Recording streaming delta-encoded data

1. An apparatus comprising:

an input circuit configured to receive a stream of delta-encoded data;

a record circuit configured to store the stream of delta-encoded data in a stream file;

a current frame circuit configured to maintain a current frame of the data based on the stream of delta-encoded data;

a record frame circuit configured to store the current frame in a frame file as an intraframe with a frame pointer at a plurality of different index times, wherein each frame pointer indicates a location in the stream file associated with the respective index time; and

a record index circuit configured to store the index times sequentially in an index file, and configured to store an index pointer for each index time, wherein each index pointer indicates a location in the frame file of the intraframe associated with the respective index time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 :

wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of packets of video data; and

wherein the record circuit stores the packets in the stream file.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the video data complies with at least one of:

one or more of the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) standards; and

one or more of the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standards.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 :

wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of real-time protocol (RTP) packets, wherein each RTP packet includes at least a portion of one of the packets of the video data; and

wherein the record circuit stores the RTP packets in the stream file.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 :

wherein the RTP packets are received using transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP).

6. An apparatus comprising:

input means for receiving a stream of delta-encoded data;

recording means for storing the stream of delta-encoded data in a stream file;

current frame means for maintaining a current frame of the data based on the stream of delta-encoded data;

record frame means for storing the current frame in a frame file as an intraframe with a frame pointer at a plurality of different index times, wherein each frame pointer indicates a location in the stream file associated with the respective index time; and

record index means for storing the index times sequentially in an index file, and for storing an index pointer for each index time, wherein each index pointer indicates a location in the frame file of the intraframe associated with the respective index time.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 :

wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of packets of video data; and

wherein the means for recording stores the packets in the stream file.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the video data complies with at least one of:

one or more of the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) standards; and

one or more of the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standards.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 :

wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of real-time protocol (RTP) packets, wherein each RTP packet includes at least a portion of one of the packets of the video data; and

wherein the record circuit stores the RTP packets in the stream file.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 :

wherein the RTP packets are received using transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP).

11. Non-transitory computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving a stream of delta-encoded data;

storing the stream of delta-encoded data in a stream file;

maintaining a current frame of the data based on the stream of delta-encoded data;

storing the current frame in a frame file as an intraframe with a frame pointer at a plurality of different index times, wherein each frame pointer indicates a location in the stream file associated with the respective index time; and

storing the index times sequentially in an index file, and for storing an index pointer for each index time, wherein each index pointer indicates a location in the frame file of the intraframe associated with the respective index time.

12. The computer-readable media of claim 11 :

wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of packets of video data; and

wherein the method further comprises storing the packets in the stream file.

13. The computer-readable media of claim 12 , wherein the video data complies with at least one of:

one or more of the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) standards; and

one or more of the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standards.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 12 :

wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of real-time protocol (RTP) packets, wherein each RTP packet includes at least a portion of one of the packets of the video data; and

wherein the method further comprising storing the RTP packets in the stream file.

15. The computer-readable media of claim 14 :

wherein the RTP packets are received using transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP).

16. A data structure embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the data structure comprising:

a stream file comprising a stream of delta-encoded data;

a frame file comprising

a plurality of intraframes each representing the delta-encoded data preceding a different index time, and

a frame pointer for each of the intraframes, wherein each frame pointer indicates a location in the stream file for the index time corresponding to the respective intraframe; and

an index file comprising

the index times arranged in sequence, and

an index pointer for each of the index times, wherein each index pointer indicates a location in the frame file for the intraframe corresponding to the respective index time.

17. The data structure of claim 16 :

wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of packets of video data.

18. The data structure of claim 17 , wherein the video data complies with at least one of:

one or more of the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) standards; and

one or more of the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standards.

19. The data structure of claim 17 :

wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of real-time protocol (RTP) packets, wherein each RTP packet includes at least a portion of one of the packets of the video data.