Apparatus and methods for lightweight transcoding

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for lightweight transcoding. In one embodiment, a minimal function transcoder is disclosed which supports multiple devices requiring various video formats. Transcoding functionality may be downloaded to an existing device and comprises using an intermediate set of data resulting from a partial decode of an input stream that is temporarily stored until all transformation operations have completed. Premises devices register to the transcoder and the transcoder transcodes content requested by the registered devices (i) upon detection that the registered device is “in use”; (ii) at the time of original content playback or broadcast; and/or (iii) at a time prior to a previously scheduled time of intended use. The transcoder exploits the similarities between the mechanisms by which the various encoding formats and, in one variant, ignores some of the features of the more advanced content formats to arrive at a “just-in-time” or “near real-time” transcoded content.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of transcoding media data encoded according to a first format, the method comprising:
 performing, using a decoding apparatus, a partial decoding of the media data, the portion to produce intermediate data and undecoded data;   performing at least one transcoding process on the intermediate data to produce transcoded data; and   combining the transcoded data and the undecoded data into a data structure which can then be decoded and rendered by a decoding apparatus according to a second format.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first format comprises a format that requires a higher communication bandwidth for transmission than the second format. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first format comprises an H.261 or H.262 Standard compliant format, and the second format comprises an H.264 Standard compliant format. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the decoding apparatus comprises an apparatus having processing capability less than that needed to transcode said media data completely from said first format to said second format. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the partial decoding comprises obtaining and storing a plurality of discrete cosine transforms. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the performing at least one transcoding process comprises repackaging at least a some of a plurality of frames present in the intermediate data to a single sequence, single object, single layer video object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing at least one transcoding process comprises repackaging at least a some of a plurality of frames present in the intermediate data to a single sequence, single object, single layer video object. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus configured to decode content in a first format and encode said content in a second, different format in near-real time, the apparatus comprising:
 data processor apparatus; and   storage apparatus in data communication with the data processor apparatus and having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to, when executed on the processor apparatus:
 decode only a portion of the content encoded with the first codec to produce a decoded content portion and a plurality of undecoded portions; 
 process at least part of the decoded content portion to produce a processed portion; and 
 combine the processed portion and the plurality of undecoded portions using at least a frame structure that is compatible with the second codec. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising an interface configured to transmit the content compatible with the second codec to a user device for rendering thereon. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the decode of only a portion comprises obtaining a plurality of discrete cosine transforms and storage of the obtained discrete cosine transforms in a temporary storage of the apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . Computer readable apparatus comprising a storage medium, the storage medium configured to store a plurality of data, the plurality of data comprising media data that has a portion that has been transcoded between a first and second encoding format, and a portion which has not been transcoded from the first format to the second format;
 wherein the plurality of data can be used by a processing apparatus in communication with the computer readable apparatus to render the media data compliant with the second format on a rendering device.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the computer readable apparatus comprises a NAND Flash memory integrated circuit, and the processing apparatus comprises a digital processor, the integrated circuit and the processor being part of a mobile wireless enabled user device. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transcoded portion comprises media data that was received via a wireless interface of the user device, and then transcoded and stored in the storage medium. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the transcoded portion comprises media data that has a frame structure different than the frame structure of the media data prior to transcoding. 
     
     
         15 . A method of providing content compatible with a second codec from content encoded with a first codec, the method comprising:
 decoding only a portion of the content encoded with the first codec to produce a decoded content portion and a plurality of undecoded portions; and   processing at least part of the decoded content portion, and combining the processed at least part and the plurality of undecoded portions so as to produce the content compatible with the second codec.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the decoding and processing are accomplished using non-application specific processing apparatus that can also be used to decode and render content compatible with the first codec. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the non-application specific processing apparatus comprises a legacy subscriber premises device, the first codec comprises an H.262 codec, and the second codec comprises an H.264 codec. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the decoding comprises extracting at least some of a plurality of discrete cosine transforms (DCTs) present in the content encoded with the first codec, and the processing and combining comprise disposing at least some of the extracted DCTs into a frame structure compatible with the second codec. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the decoding and processing are accomplished by the non-application specific processing apparatus primarily in software. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the decoding and processing are conducted in near-real time.