Method and apparatus for media data transmission

• US 6,717,952 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• 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): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US10/298,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20030204555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 370/235, 370/259, 370/263, 370/265, 370/394, 370/395.52, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/468, 370/486, 370/487, 370/270, 370/395.6, 709/203, 709/230, 709/231, 709/232
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• 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 21/2381 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 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• 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 21/4381 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 21/6437 Real-time Transport Protocol [RTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• 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 21/85406 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 for transmission in a data communication medium. A set of data indicates how to transmit a time related sequence of media data according to a transmission protocol. The set of data, includes a time related sequence of data which is associated with the time related sequence of media data. The set of data may be utilized by a digital processing system to transmit the time related sequence of media data (e.g., by packets generated according to the transmission protocol and the set of data).

Claims

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

creating on a first digital processing system a set of data to indicate how to packetize a time related sequence of media data for transmission according to defined packetizing characteristics, wherein said set of data varies with different packetizing characteristics; and

storing said set of data on a storage device coupled to the first digital processing system, wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with said time related sequence of media data.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise an Internet protocol.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise network bandwidth.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise a data transmission rate.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein said set of data is separate from said time related sequence of media data.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein said set of data is stored as a sequence of indicating data containing instructions for processing said time related sequence of media data for packetization.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein said set of data is stored as a hint track containing logical references to instructions for processing said time related sequence of media data for packetization.

8. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

determining a format of said time related sequence of media data before creating said set of data; and

determining said defined packetizing characteristics before creating said set of data.

9. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting said set of data to a second digital processing system for subsequent generation of packets of data representing said time related sequence of media data according to said defined packetizing characteristics.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a first digital processing system comprising a first processor to generate a set of data associated with transmission of a time related sequence of media data according to defined packetizing characteristics, wherein said set of data indicates how to packetize said time related sequence of media data, said set of data varying with different packetizing characteristics, and wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with said time related sequence of media data.

11. The apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise an Internet protocol.

12. The apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise network bandwidth.

13. The apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise a data transmission rate.

14. The apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said set of data is separate from said time related sequence of media data.

15. The apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said set of data comprises a sequence of indicating data containing instructions for processing said time related sequence of media data for packetization.

16. The apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said set of data comprises a hint track containing logical references to instructions for processing said time related sequence of media data for packetization.

17. The apparatus as in claim 10, further comprising:

a second digital processing system, coupled to said first digital processing system, to receive said set of data from said first digital processing system, said second digital processing system comprising;

a second processor;

a first storage area to store said media data; and

a second storage area to store said set of data.

18. The apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the first processor further transmits said set of data to a second digital processing system for subsequent generation of packets of data representing time related sequence of media data according to said defined packetizing characteristics.

19. An apparatus for processing media data, said apparatus comprising:

a first means for generating a set of data associated with transmission of a time related sequence of media data according to defined packetizing characteristics, wherein said set of data indicates how to packetize said time related sequence of media data, said set of data varying with different packetizing characteristics, and wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with said time related sequence of media data; and

a second means for storing said set of data.

20. The apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprises an Internet protocol.

21. The apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise network bandwidth.

22. The apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise a data transmission rate.

23. The apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said set of data is separate from said time related sequence of media data.

24. The apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said set of data comprises a sequence of indicating data containing instructions for processing said time related sequence of media data for packetization.

25. The apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said set of data comprises a hint track containing logical references to instructions for processing said time related sequence of media data for packetization.

26. The apparatus as in claim 19 further comprising:

a third means for transmitting said set of data to a fourth means for subsequent generation of packets of data representing said time related sequence of media data according to said defined packetizing characteristics.

27. A method implemented by a first digital processing system for processing media data, said method comprising:

generating on said first digital processing system a first time related sequence of data to indicate how to packetize a second time related sequence of data according to defined packetizing characteristics, wherein said first time related sequence of data varies with different packetizing characteristics, and wherein said first time related sequence of data is associated with time-based media and further associated with said second time related sequence of data; and

storing said first time related sequence of data.

28. The method as in claim 27, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprises an Internet protocol.

29. The method as in claim 27, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise network bandwidth.

30. The method as in claim 27, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise a data transmission rate.

31. The method as in claim 27, wherein said first time related sequence of data is separate from said second time related sequence of media data.

32. The method as in claim 27, wherein said first time related sequence of data is stored as a sequence of indicating data containing instructions for processing said second time related sequence of data for packetization.

33. The method as in claim 27, wherein said first time related sequence of data is stored as a hint track containing logical references to instructions for processing said second time related sequence of data for packetization.

34. The method as in claim 27, further comprising:

determining a format of said second time related sequence of data prior to generating said first time related sequence of data; and

determining said defined packetizing characteristics prior to generating said first time related sequence of data.

35. The method as in claim 27, further comprising:

transmitting said first time related sequence of data to a second digital processing system for subsequent generation of packets of data representing said second time related sequence of data according to said defined packetizing characteristics.

36. A machine-readable medium comprising:

a time related sequence of media data; and

a set of data which, when processed by a digital processing system, indicates to said digital processing system how to packetize said time related sequence of media data according to defined packetizing characteristics, wherein said set of data varies with different packetizing characteristics, and wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with said time related sequence of media data.

37. The machine-readable medium as in claim 36, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprises an Internet protocol.

38. The machine-readable medium as in claim 36, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise network bandwidth.

39. The machine-readable medium as in claim 36, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise a data transmission rate.

40. The machine-readable medium as in claim 36, wherein said set of data is separate from said time related sequence of media data.

41. The machine-readable medium as in claim 36, wherein said set of data is stored as a sequence of indicating data containing instructions for processing said time related sequence of media data for packetization.

42. The machine-readable medium as in claim 36, wherein said set of data is stored as a hint track containing logical references to instructions for processing said time related sequence of media data for packetization.

43. The machine-readable medium as in claim 36, comprising a magnetic storage area, wherein at least one of said time related sequence of media data and said set of data is stored in said magnetic storage area.

44. The machine-readable medium as in claim 36, comprising an optical storage area, wherein at least one of said time related sequence of media data and set of instructions is stored in said optical storage area.

45. The machine-readable medium as in claim 36, comprising an electronic storage area, wherein at least one of said time related sequence of media data and said set of data is stored in said electronic storage area.

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

generating a set of data to indicate how to packetize a time related sequence of media data according to defined packetizing characteristics, wherein said set of data varies with different packetizing characteristics, wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with said time related sequence of media data; and

storing said set of data.

47. The machine-readable medium as in claim 46, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprises an Internet protocol.

48. The machine-readable medium as in claim 46, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise network bandwidth.

49. The machine-readable medium as in claim 46, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise a data transmission rate.

50. The machine-readable medium as in claim 46, wherein said set of data is separate from said time related sequence of media data.

51. The machine-readable medium as in claim 46, wherein said set of data is stored as a sequence of indicating data containing instructions for processing said time related sequence of media data for packetization.

52. The machine-readable medium as in claim 46, wherein said set of data is stored as a hint track containing logical references to instructions for processing said time related sequence of media data for packetization.

53. The machine readable medium of claim 46, wherein said executable program instructions further cause the first digital processing system to perform the method comprising:

determining a format of said time related sequence of media data; and

determining said defined packetizing characteristics.

54. The machine readable medium of claim said 46, wherein said executable program instructions further cause the first digital processing system to perform the method comprising:

transmitting said set of data to a second digital processing system for subsequent generation of packets of data representing said time related sequence of media data according to said defined packetizing characteristics.