Components for web-based configurable pipeline media processing

An apparatus, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to define a web browser implemented on a computing device, the web browser comprising:
• a plurality of components for processing a media stream, the plurality of components each including:
• a component UID that uniquely identifies the component, the component UID usable to identify the component for inclusion in a media processing pipeline;
• at least one input port configured to receive input data from a previous pipeline component, the input data derived from the media stream,
• at least one output port configured to send output data to a next pipeline component, and
• a processing module configured to process the input data into output data;
• and
• a web application that is executable by the web browser, the web application including instructions for configuring the media processing pipeline, the instructions identifying two or more components from the plurality of components for inclusion in the media processing pipeline, a processing order for the two or more components from the plurality of components, and a data passing technique for each of the two or more components from the plurality of components.

A method of operating a component in a media stream processing system implemented using a web browser executed by one or more computing devices, wherein the component is included in a configurable pipeline, the method comprising:

• initializing, by the one or more computing devices, the component based on instructions included in a web application executed by the web browser, the initialization including identifying the component using a component UID that uniquely identifies the component, creating a control channel between the web application and the component, and creating a data channel for each of one or more input ports and each of one or more output ports of the component, the data channels operable to pass data to other components in the configurable pipeline;
• sending, by the one or more computing devices, a run command to the component, via the control channel, to enter a run state, whereby the component will accept data via at least one of the input ports, process the accepted data, and output the processed data via at least one of the output ports;
• and
• sending, by the one or more computing devices, a pause command to the component, via the control channel, to enter a paused state, whereby the component will accept data via at least one of the input ports, but will not process the accepted data and will not output the processed data via the output ports.