Methods, apparatus, and systems for efficient integration of time and identity data in a bitstream

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, programs, and storage media for improving alignment of waveform data are provided. The method includes obtaining a bitstream comprising one or more coded packets of waveform data. Timing data is obtained. A timestamp is generated based on the timing data and inserted into the bitstream to generate a combined bitstream. The timestamp indicates the time of a sample of a first coded packet following the timestamp. The first coded packet comprises a first label and the timestamp comprises a second label. The first label is equal to the second label or the second label indicates that the timestamp applies to the first coded packet irrespective of a relation between the first label and the second label.

Description

[0001] Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0002] METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR EFFICIENT INTEGRATION OF TIME

[0003] AND IDENTITY DATA IN A BITSTREAM

[0004] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0005] This application claims priority of the following priority application: U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 713,242, filed October 29, 2024; European Patent Application No.: 24209652.7, filed October 29, 2024, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 825,038, filed June 17, 2025 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 882,081, filed September 15, 2025, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0006] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0007] The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for inserting time and identity data into a bitstream for allowing aligning and / or identification of the encoded data in the bitstream.

[0008] BACKGROUND

[0009] Utility signals with waveform characteristics are prevalent in various domains, such as biomedical, industrial, and communication systems. These signals, which often carry vital information, are typically continuous functions that vary over time, representing physical phenomena or measurements. Waveform signals are particularly significant in applications where the time-domain or frequency-domain behavior of the signal reveals important insights.

[0010] For instance, in biomedical engineering, waveform signals such as electrocardiograms (ECG), electroencephalograms (EEG), and electromyograms (EMG) are essential for diagnosing and monitoring physiological conditions. These biomedical signals exhibit unique waveform patterns that correspond to the electrical activity of the heart, brain, and muscles, respectively. The shape, amplitude, and frequency of these waveforms provide critical information about the health and functioning of various body systems. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025

[0011] D24157W001

[0012] Accurate analysis and interpretation of waveform signals are crucial for applications such as medical diagnostics, process control, and telecommunications. For example, anomalies in a biomedical waveform may indicate the presence of a disorder, while variations in industrial sensor waveforms could suggest mechanical failure. Therefore, understanding and processing these waveform signals is a foundational aspect of signal analysis in many technical fields.

[0013] While biomedical signals may be sometimes inspected directly by a clinician, they are very often used to estimate some performance parameters (e.g., estimation of hearth rate from a photoplethismography (PPG) signal, computation of pulse wave velocity from simultaneous observations of ECG signals and PPG signals, etc.). Furthermore, there is an emerging use case where large data sets of medical signals are used to train deep neural networks, which may be able to provide more advanced insights (e.g., estimation of metabolic age, estimation of cardiovascular age, etc.). These types of use cases are highly relevant in a context of wearables and fitness. In addition, large collections of medical signals are used for research studies performed in a clinical context (e.g., clinical trials of treatments, observational studies, etc.). To reduce storage requirements for such datasets and to facilitate manipulations of such dataset, it may be required to compress these signals. The encoded signals may be stored in a database and retrieved at some point to perform tasks on these signals, where these tasks may remain unknown during the signal acquisition and during encoding. Furthermore, a large dataset of medical signals may be composed of lossy coded signals encoded with different compression rates. It may be therefore required to identify a subset of such signals or perform alignment of subsets of such signals corresponding to different, but related waveform data.

[0014] Thus, there is a need for an efficient handling of said side information to enable fast and automated processing of the utility signals depending on the particular use case.

[0015] SUMMARY

[0016] In view of the above, the present disclosure provides methods, apparatus, and programs, as well as computer-readable storage media for inserting timestamps and identifiers into a bitstream and for aligning waveform data or for identifying waveform data.

[0017] According to a first aspect of the disclosure, a method of inserting a timestamp into a bitstream is provided. The bitstream including one or more coded packets of waveform data may be obtained. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0018] Timing data may be obtained. Based on the timing data, the timestamp may be generated and inserted into the bitstream to generate a combined bitstream. Each coded packet in the plurality of coded packets may include a label (e.g., a first label). Further, the timestamp may also comprise a label (e.g., a second label). The timestamp may indicate the time of a sample of a first coded packet (of the one or more coded packets) following the timestamp (in a decoding or reading direction of the bitstream). The timestamp may comprise the same label as the first coded packet. Therefore, a timestamp and the sample of the first coded packet may be associated by a same label of the timestamp and the first coded packet. Alternatively, the timestamp may include a label indicating that the timestamp applies to the first coded packet irrespective of the label of the first coded packet. Therefore, the label of the timestamp may be a special label for indicating a universal association. The timestamp may be associated with each first coded packet (in a decoding or reading direction of the bitstream) that includes a specific label. For example, the timestamp with the special label (e.g. 0x0) may be associated with a first coded packet with a label 0x1 and first coded packet with a label 0x2.

[0019] By inserting a timestamp in the bitstream, an alignment process for the waveform data may be enabled at a device for decoding the encoded waveform data.

[0020] In some embodiments, obtaining the bitstream may include receiving the waveform data, e.g., from a sensor or from a device connected to a sensor. Further, the waveform data may be encoded to generate the bitstream. Further, obtaining the timing data may comprise receiving the timing data. In this case, the timing data may be acquisition timing data that is indicative of a time at which the waveform data has been generated. Alternatively or additionally, the timing data may be encoding timing data that is generated based on the encoding (i.e., the time of encoding) of the waveform data. The encoding timing data may indicate a starting time at which waveform data has been encoded or / and an end time at which waveform data has been encoded.

[0021] Alternatively, obtaining the bitstream may include receiving the bitstream, e.g., by a device that has encoded the waveform data. Further, the one or more coded packets may be decoded to obtain the waveform data. In this case, the timing data may be received and may be the acquisition timing data or the encoding timing data.

[0022] By including the different types of timing data in the bitstream (i.e., with the timestamp), different objectives may be achieved. For example, the waveform data can be archived based on Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 encoding timing data and / or the acquisition timing data. Further, the timestamps in the bitstream may be used to enable partial decoding of the encoded waveform data. For example, only a time segment of the encoded waveform data associated with a medical condition may be decoded based on the timestamp. Yet further, after decoding the encoded waveform data, the acquisition timing data may be used to align waveform data of different sensors, e.g., related sensor data.

[0023] In some embodiments, the acquisition timing data may be sensor timing data or device timing data, i.e., the acquisition timing data is provided by a sensor or device connected to / including the sensor. The acquisition timing data may indicate a time at which a sample of the waveform data has been generated. The sample may be a first sample in time of the waveform data, a first sample in time after a discontinuity in the waveform data, or a last sample in time before a discontinuity in the waveform data. In other words, the sample may be a sample suitable for aligning the waveform data with other waveform data.

[0024] In some embodiments, the waveform data represents continuous measurements by a sensor. While the measurements may be continuous, the waveform data may include discontinuities, e.g., due to a sensor failure or a sensor disposition. The waveform data may be biomedical waveform data or waveform data representing mechanical motion. Specifically, the waveform data may represent signals by a seismometer or an accelerometer. Further, the biomedical waveform data may be any one of electrocardiography data, electroencephalography data, electromyography data, electrooculogram data, electroretinogram data, electrogastrogram data or photoplethysmogram data.

[0025] In some embodiments, a same label of a second coded packet of the plurality of coded packets and a third coded packet of the plurality of coded packets may indicate that the second coded packet and the third coded packet belong to a same sub-stream of the bitstream. Coded packets of different sub-streams may include waveform data of different sensors, or different data streams of a same sensor. Therefore, a sub-stream may be used to allow the data transport of different waveform types (and / or of different sensors) in the same bitstream.

[0026] In some embodiments, the sample may be a first sample in time of a part of the waveform data encoded in the first coded packet. The time of the sample may be the time at which the sample has been generated. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0027] Alternatively, the timestamp may indicate a position of a sample in the first coded packet, i.e., the specific sample for which the timestamp contains time information is also indicated by the timestamp. The indication may for example be based on an offset value in relation to the first sample of the third coded packet.

[0028] In some embodiments, the timestamp may indicate an encoding start time of the one or more coded packets, or an encoding end time of the one or more coded packets. In this case, the timestamp may include a label indicating that the timestamp applies to the first coded packet irrespective of the label of the first coded packet. Therefore, the label of the timestamp may be a special label for indicating a universal association.

[0029] In some embodiments, the timing data may include a time and a date, i.e., a time and date at which a specific sample of the waveform data has been generated / recorded or encoded.

[0030] In some embodiments, a format of the timestamp may include an initial time and a time offset, i.e., the time may be indicated by an offset to a universal starting time. The initial time may correspond to the beginning of the bitstream. Further, the format may include a time type and an offset type. The time type may indicate a number of bits used for representing the initial time and the offset type may indicate a unit type used for the time offset. Alternatively, the format of the timestamp may be identical to the format defined in ISO / IEC 23001-17.

