METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONCURRENTLY ENCODING AND TAGGING DIGITAL VIDEO DATA

摘要

A method and system for providing non-sequential access to visual information that is being digitally encoded in a digital data stream is provided. The digital data stream includes a sequence of video frame data. Each video frame data in the sequence of video frame data corresponds to a video frame of the visual information. The digital data stream is generated with an encoder. The encoder generates tag data that indicates locations of the video frame data within the digital data stream. The digital data stream is stored at a location from which the digital data stream is delivered to a client. Tag data is stored at a location from which the tag data may be used to provide the client non-sequential access to the digital data stream. A selected set of video frames within the digital data stream is selected based on the tag data in response to a request for non-sequential access by the client. A second digital data stream that includes the video frame data that corresponds to each video frame of the selected set of video frames is constructed and transmitted to the client.