Method and apparatus for delivery of a bytecode embedded within a transport stream

• US 6,460,086 B1
• Filed: 12/01/1998
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Pallikonda, Raghuveer, Fernando, Gerard, Swaminathan, Viswanathan
• Primary Examiner(s): WINDER, PATRICE L
• Application Number:
  US09/203,551
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217-219, 709/203, 709/245, 709/249, 709/231, 709/236, 709/230, 348/465, 386/83
• US Class Current: 709/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2212/00 Encapsulation of packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• 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 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34

Abstract

A method and apparatus for embedding of bytecode data in a transport stream is described. Embodiments of the invention serve to make Java™ bytecode (in a class file) concurrently available to a user that is receiving media information through a transport stream. To ensure the concurrent delivery of bytecode, the information is embedded within spaces allocated in the transport stream, or in packets that carry the media data. In one embodiment of the invention, media data is grouped in structured packets referred to as Packetized Elementary Stream (PES) packets. Predefined spaces are available in each PES packet where bytecode data is embedded. In one embodiment of the invention the pre-defined space is allocated within the header segment of a PES packet. In another embodiment bytecode instruction are embedded within a private stream segment of a PES packet. One transport stream used with the invention is an MPEG-2 transport stream that includes structured packets that transport the PES packets. These transport stream packets, in turn, have within them pre-defined spaces. Bytecode data can also be embedded within spaces available in the transport stream. In an embodiment of this invention bytecode can be embedded in a transport stream header or a transport stream payload segment. In other embodiments, bytecode data is transmitted in the private stream segment and retransmission of bytecode data is accomplished in other regions of the PES packet. In another embodiment, bytecode data is transmitted in an adaptation field and retransmitted data is sent as PES header private data.

Claims

1. A method for delivery of bytecodes within a transport stream comprising:

obtaining media data for transmission to a client at a receiver station via a transport stream;

decomposing said media data into at least one primary packets, wherein each of said at least one primary packets comprises a primary packet header and a primary packet data;

decomposing said each of said at least one primary packets into a plurality of secondary packets of fixed length, each of said plurality of secondary packets having a transport stream header section and a transport stream payload section, wherein said transport stream comprises said plurality of secondary packets;

embedding bytecodes in said primary packet header of said primary packet;

decoding said transport stream at said receiver station to separate said bytecodes from said media data;

using said bytecodes to control playback of said media data at said receiver station.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said transport stream header comprises an adaptation field section and a header section, and portions of said bytecodes are embedded in said adaptation field section.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said transport stream payload section comprises a private stream field and portions of said bytecodes are embedded in said private stream field.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said transport stream payload section comprises a private stream field and portions of said bytecodes are embedded in said private stream field.

5. A method for delivery of bytecodes within a transport stream comprising:

obtaining media data for transmission to a client at a receiver station via a transport stream;

decomposing said media data into at least one primary packets, wherein each of said at least one primary packets comprises a primary packet header and a primary packet data;

decomposing said each of said at least one primary packets into a plurality of secondary packets of fixed length, each of said plurality of secondary packets having a transport stream header, section and a transport stream payload section, wherein said transport stream comprises said plurality of secondary packets;

obtaining bytecodes necessary for controlling playback of said media data;

decomposing said bytecodes into a plurality of bytecode packets, wherein each of said plurality of bytecode packets comprises a bytecode header and a class file;

embedding said plurality of bytecode packets in said primary packet header of said primary packet;

decoding said transport stream at said receiver station to separate said bytecodes from said media data;

using said bytecodes to control playback of said media data at said receiver station.

6. A method for delivery of bytecodes within a transport stream comprising:

obtaining media data for transmission to a client at a receiver station via a transport stream;

decomposing said media data into at least one primary packets, each of said at least one primary packets having a primary packet header and a primary packet data, wherein said primary packet header comprising information for interpretation of said each of said at least one primary packets;

decomposing said each of said at least one primary packets into a plurality of secondary packets of fixed length, each of said plurality of secondary packets having a transport stream header section and a transport stream payload section, wherein said transport stream comprises said plurality of secondary packets;

obtaining bytecodes necessary for controlling playback of said media data;

decomposing said bytecodes into a plurality of bytecode packets, wherein each of said plurality of bytecode packets comprises a bytecode header and a class file, said bytecode header having version identification, tune in point for a decoder, and retransmission time for said class file;

embedding said plurality of bytecode packets in said primary packet header of said primary packet;

decoding said transport stream at said receiver station to separate said bytecodes from said media data;

using said bytecodes to control playback of said media data at said receiver station.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said information for interpretation comprises:

length of said header;

version identification;

type of data in said at least one primary packets;

plurality of time stamps;

size of said at least one primary packets;

type of compression used;

security scheme used; and

error correction method.

8. A system comprising:

a computer at a transmitting station having a processor, a memory, code executed by said processor configured to deliver bytecodes to a client at a receiver station via a transport stream;

said code comprising;

a method for decomposing said media data into at least one primary packets, wherein each of said at least one primary packets comprises a primary packet header and a primary packet data;

a method for decomposing said each of said at least one primary packets into a plurality of secondary packets of fixed length, each of said plurality of secondary packets having a transport stream header section and a transport stream payload section, wherein said transport stream comprises said plurality of secondary packets;

a method for embedding bytecodes in said primary packet header of said primary packet;

a computer at a receiving station configured to;

decode said transport stream at said receiver station to separate said bytecodes from said media data; and

use said bytecodes to control playback of said media data at said receiver station.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said transport stream header comprises an adaptation field section and a header section and portions of said bytecodes are embedded in said adaptation field section.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said transport stream payload section comprises a private stream field and portions of said bytecodes are embedded in said private stream field.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said transport stream payload section comprises a private stream field and portions of said bytecodes are embedded in said private stream field.

