Abstract: A method for performing a soft-handoff in a mobile streaming media system, and a method for performing a hard-handoff in a mobile streaming media system are is disclosed. In the soft-handoff embodiment, the present invention detects that a channel quality between a mobile client and a first base station remains above a drop threshold and that a channel quality between the mobile client and a second base station increases from below to above an add threshold. The present embodiment then sends a first multiple description bitstream from the first base station to the mobile client and sends a complementary second multiple description bitstream from the second base station to the mobile client. This method thereby provides improved utilization of wireless bandwidth during soft-handoffs, in contrast to conventional systems where the same bitstream is transmitted from each base station.

Abstract: A method and system for securely and scalably encoding data are described. A method and system for decoding data which has been securely and scalably encoding are also described. In one encoding method embodiment, the present invention recites receiving data. The present method then segments the data into corresponding regions. The regions are then scalably encoded into scalable data. The present embodiment then progressively encrypts the scalable data to generate progressively encrypted scalable data. Next, the present embodiment packetizes the progressively encrypted scalable data.

Abstract: A computer readable medium having a data packet stored therein for causing a functional change in the operation of a device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the data packet is comprised of a scalably encoded, progressively encrypted data portion. In the present embodiment, the data packet further includes a header data portion corresponding to the scalably encoded, progressively encrypted data portion. The header data portion includes information adapted to be used by a transcoder to transcode the scalably encoded, progressively encrypted, data portion.

Abstract: A device and method thereof for packetizing scalably encoded data. The device can include a receiver adapted to receive a stream of data from an encoding device, wherein at least a first portion of the data is scalably encoded. The device can also include a packetizer coupled to the receiver, the packetizer adapted to packetize at least a second portion of the data into scalable data packets.

Abstract: Video communication over lossy packet networks such as the Internet is hampered by limited bandwidth and packet loss. The present invention provides a system for providing reliable video communication over these networks, where the system includes at least two jointly designed subsystems: (1) multiple state video coding system and (2) path diversity transmission system. Multiple state video coding combats the problem of error propagation that results from packet loss by coding the video into multiple independently decodable streams, each with its own prediction process and state. If one stream is lost the other streams can still be decoded to produce usable video, and furthermore, the correctly received streams provide bidirectional (i.e., previous and future) information that enables improved state recovery for the corrupted stream.

Abstract: Methods for scaling (e.g., transcoding) data are described. A sequence of encoded data is accessed. The encoded data are organized according to an encoding scheme that was used to encode the data. A value for a scalable attribute is ascertained. The scalable attribute identifies how the encoded data are to be scaled. A reference to segments of encoded data associated with the scalable attribute is accessed. The reference is beyond the syntax of the encoding scheme. The reference is used to locate the segments in the sequence of encoded data. The segments are found without requiring knowledge by the device of the encoding scheme. A scaled version of the encoded data is created using the segments.

Abstract: Methods for scaling (e.g., transcoding) data are described. A sequence of encoded data is accessed. The encoded data are organized according to an encoding scheme that was used to encode the data. A value for a scalable attribute is ascertained. The scalable attribute identifies how the encoded data are to be scaled. A reference to segments of encoded data associated with the scalable attribute is accessed. The reference is beyond the syntax of the encoding scheme. The reference is used to locate the segments in the sequence of encoded data. The segments are found without requiring knowledge by the device of the encoding scheme. A scaled version of the encoded data is created using the segments.

Abstract: A method and system for transcoding a stream of data packets are disclosed. The data packets are received from a source node and include data that are encrypted. The stream of data packets is operated on by a function that configures the stream according to downstream attributes, such as the attributes of a receiving node or of the communication channel. Significantly, the function is performed without decrypting the encrypted media data. The steam of data packets configured for the downstream attributes is sent to the receiving node. Because the encrypted data do not need to be decrypted and then encrypted again, the computational resources needed for transcoding the stream of data packets is significantly reduced, and the security of the data is not compromised.

Abstract: A method for handing off to a second server, in either a fixed or mobile streaming media system, a multiple description streaming session between a first server and either a fixed or mobile client. In one embodiment, the present invention recites selecting a second server to receive a handoff of a multiple description streaming media session between the first server and the client. In this embodiment, the multiple description streaming media session is comprised of a first multiple description bitstream and a second multiple description bitstream. The present embodiment further recites receiving at the second server, the second multiple description bitstream for streaming to the client. This embodiment further recites sending the second multiple description bitstream from the second server to the client.

