System and method for identifying and processing data within a data stream

1. A system for encoding a video data stream, said system comprising:

a first determinator for determining attributes associated with the video data stream;

an encoder for receiving the attributes from the first determinator and encoding a stream header identifying stream syntax, said stream header being encoded in a markup language; and

a multiplexer for combining the encoded stream headers with the video data stream.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second determinator for determining attributes associated with frame groups within the data stream.

3. A system for encoding a video data stream, said system comprising:

a first determinator for determining attributes associated with the video data stream;

a second determinator for determining attributes associated with frame groups within the data stream;

an encoder for receiving the attributes from the first and second determinators and encoding a stream header identifying stream syntax, said stream header being encoded in a markup language, wherein said encoder encodes a segment header including the determined attributes identifying a frame group syntax for each frame group of the data stream in a markup language; and

a multiplexer for combining the encoded stream headers with the video data stream.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the markup language is XML.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the multiplexer positions the encoded stream header prior to a payload of the data stream, wherein the payload comprises all the groups of frames.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the multiplexer positions each encoded segment header within the data stream prior to its respective frame group.

7. A system for encoding a video data stream, said system comprising:

a first determinator for determining attributes associated with the video data stream;

an encoder for receiving the attributes from the first determinator and encoding a stream header identifying stream syntax, said stream header being encoded in a markup language;

a multiplexer for combining the encoded stream headers with the video data stream; and

a partitioner for partitioning the data stream into transportable packets.

8. A system for encoding a video data stream, said system comprising:

a first determinator for determining attributes associated with the video data stream;

an encoder for receiving the attributes from the first determinator and encoding a stream header identifying stream syntax, said stream header being encoded in a markup language; and

a multiplexer for combining the encoded stream headers with the video data stream; wherein

the stream header includes a plurality of fields, each field defining a respective one of said determined stream attributes.

9. The system of claim 3 , wherein the segment headers each include a plurality of fields, each field defining a respective one of said determined frame group attributes.

10. A method of encoding a video data stream, said method comprising the activities of:

determining attributes associated with the video data stream;

encoding a stream header identifying stream syntax based upon the determined stream attributes, the stream header being encoded in a markup language; and

combining the encoded stream header with the video data stream.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the markup language is XML.

12. A method of encoding a video data stream, said method comprising the activities of:

determining attributes associated with the video data stream;

encoding a stream header identifying stream syntax based upon the determined stream attributes, the stream header being encoded in a markup language;

determining attributes associated with each frame group within the data stream;

encoding a segment header for each respective frame group, each segment header defining frame group syntax of the respective frame group; and

combining the encoded stream header and segment header with the video data stream.