Transcoding video data
First Claim
1. A method of transcoding encoded input video data to produce encoded output video data, comprising the steps of:
- locating an input video data file;
analysing a portion of said input video data file to determine coding characteristics of encoded input video data contained within said input video data file;
estimating the amount of data that would be present in an output video data file created by transcoding said input video data file to generate an estimated data volume;
modifying said estimated data volume to produce an expected number of data chunks, wherein a data chunk is a sequence of consecutive frames selected from the group consisting of image frames and audio frames and the number of frames in a data chunk is zero or greater, such that said expected number of data chunks is dependent upon the size of said input video data file;
creating a file header for an output video data file, said header including said expected number of data chunks;
receiving the encoded input video data located by said locating step;
transcoding received encoded input video data to produce encoded output video data;
during said transcoding step, supplying chunks of said encoded output video data with said file header as a stream to a receiving device; and
monitoring the volume of output data being produced;
in response to said monitoring, modifying the remaining output data during the transcoding operation to ensure the output data contains precisely said expected number of data chunks;
such that said receiving device is adapted to at least one of;
view the output video data as it is received as a stream andstore the output video data with the file header as a downloaded file.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Video data is transcoded on the fly to produce a progressive download viewed while the data is being received while streaming and/or may be downloaded and played later. An analyzer analyzes a portion of an input video data file to determine coded characteristics of encoded input video and determines an expected data volume. A generator generates a file header for output video data that includes an indication of the expected volume thereof. A transcoder transcodes the input video data to produce encoded output video data. The output interface supplies the encoded output video data with the file header as a stream to a receiving device. In a first embodiment, the expected volume of data in the header is overestimated and blank video chunks added. In an alternative embodiment, the expected data of volume is underestimated and compression parameters are modified during the transcoding process.
28 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of transcoding encoded input video data to produce encoded output video data, comprising the steps of:
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locating an input video data file; analysing a portion of said input video data file to determine coding characteristics of encoded input video data contained within said input video data file; estimating the amount of data that would be present in an output video data file created by transcoding said input video data file to generate an estimated data volume; modifying said estimated data volume to produce an expected number of data chunks, wherein a data chunk is a sequence of consecutive frames selected from the group consisting of image frames and audio frames and the number of frames in a data chunk is zero or greater, such that said expected number of data chunks is dependent upon the size of said input video data file; creating a file header for an output video data file, said header including said expected number of data chunks; receiving the encoded input video data located by said locating step; transcoding received encoded input video data to produce encoded output video data; during said transcoding step, supplying chunks of said encoded output video data with said file header as a stream to a receiving device; and monitoring the volume of output data being produced; in response to said monitoring, modifying the remaining output data during the transcoding operation to ensure the output data contains precisely said expected number of data chunks; such that said receiving device is adapted to at least one of; view the output video data as it is received as a stream and store the output video data with the file header as a downloaded file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for transcoding encoded input video data to produce encoded output video data, comprising:
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a locator for locating an input video data file; an analyser for analysing a portion of said input video data file to determine coding characteristics of encoded input video data contained within said input video data file, and for estimating the amount of data that would be present in an output video data file created by transcoding said input video data file to generate an estimated data volume, and for modifying said estimated data volume to produce an expected number of data chunks, wherein a data chunk is a sequence of consecutive image frames or audio frames and the number of frames in a data chunk is zero or greater, such that said expected number of data chunks is dependent upon the size of said input video data file; a generator for generating a file header for an output video data file that includes an indication of said expected number of data chunks; an input interface for receiving the input video data located by said locator; a transcoder for transcoding the input video data to produce encoded output video data; a monitoring device for monitoring the volume of output video data supplied as a stream to the receiving device; and an output interface for supplying the encoded output video data with said file header as a stream to a receiving device; wherein said transcoder modifies the remaining output data in response to data received from said monitoring device, to ensure that the output data contains precisely said expected number of data chunks; such that said receiving device is adapted to at least one of; view the output video data as it is received as a stream and store the output video data with the file header as a downloaded file. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions executable by a computer such that when executing said instructions a computer will perform the steps of:
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locating an input video data file; analysing a portion of said input video data file to determine coding characteristics of encoded input video data contained within said input video data file; estimating the amount of data that would be present in an output video data file created by transcoding said input video data file to generate an estimated data volume; modifying said estimated data volume to produce an expected number of data chunks, wherein a data chunk is a sequence of consecutive frames selected from the group consisting of image frames and audio frames and the number of frames in a data chunk is zero or greater, such that said expected number of data chunks is dependent upon the size of said input video data file; creating a file header for an output video data file, said header including said expected number of data chunks; receiving the encoded input video data located by said locating step; transcoding received encoded input video data to produce encoded output video data; during said transcoding step, supplying chunks of said encoded output video data with said file header as a stream to a receiving device; and monitoring the volume of output data being produced, and in response to said monitoring, modifying the remaining output data during the transcoding operation to ensure the output data contains precisely said expected number of data chunks; such that said receiving device is adapted to at least one of; view the output video data as it is received as a stream and store the output video data with the file header as a downloaded file.
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Specification