Abstract: A system involves encoding key frames within a data stream as both key frames and delta frames. A data stream including all encoded key and delta frames is formed and upon receipt of a request signal, the formed data stream is transmitted with the first key frame occurring in the stream after receipt of the request signal and the subsequent delta frames. Key frames are inserted in the transmitted data stream if positioned within the stream immediately after receipt of a signal requesting the data stream.

Abstract: A system and a process for a session layer protocol allows a large number of client machines to receive a reliable data stream over inherently unreliable multicast connections in a highly efficient and scalable manner. More specifically, streaming of high-quality video, audio, stock and news tickers, or any other application specific data that requires a reliable data stream is described. The streaming allows for the source to instruct individuals to drop their connection to the stream to prevent noisy individuals from disrupting the operating efficiency of the stream.

Abstract: A system for providing interactive collaboration between a plurality of users. The system includes a profile respository for storing a priority level for each of said plurality of users and providing addresses for accessing each of said plurality of users. A media content server indexes audio and video data within the system. A data server stores the audio and video data at locations identified by indexing data located at the media content server. An acquisition processor provides audio and video data streams to requesting ones of the plurality of users. Audio and video data streams are located based on indexing data within the media content server and accessed according to a priority level for each requesting user. A communication processor controls bidirectional communication between requesting users according to the priority level for each requesting user.

Abstract: A system involves encoding a video data stream. The system includes a first determinator for determining attributes associated with the video data stream and an encoder for receiving the attributes from the first determinator and encoding a stream header identifying stream syntax. The stream header is encoded in a markup language. A multiplexer combines the encoded stream headers with the video data stream.

Abstract: A broadcast system provides support for clients to receive transmissions over a unicast or a multicast channel from a broadcast server. A server administrator configures each of a first server and client systems connected to the server to receive data in one of a multicast or unicast transmission mode. An empirical test determines whether an intervening network can support the configured mode and if not, transmission is performed using a fall back mode. The first server is able to provide access to data streams from other servers to the client systems connected thereto. Upon requesting a data stream from another server, the first server receives the data stream, replicates the data stream, transmits the data stream to the requesting client system and stores the replicated data stream for immediate access by any requesting client server connected thereto.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for ordering datagrams within an encoded datastream. The system includes a parser for separating headers from each respective datagram. A decoder decodes the separated headers to determine a frame group, a frame number within the frame group, a datagram number within the frame; and a total number of datagrams within the frame. An address generator determines a position for each datagram within the datastream and orders the datagrams within the datastream in response to decoding of the header to produce a video data stream.

Abstract: A multicasting authorization system comprises a streaming server, an authorization server, a user system and a distribution server. The distribution server provides a multicast data stream over multicast channels. A user system requests and receives an authorization code from an authorization server to receive the multicast data stream, and provides the authorization code to a streaming server. A streaming server, coupled to both an authorization server and a user system sends start up information for accessing the multicast data stream to the user system upon validation of the authorization code. The multicast datastream is encrypted and the user system maintains a connection with the authorization server which provides a cryptographic key for use in decrypting the encrypted multicast datastream.

Abstract: A system and a process for a session layer protocol allows a large number of client machines to receive a reliable data stream over inherently unreliable multicast connections in a highly efficient and scalable manner. More specifically, streaming of high-quality video, audio, stock and news tickers, or any other application specific data that requires a reliable data stream is described. The streaming allows for the source to instruct individuals to drop their connection to the stream to prevent noisy individuals from disrupting the operating efficiency of the stream.