Decoder buffer for streaming video receiver and method of operation

Abstract

There is disclosed a decoder buffer capable of receiving streaming video data packets and storing the data packets in a plurality of access units. Each of the access units holds at least one data packet associated with a selected frame in the streaming video. The decoder buffer comprises: 1) a first buffer region comprising at least one access unit for storing data packets that are less immediately needed by the video decoder; and 2) a re-transmission region comprising at least one access unit for storing data packets that are most immediately needed by the video decoder. The decoder buffer, in response to a detection of a missing data packet in the re-transmission region, requests that the streaming video transmitter retransmit the missing packet.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . For use with a video decoder capable of decoding streaming video, a decoder buffer capable of receiving from a streaming video transmitter data packets comprising said streaming video and storing said data packets in a plurality of access units, each of said access units capable of holding at least one data packet associated with a selected frame in said streaming video, wherein said decoder buffer comprises: 
 a first buffer region comprising at least one access unit capable of storing data packets that are less immediately needed by said video decoder; and    a re-transmission region comprising at least one access unit capable of storing data packets that are most immediately needed by said video decoder, wherein said decoder buffer, in response to a detection of a missing data packet in said re-transmission region requests that said streaming video transmitter retransmit said missing packet.    
     
     
         2 . The decoder buffer set forth in  claim 1  wherein at least one of said data packets are stored in said first buffer region for a period of time equal to a start-up delay time of said decoder buffer.  
     
     
         3 . The decoder buffer set forth in  claim 1  wherein said data packets are first stored in said first buffer region and are shifted into said re-transmission region.  
     
     
         4 . The decoder buffer set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first buffer region is separate from said re-transmission region.  
     
     
         5 . The decoder buffer set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first buffer region overlaps at least a portion of said re-transmission region.  
     
     
         6 . The decoder buffer set forth in  claim 5  wherein said first buffer region overlaps all of said re-transmission region.  
     
     
         7 . The decoder buffer set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first buffer region is separated from said re-transmission region by a second buffer region in which a late data packet is late with respect to an expected time of arrival of said late data packet, but is not sufficiently late to require a re-transmission of said late data packet.  
     
     
         8 . A receiver capable of receiving encoded streaming data comprising: 
 a device capable of at least one of: 1) displaying streaming video data associated with said encoded streaming data and 2) audibly playing streaming audio data associated with said encoded streaming data;    a decoder capable of decoding said encoded streaming data; and    a decoder buffer capable of receiving from a streaming data transmitter data packets comprising said encoded streaming data and storing said data packets in a plurality of access units, each of said access units capable of holding at least one data packet associated with a selected portion of said encoded streaming data, wherein said decoder buffer comprises: 
 a first buffer region comprising at least one access unit capable of storing data packets that are less immediately needed by said decoder; and  
 a re-transmission region comprising at least one access unit capable of storing data packets that are most immediately needed by said decoder, wherein said decoder buffer, in response to a detection of a missing data packet in said re-transmission region requests that said streaming video transmitter retransmit said missing packet.  
   
     
     
         9 . The receiver set forth in  claim 8  wherein at least one of said data packets are stored in said first buffer region for a period of time equal to a start-up delay time of said decoder buffer.  
     
     
         10 . The receiver set forth in  claim 8  wherein said data packets are first stored in said first buffer region and are shifted into said re-transmission region.  
     
     
         11 . The receiver set forth in  claim 8  wherein said first buffer region is separate from said re-transmission region.  
     
     
         12 . The receiver set forth in  claim 8  wherein said first buffer region overlaps at least a portion of said re-transmission region.  
     
     
         13 . The receiver set forth in  claim 12  wherein said first buffer region overlaps all of said re-transmission region.  
     
     
         14 . The receiver set forth in  claim 8  wherein said first buffer region is separated from said re-transmission region by a second buffer region in which a late data packet is late with respect to an expected time of arrival of said late data packet, but is not sufficiently late to require a re-transmission of said late data packet.  
     
     
         15 . For use with a video decoder capable of decoding streaming video, a method of buffering the streaming video comprising the steps of: 
 receiving from a streaming video transmitter data packets comprising the streaming video and storing the data packets in a plurality of access units in a decoder buffer, each of the access units capable of holding at least one data packet associated with a selected frame in the streaming video;    storing data packets that are less immediately needed by the video decoder in a first buffer region of the decoder buffer comprising at least one access unit capable of storing data packets; and    storing data packets that are most immediately needed by the video decoder in a re-transmission region of the decoder buffer comprising at least one access unit, wherein the decoder buffer, in response to a detection of a missing data packet in the re-transmission region, requests that the streaming video transmitter retransmit the missing packet.    
     
     
         16 . The decoder buffer set forth in  claim 15  wherein at least one of the data packets are stored in the first buffer region for a period of time equal to a start-up delay time of the decoder buffer.  
     
     
         17 . The decoder buffer set forth in  claim 15  wherein the data packets are first stored in the first buffer region and are shifted into the re-transmission region.  
     
     
         18 . The decoder buffer set forth in  claim 15  wherein the first buffer region is separate from the re-transmission region.  
     
     
         19 . The decoder buffer set forth in  claim 15  wherein the first buffer region overlaps at least a portion of the re-transmission region.  
     
     
         20 . The decoder buffer set forth in  claim 19  wherein the first buffer region overlaps all of the re-transmission region.  
     
     
         21 . The decoder buffer set forth in  claim 15  wherein the first buffer region is separated from the re-transmission region by a second buffer region in which a late data packet is late with respect to an expected time of arrival of the late data packet, but is not sufficiently late to require a re-transmission of the late data packet.