Patent · US Expired

Universal decoder for use in a network media player

US7240120B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
6References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 17, 2002
Grant dateJul 3, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 11, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/8193
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A media player coupled to a network contains a processor, non-volatile memory, volatile memory, a driver, and input and output ports. The media player receives a media file over the network that contains an encoded media stream and a universal decoder. The player's processor converts or translates (or otherwise generates) the universal decoder into a player-specific decoder which may differ from the universal decoder. A library of routines stored in the non-volatile memory is used to create the player-specific decoder. The media stream downloaded to the media player may comprise audio, video, or any other desired type of media. In this manner, each media player can generate a decoder that differs, not only from the universal decoder, but may also differ from other media players thereby alleviating the burden on the media source from having to download the encoded media with a decoder specific to the target media player.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.