Generic data stream description

1. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer program instructions, which when executed on a programmable processor perform a method to structure a data stream, wherein the data stream comprises a data stream syntax and data stream subdomains which are referenced and classified, the method comprising:

referencing at least some of the data stream subdomains;

classifying the data stream subdomains via a respective classification into at least one class of a classification; and

structuring the data stream, wherein the data stream classification contains at least one class of the data stream that is independent of the structure of the data stream and is not related to the data stream in terms of content;

wherein the referencing of at least one of the data stream subdomains includes specifying that the data stream subdomain joins onto an end of a preceding data stream subdomain;

wherein the referencing and classifying are at least part of a data stream description; and

wherein a meaning of the classification does not emerge from the data stream description.

2. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the classification is made by assignment of markers to the data stream subdomains which are respectively assigned to the individual classes.

3. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the data stream subdomains is subdivided into a plurality of classes.

4. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the data stream subdomains is assigned multiple markers.

5. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the classes is subdivided into subclasses and at least one of the data stream subdomains is assigned to one of the subclasses.

6. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the data stream subdomains is subdivided into data stream sub-subdomains which are classified in turn.

7. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the data stream subdomains are assigned information about respective data stream syntax.

8. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the data stream subdomains is assigned a value which corresponds to a value represented by the respective data stream subdomain in the data stream.

9. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the referencing of at least one of the data stream subdomains includes at least one address specification concerning a position of the data stream subdomain in the data stream.

10. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the referencing of at least one of the data stream subdomains includes a length of the respective data stream subdomain.

11. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the referencing and classifying of the data stream is written in XML.

12. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the data stream subdomains are described via elements.

13. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the data stream subdomains are referenced via at least one of attributes and elements to which a value is assigned for referencing purposes.

14. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the data stream subdomains are classified via at least one of attributes and elements to which a value is assigned for classification purposes.

15. A method for structuring a data stream as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the data stream is at least one of a data record, bit, media, audio, image and video stream.

16. A method for structuring a data stream having data stream subdomains and a data stream syntax, wherein the method is performed by a programmable processor executing computer instructions stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and comprises the steps of:

providing an identifying reference to at least some of the data stream subdomains;

forming a classification for a data stream subdomain, wherein the classification includes at least one class; and

structuring the data stream using the identifying reference and classification, wherein the data stream classification contains at least one class of the data stream that is independent of the structure of the data stream and is not related to the data stream in terms of content; and

processing the data stream structure during at least one of an adaptation of the data stream and a transformation of the data stream;

wherein the identifying reference for at least one of the data stream subdomains specifies that the data stream subdomain joins onto an end of a preceding data stream subdomain;

wherein the identifying reference and the classification are at least part of a data stream description; and

wherein a meaning of the classification does not emerge from the data stream description.

17. A device including a programmable processor that executes computer instructions stored in a computer-readable storage medium to perform a method of structuring a data stream having data stream subdomains that are referenced and classified, and having a data stream syntax and data stream subdomains which are references and classified, the method comprising:

referencing at least some of the data stream subdomains;

classifying the data stream subdomains via a respective classification into at least one class of a classification; and

structuring the data stream, wherein the data stream classification contains at least one class of the data stream that is independent of the structure of the data stream and is not related to the data stream in terms of content;

wherein the referencing of at least one of the data stream subdomains includes specifying that the data stream subdomain joins onto an end of a preceding data stream subdomain;

wherein the referencing and classifying are at least part of a data stream description; and

wherein a meaning of the classification does not emerge from the data stream description.