Abstract: Methods for generating data for describing scalable media are disclosed. Data is associated with the scalable media that identifies portions of the scalable media to combine in order to produce media that is scaled to possess a desired scalable attribute without decoding. Portions of the scalable media are encrypted. Data is associated with the portions of the scalable media that identifies protection attributes of the encryption scheme used to encrypt the portions of the scalable media.

Abstract: Methods and systems thereof for streaming media data are described. Media data comprising a plurality of data packets is accessed. Information that quantifies a characteristic of each data packet in the plurality of data packets is also accessed. That information is used to determine an order for sending the data packets over a network.

Abstract: Utilizing multiple distortion measures. A first distortion measure for at least one packet is received. A second distortion measure for the at least one packet is received, wherein the second distortion measure is different than the first distortion measure. A processing operation is performed based at least in part on the first distortion measure and the second distortion measure.

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 data portion. In the present embodiment, the data packet further includes a header data portion corresponding to the scalably encoded data portion. The header data portion includes information adapted to be used by a transcoder to transcode the scalably encoded data portion.

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: Utilizing multiple distortion measures. A first distortion measure for at least one packet is received. A second distortion measure for the at least one packet is received, wherein the second distortion measure is different than the first distortion measure. A processing operation is performed based at least in part on the first distortion measure and the second distortion measure.

Abstract: A method for utilizing a tag to optimize portion of data transfer is disclosed. In one embodiment, a storage location is provided on a single node for storing at least one portion of data received from at least one data stream. The header containing information about the portion of data coupled with the portion of data is accessed. A database entry is generated at the node based on the information contained on the header. A tag pointing to the database entry is also generated. The tag pointing to the database entry is then correlated with the portion of data. In so doing, when the portion of data is processed, the processing is based on the context information of the database pointed to by the tag without requiring access to the header or other data within the portion of data.

Abstract: A portable wireless system is described. The portable wireless system has a controller that is operable to selectively configure the portable wireless system as a personal electronic appliance or a third party wireless repeater that is configured to relay wireless signals between a third party electronic appliance and a wireless network. Accordingly, the portable wireless system (e.g., a cellular telephone, a pager or a personal digital assistant) may act as a wireless repeater for third party wireless communications when the portable wireless system otherwise is not in use. In this way, the portable wireless system increases the utilization of existing wireless network infrastructures (e.g., a cellular telephone network) by making one or more unused wireless channels available to other devices. A novel incentives-based business model that encourages owners of portable electronic appliances to fully utilize existing wireless network capacity also is described.

Abstract: Utilizing multiple distortion measures. A first distortion measure for at least one packet is received. A second distortion measure for the at least one packet is received, wherein the second distortion measure is different than the first distortion measure. A processing operation is performed based at least in part on the first distortion measure and the second distortion measure.

Abstract: A device and method thereof for encoding data. The device can include a segmenter adapted to receive the data and segment at least a portion of the data into regions. The device can also include a scalable encoder coupled to the segmenter, the scalable encoder adapted to scalably encode at least one of the regions into scalably encoded data.

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: The present invention relates to transcoding devices. Embodiments of the present invention pertain to devices that receive scalable media and scalable profile data. Further, the devices generate transcoded media based on the scalable media and the scalable profile data. The devices also generate new scalable media and new scalable profile data based on the transcoded media.

Abstract: Scheduling packet transmission. A plurality of data packets is received, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of data packets is associated with one media unit and comprises different quality information. Profit-to-size ratios or distortion-to-size ratios for the data packets are determined. A plurality of schedules of the data packets are determined utilizing dynamic programming for a plurality of data rates based at least in part on the profit-to-size ratios or distortion-to-size ratios.

Abstract: A system that enables communication and collaboration among individuals using rich media environments. A system according to the present techniques includes a set of rich media environments each having a corresponding arrangement of sensing and rendering components for sensing of and rendering to a corresponding set of individuals. A system according to the present techniques includes an interest thread detector that uses the sensing and rendering components to detect formation of multiple communication interactions among the individuals and that creates an interest thread for each detected communication interaction and further includes a communication provider that for each interest thread captures a set of media data from a corresponding subset of the sensing components and that combines the captured media data in response to the activities of the corresponding individuals and that communicates the combined media data to a corresponding subset of the rendering components.

Abstract: A method for scaling a progressively encrypted sequence of scalable data is disclosed. The method includes associating data with the progressively encrypted sequence of scalable data that identifies combinable portions of the progressively encrypted sequence of scalable data to combine in order to produce a scaled version of the progressively encrypted sequence of scalable data. The scaled version of the progressively encrypted sequence of scalable data is scaled to possess a desired scalable attribute. Moreover, the scaled version of the progressively encrypted sequence of scalable data is scaled without being decoded. A cryptographic checksum is computed for at least one combinable portion of the progressively encrypted sequence of scalable data and, a cryptographic checksum is associated with the at least one combinable portion of the progressively encrypted sequence of scalable data.

Abstract: A method and system for transcoding a stream of data packets are disclosed. The data packets are received from a source node. 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. The steam of data packets configured for the downstream attributes is sent to the receiving node.

Abstract: The present invention relates to media data decoding devices. Embodiments of the present invention pertain to devices that receive scalable media, receive scalable profile data, and generate rendered media data based on the scalable media data and the scalable profile data.

Abstract: A method and system for securely and scalably encoding data are disclosed. A method and system for decoding data which has been securely and scalably encoding are also disclosed. 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 method and system for streaming media data to a mobile client device. Using information such as the previous locations of the mobile client device, a prediction is made of a future location of the client device. A server servicing the predicted location, such as the server closest to the predicted location, is identified. This server is informed of the impending arrival of the mobile device into the area serviced by the server. The server can thus obtain ahead of time the media stream needed for the client, so that the data are available to the client without disruption when the client moves to the predicted location. To account for uncertainty in the prediction, the data can also be directed to other servers that can service the predicted location.

Abstract: Scheduling packet transmission. A plurality of data packets is received, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of data packets is associated with one media unit and comprises different quality information. Profit-to-size ratios or distortion-to-size ratios for the data packets are determined. A plurality of schedules of the data packets are determined utilizing dynamic programming for a plurality of data rates based at least in part on the profit-to-size ratios or distortion-to-size ratios.