Strategies for transmitting in-band control information
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsGurpratap Virdi, Jeffrey A. Davis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Strategies are described for transmitting control information from a host module to a client module. The host module transmits the control information in-band along with a stream of media content information packets. The control information can be used to govern the operation of the client module. In one case, the control information alerts the client module to a discontinuity in streams, which may be the result of the user changing channels via the host or client module, etc., issuing a seek instruction, and so forth. Transmitting the control information in in-band fashion is advantageous because it reduces the need for complex linking between the control information and the associated content information.
Claims22
A method for streaming content information from a host module to a client module, comprising:
- providing, at the host module, units of content information for inclusion in a stream to be transmitted to the client module;
- providing, at the host module, at least one unit of control information for inclusion in the stream;
- inserting, at the host module, said at least one unit of control information among the units of content information, wherein a position of said at least one unit of control information vis-á-vis the units of content information conveys instructions regarding a manner in which the client module is to operate upon receiving the control information;
- and
- transmitting, by the host module, the stream containing the units of content information and said at least one unit of control information to the client module, wherein the host module dynamically varies the control information that it inserts in the stream based on actions taken by a user who controls a playback of the stream.
A host module for streaming content information to client module, comprising:
- a transfer processing module configured to:
- provide units of content information for inclusion in a stream to be transmitted to the client module;
- provide at least one unit of control information for inclusion in the stream;
- insert said at least one unit of control information among the units of content information, wherein a position of said at least one unit of control information vis-á-vis the units of content information conveys instructions regarding a manner in which the client module is to operate upon receiving the control information;
- and
- transmit the stream containing the units of content information and said at least one unit of control information to the client module,
- wherein the host module dynamically varies the control information that it inserts in the stream based on actions taken by a user who controls a playback of the stream.
A system for transmitting content information between a host module and a client module, comprising:
- a host module configured to:
- provide units of content information for inclusion in a stream to be transmitted to the client module;
- provide at least one unit of control information for inclusion in the stream;
- insert said at least one unit of control information among the units of content information, wherein a position of said at least one unit of control information vis-á-vis the units of content information conveys instructions regarding a manner in which the client module is to operate upon receiving the control information;
- and
- transmit the stream containing the units of content information and said at least one unit of control information to the client module,
- a reception module configured to:
- receive, from the host module, the stream containing said at least one unit of control information positioned among units of content information;
- detect the presence of said at least one unit of control information in the stream;
- and
- apply the control information contained in said at least one unit of control information to govern the manner in which the client module operates,
- wherein the host module dynamically varies the control information that it inserts in the stream based on actions taken by a user who controls a playback of the stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.