[0031] In some embodiments, the method may further include providing the combined bitstream for further processing. The further processing may include storing the combined bitstream or transmitting the combined bitstream.

[0032] According to a second aspect of the disclosure, a method of inserting an identifier into a bitstream is provided. The bitstream including one or more coded packets of waveform data may be obtained. Identification data related to generation of the waveform data has been generated may be received. Based on the identification data, the identifier may be generated and inserted into the bitstream to generate a combined bitstream. Each coded packet of the one or more coded packets may include a first label and the identifier may include a second label. The identifier may be associated with all coded packets with a same label as the second label or the identifier may be associated with all coded packets, if the second label indicates a universal association.

[0033] By inserting an identifier in the bitstream, an identification process for the waveform data may be enabled at a device for decoding the encoded waveform data. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0034] In some embodiments, obtaining the bitstream may include receiving the waveform data, e.g., from a sensor or from a device connected to a sensor. Further, the waveform data may be encoded to generate the bitstream.

[0035] Alternatively, obtaining the bitstream may include receiving the bitstream, e.g., by a device that has encoded the waveform data. Further, the one or more coded packets may be decoded to obtain the waveform data.

[0036] In some embodiments, the identification data may be indicative of a user for which the waveform data has been generated or indicative of a sensor with which the waveform data has been generated. Therefore, the identification data may enable an association of waveform data with a specific user or a specific sensor, or both.

[0037] In some embodiments, the waveform data represents continuous measurements by a sensor. While the measurements may be continuous, the waveform data may include discontinuities, e.g., due to a sensor failure or a sensor disposition. The waveform data may be biomedical waveform data or waveform data representing mechanical motion. Specifically, the waveform data may represent signals by a seismometer or an accelerometer. Further, the biomedical waveform data may be any one of electrocardiography data, electroencephalography data, electromyography data, electrooculogram data, electroretinogram data, electrogastrogram data or photoplethysmogram data.

[0038] In some embodiments, the bitstream includes a plurality of coded packets. A same label of a first coded packet of the plurality of coded packets and a second coded packet of the plurality of coded packets may indicate that the first coded packet and the second coded packet belong to a same sub-stream of the bitstream. Coded packets of different sub-streams may include waveform data of different sensors, or different data streams of a same sensor.

[0039] In some embodiments, the format of the identifier may be a full format. According to the full format, the identifier may be included in a single packet of the bitstream. Alternatively, the format of the identifier may be a partial format. The partial format may indicate that the identifier is distributed over multiple packets in the bitstream, i.e., the identifier may be segmented. In this case, each segment of the identifier may include a segment start indication indicating a first segment of the identifier (in a reading or decoding direction of the bitstream), the segment end indication indicating a last segment of the identifier and a segment length indication indicating a Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 length of the segment. When a segment of the identifier indicates the first segment as well as the last segment, the segment may include the full identifier.

[0040] In some embodiments, the bitstream may include multiple identifiers, each indicative of a different sensor / user for a specific part of the encoded waveform data associated through the labels of the coded packets and the identifiers.

[0041] In some embodiments, the method may further include providing the combined bitstream for further processing. The further processing may include storing the combined bitstream or transmitting the combined bitstream.

[0042] According to a third aspect of the disclosure, any embodiment of the first aspect and second aspect may be combined to generate a combined bitstream with timestamps as well as identifiers.

[0043] According to a fourth aspect of the disclosure, a method of aligning waveform data with a timestamp is provided. The bitstream including a plurality of coded packets may be received. A first subset of the plurality of coded packets may include a first timestamp and a second subset of the plurality of coded packets may include a second timestamp, i.e., the first timestamp may be included in the first subset as a packet different from the coded packets and the second timestamp may be included in the second subset as a packet different from the coded packets. The plurality of coded packets may be decoded to obtain decoded waveform data and the first and second timestamp may be read (the first timestamp and the second timestamp may not be encoded, i.e., no decoding may be necessary to read the data in the first and second timestamp). The decoded waveform data may be aligned based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp. Coded packets of the first subset may include a first label and coded packets of the second subset may include a second label. The first timestamp may also include the first label and the second timestamp may also include the second label. The first timestamp may indicate the time of a sample of a first coded packet with the first label following the first timestamp and the second timestamp may indicate the time of a sample of a second coded packet with the second label following the second timestamp.

[0044] By aligning different decoded waveform data based on timestamps, an efficient further processing of the decoded waveform data may be enabled, e.g., using waveform data of different sensors to train a neural network or comparing the waveform data. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0045] In some embodiments, the bitstream may be received from a server for storing the bitstream, or may be retrieved from local memory.

[0046] In some embodiments, the decoded waveform data represents continuous measurements by a sensor. While the measurements may be continuous, the decoded waveform data may include discontinuities, e.g., due to a sensor failure or a sensor disposition. The decoded waveform data may be biomedical waveform data or waveform data representing mechanical motion. Specifically, the decoded waveform data may represent signals by a seismometer or an accelerometer. Further, the biomedical waveform data may be any one of electrocardiography data, electroencephalography data, electromyography data, electrooculogram data, electroretinogram data, electrogastrogram data or photoplethysmogram data.

[0047] In some embodiments, a same label of a third coded packet of the plurality of coded packets and a fourth coded packet of the plurality of coded packets may indicate that the third coded packet and the fourth coded packet belong to a same sub-stream of the bitstream. Coded packets of different sub-streams may include waveform data of different sensors, or different data streams of a same sensor.

[0048] In some embodiments, aligning the decoded waveform data based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp may include aligning first decoded waveform data corresponding to the first subset and second decoded waveform data corresponding to the second subset by comparing the first timestamp and the second timestamp and shifting the first decoded waveform data or the second decoded waveform such that the first decoded waveform data and the second decoded waveform data are synchronized in time. The first decoded waveform data and second decoded waveform data may correspond to any one of different sensor data of a same device, sensor data of different settings from a same sensor or different sensor data of different devices.

[0049] In some embodiments, aligning the decoded waveform data based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp may further include using an alignment algorithm to compensate for a trigger drift or / and a clock drift of a device and / or a sensor used for generating waveform data corresponding to the decoded waveform data. The alignment algorithm may include resampling and cross-correlation of the decoded waveform data.

[0050] In some embodiments, the sample may be a first sample in time of a part of the waveform data encoded in the first / second coded packet. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0051] In some embodiments, the first timestamp may indicate the position of the sample in the first coded packet and the second timestamp may indicate the position of the sample in the second coded packet, i.e., the timestamps may include a time and a position for a respective sample in the first and second coded packet.

[0052] In some embodiments, coded packets of the first subset and the second subset may be interleaved.

[0053] In some embodiments, a format of the timestamp may include an initial time and a time offset, i.e., the time may be indicated by an offset to a universal starting time. The initial time may correspond to the beginning of the bitstream. Further, the format may include a time type and an offset type. The time type may indicate a number of bits used for representing the initial time and the offset type may indicate a unit type used for the time offset. Alternatively, the format of the timestamp may be identical to the format defined in ISO / IEC 23001-17.

[0054] In some embodiments, the method may further include providing the aligned waveform data for further processing. The further processing may include analyzing the aligned decoded waveform data or using the aligned decoded waveform data for training or inference of a neural network. Analyzing the aligned decoded waveform data may include estimating biomedical parameters, for example, a pulse wave velocity, a cuffless estimate of blood pressure or a heart rate variability.

[0055] In some embodiments, the bitstream may include a sampling rate of samples in the bitstream.

[0056] According to a fifth aspect of the disclosure, a method of identifying waveform data is provided. The bitstream including one or more coded packets of waveform data and an identifier may be received (the identifier may be included a packet different from the coded packets). The one or more coded packets may be decoded to obtain decoded waveform data and the identifier may be read (the identifier may not be encoded or encoded with a low complexity codec). The decoded waveform data may be identified based on the identifier. Each coded packet of the one or more coded packets may include a first label and the identifier may include a second label. The identifier may be associated with all coded packets with a same label as the second label or the identifier may be associated with all coded packets, if the second label indicates a universal association. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0057] By identifying waveform data based on the identifier, the waveform data may be processed based on a user or a sensor indicated in the identifier, or both.

[0058] In some embodiments, the identification data may be indicative of a user for which the waveform data has been generated or indicative of a sensor with which the waveform data has been generated. Therefore, the identification data may enable an association of waveform data with a specific user or a specific sensor, or both.

[0059] In some embodiments, the bitstream may be received from a server for storing the bitstream, or may be retrieved from local memory.

