Apparatus and method for decoding a segment of an audiovisual stream
View Patent ↗A decoding method and apparatus are provided for decoding an audiovisual stream that is divided into a plurality of segments. The decoding method and apparatus obtain metadata that specify a segment out of the plurality of segments. The metadata is described in a structured description. The segment that is specified by the metadata is obtained, and a start time for rendering the segment from the metadata is derived. The segment is decoded based on the metadata to generate decoded segment data before the start time.
1. A decoding method for decoding an audiovisual stream that is divided into a plurality of segments, the decoding method comprising:
obtaining, by a network receiver, metadata that specify a segment out of the plurality of segments in a server, the metadata being described in a structured description;
obtaining, by the network receiver and from the server, the segment specified by the metadata;
deriving, by a processor, a start time for rendering the segment on a display; and
decoding, by the processor, the segment based on the metadata to generate decoded segment data before the start time.
2. The decoding method according to claim 1 ,
wherein, in the decoding, the segment is decoded in response to an event occurring.
3. The decoding method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the structured description is defined by extensible markup language schema.
4. The decoding method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the metadata are obtained a predetermined time before the segment is obtained.
5. The decoding method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining first metadata and a first segment specified by the first metadata;
obtaining second metadata and a second segment specified by the second metadata after both of the first metadata and the first segment are obtained; and
decoding the second segment to be directly subsequent to the first segment.
6. The decoding method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of segments each comprise a part of the audiovisual stream, and
processing times of the plurality of segments are variable.
7. A decoding apparatus for decoding an audiovisual stream that is divided into a plurality of segments, the decoding apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:
obtaining metadata that specify a segment out of the plurality of segments, the metadata being described in a structured description;
obtaining the segment specified by the metadata;
deriving a start time for rendering the segment from the metadata; and
decoding the segment based on the metadata to generate decoded segment data before the start time.