System and method for providing and using predetermined signaling of interoperability points for transcoded media streams

An encoding apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory unit communicatively connected to the processor and including:
• computer code for encoding a video sequence into a scalable encoded bitstream comprising a plurality of layers;
• and
• computer code for providing a signaling corresponding to a layer of the plurality of layers, the signaling including information identifying a transcoding process that, when applied to the layer after encoding, results in a desired transcoded media stream and a coding property characterizing the transcoded media stream.

A method for converting an input media stream into a desired output media stream;

• comprising:
• identifying a first coding property characterizing a desired transcoded media stream;
• identifying a second coding property characterizing the desired output media stream;
• using provided signaling corresponding to one of a plurality of layers of a scalable encoded bitstream to identify a transcoding process for use in creating the transcoded media stream;
• if the first coding property complies with the second coding property, converting the input media stream in accordance with the identified transcoding process;
• and
• outputting the transcoded media stream.

A converting apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory unit communicatively connected to the processor and including:
• computer code for identifying a first coding property characterizing a desired transcoded media stream;
• computer code for identifying a second coding property characterizing the desired output media stream;
• computer code for using provided signaling corresponding to one of a plurality of layers of a scalable encoded bitstream to identify a transcoding process for use in creating the transcoded media stream;
• computer code for, if the first coding property complies with the second coding property, converting the input media stream in accordance with the identified transcoding process;
• and
• computer code for outputting the transcoded media stream.

A method of creating a bitstream with transcoding information contained therein, comprising:

• analyzing a first bitstream;
• identifying a desired transcoding process for the first bitstream and a coding property of the desired transcoding process;
• and
• including a signaling of the coding property within the first bitstream, thereby generating a second bitstream.

A method for providing an encoded media stream with transcoding information, comprising:

• encoding a video sequence into a media stream;
• identifying a transcoding process that, when applied to the media stream after encoding, results in a desired transcoded media stream;
• and
• signaling a coding property characterizing the transcoded media stream.

An encoding apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory unit communicatively connected to the processor and including:
• computer code for encoding a media stream;
• computer code for identifying a transcoding process that, when applied to the media stream after encoding, results in a desired transcoded media stream;
• and
• computer code for signaling a coding property characterizing the transcoded media stream.

A method for converting an input media stream into a desired output media stream;

• comprising:
• identifying a first coding property characterizing a desired transcoded media stream;
• identifying a second coding property characterizing the desired output media stream;
• identifying a transcoding process for use in creating the transcoded media stream;
• and
• if the first coding property complies with the second coding property, converting the input media stream in accordance with the identified transcoding process;
• and
• outputting the transcoded media stream.

A converting apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory unit communicatively connected to the processor and including:
• computer code for identifying a first coding property characterizing a desired transcoded media stream;
• computer code for identifying a second coding property characterizing the desired output media stream;
• computer code for identifying a transcoding process for use in creating the transcoded media stream;
• computer code for, if the first coding property complies with the second coding property, converting the input media stream in accordance with the identified transcoding process;
• and
• computer code for outputting the transcoded media stream.