[0060] In some embodiments, the decoded waveform data represents continuous measurements by a sensor. While the measurements may be continuous, the decoded waveform data may include discontinuities, e.g., due to a sensor failure or a sensor disposition. The decoded waveform data may be biomedical waveform data or waveform data representing mechanical motion. Specifically, the decoded waveform data may represent signals by a seismometer or an accelerometer. Further, the biomedical waveform data may be any one of electrocardiography data, electroencephalography data, electromyography data, electrooculogram data, electroretinogram data, electrogastrogram data or photoplethysmogram data.

[0061] In some embodiments, the bitstream may include a plurality of coded packets. A same label of a first coded packet of the plurality of coded packets and a second coded packet of the plurality of coded packets may indicate that the first coded packet and the second coded packet belong to a same sub-stream of the bitstream. Coded packets of different sub-streams may include waveform data of different sensors, or different data streams of a same sensor.

[0062] In some embodiments, the format of the identifier may be a full format. According to the full format, the identifier may be included in a single packet of the bitstream. Alternatively, the format of the identifier may be a partial format. The partial format may indicate that the identifier is distributed over multiple packets in the bitstream, i.e., the identifier may be segmented. In this case, each segment of the identifier may include a segment start indication indicating a first segment of the identifier (in a reading or decoding direction of the bitstream), the segment end indication indicating a last segment of the identifier and a segment length indication indicating a length of the segment. When a segment of the identifier indicates the first segment as well as the last segment, the segment may include the full identifier. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0063] In some embodiments, the bitstream may include multiple identifiers, each indicative of a different sensor / user for a specific part of the encoded waveform data associated through the labels of the coded packets and the identifiers.

[0064] In some embodiments, the method may further include providing the decoded waveform data for further processing based on the identification of the decoded waveform data. The further processing may include analyzing the decoded waveform data based on the identification of the decoded waveform data or using the decoded waveform data for training or inference of a neural network based on the identification of the decoded waveform data.

[0065] According to a sixth aspect of the disclosure, any embodiment of the fourth aspect and the fifth aspect may be combined. Therefore, the received bitstream may include identifiers and timestamps and the alignment of the waveform data may be performed by identifying the waveform data to be able to decide which different waveforms (waveforms of same sensors, same users or different sensors and different users) should be aligned based on the timestamps.

[0066] According to another aspect, a method of extracting a subset of data from a bitstream is provided. The method may include receiving the bitstream. The bitstream may include a plurality of coded packets corresponding to waveform data. Further, the bitstream may include a timestamp that is associated with a subset of the plurality of coded packets. The method may further include extracting a subset of the plurality of coded packets based on the associated timestamp. The timestamp may be defined as specified according to the previous aspects. The timestamp may indicates the time of a sample of a first coded packet following the timestamp, wherein the first coded packet belongs to the subset. Each coded packet in the plurality of coded packets may include a label and the timestamp may include a same label as the subset of the plurality of coded packets. The labels may be defined as specified according to the previous aspects.

[0067] In some embodiments, the waveform data corresponding to the subset of the plurality of coded packets may indicate a medical condition.

[0068] In some embodiments, extracting the subset of the plurality of coded packets based on the associated timestamp may include determining the subset of the plurality of coded packets based on the label of the timestamp and solely decoding the subset of the plurality of coded packets to obtain decoded waveform data. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0069] Aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented via an apparatus. The apparatus may include a processor and memory coupled to the processor. The processor may be adapted carry out the method according to aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0070] Aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented via a program. When instructions of the program are executed by a processor, the processor may carry out aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure. A computer-readable storage medium may store the program. Such computer-readable storage media may include memory devices such as those described herein, including but not limited to random access memory (RAM) devices, read-only memory (ROM) devices, etc.. Accordingly, some innovative aspects of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented via one or more computer-readable storage media having software stored thereon.

[0071] It will be appreciated that apparatus features and method steps may be interchanged in many ways. In particular, the details of the disclosed method(s) can be realized by the corresponding apparatus (or system), and vice versa, as the skilled person will appreciate. Moreover, any of the above statements made with respect to the method(s) are understood to likewise apply to the corresponding apparatus (or system), and vice versa.

[0072] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0073] Example embodiments of the disclosure are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

[0074] Fig- 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of inserting a timestamp into a bitstream according to embodiments of the disclosure,

[0075] Figs. 2 A and B schematically illustrate a bitstream including one or more timestamps according to embodiments of the disclosure,

[0076] Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of inserting an identifier into a bitstream according to embodiments of the disclosure,

[0077] Figs. 4 A to C schematically illustrate a bitstream including one or more identifiers according to embodiments of the disclosure, Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0078] Fig- 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of aligning waveform data with a timestamp according to embodiments of the disclosure,

[0079] Fig. 6 schematically illustrates an example for aligning waveform data based on a timestamp according to embodiments of the disclosure,

[0080] Figs. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of identifying waveform data according to embodiments of the disclosure,

[0081] Fig- 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of extracting a subset of data from a bitstream according to embodiments of the disclosure,

[0082] Fig. 9 schematically illustrates an example of an apparatus for inserting a timestamp and / or an identifier into a bitstream or for using the timestamp and / or identifier for decoded waveform data according to embodiments of the disclosure, and

[0083] Fig. 10 schematically illustrates an example of a transmission device according to embodiments of the disclosure.

[0084] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0085] The International Telecommunication Union (“ITU”) is an assembly of experts from around the world that work together to develop international standards known as ITU-T Recommendations. These standards enable improved interoperability of communication signals in the global infrastructure of information networks and communication devices, allowing such networks and devices to more easily communicate and operate together. Recognizing the need for a standardized codec for biomedical waveform data, in April 2024 the ITU-T issued a call for proposals for a new ITU-T Recommendation on the coding of biomedical waveform data. One or more of the embodiments disclosed herein describe methods, apparatuses, and systems developed to meet one or more requirements specified in the ITU-T call for proposals for improved coding, compression, storage, transmission, reception, and / or decoding of such signals.

[0086] Technical benefits of one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein enable a standardized lossy, lossless, and / or near-lossless coding format including a transmission-syntax specifically developed for biomedical waveform data, and facilitate clinical neurophysiology data exchange. Such data may include time-based neurophysiology signal data and associated video recordings, Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 if present, from electroencephalography (EEG), video-electroencephalography (VEEG), electromyography (EMG), evoked potentials (EP), polysomnograms (PSGs), electrocardiograms (ECGs), and other types of neurophysiology signals. Additional non-exhaustive examples of biomedical waveform data include photoplethysmogram (PPG). One or more of the embodiments described herein therefore provide features for a standardized codec which facilitates interoperable processing of biomedical waveform data by a wide range of devices.

[0087] To enable temporal alignment of different waveform signal s / utility signals captured by different sensors or for different users, metadata that allows temporal alignment of different waveform signals is inserted into a bitstream comprising the waveform data.

[0088] A utility signal in the context of the present disclosure may be a signal that is captured with purpose different from playing it out to a human observer / listener. For example, a smartwatch capturing a PPG signal may also capture the signal from its accelerometer (i.e., a mechanical signal), and the acceleration signal may be then used to aid filtering of the PPG signal.

[0089] One use-case for aligning waveform data may be a deep neural network that is trained not only on one signal captured by one sensor, but on two or more signals captured by two or more different sensors (e.g. EEG and ECG). In such scenarios, it would be essential to have the two or more signals temporally aligned, in order to enable proper correlation of those signals. In addition, in a clinical context, it may be very beneficial to enable inspection of certain health issues in a way that one can easily check if the effects that are visible in one type of a signal (e.g. EEG) have a correlated effect in another type of signal (e.g. PPG).

[0090] In order support such use-cases, the related syntax of a bitstream has to support ways to properly annotate the bitstream using accurate timing and to enable identification of both the user and the used sensor.

[0091] The Figures (Figs.) and the following description relate to preferred embodiments by way of illustration only. It should be noted that from the following discussion, alternative embodiments of the structures and methods disclosed herein will be readily recognized as viable alternatives that may be employed without departing from the principles of what is claimed.

[0092] Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is noted that wherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used in the figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figures Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 depict embodiments of the disclosed system (or method) for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles described herein.

[0093] Insertion o f timestamp

[0094] Fig. 1 depicts a flowchart of an example of a method 100 for inserting a timestamp into a bitstream.

[0095] In step S 101, a bitstream is obtained. The bitstream comprises one or more coded packets of waveform data.

[0096] The bitstream may be obtained by receiving the waveform data and encoding the waveform data to generate the bitstream. The waveform data may be received from a sensor generating the waveform data. Alternatively, the waveform data may be received from a device connected to a sensor. The waveform data may be raw measurement data of a sensor, i.e. measurement data without any further processing applied to the measurement data. Any suitable waveform encoder may be used to encode the waveform data. Then, the encoded waveform data may be packaged in coded packets of equal or variable length to generate the bitstream.

