Abstract: There are provided method and apparatus for detecting and concealing reference and non-reference video frames. A video decoder includes an entropy decoder, an error detector, and an error concealer. The entropy decoder is for decompressing a video bitstream intended to have a fixed frame rate and parsing the decompressed video bitstream to find picture order counts for frames of the decompressed video bitstream. The error detector is for determining that a particular frame of the decompressed video bitstream is missing based upon the picture order counts. The error concealer is for concealing the particular frame. The method is accomplished by decompressing and parsing the video bitstream to find picture order counts for frames of the decompressed video bitstream and then determining that a particular frame of the decompressed video bitstream is missing based upon comparison of their associated picture order counts, and then concealing that particular frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for encoding video content into a novel temporal layered coding structure. In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of sub-sequence layers are defined in a layer hierarchy in accordance with the present invention. A plurality of images within a sub-sequence of a group of images are selectively assigned to a respective one of the sub-sequence layers. A grouping of images contained in any sequential combination of sub-sequence layers that includes a hierarchically lowest of the sub-sequence layers results in a group of images that temporally are substantially evenly spaced. A related method and apparatus for decoding the temporally layered video content are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for synchronizing a plurality of input transport streams into an output transport stream in a multiplexing device, at least one input stream being modified by an external audio/video coprocessor before multiplexing. The external audio/video coprocessor and the multiplexing device have no common time reference. To avoid having to resynchronise the input stream coming from the external coprocessor, it is proposed according to the invention to transmit, with at least one transport packet of said input stream transmitted to the external coprocessor, an item of ‘synchronisation’ information based on the input timestamp of said transport packet at the multiplexer input. Application: production and broadcasting of television programme packages.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for encoding video content into a novel temporal layered coding structure. In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of sub-sequence layers are defined in a layer hierarchy in accordance with the present invention. A plurality of images within a sub-sequence of a group of images are selectively assigned to a respective one of the sub-sequence layers. A grouping of images contained in any sequential combination of sub-sequence layers that includes a hierarchically lowest of the sub-sequence layers results in a group of images that temporally are substantially evenly spaced. A related method and apparatus for decoding the temporally layered video content are also disclosed.

Abstract: There are provided method and apparatus for detecting and concealing reference and non-reference video frames. A video decoder includes an entropy decoder, an error detector, and an error concealer. The entropy decoder is for decompressing a video bitstream intended to have a fixed frame rate and parsing the decompressed video bitstream to find picture order counts for frames of the decompressed video bitstream. The error detector is for determining that a particular frame of the decompressed video bitstream is missing based upon the picture order counts. The error concealer is for concealing the particular frame. The method is accomplished by decompressing and parsing the video bitstream to find picture order counts for frames of the decompressed video bitstream and then determining that a particular frame of the decompressed video bitstream is missing based upon comparison of their associated picture order counts, and then concealing that particular frame.