Abstract: A device and method thereof for packetizing scalably encoded and progressively encrypted data. The device includes a receiver adapted to receive a stream of data from an encoding and encrypting device, in which some or all of the data are scalably encoded and progressively encrypted. The device also includes a packetizer adapted to packetize some or all of the data into secure and scalable data packets. In one embodiment, the device includes a memory unit for storing the data received from the encoding and encrypting device prior to packetization of the data. In another embodiment, the device includes a memory unit for storing the secure and scalable data packets. In yet another embodiment, the device includes a transmitter for transmitting some or all of the data packets to a downstream device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to media data encoding devices. Embodiments of the present invention pertain to devices that receive media data, generate scalable media based on the media data, receive scalable attribute criteria, generate scalable profile data based, at least in part, on the scalable media and the scalable attribute criteria, and output the scalable profile data.

Abstract: A method and system for storing data streamed over a network. Scalably encoded and progressively encrypted data are received by a second device from a first device. The scalably encoded and progressively encrypted data are stored by the second device. The scalably encoded and progressively encrypted data can be subsequently streamed to a device in the network for additional processing.

Abstract: In a MPEG or other video system, a “region map” is preferably defined in header information for each frame which indicates for each independently coded region in the frame which “image slices” contain data for that region. Using a system of globally and locally defined regions (region groups), the map permits automatic identification of an object through multiple frames (notwithstanding movement) and for select decoding and extraction of that object only, without necessarily decoding all irrelevant image data. An edited region can be re-inserted into the original encoded bit stream in place of the extracted data using minimal computational resources.

Abstract: In a MPEG or other video system, editing is performed using “independently coded regions” (ICRs) embedded into an input video signal. These regions facilitate quick editing and formatting of a compressed output signal; for example, logo insertion, color correction, blue-matting and various types of image sequence mixing and manipulation may be performed by decoding and processing individual regions rather than entire frames. Preferably, each independently coded region is recognizable directly from a compressed video bitstream and is retrieved by decoding select image slices. Once editing or processing is complete, new compressed bitstream data is inserted into the place of the original compressed data. Each independently coded region features the attribute that motion vector and residual data for compressed frames are limited to point only to corresponding regions of anchor frames.

Abstract: A method for assigning servers to provide multiple description bitstreams to a mobile client (in a mobile client environment) or to a fixed client (in a fixed client environment). In one embodiment, the present invention, upon receiving a request from a mobile client to have media data streamed thereto, analyzes a plurality of servers to determine a first candidate server for providing a first multiple description bitstream to the base station along a first path. The present method also determines a second candidate server for providing a second multiple description bitstream to the base station along a second path. The present method then sends a request to the first candidate server to provide the first multiple description bitstream to a mobile client through a base station along the first path, and also sends a request to the second candidate server to provide the second multiple description bitstream to the mobile client through the same base station along a second path.

Abstract: Communication over lossy packet networks such as the Internet is hampered by limited bandwidth and packet loss. The present invention provides a path diversity transmission system for improving the quality of communication over a lossy packet network. The path diversity transmission system explicitly sends different subsets of packets over different paths, thereby enabling the end-to-end application to effectively see an average path behavior. Generally, seeing this average path behavior provides better performance than seeing the behavior of any individual random path. For example, the probability that all of the multiple paths are simultaneously congested is much less than the probability that a single path is congested. The resulting path diversity can provide a number of benefits, including enabling real-time multimedia communication and simplifying system design (e.g., error correction system design). Two exemplary architectures for achieving path diversity are described herein.

Abstract: An image is compressed by selectively performing at least one of palettization and interframe coding on certain regions of the image. The regions are adaptively determined.

Abstract: A method and system thereof for streaming media data are described. Media data comprising blocks of data are streamed in an order that is selected according to the performance characteristics of the network path used for the streaming.

Abstract: A method and system thereof for distributing media data are described. A media segment, selected from a plurality of media segments stored on another node, is received. The media segment includes a portion of an item of media content. The item of media content is segmented according to segmentation characteristics. The media segment is stored in lieu of storing the item of media content in its entirety. The media segment can be forwarded to other nodes.

Abstract: A method and system thereof for handing off a media session are described. In one embodiment, a first media segment is forwarded to a client node. The first media segment includes a portion of an item of media content stored in lieu of storing the item of media content in its entirety. The item of media content is segmented according to segmentation characteristics. Handoff information used for transferring the media session to another server node is specified. The handoff of the media session to the other server node occurs when the forwarding of the first media segment is completed, such that the handoff occurs between media segments.