[0097] Alternatively, the bitstream may be received, i.e., a bitstream with encoded waveform data is received.

[0098] The waveform data may be any waveform data captured or generated by a sensor, i.e. a continuous stream of data. Specifically, the waveform data may be based on mechanical motion or may indicate a biomedical signal of a body. Without any intended limitation, in the mechanical context, the waveform data may be data from a seismometer or an accelerometer.

[0099] A biomedical signal in the context of the present disclosure may be a signal that relates to physiological information, and the signal may be electrical, physical or biochemical. The biomedical signal may relate to biological systems and conditions, examples of which may include ECG data, EEG data, EMG data, and PPG data, or signals for blood sugar level, heart rate, body temperature, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation. Further, a biomedical signal may comprise one or more channels of time domain biomedical signal samples. In other examples, the Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 biomedical signals may relate to muscle and / or skin measurements. Any other medical signal and / or physical response would also be understood to be comprised by this definition.

[0100] Additionally, the waveform data may multichannel waveform data. In other words, a sensor or multiple sensors may generate correlated, but different types of waveform data simultaneously. In this case, the bitstream may comprise multiple sub-streams, each comprising the encoded waveform data corresponding to a channel of the multichannel waveform data. The coded packets may be associated to a particular sub-stream based on a label included in each coded packet.

[0101] The bitstream may have been generated by encoding the waveform data. In particular, the encoded waveform data may be distributed over multiple coded packets to enable transmission or storage of the bitstream.

[0102] In step SI 02, timing data is obtained. When obtaining the bitstream comprises receiving the waveform data and encoding the waveform data to generate the bitstream, obtaining the timing data may comprise receiving the timing data. In this case, the timing data may be acquisition timing data that is indicative of a time at which the waveform data has been generated. Alternatively or additionally, the timing data may be encoding timing data that is generated based on the time of encoding of the waveform data.

[0103] Alternatively, when obtaining the bitstream comprises receiving the bitstream, timing data corresponding to acquisition timing data and / or encoding timing data may also be received, e.g., as metadata or auxiliary data. The acquisition timing data may be received from a sensor, or a device connected to a sensor. Therefore, the acquisition timing data may be sensor acquisition timing data or device acquisition timing data. The acquisition timing data may specify a time at which a sample of the waveform data has been generated. Specifically, the acquisition timing data may comprise a time and a date for the sample of the waveform data. The acquisition timing data may comprise a time and a date for each sample of the waveform data or alternatively only time and date of specific samples of the waveform data. Such specific samples may include a first sample in time, i.e., the first sample of the waveform data that has been generated by a sensor. Alternatively, if the waveform data comprises a discontinuity, e.g., due to malfunction, a switch of sensor setting or disengagement of the sensor, the sample may be a first sample in time after the discontinuity or a last sample in time before the discontinuity. In other words, the acquisition Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 timing data may be indicative of a time and date of a sample suitable for alignment of different waveform data.

[0104] The encoding timing data may indicate a starting time at which waveform data has been encoded or an end time at which waveform data has been encoded.

[0105] The starting time of encoding the waveform data may indicate the time when first encoded data has been generated. When the encoder used for encoding the waveform data operates on a block or sample basis, the first encoded data may correspond to the encoded data being successfully generated from the first block / sample by the encoder. Alternatively, the starting time of encoding the waveform data may correspond to time when the encoder finishes encoding a first data buffer, which may not necessarily correspond to a codec block size length.

[0106] If the encoding time includes the end time at which waveform data has been encoded (i.e., the time when the encoding process stops), the encoding time may be used to indicate the total encoding time needed by a particular codec implementation.

[0107] In step SI 03, a timestamp is inserted into the bitstream to generate a combined bitstream. The timestamp is generate based on the timing data. The timestamp may comprise the same data as the timing data or part of the timing data, but with a format such that a time and date of a sample in the encoded waveform data can be read and processed efficiently. In particular, each coded packet in the bitstream may comprise a label. As already stated, such a label may be indicative of a different sub-stream in the bitstream. The timestamp may be comprised by a packet, different from the coded packets, and may also comprise a label. The labeling system may provide an efficient way of associating timestamps with data packets (comprising waveform data). The label of the timestamp may be generated and added to the timestamp when the timestamp is inserted into the bitstream. Generating the label of the timestamp may be based on an association between the timing data and the waveform data.

[0108] An example of using the label for association is depicted in Fig. 2A. In this example, the coded packets (packet with encoded waveform data) have either label 0x1 or label 0x2. Additionally, the bitstream comprises two timestamps, one with label 0x1 and one with label 0x2. The association rule may then be as follows: A timestamp with a specific label (e.g. 0x1) indicates a time of a sample of the first packet following the timestamp (in a reading or decoding direction of the bitstream) with the same label (e.g. 0x1). Thereby, a time and date of a sample in an encoded Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 waveform packet can be specified efficiently, even if data packets of different sub-streams are interleaved.

[0109] In a second example for label association, as depicted in Fig. 2B, a single timestamp is comprised by the bitstream. Contrary to the example depicted in Fig. 2A, the timestamp (packet) comprises a label that indicates a universal association, i.e., is associated with coded packets regardless of their label. In this case, the timestamp indicates a time and date of a sample in a coded packet following the timestamp (in a reading or decoding direction of the bitstream), irrespective of the label of the coded packet. In the example of Fig. 2B, the timestamp is therefore associated with a sample of the first coded packet with label 0x1 and a sample of the first coded packet with label 0x2, following the timestamp.

[0110] Generally, the sample of a coded packet which is associated with the timestamp may be a first sample in time of the waveform data encoded in the coded packet.

[0111] Alternatively, the timestamp may indicate a position of the sample in the coded packet to which the timing data in the timestamp refers to. The position may be indicated as an offset to the first sample in time of the coded packet.

[0112] In a further example, the timestamp may indicate an encoding start time of the coded packets in the bitstream, or an encoding end time of the coded packets in the bitstream. In this case, the timestamp may comprise a label that indicates a universal association, i.e., the timestamp is associated with coded packets regardless of their label.

[0113] The time and date in the timestamp may be defined by an initial time (and date) and a time offset. The initial time may correspond to the beginning of the bitstream. The timestamp may further define a time type and an offset type. The time type may indicate a number of bits used for representing the initial time and the offset type indicates a unit type used for the time offset.

[0114] Alternatively, the format of time and date in the timestamp may correspond to format defined in ISO / IEC 23001-17.

[0115] Inserting the timestamp into the bitstream is understood as inserting the timestamp between two coded packets such that the timestamp is associated with the correct coded packet, i.e., as specified above. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0116] The timestamp may be inserted by a device comprising an encoder, e.g., a smartwatch. Alternatively, the timestamp may be inserted into the bitstream by a device independent from the encoder, e.g., a server receiving the bitstream from a device that generated the bitstream.

[0117] The timestamp may be understood as a special packet in the bitstream, different from the coded packets that comprise the encoded waveform data. The packet corresponding to the timestamp may not be encoded or may use a light codec, i.e., a codec for which decoding complexity is low. By inserting one or more timestamps in the bitstream, efficient alignment of waveform data may be enabled at a device for decoding and optionally analyzing the waveform data.

[0118] In optional step SI 04, the combined bitstream, i.e., the bitstream comprising the one or more coded packets and the timestamp may be provided for further processing. For example, the combined bitstream may be stored on a non-volatile storage or may be transmitted. Then, the combined bitstream may be used as specified above.

[0119] Insertion of identifier

[0120] Fig. 3 depicts a flowchart of an example of a method 200 for inserting an identifier into a bitstream.

[0121] In step S201, a bitstream is obtained. The bitstream comprises one or more coded packets of waveform data. Step 201 may be identical to step 101 of method 100. Therefore, details regarding the bitstream and the waveform data will not be repeated in this section.

[0122] In step S202, identification data is received. The identification data is related to generation of the waveform data. The identification data may be indicative of a user for which the waveform data has been generated. The user may be a local user profile on a device, i.e. a device with a sensor that generated the waveform data. Alternatively, the user may be a global user profile, e.g., a user profile of an application. The identification data may be suitable for uniquely identifying the user. Alternatively, or additionally the identification data may be indicative of a sensor with which the waveform data has been generated. The identification data may therefore comprise information for uniquely identifying the sensor, e.g., a hardware number of the sensor.

[0123] In step S203, the identifier is inserted into the bitstream to generate a combined bitstream. The identifier is generated based on the identification data. Step S203 may be similar to step SI 03 of method 100. In particular, the identifier may comprise the same data as the identification data or Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 part of the identification data, but with a format such that the identification data can be read and processed efficiently. In particular, each coded packet in the bitstream may comprise a label. As already stated, such a label may be indicative of a different sub-stream in the bitstream. The identifier may be comprised by a packet, different from the coded packets, and may also comprise a label. The labeling system may provide an efficient way of associating identifiers with coded data packets. The label of the identifier may be generated and added to the identifier when the identifier is inserted into the bitstream. Generating the label of the identifier may be based on an association between the identification data and the waveform data.

