Media file format, system, and method

• US 9,578,397 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frankel, Justin Charles, Pepper, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): RECEK, JASON D
• Application Number:
  US13/489,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20120311418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content

Abstract

Digital content encoded in a media file format may be presented by accessing the media file, reading parameters that describe the content, and processing the media file using the encoded parameters to “play” or generate output. Although the media file format may have multiple optional extensions, the media file generally includes one or more frames. Each frame may include a synchronized frame with the synchronized frame having a synchronized header, a video format indicator, an audio format indicator, a width indicator, a height indicator, a frame rate index, and a payload. Although the digital content may include different types and formats, the parameters used in the media file may be used to describe the digital content so that it may be processed independent of the underlying algorithm used. For example, multiple channels of audio signals may be described.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for processing a media file, the method comprising:

accessing, using at least one processor, a first synchronization frame from the media file;

initiating synchronization information based on the first synchronization frame;

outputting content from the first synchronization frame, the output content including a first content type and a second content type;

accessing, using the at least one processor, a second synchronization frame from the media file;

comparing the synchronization information between the first synchronization frame and the second synchronization frame; and

adjusting a synchronization between the first content type and the second content type of the output content if a difference between the synchronization information and the second synchronization frame is greater than a predetermined difference threshold,

wherein the adjusting comprises resetting an application so that the second synchronization frame received is output.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing at least one nonsynchronization frame from the media file; and

outputting content from the at least one nonsynchronization frame.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one nonsynchronization frame is accessed after the first synchronization frame is accessed and before the second synchronization frame is accessed.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

using the synchronization information to regulate the presentation of content of the at least one nonsynchronization frame.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization frames are set on or immediately preceding a key frame or intraframe.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization frames each comprise at least one of:

a header;

a video format indicator;

an audio format indicator;

a width indicator;

a height indicator;

a frame rate index;

a synchronization offset; and

a payload.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one nonsynchronization frame comprises:

a header; and

a payload.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the content of the first synchronization frame simultaneously.

9. A system for processing a media file, the system comprising:

a storage device that stores a set of instructions; and

at least one processor that executes the set of instructions, the set of instructions configuring the at least one processor to;

access a first synchronization frame from the media file;

initiate synchronization information based on the first synchronization frame;

output content from the first synchronization frame, the output content including a first content type and a second content type;

access a second synchronization frame from the media file;

compare the synchronization information with the second synchronization frame; and

adjust a synchronization between the first content type and the second content type of the output content if a difference between the synchronization information and the second synchronization information and the second difference threshold,

wherein to adjust the synchronization the at least one processor is further configured to reset an application so that the second synchronization frame received is output.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor further executes the set of instructions to:

access at least one nonsynchronization frame from the media file; and

output content from the at least one nonsynchronization frame.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one nonsynchronization frame is accessed after the first synchronization frame is accessed and before the second synchronization frame is accessed.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor further executes the set of instructions to:

using the synchronization information to regulate the presentation of content of the at least one nonsynchronization frame.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the synchronization frames are set on or immediately preceding a key frame or intraframe.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the synchronization frames each comprise at least one of:

a header;

a video format indicator;

an audio format indicator;

a width indicator;

a height indicator;

a frame rate index;

a synchronization offset; and

a payload.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one nonsynchronization frame comprises:

a header; and

a payload.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor further executes the set of instructions to:

presenting the content of the first synchronization frame simultaneously.

17. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage device for processing a media file, the storage device including a set of instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to:

access a first synchronization frame from the media file;

initiate synchronization information based on the first synchronization frame;

output content from the first synchronization frame, the output content including a first content type and a second content type;

access a second synchronization frame from the media file;

compare the synchronization information with the second synchronization frame; and

adjust a synchronization between the first content type and the second content type of the output content if a difference between the synchronization information and the second synchronization frame is greater than a predetermined difference threshold,

wherein to adjust the synchronization the at least one processor is further configured to reset an application so that the second synchronization frame received is output.