RETAVIC: using meta-data for real-time video encoding in multimedia servers

ABSTRACT

In a situation where many different output formats tailored to certain environments must be generated upon request from a single generic storage format of a video object, transformations in real-time must be available. The paper introduces the building blocks of a system that can provide such transformations. A non-real-time preparation phase produces a layered lossless format and also does content analysis. Meta-data extracted here are later used to control and sim-plify the transcoding process performed in real-time. The worst-case-to-average ratio is reduced significantly, allowing for better scheduling, reduced buffer sizes, and higher admission rates. The paper describes the details of this approach and provides an evaluation.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.2 DATABASE MANAGEMENT
      H.2.4 Systems
          Subjects: Multimedia databases

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.1 Multimedia Information Systems
          Subjects: Evaluation/methodology; Audio input/output; Video (e.g., tape, disk, DVI)

General Terms:
Design, Management

Keywords:
format independence, layered lossless video coding, media servers, real-time, scalable storage, transcoding, video conversion, video streaming