[0124] Multiple identifiers may be inserted into bitstream to identify a user and / or sensor of different sub-streams in the bitstream. The sub-streams may be differentiable based on a label of the corresponding coded packets.

[0125] The association between identifier and coded packet is similar to the association between timestamp and coded packet, but without the aspect of the position of the coded packet with respect to the identifier, i.e., a coded packet in the bitstream with a same label as the label comprised in the identifier (packet) is associated with the identifier.

[0126] A first example of a combined bitstream with an identifier is depicted in Fig. 4A. In this example, the identifier comprises the label 0x1 and is therefore associated with all coded packets with label 0x1 irrespective of their position within the bitstream. As with the timestamp, the identifier may also comprise a special label that indicates a special association, e.g., label 0x0. In this case, the identifier is associated with all coded packets of the bitstream irrespective of their label.

[0127] In the example of Fig. 4A, the identifier is comprised by a single packet. The identifier may however be also transmitted in segments to reduce data spikes in the bitstream.

[0128] Fig. 4B depicts an example in which the identifier is transported in two segments, i.e., two separate packets comprising the segments. To indicate this format, each segment indicates that it is an identifier according to a partial format. Further, each segment may indicate its segment length, i.e., the size of the segment. Further, a first segment in a reading or decoding direction may indicate that it is the first segment (segment start) and a last segment may indicate that it is the last segment (segment end).

[0129] By using the partial format, identification data may be distributed over the bitstream. Therefore, data rate spikes in the bitstream may be avoided. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0130] Further, as shown in Fig. 4C this partial format may also be used to indicate that the segmented identifier is comprised by a single packet. In this case, the segment indicates that it is the first segment as well as the last segment.

[0131] Methods 100 and 200 may be combined, i.e., both timing data and identification data are received, and a timestamp and an identifier may be inserted into the bitstream.

[0132] Alignment of waveform data based on timestamps

[0133] Fig. 5 depicts a flowchart of an example of a method 300 for aligning waveform data with a timestamp.

[0134] In step S301, a bitstream comprising a plurality of coded packets is received. A first subset of the plurality of coded packets comprises a first timestamp and a second subset of the plurality of coded packets comprises a second timestamp, i.e., the first timestamp and second timestamp are comprised by a special packet different from the coded packets in the first subset and second subset, respectively. For generation and the general format of the bitstream and the timestamp it is referred to the description related to Figs. 1 and 2. Details already described with reference to these figures will not be repeated in the following.

[0135] The device receiving the combined bitstream may comprise a decoder for decoding coded packets and for reading the timestamps in the bitstream. The bitstream may be received by loading it from a local memory or may be received from another device, e.g., from a server.

[0136] In step S302, the plurality of coded packets are decoded to obtain decoded waveform data. For details regarding the waveform data, it is referred to the description of Figs. 1 and 2. The decoder may be a core decoder corresponding to a core encoder used for encoding the waveform data.

[0137] In step S303, the decoded waveform data is aligned based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp. In particular, the decoder or the device comprising the decoder may read the timestamps and determine the sample in the decoded waveform data the timestamps are associated with. Specifically, the data in the first timestamp may be associated with a sample in the decoded waveform data corresponding to the first subset, and data in the second timestamp may be associated with a sample in the decoded waveform data corresponding to the second subset. The decoded waveform data corresponding to the first subset and the decoded waveform Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 data corresponding to the second subset may be waveform data of different sensors of a same device, a same sensor with different settings or different sensors of different devices.

[0138] The bitstream may additionally comprise a sampling rate of samples in the bitstream. The sampling rate may be used to correctly associate samples with the timestamp. The sampling rate may be included as a separate packet (e.g., a configuration packet) or may be included in the packet including the timestamp.

[0139] An example of aligning waveform data is depicted in Fig. 6. In this example, the coded packets of the first subset have a label 0x1, while coded packets of the second subset have label 0x2. Coded packets with different labels may represent encoded waveform data of different but correlated sensors, e.g., two sensors positioned at different body parts. The first timestamp may provide time and date information of a first sample of a first coded packet (in a decoding / reading direction of the bitstream) with label 0x1 following the first timestamp, while the second timestamp provides time and date information of a first sample of the second packet (in a decoding / reading direction of the bitstream) with label 0x2 following the second timestamp.

[0140] Alternatively, the first timestamp may indicate the position of the sample in the first coded packet and the second timestamp may indicate the position of the sample in the second coded packet.

[0141] The step of aligning the waveform data of the two sensors may then comprise comparing the date and time in the first timestamp and the second timestamp. Based on the comparison, either the waveform data corresponding to the first sensor or the waveform data corresponding to the second sensor may be shifted in time such that a distance in time between the sample associated with the first timestamp and the sample associated with the second timestamp may match the time difference between the time (and date) specified or indicated by the first timestamp and the second timestamp. While Fig. 6 shows two signals of waveform data, the invention is not limited to this number. An arbitrary number of waveform signals from different sensors / devices may be aligned based on the timestamps.

[0142] In addition to aligning two different waveform signals, the timestamp may also be used to correct a timing offset between a start and an end of a discontinuity in a waveform signal generated by a sensor. In particular, when a sensor stops generating waveform data, e.g., due to a displacement of the sensor, an encoder may continue encoding data until a frame length defined by the encoder is filled with data, i.e., the encoder is padding the frame to achieve a predefined packet length. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0143] Therefore, when decoding the encoded waveform data, a true time period of the discontinuity may not be recoverable as the inactivity of the encoder may be shorter than the discontinuity in the waveform data. By including a timestamp for a last sample before the discontinuity and / or a first sample after the discontinuity, a true time period of the discontinuity may be recovered. This may enable an alignment with other correlated waveform data, e.g., from a different sensor, which does not comprise the discontinuity.

[0144] Further, to deal with a trigger and clock drift between the sensors or devices generating the waveform data, aligning the waveform data may further comprise resampling and crosscorrelation of the different decoded waveform data, e.g., the first subset and the second subset.

[0145] In optional step S304, the aligned waveform data may be provided for further processing. The further processing may comprise analyzing the aligned decoded waveform data or using the aligned decoded waveform data for training or inference of a neural network. Analyzing the aligned decoded waveform data may comprise estimating biomedical parameters. The biomedical parameters may be any one of the following list:

[0146] Resting Heart Rate (RHR)

[0147] The number of heart beats per minute when a person is at rest. It provides a baseline measure of cardiovascular fitness.

[0148] Pulse Transit Time (PTT)

[0149] The time it takes for the pressure wave from a heartbeat to travel between two arterial sites, often used to assess arterial stiffness and blood pressure variations.

[0150] Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA)

[0151] The natural variation in heart rate during a breathing cycle, with heart rate increasing during inhalation and decreasing during exhalation. RSA is closely related to HRV and autonomic function.

[0152] Blood Pressure Variability (BPV)

[0153] The fluctuation in blood pressure over time. BPV, like HRV, can indicate autonomic nervous system activity and cardiovascular health.

[0154] Baroreflex Sensitivity (BRS) Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0155] The response of heart rate to changes in blood pressure. It measures the sensitivity of the baroreflex, a mechanism that helps regulate blood pressure.

[0156] Electrodermal Activity (EDA) / Skin Conductance

[0157] Measures skin conductance or sweat gland activity, often used as an indicator of autonomic arousal or stress.

[0158] Heart Rate Recovery (HRR)

[0159] The rate at which the heart rate returns to baseline after exercise, indicating cardiovascular fitness and autonomic function.

[0160] Cardiac Output (CO)

[0161] The amount of blood the heart pumps per minute, often used to assess heart function and overall cardiovascular health.

[0162] Peripheral Arterial Tone (PAT)

[0163] A measure of arterial tone in peripheral blood vessels, which can reflect autonomic nervous system activity and stress levels.

[0164] Total Power (TP) in HRV Spectrum

[0165] In HRV analysis, total power is the overall variance in the HRV spectrum, providing a broader picture of autonomic activity.

[0166] Sympathovagal Balance

[0167] The balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity, often assessed using HRV frequency domain measures (e.g., LF / HF ratio).

[0168] Poincare Plot Analysis

[0169] A graphical representation of HRV data that helps to visualize the nonlinear dynamics of heart rate variability.

[0170] Mean RR Interval

[0171] The average time between consecutive R-waves (heartbeats) on an ECG, inversely related to heart rate, often used in HRV analysis. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0172] Identification of waveform data based on identifier

[0173] Fig. 7 depicts a flowchart of an example of a method 400 for identifying waveform data.