12. A system comprising:

a computer at a transmitting station having a processor, a memory, code executed by said processor configured to deliver bytecodes within a transport stream;

said code comprising;

a method for obtaining media data for transmission to a client at a receiver station via a transport stream;

a method for decomposing said media data into at least one primary packets, wherein each of said at least one primary packets comprises a primary packet header and a primary packet data;

a method for decomposing said each of said at least one primary packets into a plurality of secondary packets of fixed length, each of said plurality of secondary packets having a transport stream header section and a transport stream payload section, wherein said transport stream comprises said plurality of secondary packets;

a method for obtaining bytecodes necessary for controlling playback of said media data;

a method for decomposing said byteclodes into a plurality of bytecode packets, wherein each of said plurality of bytecode packets comprises a bytecode header and a class file;

a method for embedding said plurality of bytecode packets in said primary packet header of said primary packet;

a computer at said receiving station configured to;

decode said transport stream at said receiver station to separate said bytecodes from said media data;

use said bytecodes to control playback of said media data at said receiver station.

13. A system comprising:

a computer at a transmitting station having a processor, a memory, code executed by said processor configured to deliver bytecodes within a transport stream;

said code comprising;

a method for obtaining media data for transmission to a client at a receiver station via a transport stream;

a method for decomposing said media data into at least one primary packets, each of said at least one primary packets having a primary packet header and a primary packet data, wherein said primary packet header comprising information for interpretation of said each of said at least one primary packets;

a method for decomposing said each of said at least one primary packets into a plurality of secondary packets of fixed length, each of said plurality of secondary packets having a transport stream header section and a transport stream payload section, wherein said transport stream comprises said plurality of secondary packets;

a method for obtaining bytecodes necessary for controlling playback of said media data;

a method for decomposing said bytecodes into a plurality of bytecode packets, wherein each of said plurality of bytecode packets comprises a bytecode header and a class file, said bytecode header having version identification, tune in point for a decoder, and retransmission time for said class file;

a method for embedding said plurality of bytecode packets in said primary packet header of said primary packet;

a computer at a receiving station configured to;

decode said transport stream at said receiver station to separate said bytecodes from said media data;

use said bytecodes to control playback of said media data at said receiver station.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said information for interpretation comprises:

length of said header;

version identification;

type of data in said at least one primary packets;

plurality of time stamps;

size of said at least one primary packets;

type of compression used;

security scheme used; and

error correction method.

15. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for delivery of bytecodes within a transport stream;

said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to;

obtain media data for transmission to a client at a receiver station via a transport stream;

decompose said media data into at least one primary packets, wherein each of said at least one primary packets comprises a primary packet header and a primary packet data;

decompose said each of said at least one primary packets into a plurality of secondary packets of fixed length, each of said plurality of secondary packets having a transport stream header section and a transport stream payload section, wherein said transport stream comprises said plurality of secondary packets;

embed bytecodes in said primary packet header of said primary packet;

decode said transport stream at said receiver station to separate said bytecodes from said media data;

use said bytecodes to control playback of said media data at said receiver station.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein said transport stream header comprises an adaptation field section and a header section and portions of said bytecodes are embedded in said adaptation field section.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein said transport stream payload section comprises a private stream field and portions of said bytecodes are embedded in said private stream field.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said transport stream payload section comprises a private stream field and portions of said bytecodes are embedded in said private stream field.

19. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for delivery of bytecodes within a transport stream;

said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to;

obtain media data for transmission to a client at a receiver station via a transport stream;

decompose said media data into at least one primary packets, wherein each of said at least one primary packets comprises a primary packet header and a primary packet data;

decompose said each of said at least one primary packets into a plurality of secondary packets of fixed length, each of said plurality of secondary packets having a transport stream header section and a transport stream payload section, wherein said transport stream comprises said plurality of secondary packets;

obtain bytecodes necessary for controlling playback of said media data;

decompose said bytecodes into a plurality of bytecode packets, wherein each of said plurality of bytecode packets comprises a bytecode header and a class file;

embed said plurality of bytecode packets in said primary packet header of said primary packet;

decode said transport stream at said receiver station to separate said bytecodes from said media data;

use said bytecodes to control playback of said media data at said receiver station.

20. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for delivery of bytecodes within a transport stream;

said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to;

obtain media data for transmission to a client at a receiver station via a transport stream;

decompose said media data into at least one primary packets, each of said at least one primary packets having a primary packet header and a primary packet data, wherein said primary packet header comprising information for interpretation of said each of said at least one primary packets;

decompose said each of said at least one primary packets into a plurality of secondary packets of fixed length, each of said plurality of secondary packets having a transport stream header section and a transport stream payload section, wherein said transport stream comprises said plurality of secondary packets;

obtain bytecodes necessary for controlling playback of said media data;

decompose said bytecodes into a plurality of bytecode packets, wherein each of said plurality of bytecode packets comprises a bytecode header and a class file, said bytecode header having version identification, tune in point for a decoder, and retransmission time for said class file;

embed said plurality of bytecode packets in said primary packet header of said primary packet;

decode said transport stream at said receiver station to separate said bytecodes from said media data;

use said bytecodes to control playback of said media data at said receiver station.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein said information for interpretation comprises:

length of said header;

version identification;

type of data in said at least one primary packets;

plurality of time stamps;

size of said at least one primary packets;

type of compression used;

security scheme used; and

error correction method.