Abstract: A device for encoding a plurality of information signals using a joint computing power includes a plurality of encoders for encoding a respectively different one of the information signals using the joint computing power, wherein each encoder is controllable via at least one respective encoding parameter with regard to its encoding complexity/encoding distortion performance.

Abstract: A transmission signal having a sequence of logical frames embed therein, is constructed such that each logical frame has a useful data section, wherein consecutive access units of an access unit stream are consecutively inserted into the useful data section of the sequence of logical frames, wherein each logical frame into which a begin of an access unit falls, has an access unit table having, per begin of the access units falling into the respective logical frame, a pointer pointing thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording a file having a related media data container and a metadata container, the apparatus a receiver for receiving first data packets having packetized first media data samples based on a first clock, and for receiving second data packets having second media data samples based on a second clock different from the first clock, wherein the second media data samples are associated to the first media data samples, and for receiving first control packets including information for indicating a relationship of the first clock to a reference clock and for receiving second control packets including information for indicating a relationship of the second clock to the reference clock, and a recorder for storing the received first and second data packets and at least a portion of the received first and second control packets in the media data container, and for storing associated metadata in the metadata container, the associated metadata having timing information of the received first and second da

Abstract: An apparatus for processing stored data packets in a media data container and stored associated meta information in a metadata container, the associated meta information having transport timing information and location information indicating a storage location of the stored data packets in the media data container, the apparatus having a processor for determining, based on the stored data packets and the stored associated meta information, decoding information for a media payload of the stored data packets, wherein the decoding information indicates at which time instant to replay which payload of the stored data packets.

Abstract: A method generates a stream of data, wherein the stream comprises a plurality of encoded data blocks. The encoded data blocks comprise a plurality of self-contained blocks including all information for decoding the block and a plurality of blocks including only partial information for decoding. The distance of the self-contained blocks in the stream is varied dependent on the content encoded in the stream. The stream is a main stream, and wherein tuning into the main stream is effected via a secondary stream comprising at least a subset of the data blocks of the main stream encoded at a quality different from a quality of the data blocks of the main stream. The self-contained blocks are inserted at positions in the main stream where differences in the quality of the data encoded in the main stream and in the secondary stream are less detectable.

Abstract: A device for encoding a plurality of information signals using a joint computing power includes a plurality of encoders for encoding a respectively different one of the information signals using the joint computing power, wherein each encoder is controllable via at least one respective encoding parameter with regard to its encoding complexity/encoding distortion performance.

Abstract: A method for determining an order of values for an encoding parameter of a hybrid encoding scheme for each frame of a frame sequence for use for encoding the frame sequence by means of the hybrid encoding scheme is described. Using the hybrid encoding scheme, resulting distortions and compression rates for the frames of the frame sequence are established for the case of the complete encoding of the frame sequence, and for the case of the incomplete encoding of a real partial sequence of the frame sequence. Thereupon, establishing of estimated distortions and compression rates for frames of the frame sequence takes place, followed by determining the order of values for the encoding parameter of the hybrid encoding scheme based on the established resulting and estimated distortions and compression rates.

Abstract: A method for generating a digital motion video sequence at a plurality of bit rates uses a transitional coding source when switching between bitstreams having different bit rates during transmission of a video sequence. The transitional data may be frames coded using reconstructed frames reconstructed for a first bitstream using the characteristics of the second bitstream. These “low bit rate insert frames,” or LBIFs, contain the image characteristics of a signal coded at the lower bit rate. With a bitstream having a higher bit rate being periodically coded using an LBIF, a point of image continuity between the two bitstreams is provided. Thus, switching from one bitstream to the other at this point in the video sequence minimizes the production of artifacts caused by differences in bit rate. In another embodiment of the invention, a separate set of transitional data is created, taking the form of “switch” frames, or S-frames.