Chunk header incorporating binary flags and correlated variable-length fields

1 . A method of playing back content by a playback device, the method comprising:

downloading, using a playback device, at least a portion of a media file having content data, wherein the at least a portion of the media file comprises chunks of content data, the content data having a plurality of frames of encoded video,

wherein each of the chunks comprises:

a series of flags and a plurality of data fields,

wherein the series of flags comprises a timestamp information flag that identifies whether a set of additional flags are included in the chunk,

wherein the set of additional flags comprises a set of at least one additional timestamp information flag that indicates the presence of additional timestamp information within the plurality of data fields of the chunk, wherein the additional timestamp information defines a resolution of the timestamp information of the chunk;

decoding a frame of the plurality of frames of encoded video by decoding the chunk to identify the series of flags, the set of additional flags, the set of at least one timestamp information flags, and the content of the plurality of data fields; and

displaying the decoded frame of encoded video on a display using the playback device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a first flag in the set of at least one additional timestamp information flags indicates that the timestamp information of the chunk includes a value expressed in units of hours.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a second flag in the set of at least one additional timestamp information flags indicates that the timestamp information of the chunk includes a value expressed in units of minutes.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a third flag in the set of at least one additional timestamp information flag indicates that the timestamp information of the chunk includes a value expressed in units of seconds.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the series of flags and the plurality of data fields are located in a header of each chunk of content data.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the header further comprises a plurality of elements that each contain a unique identification field, size and data fields.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the series of flags and the plurality of data fields reference portions of a frame of encoded video.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each flag of the series of flags has a one-to-one corresponding reference to each data field of the plurality of data fields.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising decoding a chunk in which at least one flag of the series of flags is decoded.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising bypassing decoding of a remainder of the chunk based on the decoded flag.

11 . A non-transitory computer readable medium containing processor instructions for playing back content by a playback device, where execution of the instructions by a processor causes the processor to perform a process that comprises:

downloading, using a playback device, at least a portion of a media file having content data, wherein the at least a portion of the media file comprises chunks of content data, the content data having a plurality of frames of encoded video,

wherein each of the chunks comprises: a series of flags and a plurality of data fields,

wherein the series of flags comprises a timestamp information flag that identifies whether a set of additional flags are included in the chunk,

wherein the set of additional flags comprises a set of at least one additional timestamp information flag that indicates the presence of additional timestamp information within the plurality of data fields of the chunk,

wherein the additional timestamp information defines a resolution of the timestamp information of the chunk;

decoding a frame of the plurality of frames of encoded video by decoding the chunk to identify the series of flags, the set of additional flags, the set of at least one timestamp information flags, and the content of the plurality of data fields; and

displaying the decoded frame of encoded video on a display using the playback device.

12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein a first flag in the set of at least one additional timestamp information flags indicates that the timestamp information of the chunk includes a value expressed in units of hours.

13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein a second flag in the set of at least one additional timestamp information flags indicates that the timestamp information of the chunk includes a value expressed in units of minutes.

14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein a third flag in the set of at least one additional timestamp information flag indicates that the timestamp information of the chunk includes a value expressed in units of seconds.

15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the series of flags and the plurality of data fields are located in a header of each chunk of content data.

16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the header further comprises a plurality of elements that each contain a unique identification field, size and data fields.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the series of flags and the plurality of data fields reference portions of a frame of encoded video.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein each flag of the series of flags has a one to one corresponding reference to each data field of the plurality of data fields.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 , further comprising decoding a chunk in which at least one flag of the series of flags is decoded.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising bypassing decoding of a remainder of the chunk based on the decoded flag.