International Business Machines Corporation

Antony G Cripps

Robert A Pascoe

Gordon W Bonsall

Charles L Peek

The method and apparatus may be utilized for the efficient interchange of multimedia data in a data processing system. A sequential data stream is established which includes multiple variable length consecutive sections, each of which includes multiple data samples. Each data sample preferably includes a collection of data and a control structure or header which is utilized to specify a manner of interpreting the collection of data. The control structure preferably includes information regarding the size of the collection of data, the resolution and duration of the collection of data, the manner of data collection employed and the encoding technique utilized, if any. In the depicted embodiment a track collection index is transmitted in conjunction with the sequential data stream and utilized to identify the physical location of various track samples within the data stream. Additionally, a track sequence index is provided which may be utilized to identify the logical order in which the data samples are to be utilized in each selected track to create a multimedia presentation. This sequential data stream, track collection index and track sequence index are then transmitted throughout a distributed data processing system utilizing various personal computers or intelligent work stations, permitting multimedia data to be efficiently interchanged.

Method and apparatus for nonsequential multimedia data interchange in a

The method and apparatus may be utilized for the efficient interchange of multimedia data in a data processing system. A sequential data stream is established which includes multiple variable length consecutive sections, each of which includes multiple data samples. Each data sample preferably includes a collection of data and a control structure or header which is utilized to specify a manner of interpreting the collection of data. In the depicted embodiment of the present invention a track collection index is transmitted in conjunction with the sequential data stream and utilized to identify the physical location of various track samples within the data stream. Additionally, a track sequence index is provided which may be utilized to identify the logical order in which the data samples are to be utilized in each selected track to create a multi-media presentation along with an indication of the playback speed to be utilized. This sequential data stream, track collection index and track sequence index are then transmitted throughout a distributed data processing system utilizing various personal computers or intelligent work stations, permitting multimedia data to be efficiently interchanged.

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Dibden, United Kingdom

Antony G Cripps