Abstract: In a method for transmitting a multimedia presentation comprising a number of media objects: the media objects are organized in a multimedia container or container format; identifiers referring to the media objects are organized in the same container; and an identifiable file coordinating the media objects is also provided in the container.

Abstract: Polling performed by multiple applications running on a device is coordinated. A central scheduling function can, for example, periodically issue polling event messages to the applications. The applications can, in turn, request the transmission of polling signals to their respective servers to request application updates. By coordinating transmission of polling signals battery consumption and network communication resources can be optimized.

Abstract: A stream (1) of media frames (12-16, 22-26, 32-36) is generated by providing multiple media frames (22-26) having respective assigned default timestamps (40) defining rendering times of the media data of the media frames (22-26) according to a default rendering time schedule. Respective alternative timestamps (50) are assigned to at least a portion of the media frames (22-26). These alternative timestamps (50) define alternative rendering times of the media data of the media frames (22-26) according to an alternative rendering time schedule. The alternative timestamps (50) can be used for providing an efficient media rendering when tuning in to the stream (1) at an intermediate position of a frame grouping (20) of the media frames (22-26) thereby missing some of the media frames (22, 24) of the frame grouping (20).

Abstract: A test sequence (1) comprises multiple pictures (20, 22, 24, 26) comprising at least one respective intra pixel block (30, 32, 34, 36) at a respective dedicated pixel position in the pictures (20, 22, 24, 26). Such a position in a first picture (20) is different from the position of the intra block (32) in a second picture (22) of the sequence. The sequence (1) is transmitted to a user terminal (200) where it is employed for testing the quality of the data communication. By rendering the pictures (20, 22, 24, 26) packet losses are identifiable as missing pixel blocks (30, 332, 34, 36) in the media presentation (60).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a requested communication session between two terminals (A, B) over a given physical channel, wherein the session requires the determination of session parameters before the session can be executed. It is determined (402) by means of at least one session key, whether any session parameters for a previous session between the terminals have been stored in the terminals. If so, the stored session parameters are retrieved (408), such that the requested session can be executed (410) based on the retrieved session parameters. In this way, delays involved with the establishment of sessions requiring the determination of parameters, e.g. in multimedia calls, can be reduced.

Abstract: The media session management of the invention encompasses a media server having access to multiple unicast-based media channels and a user terminal. The user terminal generates and transmits a generic, channel-transparent session request to the server. This request initiates a generic, channel-transparent media session setup procedure between the terminal and the server. The setup procedure involves exchange of requests and responses but no media channel is yet selected or notified at the server. Once the channel-transparent setup has been completed, the user terminal transmits a channel-specific rendering request for a desired media channel to the server. In a subsequent channel switch, the terminal simply transmits a new channel-specific request for a new channel to the server during the ongoing session and reusing the negotiated transport parameters of the channel-transparent setup procedure.

Abstract: In a method for media session management a user terminal upon detecting SO, SOO switching to a media stream on a channel from a unicast transport source, requesting S1 transmission of the media stream by indicating a predetermined starting frame for the transmission and a media server transmitting S2 the requested media frame starting with a media frame as indicated in the request.

Abstract: A protective relay for an electrical power distribution system and a method. The protective relay includes first and second current transformers arranged to sense a respective current flowing into a power line, and a voltage sensing device arranged to sense the voltage of the power line. The protective relay further includes a first and a second device for determining the direction of a fault within the system based on a current signal from the first and second current transformers and a voltage signal from the voltage sensing means. The protective relay further includes a third device for determining the fault direction based on a sum of the current signals from the first and second current transformers and a voltage signal from said voltage sensing means. A controller determines whether a fault is internal or external based on the fault directions determined by the first, second and third devices.

Abstract: A method of operating a Reliable Transmission Protocol switch node to provide an IPTV multicast. IP packets transporting an encrypted media stream are received from an IPTV Head-end. The media stream contains complete image frames. Unencrypted identifiers identifying packets containing complete image frame data are also received. The received packets are stored in a buffer, and on receipt of a request from a media renderer to provide the IPTV multicast, the packet(s) containing the last complete image frame in the media stream and all subsequent packets are sent to the media renderer.

Abstract: In a method of quality assessment for a multimedia signal comprising video telephony media in a video telephony system, the multimedia signal is received SIO, a plurality of parameters of said multimedia signal are extracted S20, and an objective quality measure is determined S30 for the video telephony media based on representations of at least two of the extracted parameters.

Abstract: A technique that permits an earlier start of the decoding and play out of media frames received via a point-to-multipoint transmission is described. The media frames comprise frames of a first type that cannot be decoded without knowledge of supplemental information and frames of a second type that include the supplemental information. According to a method aspect of this technique, frames of the first type are received and immediately buffered without waiting for reception of a frame of the second type. In a next step, a request message requesting supplemental information required for a decoding of the buffered frames of the first type is sent. Upon receipt of the requested supplemental information, the buffered frames are decoded based on the received supplemental information.

