Method and apparatus for decoding packetized data

Abstract

A method for decoding a packetized video signal including at least one encoded frame. In one case, the method includes receiving at least one FEC packet at a receiving station. The receiving station uses embedded data associated with the FEC packet to obtain more accurate knowledge of the packet loss state of the media packets. This improved knowledge can allow the receiver to make better use of packet retransmission requests. The embedded data associated with the FEC packet can include in some cases a base sequence number and a packet mask.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A apparatus for processing a packetized signal including at least one encoded frame having at least one received packet having a packet header information, comprising:
 memory; and   a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
 identify, by means of a gap in the sequence of packet sequence numbers in the packetized signal, a lost packet that is missing from the packetized signal; and 
 determine whether the lost packet is likely to be a source packet or an error correction packet, based on the packet header information of the at least one received packet. 
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
 request retransmission of the lost packet based on the determination of whether the lost packet is likely to be a source packet or an error correction packet.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the packet header information is at least one of a packet sequence number, a base sequence number or a packet mask. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
 determine whether the lost packet contains information associated with the at least one encoded frame based at least in part on the packet header information.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one encoded frame includes at least a first partition, and wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
 determine whether the at least one lost packet contains information associated with the first partition based at least in part on the packet header information.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
 determine the total number of packets in the at least one encoded frame, including the lost packet, based at least in part on the packet header information.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein packetized signal is a packetized video signal. 
     
     
         26 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method for processing a packetized signal including at least one encoded frame having at least one received packet having a packet header information, the method comprising:
 identifying, by means of a gap in the sequence of packet sequence numbers in the packetized signal, a lost packet that is missing from the packetized signal; and   determining whether the lost packet is likely to be a source packet or an error correction packet, based on the packet header information of the at least one received packet.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 requesting retransmission of the lost packet based on the determination of whether the lost packet is likely to be a source packet or an error correction packet.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the packet header information is at least one of a packet sequence number, a base sequence number or a packet mask. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 determining whether the lost packet contains information associated with the at least one encoded frame based at least in part on the packet header information.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one encoded frame includes at least a first partition, the method further comprising:
 determining whether the at least one lost packet contains information associated with the first partition based at least in part on the packet header information.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 determining the total number of packets in the at least one encoded frame, including the lost packet, based at least in part on the packet header information.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein packetized signal is a packetized video signal. 
     
     
         38 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions encoded thereon for processing a packetized signal including at least one encoded frame having at least one received packet having a packet header information, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 identify, by means of a gap in the sequence of packet sequence numbers in a packetized signal, a lost packet that is missing from the packetized signal; and   determine whether the lost packet is likely to be a source packet or an error correction packet, based on the packet header information of the at least one received packet.   
     
     
         39 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 request retransmission of the lost packet based on the determination of whether the lost packet is likely to be a source packet or an error correction packet.   
     
     
         40 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein the packet header information is at least one of a packet sequence number, a base sequence number or a packet mask. 
     
     
         41 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 determine whether the lost packet contains information associated with at least one encoded frame based at least in part on the packet header information.   
     
     
         42 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein at least one encoded frame includes at least a first partition, and wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 determine whether the at least one lost packet contains information associated with the first partition based at least in part on the packet header information.   
     
     
         43 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 determine the total number of packets in the at least one encoded frame, including the lost packet, based at least in part on the packet header information.   
     
     
         44 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein packetized signal is a packetized video signal.