Method and apparatus for media data transmission

• US 6,453,355 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1998
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Anne, Gong, Kevin L., Periyannan, Alagu, Geagan, Jay, Singer, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US09/139,378
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231, 709/230, 345/327, 370/259
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23412 for generating or manipulating the scene composition of objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234318 by decomposing into objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• 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 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44012 involving rendering scenes according to scene graphs, e.g. MPEG-4 scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6437 Real-time Transport Protocol [RTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85406 : involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/52 : Systems for transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals, e.g. an audio signal or a synchronizing signal assembling of a multiplex stream by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, assembling of a packetised elementary stream at server side H04N21/236; disassembling of a multiplex stream, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, extraction or processing of Service Information, disassembling of packetised elementary stream at client side H04N21/434

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for processing media data transmitted in a data communication medium. A digital processing system is provided with a time related sequence of media data provided to the digital processing system based on a set of data, wherein the set of data indicates a method to transmit the time related sequence of media data according to a transmission protocol. The set of data, itself, is a time related sequence of data associated with the time related sequence of media data. The time related sequence of media data may be presented and/or stored by the digital processing system.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a digital processing system to process media data, said method comprising:

receiving at said digital processing system a time related sequence of media data which is received by said digital processing system based on a set of data, wherein said set of data indicates a method to transmit said time related sequence of media data to said digital processing system according to a transmission protocol, and wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with said time related sequence of media data; and

presenting at said digital processing system a media sequence associated with said time related sequence of media data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said set of data is associated with a track of indicating data, and wherein said transmission protocol comprises a packet data protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving packets of data representing said time related sequence of media data, said packets received by said digital processing system according to said transmission protocol.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

presenting a media object represented by said time related sequence of media data as said packets of data are received at said digital processing system.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein for each of said packets, said set of data refers to data in at least one of a sequence of image data and a sequence of audio data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing said time related sequence of media data.

7. A method implemented by a digital processing system to process media data, said method comprising:

receiving at a digital processing system a time related sequence of media data which is received by said digital processing system based on a set of data, wherein said set of data indicates a method to transmit said time related sequence of media data to said digital processing system according to a transmission protocol, and wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with and separate from said time related sequence of media data; and

storing, in a storage area coupled to said digital processing system, said time related sequence of media data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said set of data is associated with a track of indicating data, and wherein said transmission protocol comprises a packet data protocol.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving packets of data representing said time related sequence of media data, said packets received by said digital processing system according to said transmission protocol.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

presenting a media object represented by said time related sequence of media data as said packets of data are received at said digital processing system.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein for each of said packets, said set of data refers to data in at least one of a sequence of image data and a sequence of audio data.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

presenting at said digital processing system said at least one of a sequence of image data and a sequence of audio data represented by said time related sequence of media data.

13. A machine readable medium containing executable program instructions, which when executed on a digital processing system cause the digital processing system to perform a method comprising:

retrieving at said digital processing system a time related sequence of media data which is received by said digital processing system based on a set of data, wherein said set of data indicates a method to transmit said time related sequence of media data to said digital processing system according to a transmission protocol, and wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with and separate from said time related sequence of media data; and

presenting at said digital processing system said time related sequence media data.

14. The machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said set of data is associated with a track of indicating data, and wherein said transmission protocol comprises a packet data protocol.

15. The machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said executable program instructions, when executed on said digital processing system, further cause said digital processing system to perform the method comprising:

receiving packets of data representing said time related sequence of media data, said packets received by said digital processing system according to said transmission protocol.

16. The machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said executable program instructions, when executed on said digital processing system, further cause said digital processing system to perform the method comprising:

presenting a media object represented by said time related sequence of media data in response to said packets of data being retrieved at said digital processing system.

17. The machine readable medium of claim 15, wherein for each of said packets, said set of data refers to data in at least one of a sequence of image data and a sequence of audio data.