Abstract: The invention reduces the user-perceived time of switching multimedia channels in a unicast communications system. This shortening of the switch procedure is obtained by reducing the buffering of the multimedia data in the data buffer of a user terminal. A reduced media buffering results in that multimedia data of the new channel will be rendered in the user terminal in a much shorter period of time. A multimedia provider communicating the multimedia data to the terminal determines a reduced transmission rate that will be temporarily employed for obtaining the buffering reduction. This reduced rate is lower than the normally employed transmission rate and lower than the rendering rate of the media player of the terminal. Consequently, the terminal buffer will be emptying in a faster rate than it is replenished and a buffer level reduction is obtained.

Abstract: A method of managing a unicast-based media session is disclosed. A user terminal (100) having access to channel identifiers of media channels (400, 410) available at a media server compiles a SIP-based channel request comprising a channel identifier of one of the available media channels (400, 410) and a port identifier of at least one media input port of the terminal (100). This message is sent to a network node (200, 300) for initiating delivery of media data of selected media channel to the announced media input port (115). The SIP-based data signaling also allows switching between unicast-based media channels and switching between unicast-bast and multicast/broadcast-based media channels during the ongoing media session.

Abstract: A protective relay for an electrical power distribution system and a method. The protective relay includes first and second current transformers arranged to sense a respective current flowing into a power line, and a voltage sensing device arranged to sense the voltage of the power line. The protective relay further includes a first and a second device for determining the direction of a fault within the system based on a current signal from the first and second current transformers and a voltage signal from the voltage sensing means. The protective relay further includes a third device for determining the fault direction based on a sum of the current signals from the first and second current transformers and a voltage signal from said voltage sensing means. A controller determines whether a fault is internal or external based on the fault directions determined by the first, second and third devices.

Abstract: A multimedia provider (100) generates, based on a request for a media channel from a user terminal (10), a session set-up description that is returned to the user terminal (10). The description defines, when processed in the terminal (10), a session window (20) that is displayed on a screen (12) of the terminal and comprises a region (22) for displaying media data of a requested channel and a channel region (24) comprising information on alternative available media channels. The description also defines a binding between user inputs (14) of the terminal (10) and identifiers of the alternative channels. The set-up description allows for a user-friendly channel switch by automatically transmitting a channel switch request to the multimedia provider (100) upon a triggering of the user input (14) that is associated with the identifier of the requested media channel. The description, thus, provides a visually appealing graphical interface and simultaneously allows for a user-friendly media channel switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a requested communication session between two terminals (A, B) over a given physical channel, wherein the session requires the determination of session parameters before the session can be executed. It is determined (402) by means of at least one session key, whether any session parameters for a previous session between the terminals have been stored in the terminals. If so, the stored session parameters are retrieved (408), such that the requested session can be executed (410) based on the retrieved session parameters. In this way, delays involved with the establishment of sessions requiring the determination of parameters, e.g. in multimedia calls, can be reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining session parameters for a communication session between a first terminal (A) and a second terminal (B). At least the first terminal has stored at least one default set of session parameters. An identifier (404) corresponding to a proposed default set of session parameters is sent from the first terminal to the second terminal. Then, it is determined whether the second terminal accepts the proposed default set of session parameters or not. If accepted (406), the proposed default set of session parameters is retrieved in order to execute the session (408). Otherwise, the terminals fall back to a regular session setup procedure. In this way, delays and bandwidth consumption can be substantially reduced by using a minimum of messaging between the two terminals.

Abstract: A preprocessing mechanism automatically processes a video sequence in order to obtain a set of views suitable for structure from motion (SaM) processing. The preprocessor employs a frame decimation algorithm which removes redundant frames within the video sequence based on motion estimation between frames and a sharpness measure. The motion estimation can be performed either globally or locally. The preprocessor can be configured to process static video sequences (i.e., previously acquired/captured) to select a minimal subsequence of sharp views form the video sequence, or to process the frames of a video sequence as they are being captured to discard frames which are redundant. In either configuration, the goal of the preprocessor is to select a minimal sequence of sharp views tailored for SaM processing.

Abstract: In a method of video data compression a video frame in a sequence of frames is divided into a number of macroblocks, a particular macroblock being adjacent to a number of previously coded macroblocks including both intra-coded and inter-coded macroblocks. The method includes selecting either a full prediction or limited prediction type in encoding the particular macroblock to provide a corresponding data bit stream, full prediction using both adjacent inter-coded and intra-coded macroblocks, and limited prediction using intra-coded macroblocks only. A signal is provided along with the bit stream to indicate the selected prediction type to a decoder disposed to recover data from the bit stream. The prediction type may be either signaled explicitly, such as by providing a code word in the bit stream, or may be inferred implicitly by selected values or levels of a coding variable.

Abstract: In a method for transmitting a multimedia presentation comprising a number of media objects: the media objects are organized in a multimedia container or container format; identifiers referring to the media objects are organized in the same container; and an identifiable file coordinating the media objects is also provided in the container.