The present invention enables a receiving side to easily recognize a high-quality format corresponding to encoded image data included in an extended video stream. Two video streams including a basic video stream including encoded image data of basic format image data, and an extended video stream including encoded image data of high-quality format image data of one type selected from a plurality of types are generated. A container of a predetermined format including the basic video stream and the extended video stream is transmitted. Information indicating a high-quality format corresponding to the encoded image data included in the extended video stream is inserted into the extended video stream and/or the container.

In one embodiment, a method of signaling individual layers in a transport stream includes: determining a plurality of layers in a transport stream, wherein each layer includes a respective transport stream parameter setting; determining an additional layer for the plurality of layers in the transport stream, wherein the additional layer enhances one or more of the plurality of layers including a base layer and the respective layer parameter settings for the plurality of layers do not take into account the additional layer; and determining an additional transport stream parameter setting for the additional layer, the additional transport stream parameter setting specifying a relationship between the additional layer and at least a portion of the plurality of layers, wherein the additional transport stream parameter setting is used to decode the additional layer and the at least a portion of the plurality of layers.

An encoding device evaluates a plurality of processing and/or post-processing algorithms and/or methods to be applied to a video stream, and signals a selected method, algorithm, class or category of methods/algorithms either in an encoded bitstream or as side information related to the encoded bitstream. A decoding device or post-processor utilizes the signaled algorithm or selects an algorithm/method based on the signaled method or algorithm. The selection is based, for example, on availability of the algorithm/method at the decoder/post-processor and/or cost of implementation. The video stream may comprise, for example, downsampled multiplexed stereoscopic images and the selected algorithm may include any of upconversion and/or error correction techniques that contribute to a restoration of the downsampled images.

An encoding device evaluates a plurality of processing and/or post-processing algorithms and/or methods to be applied to a video stream, and signals a selected method, algorithm, class or category of methods/algorithms either in an encoded bitstream or as side information related to the encoded bitstream. A decoding device or post-processor utilizes the signaled algorithm or selects an algorithm/method based on the signaled method or algorithm. The selection is based, for example, on availability of the algorithm/method at the decoder/post-processor and/or cost of implementation. The video stream may comprise, for example, downsampled multiplexed stereoscopic images and the selected algorithm may include any of upconversion and/or error correction techniques that contribute to a restoration of the downsampled images.

Data are encoded into one or more optically encoded images. The optically encoded images are then inserted as image data into a video sequence—i.e., in video frames. Data are transmitted in-band within the video, via any conceivable video distribution channel or format. The video may be trans-coded as required—because the data are optically encoded, any video processing that even crudely preserves the frame images will preserve the optically encoded data. This scheme of in-band data transfer in video is very robust. A video receiving apparatus receives the video, inspects the image data from video frames in memory, detects optically encoded images in the image data, and decodes the optically encoded images to recover the data. The frames carrying optically encoded images are typically discarded and not rendered to a display. The data from a plurality of optically encoded images may be concatenated, and further processed.

Sampled data is packaged in checkerboard format for encoding and decoding. The sampled data may be quincunx sampled multi-image video data (e.g., 3D video or a multi-program stream), and the data may also be divided into sub-images of each image which are then multiplexed, or interleaved, in frames of a video stream to be encoded and then decoded using a standardized video encoder. A system for viewing may utilize a standard video decoder and a formatting device that de-interleaves the decoded sub-images of each frame reformats the images for a display device. A 3D video may be encoded using a most advantageous interleaving format such that a preferred quality and compression ratio is reached. In one embodiment, the invention includes a display device that accepts data in multiple formats.

A temporal sequence of pictures is generated in a method for encoding of a first video stream. To do so, a synchronization signal can be used, which can be derived from a second video stream independently of the first video stream. Alternatively, the encoding of a second video stream independent of the first video stream can be based on the same principle as for the encoding of the first video stream.

A digital broadcast receiving device includes a multi-channel tuning device, a first de-multiplexing device, a second de-multiplexing device. The multi-channel tuning device includes a plurality of locking devices, wherein the locking devices are arranged to lock a broadcast signal at a plurality of frequency points, and respectively output a plurality of data streams that correspond to the frequency points. The first de-multiplexing device includes a plurality of first de-multiplexing units, wherein the first de-multiplexing units are respectively associated with one of the locking devices and arranged to respectively buffer data units in the data streams that correspond to specific types. The second de-multiplexing device is coupled to the first de-multiplexing device and includes a plurality of second de-multiplexing units, wherein the second de-multiplexing units are arranged to respectively buffer data units that are buffered by the first de-multiplexing units and correspond to specific channels.

The present disclosure relates to a method of transmitting multimedia content in a broadcast communication system, and comprises the steps of: identifying protocol information mapped for each service corresponding to multimedia content; transmitting service-related information including the identified protocol information mapped for each service; and transmitting multimedia content corresponding to related services to a receiving side by using the identified protocol.

This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for managing a group session for consuming media content across a plurality of devices. In some configurations and by non-limiting example, the group session operates to synchronize playback and control of media content at the plurality of devices. In one aspect a method of simultaneously playing media content on a plurality of media playback devices for a group session is disclosed.