Method and apparatus for media data transmission

• US 7,747,765 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Anne, Gong, Kevin L., Periyannan, Alagu, Geagan, Jay, Singer, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim; Krisna
• Application Number:
  US11/497,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20070067477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/231, 370/394, 345/327, 345/259
• 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 system for processing media data comprising:

means for retrieving a time related sequence of media data received as packets based on a set of data for indicating a method to packetize said time related sequence of media data to said system for transmission according to defined packetizing characteristics, wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with said time related sequence of media data; and

means for processing said time related sequence of media data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise at least one of a particular network transmission protocol, a network bandwidth, and a data transmission rate.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said particular network transmission protocol comprises an Internet protocol.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

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

means for reassembling said file for presentation by said means for processing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for processing comprises:

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.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said means for processing further comprises:

means for presenting said media object.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein said means for processing further comprises:

means for executing said set of instructions.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said set of data is separate from said time related sequence of media data.

9. A digital processing system comprising:

a data communication interface to receive packets representing a time related sequence of media data in accordance with information provided by a set of data that indicates a method to packetize said time related sequence of media data for transmission according to defined 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 processor, coupled to said data communication interface, to process said time related sequence of media data.

10. The digital processing system of claim 9, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise at least one of a particular network transmission protocol, a network bandwidth, and a data transmission rate.

11. The digital processing system of claim 10, wherein said particular network transmission protocol comprises an Internet protocol.

12. The digital processing system of claim 9, wherein said set of data is separate from said time related sequence of media data.

13. The digital processing system of claim 9, 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.

14. The digital processing system of claim 9, wherein said device comprises at least one of an audio output device and a video output device.

15. The digital processing system of claim 9, wherein said processor is coupled to a storage area to store a file representing said time related sequence of media data.

16. The digital processing system of claim 9, wherein said processor is coupled to a storage area having stored therein:

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

17. The digital processing system of claim 16, wherein said storage area further has stored therein:

a second 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.

18. The digital processing system of claim 17, wherein said storage area further has stored therein:

a third 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.

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

retrieving a time related sequence of media data that is received by said digital processing system as packets based on a set of data, wherein said set of data indicates a method to packetize said time related sequence of media data to said digital processing system for transmission according to defined packetizing characteristics, and wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with said time related sequence of media data.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

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

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

reassembling said information associated with said media object; and

presenting said media object at said digital processing system.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise at least one of a particular network transmission protocol, a network bandwidth, and a data transmission rate.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said particular network transmission protocol comprises an Internet protocol.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein said set of data is separate from said time related sequence of media data.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said set of data comprises a sequence of indicating data.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said indicating data contains instruction of how to packetize said time related sequence of media data.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said indicating data contains logical links to a second set of indicating data, wherein said second set of indicating data contains instructions of how to packetize said time related sequence of media data.

28. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

presenting a media sequence associated with said time related sequence of media data.

29. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

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

30. The method of claim 19, 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.

31. The method of claim 30, 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.

32. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

storing said time related sequence of media data.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said time related sequence of media data is stored in a storage area coupled to said digital processing system.

34. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving said packets representing said related sequence of media data at said digital processing system according to said defined packetizing characteristics.

35. A machine readable storage medium having executable instructions to cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

retrieving a time related sequence of media data that is received by said digital processing system as packets based on a set of data, wherein said set of data indicates a method to packetize said time related sequence of media data to said digital processing system for transmission according to defined packetizing characteristics, and wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with said time related sequence of media data.

36. The machine readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving said packets representing said related sequence of media data according to said defined packetizing characteristics.

37. The machine readable storage medium of claim 35, comprising one of a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, and an electronic storage medium.

38. The machine readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise at least one of a particular network transmission protocol, a network bandwidth, and a data transmission rate.

39. The machine readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein said particular network transmission protocol comprises an Internet protocol.

40. The machine readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein said set of data is separate from said time related sequence of media data.

41. The machine readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein said set of data comprises a sequence of indicating data.

42. The machine readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein said indicating data contains instruction of how to packetize said time related sequence of media data.

43. The machine readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein said indicating data contains logical links to a second set of indicating data, wherein said second set of indicating data contains instructions of how to packetize said time related sequence of media data.

44. The machine readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein the method further comprises:

presenting said time related sequence of media data.

45. The machine readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein the method further comprises:

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

46. The machine readable storage medium of claim 35, 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.

47. The machine readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the method further comprises:

presenting 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.

48. The machine readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein the method further comprises:

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

49. The machine readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the method further comprises:

reassembling said information associated with said media object; and

presenting said media object.

50. A machine readable storage medium having executable instructions to cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

storing in a data structure a time related sequence of media data associated with a set of data to indicate a method to packetize said time related sequence of media data to said digital processing system as packets for transmission according to defined packetizing characteristics, wherein said set of data is a time related sequence of data associated with said time related sequence of media data; and

processing said time related sequence of media data.

51. The machine readable storage medium of claim 50, wherein the method further comprises:

storing a file associated with said time related sequence of media data in a storage area; and

accessing said file to reassemble said time related sequence of media data to be processed by said set of instructions.

52. The machine readable storage medium of claim 50, comprising one of a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, and an electronic storage medium.

53. The machine readable storage medium of claim 50, wherein said defined packetizing characteristics comprise at least one of a particular network transmission protocol, a network bandwidth, and a data transmission rate.

54. The machine readable storage medium of claim 53, wherein said particular network transmission protocol comprises an Internet protocol.

55. The machine readable storage medium of claim 50, wherein said set of data is separate from said time related sequence of media data.

56. The machine readable storage medium of claim 50, wherein the method further comprises:

presenting said time related sequence of media data.

57. The machine readable storage medium of claim 50, wherein the method further comprises:

presenting a media object represented by said time related sequence of media data.

58. The machine readable storage medium of claim 50, 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.

59. The machine readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the method further comprises:

presenting 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.