Patent ID: 7035526

Claim:
In a video encoder that encodes video data in a compressed format in preparation for transmitting the video data to an entertainment system, wherein the encoded video data is characterized by parameters that vary as a function of time within the video data, a method of supplementing the video data with information identifying candidates for segment transitions between segments of the video data, the method comprising: encoding the video data in the compressed format; including, with the video data, information representing the change in the value of a parameter by performing, for each position of plurality of positions that are candidates for segment transitions, the acts of: calculating a preceding local average value of the parameter in a portion of the video data preceding the position; calculating a following local average value of the parameter in a portion of the video data following the position; generating a local avenge difference by calculating the absolute value of the difference between the preceding local average value and the following local average value; and inserting information relating to the local average difference into the video data; and transmitting the video data and the information representing the change in the value of the parameter to a decoder included in an entertainment system such that the entertainment system van skip playback of the video data to a segment transition in the video data.