Methods and apparatus for packetization of content for transmission over a network

• US 8,842,666 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Raveendran, Vijayalakshmi R., Silberger, Amnon, Collins, Bruce, Radhakrishnan, Dhinakar, Walker, Gordon Kent, Nagaraj, Thadi M., Balraj, Sajith
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Kibrom T
• Application Number:
  US11/432,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20060288117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,057 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for packetization of content for transmission over a network. A method is provided that includes generating one or more content packets from the multimedia content, wherein the content packets are associated with a time reference, and adding a sync header to the one or more content packets to form one or more application layer packets, respectively, wherein the sync header comprises a time indicator that indicates time relative to the time reference. An apparatus includes encoding logic configured to generate one or more content packets from the multimedia content, wherein the content packets are associated with a time reference, and packetization logic configured to add a sync header to the one or more content packets to form one or more application layer packets, respectively, wherein the sync header comprises a time indicator that indicates time relative to the time reference.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a plurality of content packets associated with multimedia content;

adding a sync header to each content packet to form a plurality of corresponding sync packets, wherein each sync header includes a packet presentation time stamp;

generating a plurality of blocks corresponding to the plurality of sync packets, wherein each block includes at least a portion of a sync packet of the plurality of sync packets and a framing header corresponding to the portion of the sync packet included in each block, wherein a first block of the plurality of blocks includes a first framing header and includes at least a portion of a first sync packet, and wherein the first framing header included in the first block indicates a length of the portion of the first sync packet and whether the portion of the first sync packet is a last portion of the first sync packet; and

generating a superframe that includes the plurality of blocks, wherein a first actual presentation time is associated with the first sync packet, wherein a first packet presentation time stamp is added to a superframe time to determine the first actual presentation time, and wherein the superframe time is obtained from overhead information symbols of the superframe.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the plurality of content packets includes encoding the multimedia content to produce the plurality of content packets.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sync header includes a random access point identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sync header includes a frame rate indicator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sync header includes a component indicator that indicates whether a particular sync packet is associated with a base layer or an enhancement layer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a sync layer directory, wherein the sync layer directory is associated with audio frames or is associated with video frames, and wherein the sync layer directory is transmitted in association with the plurality of blocks.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising generating the sync layer directory to comprise a video reference indicator that indicates that a selected sync packet is associated with a selected type of video frame.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes determining whether a fragmentation mode is a first fragmentation mode or a second fragmentation mode, wherein the first fragmentation mode indicates that portions of a particular sync layer packet may be included in blocks of different superframes, wherein the second fragmentation mode indicates that the portions of the particular sync layer packet may not be included in blocks of different superframes, and wherein the plurality of blocks are generated for transmission in one or more superframes based on a determined fragmentation mode.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of blocks are generated and transmitted based on a determination of whether a number of blocks sent in a superframe over the base layer and the enhancement layer must be the same.

10. An apparatus for packetization of multimedia content for distribution over a network, the apparatus comprising:

encoding logic configured to generate a plurality of content packets based on the multimedia content;

packetization logic configured to add a sync header to each content packet to form a plurality of corresponding sync packets, wherein each sync header includes a packet presentation time stamp;

framing logic configured to generate a plurality of blocks corresponding to the plurality of sync packets, wherein each block includes at least a portion of a sync packet of the plurality of sync packets and a framing header corresponding to the portion of the sync packet included in each block, wherein a first block of the plurality of blocks includes a first framing header and includes at least a portion of a first sync packet, and wherein the first framing header included in the first block indicates a length of the portion of the first sync packet and whether the portion of the first sync packet is a last portion of the first sync packet; and

superframe logic configured to generate a superframe that includes the plurality of blocks, wherein a first actual presentation time is associated with the first sync packet, wherein a first packet presentation time stamp is added to a superframe time to determine the first actual presentation time, and wherein the superframe time is obtained from overhead information symbols of the superframe.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sync header includes a random access point identifier.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sync header includes a frame rate indicator.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sync header includes a component indicator that indicates whether a particular sync packet is associated with a base layer or an enhancement layer.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the packetization logic further comprises logic configured to generate a sync layer directory.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sync layer directory includes a video reference indicator that indicates that a selected sync packet is associated with a selected type of video frame.

16. An apparatus for packetization of multimedia content for distribution over a network, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating a plurality of content packets based on the multimedia content;

means for adding a sync header to each content packet to form a plurality of corresponding sync packets, wherein each sync header includes a packet presentation time stamp;

means for generating a plurality of blocks corresponding to the plurality of sync packets, wherein each block includes at least a portion of a sync packet of the plurality of sync packets and a framing header corresponding to the portion of the sync packet included in each block, wherein a first block of the plurality of blocks includes a first framing header and includes at least a portion of a first sync packet, and wherein the first framing header included in the first block indicates a length of the portion of the first sync packet and whether the portion of the first sync packet is a last portion of the first sync packet; and

means for generating a superframe that includes the plurality of blocks, wherein a first actual presentation time is associated with the first sync packet, wherein a first packet presentation time stamp is added to a superframe time to determine the first actual presentation time, and wherein the superframe time is obtained from overhead information symbols of the superframe.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said means for generating includes means for encoding the multimedia content to produce the one or more content packets.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sync header includes a random access point identifier.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for generating the sync header includes a frame rate indicator.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sync header includes a component indicator that indicates whether a selected sync packet is associated with a base layer or an enhancement layer.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for generating a sync layer directory.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the sync layer directory includes a video reference indicator that indicates that a selected sync packet is associated with a selected type of video frame.

