Smart video streams: 101 uses of the user data field in MPEG
S. Dutta, Nevenka Dimitrova · 2002
MPEG specifies private user data fields (UDF) in the standard syntax. We unfold the potential capabilities of UDF usage. We have developed a testbench to experiment with manipulation functions for this user data field. We introduce the notion of "smart" video streams which carry additional information in the UDFs. We propose a variety of applications which can benefit from efficiently using the private data space in MPEG. Three example application areas are discussed: database applications, networked video applications and increasing the error resiliency of transmitted video. We provide an analysis of the efficiency of smart streams. Our experimental results show that by introducing a small overhead the video streams can carry important additional information.