[0174] In step S401, a bitstream comprising one or more coded packets and an identifier is received, i.e. the identifier is comprised by a packet different from the coded packets. For generation and the general format of the bitstream and the identifier it is referred to the description related to Figs. 3 and 4. Details already described with reference to these figures will not be repeated in the following.

[0175] The device receiving the combined bitstream may comprise a decoder for decoding coded packets and for reading the identifier in the bitstream. The bitstream may be received by loading it from a local memory or may be received from another device, e.g., from a server.

[0176] In step S402, the plurality of coded packets are decoded to obtain decoded waveform data. For details regarding the waveform data, it is referred to the description of Figs. 1 and 2. The decoder may be a core decoder corresponding to a core encoder used for encoding the waveform data.

[0177] In step S403, the decoded waveform data is identified based on the identifier. Identifying the decoded waveform data is understood as reading the data comprised in the identifier to identify a source of the waveform data, i.e., a user or a sensor.

[0178] In optional step S404, the identified decoded waveform data may be provided for further processing. The further processing may comprise analyzing the identified decoded waveform data or using the identified decoded waveform data for training or inference of a neural network.

[0179] Further, methods 300 and 400 may be combined. In particular, the identified decoded waveform data may be used in order to decide which waveform data, i.e., from which user or which sensor, should be aligned. In this case, the bitstream may include at least two identifiers, for example, in the bitstream of Fig. 6 one identifier may comprise label 0x1 and another identifier may comprise label 0x2.

[0180] This enables an efficient alignment of different waveform signals that are correlated either due to a similar or same sensor or a same user. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0181] Extraction of a subset of data from the bitstream

[0182] In another example, the timestamp may be used to extract a subset of the plurality of coded packets (i.e., a subset of the waveform data corresponding to the plurality of coded packets) as depicted in the flowchart of Fig. 8.

[0183] In step S501, the bitstream is received. The bitstream comprises a plurality of coded packets corresponding to waveform data and a timestamp, associated with a subset of the plurality of coded packets.

[0184] In step S502, a subset of the plurality of coded packets based on the associated timestamp is extracted. The timestamp indicates the time of a sample of a first coded packet following the timestamp and the first coded packet belongs to the subset. Each coded packet in the plurality of coded packets comprises a label and the timestamp comprises a same label as the subset of the plurality of coded packets.

[0185] The extraction may comprise decoding the subset of the plurality of coded packets. For a specification of the timestamps and the association between coded packets and the timestamps it is referred to the previous description, e.g., methods 100 and 300.

[0186] Bitstream format for timestamp and identi fier

[0187] In the following a detailed example for a format of the combined bitstream including the coded packets, the timestamps and the identifiers will be provided. The specific example should however not be construed to limit the subject-matter of the invention. Other formats for the combined bitstream may be used, depending on the implementation needs.

[0188] Basic Syntax

[0189] Tables 1 to 2 define an example of the general bitstream syntax, i.e., each packet in the bitstream may be defined by its type (msStreamPacketType), its label (msStreamPacketLabel), its length (msStreamPacketLength) and the payload (msStreamPacketPayload). Table 2 represents an example for allocating bits. Other bit allocations or other names for the variables may also be possible. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0190] Table 1

[0191] Table 2 msStreamPacketLabel For values of ‘ 1’ and higher, this element provides an indication of which packets in a stream belong together (so called sub-streams). In addition, packets with msStreamPacketLabel set to a value of ‘0’ apply to all sub-streams. msStreamPacketLength This element indicates the length of the msStreamPacketPayload() in Bytes. msStreamPacketPayload() The payload for the actual msStreamPacket. It consists of 1 or more payload frames.

[0192] Table 3 lists examples of different possible packet types in the bitstream, while Table 4 lists examples of the corresponding values. It is noted that only the packet types MS FRAME,

[0193] T1 Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0194] MS UUID U, MS UUID S and MS TIMESTAMP (grey marking) may be needed for implementing alignment and identification. Packet type MS FRAME comprises the encoded waveform data. Other packet types may be optional depending on the implementation needs. It is further noted that the list of packet types is not exhaustive and may be extended if needed. The association of value and packet type in Table 4 may also represent merely one option out of several possible mappings.

[0195] Table 3 Dolby International AB October 28, 2025

[0196] D24157W001

[0197] Table 4 Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0198] MS FRAME Syntax

[0199] Table 5 includes an example of syntax for a packet of the type msFrame, i.e., the packet including the encoded waveform data. An alternative syntax for msFrame is shown in Table 6. Each packet may define the signal type (msSignalType) of the payload data of the packet. Table 7 provides a non-exhaustive list of examples of signal types in the biomedical context.

[0200] Table 5 Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0201] Table 6

[0202] List of variables msIndependentFrame Shall be set to 1 if the current frame is decodable without any additional information. msSignalType Indicates which type of signal the coded data is for. getLength() Calculates the payload segment length in samples. msNumFramesPerSegment Number of payload frames carried by an MS_FRAME payload (segment). msSignalECG Coded Electrocardiography (ECG) data. msSignalEEG Coded Electroencephalography (EEG) data. msSignalEMG Coded Electromyography (EMG) data. msSignalPPG Coded Photoplethysmogram (PPG) data.

[0203] Table 7 Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0204] MS TIMESTAMP

[0205] An example of syntax for the timestamp is provided in Table 8, while examples of different time schemes and the associated values are defined in Table 9. Further, different timing use cases are defined in Table 10.

[0206] Table 8 Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0207] Table 9

[0208] Table 10

[0209] List of Variables Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 msOffestType Indicates the unit of msTimeOffset value. Shall be set to ‘0’ if milliseconds. Shall be set to ‘ 1’ for using the configured sampling rate of the underlying signal type as base time (e.g. if sampling rate is configured to be 1kHz, a value of ‘ 1000’ of msTimeOffset indicates an offset of 1000 samples at 1kHz, or 1 second respectively). msTimeLong This is counted in seconds and the count starts on January 1st, 2025 at 00.00.00 UTC. msTimeShort Time in seconds elapsed since last “msTimeType == msTimeLong”- update. msTimeOffset Offset in milliseconds, added to msTimeLong or msTimeShort respectively, in unit signaled by msOffestType. msTimeTypeExt In case msTimeTypeExt is used msTimeType shall be msTimeExt (3) + msTimeTypeExt (see also syntax).

[0210] TAI_timestamp According to ISO / IEC 23001-17. msTimeUXT Specifies the Unix time. It is counted in seconds and the count starts on

[0211] January 1st, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC, the Unix epoch. status_bits According to ISO / IEC 23001-17 msTimeUTC Specifies the UTC timing information yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss[.xxx]Z, e.g., the Unix epoch is stored as 1970-01-01T00:00:00.000Z. msTimeldx indicates the unique index of the timestamp packet related to feature set packet. msType indicates the unique index of the timestamp packet related to feature set packet, indicates the timestamp use case as specified in Table 10.

[0212] Generally, the time shall be set in a way that msTime [Long, Short, UXT] + msTimeOffset indicates the time. If msOffestType is set to ‘O’, the indicated time is (1000 * msTime[...] + msTimeOffset) in miliseconds. The uniquely associated sample index shall be obtained by ( floor( 0.5 + time * scimpling frequency / 1000 ) ). If msOffestType is set to T, the indicated time shall be calculated as (msTime[...J + msTimeOffset / scimpling frequency) in seconds. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0213] The time referring to the waveform indicates when the sample of following MS FRAME with the same stream_packet_label has been recorded.

[0214] In case the msStreamPacketLabel is 0x0, the time applies to the first sample of the first MS FRAME packet of any msStreamPacketLabel.

[0215] MS UUID S, MS UUID U

[0216] Table 11 provides an example of syntax for MS UUID S and MS UUID U. MS UUID S is an identifier of a sensor. MS UUID U is an identifier of a user.

[0217] Table 11

[0218] List of Variables partial uuid Indicates if the uuid is transmitted partially (uuid partial field) or completely (uuid field). uuid segment start Identifies the start of a uuid segment, if set to ‘ 1’ . uuid segment stop Identifies the end of a uuid segment, if set to ‘ 1’ . uuid_segment_length Length of the uuid_partial in number of bytes. uuid partial partial uuid. First segment can be identified by uuid segment start set to ‘ 1’. Last segment can be identified by uuid segment stop set to ‘ 1’ . If both uuid segment start and uuid segment stop are set to Dolby International AB October 28, 2025

[0219] D24157W001

[0220] ‘ 1’, this indicates that the full uuid is transmitted / stored in uuid partial. uuid Full 128 bytes of uuid.

[0221] Generally, the UUID belongs to all MS FRAME packets with the same msStreamPacketLabel.

