Patent ID: 7436454
Filing Date: 2008-10-14
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A data processing apparatus configured for: determining a priority threshold to achieve a desired transmission rate for a stream of video or audio data comprising a header, a priority offset, and a plurality of portions of encoded information, the header including stream priority information comprising a stream priority and each portion of the encoded information including priority information comprising a priority for the each portion of the encoded information; transmitting portions of the encoded information when a combination of the stream priority, the priority offset, and the priority of the transmitted portions of the encoded information satisfies the priority threshold and not transmitting other portions of the encoded information when a combination of the stream priority, the priority offset, and the priority of the other portions of the encoded information does not satisfy the priority threshold to thin the transmitted encoded information; and when (1) an actual transfer rate of the transmitted portions of the encoded information exceeds a target transfer rate or (2) a decision is made that a writing of the portions of the encoded information into a transmitting buffer is delayed, the decision being based on a result of comparing an elapsed time after start of transmission with a time added to the encoded information, the added time indicating when the portions of the encoded information are to be decoded or output, adjusting the priority threshold to reduce a size of a further portion of the encoded information to be transmitted, thereby further thinning the encoded information that is transmitted.