Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Susumu Oka

Hiroshi Honma

Shu Murayama

Takeshi Mio

Morio Yoshimoto

Shinji Akatsu

Shin Miura

Takehiko Hanada

Yukimasa Sugino

Masami Matsubara

Shigeru Imai

Yukiyasu Kawahata

Yukinari Matsuda

Shuu Murayama

Yuuji Horii

A client apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a contents list request transmitting meansfor transmitting a request of a media server apparatusto transmit a contents list which is a list of metadata of contents, a contents list receiving meansfor receiving the contents list from the media server apparatus, an item list storing meansfor storing the contents list and an item list having listed items each of which is described as metadata, an item list transmitting meansfor transmitting the item list to a monitor server apparatus, a key input meansfor receiving a key input, an input key transmitting meansfor transmitting the key input to the monitor server apparatus, and an identification information receiving meansfor receiving identification information making it possible to uniquely identify each item included in the item list.

Client apparatus

Communication is performed without paying attention to the fact that the communication is executed between multimedia terminals having communication procedures differing from each other. A terminalstarts a communication procedure that is necessary to establish a communication path to a communication service unit, in order to execute communication with a multimedia terminal; when a communication protocol conversion unitreceives communication start request from the terminal, the communication service unit executes identification process of a calling terminal based on the identification number, which exists in communication start request, for determining the multimedia terminal, and inquires a terminal information managing unitof the calling terminal. The terminal information managing unitretrieves terminal information related to the calling terminal based on a terminal information request, and informs of the retrieved terminal information to the communication protocol conversion unit. The communication protocol conversion unitinforms of the communication start request to the terminalwhen the transmitting the terminal information of the terminalis obtained, and continues a relay process in communication procedure, which is necessary for following establishment of a communication path.

Communication service unit and connection sequence operating method

A plurality of media data coding and multiplexing apparatus are connected, a video signal having a large information amount is processed in parallel in the plurality of media data coding and multiplexing apparatus, other media data pieces of an audio signal and a data signal are processed in one of the plurality of the media data coding and multiplexing apparatus, and a multiplexing section of the one of the plurality of the media data coding and multiplexing apparatus combines the signals and output multiplex streams output from other media data coding and multiplexing apparatus into one output multiplex stream.

Media data coding and multiplexing apparatus, media data coding and multiplexing system, and media data coding and multiplexing method

When a service receiving serverreceives a request of a multi-point communication service from communication terminalsA toC, a service ID corresponding to the multi-point communication service and passwords are respectively sent to the communication terminalsA toC receiving the multi-point communication service and are sent to a communication service unit. When the communication service unitreceives the service ID and the password from the communication terminalsA toC, the communication service unitcollates whether or not the service ID and the password sent from the communication terminalsA toC agree with those sent from the service receiving server. In case of the agreement, the communication service unitconnects with the group of communication terminalsA toC and provides the multi-point communication service for the communication terminalsA toC according to the service ID.

Multipoint communication system and multipoint communication method

The present invention introduces an apparatus and method for securing a constant bit rate in transmitting various types of media data through multiplexing over an ATM network so as to achieve a constant bit rate communication. Received video/audio information from an information source is encoded at an information source encoder and outputted to a media multiplexer as encoded video/audio information. The media multiplexer multiplexes encoded the video/audio information to obtain fixed-length data as transmission data. The media multiplexer, upon reception of a transmission enable signal from a line interface unit, transmits the transmission data to the line interface unit. The line interface unit assembles the transmission data on an ATM cell format basis and transmits cell data,over the ATM network.

Rate control communication apparatus and method

The object of this invention is to realize the correct and prompt synchronization of data in decoding and reproducing multiplexed coded data multiplexed with a plurality of media coded data in the unit of packet without regard to the configuration or characteristics of the apparatus. To achieve a data decoder that can synchronize the video and audio data correctly, the timing controller obtains a buffering time indicated by the time difference between the decoding end time and the specified presentation time contained in the data, and data buffering is performed by buffer memory. The video decoding end time is latched from the system time counter according to a timing pulse generated by the video decoder when the first decoded data is output from video decoder after the data decoder is activated.

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Tokyo, Japan

Susumu Oka