[0222] In case the msStreamPacketLabel is 0x0, the UUID belongs to MS FRAME packet of any msStreamPacketLabel.

[0223] Alternative Syntax

[0224] In the following, relevant parts of an alternative syntax for timestamping and identification will be presented. Table 12 defines an example of a packet header, i.e., each packet in the bitstream may be defined by its type (stream_packet_type), its label (stream_packet_label) and its length (stream_packet_length). Depending on the stream_packet_type in the header, a packet may include different payloads.

[0225] Table 12

[0226] The following descriptors specify the parsing process of each syntax element:

[0227] - ae(v): context-adaptive arithmetic entropy-coded syntax element.

[0228] - b(8): byte having any pattern of bit string (8 bits).

[0229] - f(n): fixed-pattern bit string using n bits written (from left to right) with the left bit first.

[0230] - i(n): signed integer using n bits. When n is "v" in the syntax table, the number of bits varies in a manner dependent on the value of other syntax elements.

[0231] - se(v): signed integer O-th order Exp-Golomb-coded syntax element with the left bit first.

[0232] - st(v): null-terminated string encoded as universal coded character set (UCS) transmission format-8 (UTF-8) characters as specified in ISO / IEC 10646. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0233] - u(n): unsigned integer using n bits. When n is "v" in the syntax table, the number of bits varies in a manner dependent on the value of other syntax elements.

[0234] - ue(v): unsigned integer O-th order Exp-Golomb-coded syntax element with the left bit first.

[0235] - ev(k,n,m): unsigned integer coded using escaped values. stream packet type Specifies the stream packet type, i.e., the type of RBSP data structure contained in the stream packet as specified in Table 13. stream packet label Specifies a sub-stream indication. For values of 1 and higher, this element provides an indication of which packets in a stream belong together (so called sub-streams). In addition, packets with stream_packet_label set to a value of 0 apply to all sub-streams. stream packet length Indicates the length of the stream_packet_payload in bytes. It specifies the number pf RBSP bytes in the stream packet.

[0236] Table 13 lists examples of different possible packet types in the bitstream. It is noted that only the packet types IF SPT, DF SPT, MS_ UUID U SPT, UUID S SPT and TIMESTAMP SPT (grey marking) may be needed for implementing alignment and identification. Packet type IF SPT and DF SPT may comprise the encoded waveform data. Other packet types may be optional depending on the implementation needs. It is further noted that the list of packet types is not exhaustive and may be extended if needed.

[0237] Table 13 Dolby International AB October 28, 2025

[0238] D24157W001 time stamp rbsp

[0239] An example of a syntax for the timestamp is provided in Table 14, while examples of different time schemes and the associated values are defined in Table 15. Further, different timing use cases are defined in Table 16. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0240] Table 14 Dolby International AB October 28, 2025

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[0242] Table 15

[0243] Table 16

[0244] The timestamp shall be used for, but not limited to, the following cases:

[0245] • Indicating the timing information related to the generation of the sample of the signals (acquisition / recording time)

[0246] • Indicating the timing information related to the generation of coded data (encoding time)

[0247] • Indicating the true signal length or period triggered by an event (e.g., in the presence of discontinuity triggered by an encoder event due to sensor interruption, displacement or restart)

[0248] • Enabling signal alignment across multiple channels and signal types to compensate any drifts.

[0249] Note that the timestamp insertion into the bitstream can occur in both the encoder (signal input) and bitstream input sides. Note that setting the stream_packet_label to ‘0’ shall indicate a timing information applied to all sub-streams. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0250] List of Variables ts waveform parameter set id specifies the value of wps_waveform_parameter_set_id for the WPS in use. ts channel group id identifies the channel group to which the current timestamp belongs. When ts channel group id is not present, it is inferred to be equal to 0. A channel group may be used to transport signals of the same waveform type and sampling rate but with different parameters (e.g., coding parameters). ts type indicates the timestamp use case as specified in Table 16. ts time idx flag shall be set to 1 if a timestamp indexing by means of ts time idx is desired. ts time idx indicates the unique index of the timestamp packet related to feature set rbsp. ts time type indicates the time type as specified in Error! Reference source not found.15. ts offset type flag indicates the unit of ts time offset value. Shall be set to ‘0’ if the unit is miliseconds. Shall be set to ‘ 1 ’ if the unit is indicating the exact sample index. The desired floating-point time unit resolution in seonds shall be obtained using the underlying signal sampling frequency. ts time long is counted in seconds and the count starts on January 1st, 2025 at 00:00:00 UTC. ts time offset specifies an offset of time, added to ts time long, ts time short or ts_time_uxt, respectively, in unit signaled by ts_offest_type_flag. ts time short in seconds elapsed since last “ts time type = = TIME LONG”- update. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 ts time uxt specifies the Unix time. It is counted in seconds and the count starts on January 1st, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC, the Unix epoch. ts time tai is specified according to ISO / IEC 23001-17. ts status bits is specified according to the bits synchronization state, timestamp generation failure, timestamp is modified and reserved according to ISO / IEC 23001-17. ts time utc specifies the UTC timing information yyyy-mm- ddThh:mm:ss[.xxx]Z, e.g., the Unix epoch is stored as 1970-01- 01T00:00:00.000Z. ts time world flag indicates whether the timestamp is indicating a world clock or a

[0251] “relative” one. ts_time_long_relative is counted in seconds and the count starts from the very first sample of the waveform of a coded waveform sequence (bitstream). ts_time_offset_relative specifies an offset of time, added to ts time long relative, in unit signaled by ts_offset_type_flag.

[0252] The time shall be set in a way that ts time flong, long relative, short, uxt] + ts time offsetf relative] indicates the time. If ts offset type flag is set to ‘O’, the indicated time is (1000 * ts time f. . . ] + ts time offsetf. . . ]) in miliseconds. The uniquely associated sample index shall be obtained by ( floor( 0.5 + time * sampling frequency / 1000 ) ). If ts offset type flag is set to T, the indicated time shall be calculated as (ts time f. . .] + ts time offsetf. . .] / sampling ^frequency) in seconds.

[0253] The time referring to the waveform indicates when the sample of following IF SPT or DF SPT with the same stream_packet_label has been recorded. Setting the stream packet label to ‘0’ shall indicate a timing information applied to all sub-streams. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0254] UUID U SPT, UUID S SPT

[0255] Table 17 provides an example of syntax for UUID U SPT and UUID S SPT. UUID S SPT is an identifier of a sensor. UUID U SPT is an identifier of a user.

[0256] Table 17

[0257] List of Variables uuid segment start flag identifies the start of a uuid segment, if set to ‘ T. uuid_segment_stop_flag identifies the end of a uuid segment, if set to ‘ 1’ .

[0258] Note: If both uuid segment start flag and uuid segment stop flag are set to ‘ 1’ the uuid data- field contains the full uuid. uuid_segment_length_minusl plus 1 specifies the length of the partial uuid in number of bytes. uuid_data specifies a segment of a uuid or the full uuid.

[0259] Generally, the UUID belongs to all packets with the same stream_packet_label.

[0260] In case the stream _packet label is 0x0, the UUID belongs to the packet of any stream _packet label.

[0261] While methods of inserting timestamps and identifiers into a bitstream and using the identifiers and the timestamps for identification and alignment, respectively, have been described above, the disclosure likewise relates to corresponding apparatus, and the like. An example embodiment providing such an apparatus will be described next with reference to Fig. 9. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0262] As shown in Fig. 9, the apparatus 600 includes a processor 601 and memory 602. The memory 602 is configured to store program code. The processor 601 is configured to run instructions in the program code, so that the apparatus 600 performs the timestamp or identifier insertion method ,or the alignment or identification method in any one of the above embodiments and implementations. The processor 601 may also receive, among others, suitable input data (e.g., waveform data, timing data, identification data, the bitstream or the combined bitstream) depending on use cases and / or implementations. The processor 601 may be adapted to carry out the methods / techniques (e.g., methods 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 as illustrated above with reference to Figs. 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8 respectively) described throughout the present disclosure and to generate corresponding output data (e.g., a combined bitstream or decoded waveform data), depending on use cases and / or implementations. The apparatus may be part of a device comprising or connected to sensors, e.g., a smart watch. The apparatus may further be part of a general -purpose computer, a server. Further, the apparatus may comprise the encoder and / or the decoder for encoding / decoding the waveform data.

[0263] Fig. 10 illustrates a transmission device 700. Transmission device 700 may comprise a variety of units, including a transmitter unit and / or a receiver unit and / or a coding unit. The coding unit may be composed of at least a processor configured to perform encoding and / or decoding processing. The coding unit may encode and / or decode data in accordance with the methods (e.g., methods 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 as illustrated above with reference to Figs. 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8, respectively) throughout the present disclosure.

