Packetvideo Corporation

Alcatel Lucent

Alcatel-lucent USA Inc.

Cheuk L Chan

Wei Guang Wu

Thomas Zeng

Osama Al-Shaykh

Mark Banham

David Alan Kosiba

Michael David Foster

Michael Severa

P Greg Sherwood

Jiangtao Wen

James C Brailean

Greg Sherwood

Giri Anantharaman

A scheme for retrieving digital multimedia content from a network node. A message is provided to the network node by a client application executing on a digital multimedia device, wherein the message includes a multidimensional pointer to a depository of digital multimedia content associated with the network node as well as a timing parameter operable to indicate when the message is to take effect. The multidimensional pointer contains a relative time offset variable as well as a plurality of media identifier dimensions corresponding to a plurality of nested hierarchical levels into which the digital multimedia content is organized. Responsive to the message, content from a particular content source identified by the multidimensional pointer is streamed to the digital multimedia device at a time indicated responsive to the timing parameter.

System and method for retrieving digital multimedia content from a network node

A scheme for retrieving digital multimedia content from a network node. An RTSP SET_PARAMETER message is provided to the network node by a client application executing on a digital multimedia device, wherein the message contains at least one of a playlist identifier, a media clip index and an indication of an activation time. Responsive to the message, content from a particular content source identified by the playlist identifier, the media clip index, or both, is streamed to the digital multimedia device at a time determined responsive to the activation time.

A system and a method transfer multiple data channels between a server and a terminal via a stream session over a network. The system and the method utilize a bitstream switching, a fast buffer filling and/or a fast playback start to facilitate a switch from a first data channel and a second data channel. The first data channel and/or the second data channel is delivered to and/or is transferred to the terminal from the server over the network via a streaming session. The server transfers second data of the second data channel to the terminal via one or more tracks which are encoded at more than one bitrate and/or are configured in one or more configurations. The terminal requests a change between the first track and/or the second track without terminating the stream session for the first data channel between the terminal and the server. As a result, the system and/or the method minimizes the delay period of time between requesting the switch to the second data channel and displaying the second data channel.

System and method for transferring multiple data channels

A method and apparatus automatically manipulates a digitally compressed video bitstream such that the result is compatible with different bandwidth and error resilience requirements at a receiving point in a heterogeneous communication network. The method and device provide for analysis of bitstream header information to determine its relevant coding syntax parameters. Feedback from the receiving point on the network is then used to identify error robustness requirements for an intermediate bitstream. The bitstream is then manipulated by an error robustness regulator to achieve error protection in the network. The bitrate requirements of the network establish a selection of relevant and irrelevant bits from the bitstream The present method and device include identification of irrelevant and low priority video bits; intentional introduction of packet losses to reduce bitrate while maintaining visual quality; use of replacement tags for irrelevant and low priority components of the bitstream for compatible decoding by a wide array of decoders; and insertion of resynchronization tags and translation of predictively coded video packet bits for the improvement of error resilience.

Method and device for control and compatible delivery of digitally compressed visual data in a heterogeneous communication network

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Cheuk L Chan