Patent ID: 9258557
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: H04N

Claim Text:
1. A method of processing a source data item to produce a transmission data item for transmission on a communications channel, the transmission data item bearing information defining a playback content item, the method comprising: encoding information defining a source data item into a plurality of layer data items, including a base layer item and an enhancement layer item, the base layer item defining a playback content item corresponding to said source data item at a first quality level and the enhancement layer item providing information to define, with said base layer, a playback content item corresponding to said source item at a quality level higher than the first quality level, the encoding comprising determining a plurality of rate values defining transmission rates corresponding, respectively, to transmission of said base layer item alone or said base layer item and said enhancement layer item, on the basis of a prevailing channel condition of the communications channel, and producing an encoded base layer item and an encoded enhancement layer item on the basis of said determined rate values by maximizing a weighted sum of probabilities of transmitting at specific rates; extracting, from said encoded layer items, a set of encoded layer items for transmission, the extracting being on the basis of current channel information for the communications channel; and assembling said extracted encoded layer items into a data sequence for transmission.