Method and apparatus for decoding segments of an audiovisual stream

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for representing media content that is divided in time into a plurality of segments. A network receiver receives, from a transmitting apparatus, metadata that specifies a first segment and a second segment, first segment data that is coded data of the media content for the first segment, and second segment data that is coded data of the media content for the second segment. A processor decodes the first segment data to present the media content of the first segment according to the metadata describing the first segment data as the coded data of the media content for the first segment. The processor further decodes the second segment data to present the media content of the second segment according to the metadata describing the second segment data as the coded data of the media content for the second segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for representing media content that is divided in time into a plurality of segments, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a network receiver from a transmitting apparatus, metadata that specifies a first segment and a second segment out of the plurality of segments, first segment data that is coded data of the media content for the first segment, and second segment data that is coded data of the media content for the second segment, the first segment being different from the second segment, the metadata being described in a structured description;   decoding, by a processor, the first segment data to present the media content of the first segment according to the metadata describing the first segment data as the coded data of the media content for the first segment; and   decoding, by the processor, the second segment data to present the media content of the second segment according to the metadata describing the second segment data as the coded data of the media content for the second segment.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the metadata includes information indicating a first start time for presenting the media content of the first segment, and   the decoding of the first segment data is initiated before the first start time.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the metadata is received at least a predetermined time before the first segment data that is coded data of the media content for the first segment.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the media content of the first segment and the media content of the second segment are presented seamlessly.   
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for representing media content that is divided in time into a plurality of segments, the apparatus comprising:
 a network receiver that, in operation, receives, from a transmitting apparatus, metadata that specifies a first segment and a second segment out of the plurality of segments, first segment data that is coded data of the media content for the first segment, and second segment data that is coded data of the media content for the second segment, the first segment being different from the second segment; and   a processor that, in operation, decodes the first segment data to present the media content of the first segment according to the metadata describing the first segment data as the coded data of the media content for the first segment and decodes the second segment data to present the media content of the second segment according to the metadata describing the second segment data as the coded data of the media content for the second segment.