18. The machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said executable program instructions, when executed on said digital processing system, further cause said digital processing system to perform the method comprising:

storing information associated with a media object represented by said time related sequence of media data in response to said packets of data being retrieved at said digital processing system.

19. The machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein said executable program instructions, when executed on said digital processing system, further cause said digital processing system to perform the method comprising:

reassembling said information associated with said media object represented by said time related sequence of media data; and

presenting said media object at said digital processing system.

20. The machine readable medium of claim 13, comprising a magnetic storage medium.

21. The machine readable medium of claim 13, comprising an optical storage medium.

22. The machine readable medium of claim 13, comprising an electronic storage medium.

23. A machine readable medium accessible by a digital processing system, said machine readable medium comprising:

a time related sequence of media data associated with a set of data to indicate a method to transmit said time related sequence of media data to said digital processing system according to a transmission protocol, wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with and separate from said time related sequence of media data; and

a set of instructions to allow said digital processing system to present said time related sequence of media data.

24. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein said set of data is associated with a track of indicating data, and wherein said transmission protocol comprises a packet data protocol.

25. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein said time related sequence of media data is received by said digital processing system as packets of data according to said transmission protocol.

26. The machine readable medium of claim 23, wherein said set of instructions further allow said digital processing system to present a media object represented by said time related sequence of media data.

27. The machine readable medium of claim 25, wherein for each of said packets, said set of data refers to data in at least one of a sequence of image data and a sequence of audio data.

28. The machine readable medium of claim 23, further comprising:

a storage area to store a file associated with said time related sequence of media data; and

a routine to allow said digital processing system to access said file to reassemble said time related sequence of media data to be processed by said set of instructions.

29. The machine readable medium of claim 23, comprising a magnetic storage medium.

30. The machine readable medium of claim 23, comprising an optical storage medium.

31. The machine readable medium of claim 23, comprising an electronic storage medium.

32. A digital processing system comprising:

a data communication interface to receive for said digital processing system data packets that represent a time related sequence of media data and which are received by said digital processing system in accordance with information provided by a set of data that indicates a method to transmit said time related sequence of media data as packets according to a transmission protocol, and wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with and separate from said time related sequence of media data; and

a processor, coupled to said data communication interface, to process said time related sequence of media data.

33. The digital processing system of claim 32, wherein said processor is coupled to a device to process said time related sequence of media data to be presented as a media object by said device.

34. The digital processing system of claim 33, wherein said device comprises an audio output device.

35. The digital processing system of claim 33, wherein said output device comprises a video output device.

36. The digital processing system of claim 32, wherein said processor is coupled to a storage area to store a file representing said time related sequence of media data.

37. The digital processing system of claim 32, wherein said processor is coupled to a storage area having stored therein:

a set of instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to present said at least one of a sequence of image data and a sequence of audio data represented by said time related sequence of media data.

38. The digital processing system of claim 32, wherein said storage area further has stored therein:

a set of instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to create a file representing said at least one of a sequence of image data and a sequence of audio data represented by said media data.

39. The digital processing system of claim 38, wherein said storage area further has stored therein:

another set of instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to reassemble said file representing said at least one of said sequence of image data and sequence of audio data, and present said reassembled file.

40. A system for processing media data, comprising:

a first means for receiving a time related sequence of media data received by said digital processing system in accordance with a set of data for indicating a method to transmit said time related sequence of media data to said system according to a transmission protocol, wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with and separate from said time related sequence of media data; and

a second means for processing said time related sequence of media data.

41. The system of claim 40, further comprising:

a storing means for storing a file representing at least one of said sequence of image data and said sequence of audio data; and

a reassembly means for reassembling said file for presentation by said second means.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein said second means comprises:

a storing means for storing a set of instructions for enabling said system to present a media object associated with said time related sequence of media data.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein said second means further comprises:

a presenting means for presenting said media object.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein said second means further comprises:

a processing means for executing said set of instructions.