Patent ID: 7633551

Claim:
In a computing device that implements a video encoder, a method comprising: with the computing device that implements the video encoder, encoding a first frame; with the computing device that implements the video encoder, generating a first timestamp associated with the first frame; with the computing device that implements the video encoder, outputting encoded data for the first frame and data for the associated first timestamp, including: outputting a first full timestamp flag that indicates whether the first timestamp is a full timestamp; if the first full timestamp flag indicates the first timestamp is a full timestamp, outputting a parameter value for each of a plurality of timing parameters; and otherwise, outputting one or more timing parameter flags for the first timestamp and a parameter value for each of the plurality of timing parameters that is indicated to be present by a corresponding one of the one or more timing parameter flags for the first timestamp, wherein use of the one or more timing parameter flags for the first timestamp permits output of parameter values for less than all of the plurality of timing parameters as the data for the first timestamp; with the computing device that implements the video encoder, encoding a second frame; with the computing device that implements the video encoder, generating a second timestamp associated with the second frame; and with the computing device that implements the video encoder, outputting encoded data for the second frame and data for the associated second timestamp, including: outputting a second full timestamp flag that indicates whether the second timestamp is a full timestamp; if the second full timestamp flag indicates the second timestamp is a full timestamp, outputting a parameter value for each of the plurality of timing parameters; and otherwise, outputting one or more timing parameter flags for the second timestamp and a parameter value for each of the plurality of timing parameters that is indicated to be present by a corresponding one of the one or more timing parameter flags for the second timestamp, wherein use of the one or more timing parameter flags for the second timestamp permits output of parameter values for less than all of the plurality of timing parameters as the data for the second timestamp.