Method for converting packetized video data and corresponding navigation data into a second data format

• US 7,133,598 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1999
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Schultz, Mark Alan, Lin, Shu, Willis, Donald Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fletcher, James A.
• Application Number:
  US09/378,669
• Time in Patent Office: 2,636 Days
• Field of Search: 356/34, 356/45, 356/95, 356/48, 356111-112, 356125-126
• US Class Current: 386/232
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/309 Table of contents
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06

Abstract

A video processing system adaptively generates and processes volume/file structure and navigation data of different data format and converts data between different formats for decoding, recording and other applications. The system processes the volume/file structure and navigation data in distinct modes including (a) pre-processing, (b) contemporaneous and (c) post-processing modes. In addition, the system provides navigation information supporting navigation through different images of one or more video programs by parsing encoded packetized data representative of a sequence of individual images to determine parameters to support navigation through the sequence of individual images. The determined parameters are formatted into a predetermined data structure and incorporated into a pre-formed navigation data field.

Claims

1. A method for converting image representative digital video data in a first data format corresponding to a digital disc format to a different second data format corresponding to a second digital disc format in response to initiation of data format conversion, comprising the steps of:

generating navigation parameters to support navigation through a sequence of individual images by parsing encoded packetized data representative of a sequence of individual images in said first data format of said digital disc format, wherein said navigation parameters are derived from at least one of;

navigational information related to the sequence of individual images and file structure information of said digital disc format;

incorporating said navigation parameters into a navigation data field; and

providing an output comprising packetized data representative of a sequence of individual images in said different second data format including said navigation data field in a different data format of said second digital disc format and a different file structure of said second digital disc format.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of incorporating said navigation parameters into said navigation data field comprises re-formatting an existing navigation data field with said navigation parameters.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein

said first data format comprises a read only data format and

said second data format comprises a different recordable data format.

4. A method for converting image representative digital video data of a first data format of a digital disc format to a different second data format of a second digital disc format in response to initiation of data format conversion, comprising the steps of:

parsing encoded packetized data representative of a sequence of individual images in a first data format of said digital disc format to derive parameters to support navigation through said sequence of individual images, wherein the packetized data comprises at least one of;

navigation data related to the sequence of individual images and file structure information of said digital disc format;

incorporating said derived parameters into a pre-formed navigation data field; and

providing said encoded packetized data and said pre-formed navigation data field as an output in said second data format in at least one of;

new navigation data format and new file structure format of said second digital disc format.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said derived parameters comprise at least one of, (a) data identifying a group of pictures (GOP) format, (b) a number of GOPs in a video object unit (VOBU), (c) data identifying reference frames in a VOBU or GOP, (d) a start address of image representative data, (e) an end address of image representative data, (f) a parameter identifying size of image representative data, (g) trick play mode selection information and (h) file structure information.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein

said derived parameters in said navigation data field support navigation through images in at least one of, (a) a frame, (b) a group of pictures (GOP), (c) a video object unit (VOBU), (d) a program, (e) different programs and (f) video data of different MPEG compatible elementary streams.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein

said different programs comprise a video program and an associated program comprising one of Internet web page data, text data, and program guide data.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein

said different programs comprise two different video programs.

9. A method according to claim 4, including the step of

incorporating an indicator in a datastream including said encoded packetized data and said navigation data field to indicate data format conversion has been performed.

10. A method according to claim 4, wherein

said pre-formed navigation data field comprises a header and a payload and said determined parameters are incorporated in said navigation data field payload.