Patent ID: 8249113

Claim:
A method for switching between channels of encoded media data comprising: receiving encoded media data for a plurality of channels, wherein encoded media data for each of the plurality of channels comprises a plurality of frames of data including reference frames and dependent frames used to generate a video signal, wherein each dependent frame refers to at least one reference frame; decoding frames associated with a first channel from the plurality of channels to generate a decoded video signal for the first channel; outputting the decoded video signal for the first channel; while decoding frames associated with the first channel, storing a latest-received reference frame associated with a second channel from the plurality of channels; receiving at least one control signal for switching from the first channel to the second channel; and in response to the at least one control signal, immediately decoding at least one dependent frame associated with the second channel, by utilizing the stored latest-received reference frame associated with the second channel, to generate a decoded video signal for the second channel; and outputting the decoded video signal for the second channel; wherein the latest-received reference frame associated with the second channel is stored in an I-frame format, if the latest-received reference frame is an I-frame, wherein the latest-received reference frame associated with the second channel is stored in a P-frame format, if the latest-received reference frame is a P-frame.