independent data representations, each of the plurality of dependent data representations representing a respective one of a plurality of difference frames of a video sequence, each of the plurality of independent data representations representing a respective one of a plurality of complete frames of a video sequence.

19. The article of manufacture as defined in claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of dependent data representations is dependent upon at least another of the plurality of dependent data representations or one of the plurality of independent data representations.

20. The article of manufacture as defined in claim 18, wherein:

the plurality of dependent data representations are arranged in a sequence; and

each of the plurality of dependent data representations is determined based upon a difference from a previous one of the plurality of dependent data representations in the sequence.

21. The article of manufacture as defined in claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of independent data representations is independent of all other of the plurality of independent data representations.