MPEG encoder control protocol for on-line encoding and MPEG data storage

A method of operating an on-line MPEG video encoder and a video server, the on-line MPEG video encoder encoding in real time an incoming video stream to produce an MPEG Transport Stream, the video server receiving the MPEG Transport Stream and recording a segment of the MPEG Transport Stream as a clip, the incoming video stream including video frames, the video frames having respective time codes, said method comprising:

• the on-line MPEG video encoder comparing the time codes of video frames in a first portion of the incoming video stream to a time code specification for a first video frame to be included in the clip in order to locate, in the incoming video stream, a first video frame to be included in the clip, and the on-line MPEG video encoder starting a new closed group of pictures (GOP) in the MPEG Transport Stream, the new closed GOP including the first video frame to be included in the clip as a first I frame of the new closed GOP, and
• the on-line MPEG video encoder comparing the time codes of video frames in a second portion of the incoming video stream to a time code specification for a last video frame to be included in the clip in order to locate, in the incoming video stream, the last video frame to be included in the clip, and the on-line MPEG video encoder terminating a GOP in the MPEG transport stream to produce a terminated GOP encoding the last video frame to be included in the clip as the last video frame in the terminated GOP;
• and
• the on-line MPEG video encoder inserting, in a GOP header for each GOP in the transport stream, a time code of at least the first video frame to be displayed from the GOP;
• and
• the video server searching the time codes in the GOP headers in the MPEG Transport Stream to locate the first video frame to be included in the clip and to record the clip in storage of the video server.

A method of operating an on-line MPEG-2 video encoder and a video server, the on-line MPEG-2 video encoder encoding in real time an incoming video stream to produce an MPBG-2 Transport Stream, the video server receiving the MPEG-2 Transport Stream and recording a segment of the MPEG-2 Transport Stream as a clip, the incoming video stream including video frames, the video frames having respective time codes, said method comprising:

• a controller receiving from an operator a specification for the video frames to be included in the clip;
• the controller establishing a data link with the on-line MPEG-2 video encoder and with the video server, and transmitting to the encoder and the video server the specification for the video frames to be included in the clip;
• the on-line MPEG-2 video encoder comparing the time codes of video frames in the incoming video stream to a time code specification for a first video frame to be included in the clip in order to locate, in the incoming video stream, a first video frame to be included in the clip, and the on-line MPEG-2 video encoder starting a new closed group of pictures (GOP) in the MPEG-2 Transport Stream, the new closed GOP including the first video frame to be included in the clip as a first I frame of the new closed GOP, the on-line MPEG-2 video encoder inserting at least the time code for the first video frame to be included in the clip into a GOP header for the new closed GOP in the MPEG-2 transport stream, and the on-line MPEG-2 video encoder terminating a GOP in the MPEG-2 Transport Stream to produce a terminated GOP encoding a last video frame to be encoded in the clip as the last video frame in the terminated GOP;
• and
• the video server searching the MPEG-2 Transport Stream for the video frame having the time code for the first video frame to be included in the clip to locate the first video frame to be included in the clip, and the video server recording the clip in storage of the video server.

A video encoding and recording system comprising:

• an on-line MPEG video encoder for encoding in real time an incoming video stream to produce an MPEG Transport Stream, the incoming video stream including video frames, the video frames having respective time codes;
• and
• a video server coupled to the on-line MPEG video encoder for receiving the MPEG Transport Stream and recording a segment of the MPEG Transport Stream as a clip;
• wherein the on-line MPEG video encoder is programmed for comparing the time codes of video frames in a first portion of the incoming video stream to a time code specification for a first video frame to be included in the clip in order to locate, in the incoming video stream, a first video frame to be included in the clip, and for starting a new closed group of pictures (GOP) in the MPEG Transport Stream, the new closed GOP including the first video frame to be included in the clip as a first I frame of the new closed GOP, and
• wherein the on-line MPEG video encoder is programmed for comparing the time codes of video frames in a second portion of the incoming video stream to a time code specification for a last video frame to be included in the clip in order to locate, in the incoming video stream, the last video frame to be included in the clip, and for terminating a GOP in the MPEG transport stream to produce a terminated GOP encoding the last video frame to be included in the clip as the last video frame in the terminated GOP;
• and
• wherein the on-line MPEG video encoder is programmed for inserting, in a GOP header for each GOP in the transport stream, a time code of at least the first video frame to be displayed from the GOP;
• and
• the video server is programmed for searching the time codes in the GOP headers in the MPEG Transport Stream to locate the first video frame to be included in the clip and to record the clip in storage of the video server.

A video encoding and recording system comprising:

• an on-line MPEG-2 video encoder for encoding in real time an incoming video stream to produce an MPEG-2 Transport Stream, the incoming video stream including video frames, the video frames having respective time codes;
• and
• a video server coupled to the on-line MPEG-2 video encoder for receiving the MPEG Transport Stream and recording a segment of the MPEG Transport Stream as a clip;
• and
• a controller for receiving from an operator a specification for the video frames to be included in the clip and coupled by at least one data link to the on-line MPEG-2 video encoder and the video server for transmitting to the on-line MPEG-2 video encoder and to the video server the specification for the video frames to be included in the clip;
• wherein the on-line MPEG-2 video encoder is programmed for comparing time codes of video frames in the incoming video stream to a time code specification for a first video frame to be included in the clip in order to locate, in the incoming video stream, a first video frame to be included in the clip, and for starting a new closed group of pictures (GOP) in the MPEG-2 Transport Stream, the new closed GOP including the first video frame to be included in the clip as a first I frame of the new closed GOP, and the on-line MPEG-2 video encoder is programmed for inserting at least the time code for the first video frame to be included in the clip into a GOP header for the new closed GOP in the MPEG-2 transport stream, and the on-line MPEG-2 video encoder is further programmed for terminating a GOP in the MPEG-2 Transport Stream to produce a terminated GOP encoding a last video frame to be encoded in the clip as the last video frame in the terminated GOP;
• and
• wherein the video server is programmed for searching the MPEG-2 Transport Stream for the time code for the first video frame to be included in the clip to locate the first video frame to be included in the clip, and for recording the clip in storage of the video server.