METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED DATA ANALYSIS

1 . A method of locating a specified portion of a digital data stream in each of a plurality of visual representations of the data stream, the method comprising:

determining the value of a first data stream location unit corresponding to the specified portion of the digital data stream for a first one of the data stream visual representations, the first data stream location unit being specific to the first data stream visual representation;

causing a first data processing entity associated with the first data stream visual representation to convert the first data stream location unit to a second data stream location unit;

transmitting the second data stream location unit to each of a plurality of further data processing entities, each further data processing entity being associated with a further one of the plurality of visual representations; and

causing, in response to receiving the second data stream location unit, each of the further data processing entities to convert the second data stream location unit to respective further data stream location units specific to the associated data stream visual representation, whereby each further data stream visual representation corresponds to the portion of the data stream specified in the first visual representation.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of transmitting the second data stream location unit comprises transmitting the second data stream location unit to a transmission hub and subsequently transmitting the second data stream location unit from the transmission hub to each of the further processing entities.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital data stream comprises at least one parent stream and a plurality of sub-streams associated with the parent stream and wherein the second data stream location unit includes a sub-stream identifier.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises converting between a second data stream location unit relating to a parent stream and a corresponding second data stream location unit relating to an associated sub-stream.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second data stream location unit includes a bit identifier.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and further data stream location units each relate to a different parameter of the digital data stream.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the parameter comprises any one of time, data value or data identity.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the digital data stream comprises compressed video data and the parameter comprises any one of frame identity, slice identify, macroblock identity, block identity and pixel identity.

9 . A computer program comprising a plurality of computer readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 1 .

10 . A computer program according to claim 9 , wherein the computer program is embodied on a program carrier, the program carrier comprising any one of a data storage medium and transmissible electromagnetic medium.

11 . Apparatus for providing a plurality of visual representations of a specified portion of a digital data stream, the apparatus comprising:

a first display controller arranged to cause a first visual representation of at least a portion of the digital data stream to be displayed on a display device and to determine the value of a first data stream location unit corresponding to a specified part of the first visual representation;

a plurality of further conversion processors each in communication with the first conversion processor and arranged to convert the second data location unit to respective further data location units; and

a plurality of further display controllers, each in communication with a respective one of the further conversion processors, each arranged to cause a respective visual representation of the digital data stream corresponding to the specified part of the first visual representation.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a transmission hub is provided, the transmission hub being arranged to receive a second data location unit from any one of the first and further conversion processors and to transmit the received second data location unit to each of the remaining first and further conversion processors.