23. A computer-readable medium having a computer program comprising one or more instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, provide packetization of multimedia content for distribution over a network, the one or more instructions comprising:

instructions for generating a plurality of content packets based on the multimedia content;

instructions for adding a sync header to each content packet to form a plurality of corresponding sync packets, wherein each sync header includes a packet presentation time stamp; and

instructions for generating a plurality of blocks corresponding to the plurality of sync packets, wherein each block includes at least a portion of a sync packet of the plurality of sync packets and a framing header corresponding to the portion of the sync packet included in each block, wherein a first block of the plurality of blocks includes a first framing header and includes at least a portion of a first sync packet, and wherein the first framing header included in the first block indicates a length of the portion of the first sync packet and whether the portion of the first sync packet is a last portion of the first sync packet; and

instructions for generating a superframe that includes the plurality of blocks, wherein a first actual presentation time is associated with the first sync packet, wherein a first packet presentation time stamp is added to a superframe time to determine the first actual presentation time, and wherein the superframe time is obtained from overhead information symbols of the superframe.

24. The computer program of claim 23, wherein said instructions for generating comprise instructions for encoding the multimedia content to produce the one or more content packets.

25. The compute program of claim 23, wherein the sync header includes a random access point identifier.

26. The computer program of claim 23, wherein the sync header includes a frame rate indicator.

27. The computer program of claim 23, wherein the sync header includes a component indicator that indicates whether a selected application layer packet is associated with a base layer or an enhancement layer.

28. The computer program of claim 23, further comprising instructions for generating a sync layer directory.

29. The computer program of claim 28, wherein the sync layer directory includes a video reference indicator that indicates that a selected sync packet is associated with a selected type of video frame.

30. At least one processor configured to perform a method for packetization of multimedia content for distribution over a network, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of content packets from multiple channels of multimedia content;

adding a sync header to each content packet to form a plurality of corresponding sync packets, wherein each sync header includes a packet presentation time stamp;

generating a plurality of blocks corresponding to the plurality of sync packets, wherein each block includes at least a portion of a sync packet of the plurality of sync packets and a framing header corresponding to the portion of the sync packet included in each block, wherein a first block of the plurality of blocks includes a first framing header and includes at least a portion of a first sync packet, and wherein the first framing header included in the first block indicates a length of the portion of the first sync packet and whether the portion of the first sync packet is a last portion of the first sync packet; and

generating a superframe that includes the plurality of blocks, wherein a first actual presentation time is associated with the first sync packet, wherein a first packet presentation time stamp is added to a superframe time to determine the first actual presentation time, and wherein the superframe time is obtained from overhead information symbols of the superframe.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said generating comprises encoding the multimedia content to produce the plurality of content packets.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the synch header includes a random access point identifier.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the sync header includes a frame rate indicator.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the sync header includes a component indicator that indicates whether a selected sync packet is associated with a base layer or an enhancement layer.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising generating a sync layer directory.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the sync layer directory includes a video reference indicator that indicates that a selected sync packet is associated with a selected type of video frame.

37. A method for processing packets corresponding to multimedia content distributed over a network, the method comprising:

processing a superframe to produce a plurality of sync packets and to obtain a superframe time, wherein the superframe time is obtained from overhead information symbols of the superframe;

extracting a sync header from each sync packet to produce a plurality of corresponding content layer packets, wherein each sync header includes a presentation time stamp; and

synchronizing each content layer packet based on an actual presentation time associated with each content layer packet, wherein a particular actual presentation time is associated with a particular content packet, wherein a particular presentation time stamp is included in a particular sync header associated with the particular content packet, and wherein the particular presentation time stamp is added to the superframe time to determine the particular actual presentation time.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising extracting a random access point identifier from the particular sync header.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising extracting a frame rate indicator from the particular sync header.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising extracting a component indicator from the particular sync header, wherein the component indicator indicates whether a selected sync packet is associated with a base layer or an enhancement layer.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising receiving a sync layer directory.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising extracting a video reference indicator from the sync layer directory, wherein the video reference indicator indicates that a selected sync packet is associated with a selected type of video frame.

