multimedia file, system for encoding multimedia files, system for decoding multimedia files, and system for communicating multimedia information

摘要

"multimedia distribution system". The present invention relates to a multimedia archive and methods for generating, distributing and using the multimedia archive. Multimedia files in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention may contain multiple video tracks, multiple audio tracks, multiple subtitle tracks, data that may be used to generate a menu interface for accessing file content and 'metadata'. concerning the file contents. Multimedia files according to various embodiments of the present invention also include references to video tracks, audio tracks, subtitle tracks and 'metadata' external to the file. One embodiment of a multimedia file according to the present invention includes a plurality of encoded video tracks.