Device and a method for providing metadata to be stored

A transmitter for transmitting metadata to be stored, the transmitter comprising:

• a first input for obtaining the metadata;
• a second input for obtaining an indication of a point at which the metadata becomes valid;
• a third input for obtaining an indication of a second point at which the metadata becomes invalid;
• and
• a transmitting unit, communicatively coupled to the first input, the second input and the third input, for transmitting the metadata, the indication of the point at which the metadata becomes valid, and the indication of the second point at which the metadata becomes invalid, the transmission being in a form suitable for encoding in a file format compatible with or based upon an ISO Base Media File format.

A method of transmitting metadata to be stored, the method comprising:

• obtaining the metadata;
• obtaining an indication of a point at which the metadata becomes valid;
• obtaining an indication of a second point at which the metadata becomes invalid;
• and
• transmitting the metadata, the indication of the point at which the metadata becomes valid, and the indication of the second point at which the metadata becomes invalid in a form suitable for encoding in a file format compatible with or based upon an ISO Base Media File format.

A receiver for receiving metadata to be stored, the receiver comprising:

• a first input for receiving the metadata;
• a second input for receiving an indication of a point at which the metadata becomes valid;
• a third input for receiving an indication of a second point at which the metadata becomes invalid;
• an encoder, communicatively coupled to the first input, the second input and the third input, and
• for encoding the metadata obtained in a file format compatible with or based upon an ISO Base Media File format;
• for encoding the indication of the point at which the metadata becomes valid in the file format compatible with or based upon the ISO Base Media File format;
• and
• for encoding the indication of the second point at which the metadata becomes invalid in the file format compatible with or based upon the ISO Base Media File format.

A method of receiving metadata to be stored, the method comprising:

• receiving the metadata;
• receiving an indication of a point at which the metadata becomes valid;
• receiving an indication of a second point at which the metadata becomes invalid;
• encoding the metadata obtained in a file format compatible with or based upon an ISO Base Media File format;
• encoding the indication of the point at which the metadata becomes valid in the file format compatible with or based upon the ISO Base Media File format;
• and
• encoding the indication of the second point at which the metadata becomes invalid in the file format compatible with or based upon the ISO Base Media File format.

A signal 420 for use in providing metadata to be stored, the signal comprising:

• the metadata;
• an indication of a point at which the metadata becomes valid;
• an indication of a second point at which the metadata becomes invalid;
• the signal being suitable for
• encoding the metadata in a file format compatible with or based upon an ISO Base Media File format;
• encoding the indication of the point at which the metadata becomes valid in the file format compatible with or based upon the ISO Base Media File format;
• and
• encoding the indication of the second point at which the metadata becomes invalid in the file format compatible with or based upon the ISO Base Media File format.

A signal 520 for use in providing metadata to be stored, the signal comprising:

• the metadata encoded in a file format compatible with or based upon an ISO Base Media File format form;
• an indication of a point at which the metadata becomes valid encoded in the file format compatible with or based upon the ISO Base Media File format form;
• and
• an indication of a second point at which the metadata becomes invalid encoded in the file format compatible with or based upon the ISO Base Media File format form.

A program element directly loadable into the memory of a programmable device, comprising software code portions for performing, when said program element is run on the device, the method of:

• obtaining metadata;
• obtaining an indication of a point at which the metadata becomes valid;
• obtaining an indication of a second point at which the metadata becomes invalid;
• encoding the metadata obtained in a file format compatible with or based upon an ISO Base Media File format;
• encoding the indication of the point at which the metadata becomes valid in the file format compatible with or based upon the ISO Base Media File format;
• and
• encoding the indication of the second point at which the metadata becomes invalid in the file format compatible with or based upon the ISO Base Media File format.

A computer-readable medium directly loadable into the memory of a programmable device, comprising software code portions for performing, when said code portions are run on the device, the method of:

• obtaining metadata;
• obtaining an indication of a point at which the metadata becomes valid;
• obtaining an indication of a second point at which the metadata becomes invalid;
• encoding the metadata obtained in a file format compatible with or based upon an ISO Base Media File format;
• encoding the indication of the point at which the metadata becomes valid in the file format compatible with or based upon the ISO Base Media File format;
• and
• encoding the indication of the second point at which the metadata becomes invalid in the file format compatible with or based upon the ISO Base Media File format.