Method which permits a block-based file to be played out during transmission
View Patent ↗A file (FI) is transmitted via a first channel (CH 1 ). In addition, a second channel (CH 2 ) is used to transmit play parameters (D 1 , D 2 , R 1 , R 2 ) which comprise at least one set (D i , R i ) of information about a play rate (R 1 , R 2 ) and a delay time (D 1 , D 2 ) for the file (FI) which is to be transmitted by the first channel (CH 1 ). On the basis of the play parameters (D 1 , D 2 , R 1 , R 2 ), it is possible to determine a time for starting to process the file (FI) which is to be transmitted.
1. A receiving device for receiving files via a first logical channel from a transmitting device, the receiving device comprising:
a receiver to receive, via a second logical channel, play parameters about a file that is being or is to be received, via the first logical channel, the play parameters being generated by the transmitting device and including (i) information about a play rate for the file, (ii) information corresponding to a delay time for the file, and (iii) information about a probability that the receiving device can achieve the play rate for the file; and
an evaluating device to receive the play parameters and to determine a start time to begin play back of the file based on the play parameters, so that the file can be played back while the file is being received by the receiving device, wherein the play parameters are received prior to the file being received by the receiving device.
2. The receiving device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an intermediate storage device to receive the file and to provide a data stream of the file at the determined start time.
3. The receiving device of claim 2 , wherein the intermediate storage device delivers the data stream at a constant bit rate.
4. The receiving device of claim 1 , wherein the evaluating device determines the start time based further on reception conditions of the first logical channel and on file characteristics of the file.
5. The receiving device of claim 4 , wherein the reception conditions of the first logical channel comprise a reception rate of data of the first logical channel.
6. The receiving device of claim 1 , wherein the play parameters include a first indicator of transmission characteristics of the first logical channel.
7. The receiving device of claim 6 , wherein the first indicator indicates a loss rate of the first logical channel.
8. The receiving device of claim 6 , wherein the play parameters include a second indicator of transmission characteristics of the first logical channel.
9. The receiving device of claim 8 , wherein the second indicator indicates a probability of buffering in the first logical channel.
10. The receiving device of claim 1 , wherein the play parameters include information about a duration of time that the play parameters remain valid.
11. The receiving device of claim 1 , wherein the receiving device is to receive the file, via the first logical channel, in blocks.
12. The receiving device of claim 11 , wherein the receiving device is to receive the blocks with error correction data.
13. The receiving device of claim 11 , wherein the receiving device is to receive the blocks sequentially.
14. The receiving device of claim 11 , wherein the first logical channel comprises several partial channels, and wherein the receiving device is to receive the blocks in parallel via the partial channels.
15. The receiving device of claim 11 , wherein the receiving device is to receive the blocks according to a spreading process or an interleaving process.
16. The receiving device of claim 11 , wherein the receiving device is to receive the blocks repeatedly.
17. The receiving device of claim 11 , wherein the receiving device is to receive the blocks using a fountain code.
18. The receiving device of claim 11 , wherein the receiving device is to receive the blocks according to File Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (FLUTE) protocol.
19. A transmitting device for transmitting files via a first logical channel, the transmitting device comprising:
a parameter generator device to generate play parameters about a file that is to be transmitted to a receiving device via the first logical channel, the play parameters including (i) information about a play rate for the file, (ii) information corresponding to a delay time for the file, and (iii) information about a probability that the receiving device can achieve the play rate for the file; and
a transmitter to transmit the play parameters to the receiving device via a second logical channel, wherein the play parameters are transmitted to the receiving device prior to transmitting the file.
20. The transmitting device of claim 19 , wherein the play parameters can be used by the receiving device to determine a start time to begin play back of the file.
21. The transmitting device of claim 19 , wherein the play parameters include a first indicator of transmission characteristics of the first logical channel, the first indicator indicating a loss rate of the first logical channel.
22. The transmitting device of claim 21 , wherein the play parameters include a second indicator of transmission characteristics of the first logical channel.
23. The transmitting device of claim 22 , wherein the second indicator indicates a probability of buffering in the first logical channel.
24. The transmitting device of claim 19 , wherein the play parameters include information about a duration of time that the play parameters remain valid.
25. The transmitting device of claim 19 , further comprising:
a storage device to store the play parameters.
26. A system, comprising:
a receiving device; and
a transmitting device to generate play parameters about a file that is to be transmitted to the receiving device via a first logical channel, the play parameters including (i) information about a play rate for the file, (ii) information corresponding to a delay time for the file, and (iii) information about a probability that the receiving device can achieve the play rate for the file, wherein the play parameters are to be transmitted to the receiving device via a second logical channel;
wherein the receiving device determines a start time to begin play back of the file based on the play parameters, so that the file can be played back on the receiving device while the file is being received by the receiving device, wherein the transmitting device is to transmit the play parameters to the receiving device prior to transmitting the file.
27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the play parameters include a first indicator of transmission characteristics of the first logical channel, the first indicator indicating a loss rate of the first logical channel.
28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the play parameters include a second indicator of transmission characteristics of the first logical channel.
29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the second indicator indicates a probability of buffering in the first logical channel.
30. The system of claim 26 , wherein the play parameters include information about a duration of time that the play parameters remain valid.
31. A method for a receiving device to receive files from a transmitting device, comprising:
receiving, via a second logical channel, play parameters about a file that is to be received via a first logical channel, the play parameters being generated by the transmitting device and including (i) information about a play rate for the file, (ii) information corresponding to a delay time for the file and (iii) information about a probability that the receiving device can achieve the play rate for the file;
determining a start time to begin play back of the file based on the play parameters, so that the file can be played back while the file is being received by the receiving device, wherein the play parameters are received prior to the file being received by the receiving device; and
initiating receipt of the file via the first channel.
32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the file is buffered in an intermediate storage device and is provided as a data stream at the determined start time.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the data stream is provided at a constant bit rate.
34. The method of claim 31 , wherein the start time is further based on reception conditions of the first channel and on file characteristics of the file.
35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the reception conditions of the first channel comprise a reception rate of data of the first logical channel.
36. The method of claim 31 , wherein the play parameters include a first indicator of transmission characteristics of the first logical channel.
37. The method of claim 36 , wherein the first indicator indicates a loss rate of the first logical channel.
38. The method of claim 36 , wherein the play parameters include a second indicator of transmission characteristics of the first logical channel.
39. The method of claim 38 , wherein the second indicator indicates a probability of buffering in the first logical channel.
40. The method of claim 31 , wherein the play parameters include information about a duration of time that the play parameters remain valid.
41. A method for transmitting files to a receiving device, comprising:
generating play parameters about a file that is to be transmitted to the receiving device via a first logical channel, the play parameters including (i) information about a play rate for the file, (ii) information corresponding to a delay time for the file, and (iii) information about a probability that the receiving device can achieve the play rate for the file;
transmitting the play parameters to the receiving device via a second logical channel; and
transmitting the file to the receiving device via the first logical channel after the play parameters are transmitted.
42. The method of claim 41 , wherein the play parameters can be used by the receiving device to determine a start time to begin play back of the file.
43. The method of claim 41 , wherein the play parameters include a first indicator of transmission characteristics of the first logical channel, the first indicator indicating a loss rate of the first logical channel.
44. The method of claim 43 , wherein the play parameters include a second indicator of transmission characteristics of the first logical channel.
45. The method of claim 44 , wherein the second indicator indicates a probability of buffering in the first logical channel.
46. The method of claim 41 , wherein the play parameters include information about a duration of time that the play parameters remain valid.