43. An apparatus for preprocessing packets corresponding to multimedia content distributed over a network, the apparatus comprising:

receiving logic configured to process a superframe to produce a plurality of sync packets and to obtain a superframe time, wherein the superframe time is obtained from overhead information symbols of the superframe; and

de-packetization logic configured to extract a sync header from each sync packet to produce content layer packets, wherein each sync header includes a presentation time stamp, and to synchronize each content layer packet based on an actual presentation time associated with each content layer packet, wherein a particular actual presentation time is associated with a particular content packet, wherein a particular presentation time stamp is included in a particular sync header associated with the particular content packet, and wherein the particular presentation time stamp is added to the superframe time to determine the particular actual presentation time.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the de-packetization logic further comprises logic configured to extract a random access point identifier from the particular sync header.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the de-packetization logic further comprises logic configured to extract a frame rate indicator from the particular sync header.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the de-packetization logic further comprises logic configured to extract a component indicator from the particular sync header, wherein the component indicator indicates whether a selected sync packet is associated with a base layer or an enhancement layer.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the de-packetization logic further comprises logic configured to receive a sync layer directory.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the de-packetization logic further comprises logic configured to extract a video reference indicator from the sync layer directory, wherein the video reference indicator indicates that a selected sync packet is associated with a selected type of video frame.

49. An apparatus for processing packets corresponding to multimedia content for distribution over a network, the apparatus comprising:

means for processing a superframe to produce a plurality of sync packets and to obtain a superframe time, wherein the superframe time is obtained from overhead information symbols of the superframe;

means for extracting a sync header from each application layer packet to produce a plurality of corresponding content layer packets, wherein each sync header includes a presentation time stamp; and

means for synchronizing each content layer packet based on an actual presentation time associated with each content layer packet, wherein a particular actual presentation time is associated with a particular content packet, wherein a particular presentation time stamp is included in a particular sync header associated with the particular content packet, and wherein the particular presentation time stamp is added to the superframe time to determine the particular actual presentation time.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising means for extracting a random access point identifier from the particular sync header.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising means for extracting a frame rate indicator from the particular sync header.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising means for extracting a component indicator from the particular sync header, wherein the component indicator indicates whether a selected sync packet is associated with a base layer or an enhancement layer.

53. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising means for receiving a sync layer directory.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, further comprising means for extracting a video reference indicator from the sync layer directory, wherein the video reference indicator indicates that a selected sync packet is associated with a selected type of video frame.

55. A computer-readable medium having a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, operate to process packets corresponding to multimedia content distributed over a network, the computer program comprising:

instructions for processing a superframe to produce a plurality of sync packets and to obtain a superframe time, wherein the superframe time is obtained from overhead information symbols of the superframe;

instructions for extracting a sync header from each sync packet to produce a plurality of corresponding content layer packets, wherein each sync header includes a presentation time stamp; and

instructions for synchronizing the content layer packets based on an actual presentation time associated with each content layer packet, wherein a particular actual presentation time is associated with a particular content packet, wherein a particular presentation time stamp is included in a particular sync header associated with the particular content packet, and wherein the particular presentation time stamp is added to the superframe time to determine the particular actual presentation time.

56. The computer program of claim 55, further comprising instructions for extracting a random access point identifier from the particular sync header.

57. The computer program of claim 55, further comprising instructions for extracting a frame rate indicator from the particular sync header.

58. The computer program of claim 55, further comprising instructions for extracting a component indicator from the particular sync header, wherein the component indicator indicates whether a particular sync packet is associated with a base layer or an enhancement layer.

59. The computer program of claim 55, further comprising instructions for receiving a sync layer directory.

60. The computer program of claim 59, further comprising instructions for extracting a video reference indicator from the sync layer directory, wherein the video reference indicator indicates that a selected sync packet is associated with a selected type of video frame.

61. At least one processor configured to perform operations to process packets corresponding to multimedia content distributed over a network, the operations comprising:

processing a superframe to produce a plurality of sync packets and to obtain a superframe time, wherein the superframe time is obtained from overhead information symbols of the superframe;

extracting a sync header from each sync packet to produce a plurality of corresponding content layer packets, wherein each sync header includes a presentation time stamp; and

synchronizing each content layer packet based on an actual presentation time associated with each content layer packet, wherein a particular actual presentation time is associated with a particular content packet, wherein a particular presentation time stamp is included in a particular sync header associated with the particular content packet, and wherein the particular presentation time stamp is added to the superframe time to determine the particular actual presentation time.

62. The at least one processor of claim 61, the operations further comprising extracting a random access point identifier from the particular sync header, and a frame rate indicator from the particular sync header.

63. The at least one processor of claim 61, the operations further comprising extracting a component indicator from the particular sync header, wherein the component indicator indicates whether a selected sync packet is associated with a base layer or an enhancement layer.

64. The at least one processor of claim 61, the operations further comprising receiving a sync layer directory, and extracting a video reference indicator from the sync layer directory, wherein the video reference indicator indicates that a selected sync packet is associated with a selected type of video frame.