# US 2014/0208378 A1 · Information provisioning apparatus and information provisioning method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0208378 A1 - Document ID: US20140208378A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/225,977 - Filed: 2014-03-26 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Earliest claimed: 1999-07-14 - Assignees: Panasonic Corporation - Applicants: Panasonic Corporation - Inventors: Koichi EMURA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140208378A1 ## CPC - H04N 21/242: Synchronisation processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Programme Clock References] {(arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18)} - H04N 21/23106: {involving caching operations (prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568)} - H04N 21/2353: {specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata} - H04N 21/238: Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams {(hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60)} - H04N 21/43074: {of additional data with content streams on the same device, e.g. of EPG data or interactive icon with a TV programme} - H04N 21/4402: involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display {(details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764)} - H04N 21/4586: {Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally (deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25)} - H04N 21/84: Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors {(systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73)} - H04N 21/845: Structuring of content, e.g. decomposing content into time segments - Y10S 707/99942: Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A decoding method for decoding an audiovisual stream that is divided into a plurality of segments, the decoding method comprising: 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The decoding method according to claim 1, wherein, in the decoding, the segment is decoded in response to an event occuring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The decoding method according to claim 1, wherein the structured description is defined by extensible markup language schema. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The decoding method according to claim 1, wherein the metadata are obtained a predetermined time before the segment is obtained. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 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.