Compressed timing indicators for media samples

Abstract

A first frame of data is encoded and a first timestamp associated with the first frame of data is generated. The first timestamp includes complete timing information. The first frame of data and the associated first timestamp is transmitted to a destination. A second frame of data is encoded and a second timestamp associated with the second frame of data is generated. The second timestamp includes a portion of the complete timing information. The second frame of data and the associated second timestamp is then transmitted to the destination. Additional frames of data are encoded and additional timestamps associated with the additional frames of data are generated. The majority of the additional timestamps include a portion of the complete timing information.

1 . A method comprising: 
 encoding a first frame of data;    generating a first timestamp associated with the first frame of data, wherein the first timestamp includes complete timing information;    transmitting the first frame of data and the associated first timestamp to a destination;    encoding a second frame of data;    generating a second timestamp associated with the second frame of data, wherein the second timestamp includes a portion of the complete timing information; and    transmitting the second frame of data and the associated second timestamp to the destination.    
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 encoding a third frame of data;  
 generating a third timestamp associated with the third frame of data, wherein the third timestamp includes a portion of the complete timing information; and  
 transmitting the third frame of data and the associated third timestamp to the destination.  
 
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 identifying timing information related to transmitting the first and second frames of data; and  
 transmitting the timing information to the destination.  
 
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first timestamp includes hour information, minute information, second information, and a frame number.  
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first timestamp includes an offset value that is used to relate the time associated with a frame of data to true time.  
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second timestamp includes a frame number.  
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 encoding a plurality of frames of data; and  
 generating additional timestamps associated with each of the plurality of frames of data, wherein the majority of the additional timestamps include a portion of the complete timing information.  
 
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 encoding a plurality of frames of data;  
 generating a full timestamp associated with one of the plurality of frames of data, wherein the full timestamp includes the complete timing information; and  
 generating a plurality of compressed timestamps associated with the frames of data that are not associated with the full timestamp, wherein the compressed timestamps include a portion of the complete timing information.  
 
     
     
         9 . One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . A method comprising: 
 identifying multimedia content to be encoded;    encoding the identified multimedia content into a plurality of frames of data;    generating a plurality of full timestamps associated with a portion of the frames of data, wherein each full timestamp contains complete time information; and    generating a plurality of compressed timestamps associated with frames of data that are not associated with a full timestamp, wherein each compressed timestamp contains a portion of the complete time information.    
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the full timestamps are associated with every Xth frame of data.  
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the full timestamps are associated with frames of data spaced apart by a predetermined time period.  
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the full timestamps include hour information, minute information, second information, and a frame number.  
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the full timestamps include an offset value that is used to relate the time associated with a frame of data to true time.  
     
     
         15 . A method as recited in  claim 10  wherein the compressed timestamps include a frame number.  
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising storing the frames of data and the associated timestamps.  
     
     
         17 . A method as recited in  claim 10  further comprising transmitting the frames of data and the associated timestamps to a plurality of destinations.  
     
     
         18 . One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in  claim 10 .  
     
     
         19 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a first frame of data;    receiving a first timestamp associated with the first frame of data, wherein the first timestamp includes complete timing information for the first frame of data;    receiving a second frame of data; and    receiving a second timestamp associated with the second frame of data, wherein the second timestamp includes a portion of the timing information.    
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 19  further comprising decoding the first frame of data and the second frame of data.  
     
     
         21 . A method as recited in  claim 19  further comprising: 
 receiving a third frame of data;  
 receiving a third timestamp associated with the third frame of data, wherein the third timestamp includes a portion of the timing information; and  
 decoding the third frame of data.  
 
     
     
         22 . A method as recited in  claim 19  further comprising receiving timing information related to the manner in which frames of data are transmitted from a data source.  
     
     
         23 . A method as recited in  claim 19  wherein the first timestamp is a full timestamp and the second timestamp is a compressed timestamp.  
     
     
         24 . A method as recited in  claim 19  wherein receiving the first timestamp includes updating all timing parameters with the information contained in the first timestamp.  
     
     
         25 . A method as recited in  claim 19  wherein receiving the second timestamp includes updating timing parameters with the information contained in the second timestamp.  
     
     
         26 . One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in  claim 19 .  
     
     
         27 . One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to: 
 encode a first frame of data;    generate a first timestamp associated with the first frame of data, wherein the first timestamp includes complete time information;    encode a plurality of subsequent frames of data; and    generate a plurality of subsequent timestamps, wherein each of the subsequent timestamps includes a portion of the time information.    
     
     
         28 . One or more computer-readable media as recited in  claim 27  wherein the complete time information includes hour information, minute information, second information, and a frame number.  
     
     
         29 . One or more computer-readable media as recited in  claim 27  wherein each of the subsequent timestamps includes a frame number.  
     
     
         30 . An apparatus comprising: 
 an encoded multimedia content source; and    a decoder coupled to receive encoded multimedia content from the encoded multimedia content source, wherein the video content includes a first frame of data having an associated first timestamp, such that the first timestamp includes complete timing information for the first frame of data, and wherein the encoded multimedia content includes a second frame of data having an associated second timestamp, such that the second timestamp includes a subset of the timing information included in the first timestamp.    
     
     
         31 . An apparatus as recited in claim  30  wherein the decoder is configured to decode the first frame of data and the second frame of data.