[0264] Transmission device 700 may transmit the coded data in the form of a bitstream to a device or to a digital storage medium or through, for example, a network in the form of a file or streaming. The digital storage medium may include various storage mediums such as USB-C, USB, SD, CD, DVD, Blu-ray, HDD, SSD, and equivalent technologies. The digital storage medium may also be part of the coding unit of transmitter device 700.

[0265] Transmission device 700 may include an element for generating the bitstream and / or a media file and may include an element for transmission, e.g., through a variety of mediums (Bluetooth, broadcast / communication networks, Internet technologies and equivalents). The transmission may be implemented using a variety of technologies such as, for example, RF, light waves, infrared, Bluetooth, WiFi, and / or acoustic transmission devices. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0266] Aspects of the systems described herein may be implemented in an appropriate computer-based sound processing network environment for processing digital or digitized audio files. Portions of the adaptive audio system may include one or more networks that comprise any desired number of individual machines, including one or more routers (not shown) that serve to buffer and route the data transmitted among the computers. Such a network may be built on various different network protocols, and may be the Internet, a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), or any combination thereof.

[0267] One or more of the components, blocks, processes or other functional components may be implemented through a computer program that controls execution of a processor-based computing device of the system. It should also be noted that the various functions disclosed herein may be described using any number of combinations of hardware, firmware, and / or as data and / or instructions embodied in various machine-readable or computer-readable media, in terms of their behavioral, register transfer, logic component, and / or other characteristics. Computer- readable media in which such formatted data and / or instructions may be embodied include, but are not limited to, physical (non-transitory), non-volatile storage media in various forms, such as optical, magnetic or semiconductor storage media.

[0268] While one or more implementations have been described by way of example and in terms of the specific embodiments, it is to be understood that one or more implementations are not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

[0269] Interpretation

[0270] A computing device implementing the techniques described above can have the following example architecture. Other architectures are possible, including architectures with more or fewer components. In some implementations, the example architecture includes one or more processors (e.g., dual-core Intel® Xeon® Processors), one or more output devices (e.g., LCD), one or more network interfaces, one or more input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard, touch-sensitive display) and one or more computer-readable mediums (e.g., RAM, ROM, SDRAM, hard disk, optical disk, flash memory, etc.). These components can exchange communications and data over one or Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 more communication channels (e.g., buses), which can utilize various hardware and software for facilitating the transfer of data and control signals between components.

[0271] The term “computer-readable medium” refers to a medium that participates in providing instructions to processor for execution, including without limitation, non-volatile media (e.g., optical or magnetic disks), volatile media (e.g., memory) and transmission media. Transmission media includes, without limitation, coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics.

[0272] Computer-readable medium can further include operating system (e.g., a Linux® operating system), network communication module, audio interface manager, audio processing manager and live content distributor. Operating system can be multi-user, multiprocessing, multitasking, multithreading, real time, etc. Operating system performs basic tasks, including but not limited to: recognizing input from and providing output to network interfaces and / or devices; keeping track and managing files and directories on computer-readable mediums (e.g., memory or a storage device); controlling peripheral devices; and managing traffic on the one or more communication channels. Network communications module includes various components for establishing and maintaining network connections (e.g., software for implementing communication protocols, such as TCP / IP, HTTP, etc.).

[0273] Architecture can be implemented in a parallel processing or peer-to-peer infrastructure or on a single device with one or more processors. Software can include multiple software components or can be a single body of code.

[0274] The described features can be implemented advantageously in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. A computer program is a set of instructions that can be used, directly or indirectly, in a computer to perform a certain activity or bring about a certain result. A computer program can be written in any form of programming language (e.g., Objective-C, Java), including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, a browser-based web application, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0275] Suitable processors for the execution of a program of instructions include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and the sole processor or one of multiple processors or cores, of any kind of computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memories for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to communicate with, one or more mass storage devices for storing data files; such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits).

[0276] To provide for interaction with a user, the features can be implemented on a computer having a display device such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor or a retina display device for displaying information to the user. The computer can have a touch surface input device (e.g., a touch screen) or a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball by which the user can provide input to the computer. The computer can have a voice input device for receiving voice commands from the user.

[0277] The features can be implemented in a computer system that includes a back-end component, such as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, such as an application server or an Internet server, or that includes a front-end component, such as a client computer having a graphical user interface or an Internet browser, or any combination of them. The components of the system can be connected by any form or medium of digital data communication such as a communication network. Examples of communication networks include, e.g., a LAN, a WAN, and the computers and networks forming the Internet.

[0278] The computing system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other. In some embodiments, a server transmits data Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0279] (e.g., an HTML page) to a client device (e.g., for purposes of displaying data to and receiving user input from a user interacting with the client device). Data generated at the client device (e.g., a result of the user interaction) can be received from the client device at the server.

[0280] A system of one or more computers can be configured to perform particular actions by virtue of having software, firmware, hardware, or a combination of them installed on the system that in operation causes or cause the system to perform the actions. One or more computer programs can be configured to perform particular actions by virtue of including instructions that, when executed by data processing apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the actions.

[0281] While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

[0282] Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

[0283] Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present invention discussions utilizing terms such as “processing”, “computing”, “calculating”, “determining”, “analyzing” or the like, refer to the action and / or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing devices, that Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 manipulate and / or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities into other data similarly represented as physical quantities.

[0284] Reference throughout this invention to “one example embodiment”, “some example embodiments” or “an example embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the example embodiment is included in at least one example embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one example embodiment”, “in some example embodiments” or “in an example embodiment” in various places throughout this invention are not necessarily all referring to the same example embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this invention, in one or more example embodiments.

[0285] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

[0286] Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted”, “connected”, “supported”, and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings.

[0287] In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms comprising, comprised of or which comprises is an open term that means including at least the elements / features that follow, but not excluding others. Thus, the term comprising, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a device comprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B. Any one of the terms including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements / features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0288] It should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the present invention, various features of the present invention are sometimes grouped together in a single example embodiment, Fig., or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the present invention and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of invention, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claims require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed example embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate example embodiment of this invention.

[0289] Furthermore, while some example embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other example embodiments, combinations of features of different example embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the present invention, and form different example embodiments, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed example embodiments can be used in any combination.

[0290] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that example embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

[0291] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the best modes of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used.

[0292] Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0293] Various aspects and implementations of the present disclosure may also be appreciated from the following enumerated example embodiments (EEEs), which are not claims.

[0294] EEE 1. A method of inserting a timestamp into a bitstream, the method comprising: Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 obtaining the bitstream comprising one or more coded packets of waveform data; obtaining timing data; and inserting a timestamp into the bitstream to generate a combined bitstream, wherein the timestamp is generated based on the timing data.

[0295] EEE 2. The method of EEE 1, wherein obtaining the bitstream comprises: receiving the waveform data; and encoding the waveform data to generate the bitstream; and wherein obtaining the timing data comprises: receiving the timing data, wherein the timing data is acquisition timing data that is indicative of a time at which the waveform data has been generated; and / or the timing data is encoding timing data that is generated based on the encoding of the waveform data.

[0296] EEE 3. The method of EEE 1, wherein obtaining the bitstream comprises receiving the bitstream; and wherein obtaining the timing data comprises receiving the timing data; and wherein the timing data is acquisition timing data that is indicative of a time at which the waveform data has been generated, and / or the timing data is encoding timing data that is indicative of a time at which the waveform data has been encoded

[0297] EEE 4. The method of EEE 2 or 3, wherein the acquisition timing data is sensor timing data or device timing data.

[0298] EEE 5. The method of any previous EEE, wherein the waveform data represents continuous measurements by a sensor.

[0299] EEE 6. The method of any previous EEE, wherein the waveform data is biomedical waveform data or waveform data representing mechanical motion.

[0300] EEE 7. The method of EEE 6, wherein the waveform data represents signals by a seismometer or an accelerometer.

[0301] EEE 8. The method of EEE 6, wherein the biomedical waveform data is any one of electrocardiography data, electroencephalography data, electromyography data, electrooculogram data, electroretinogram data, electrogastrogram data or photoplethysmogram data. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0302] EEE 9. The method of EEE 2 or 3, wherein the acquisition timing data indicates a time at which a sample of the waveform data has been generated.

[0303] EEE 10. The method of EEE 9, wherein the sample is a first sample in time of the waveform data, a first sample in time after a discontinuity in the waveform data, or a last sample in time before a discontinuity in the waveform data.

[0304] EEE 11. The method of EEE 2 or 3, wherein the encoding timing data indicates a starting time at which waveform data has been encoded or an end time at which waveform data has been encoded.

[0305] EEE 12. The method of any previous EEE, wherein each coded packet in the plurality of coded packets comprises a label.

[0306] EEE 13. The method of EEE 12, wherein the timestamp comprises a label.

[0307] EEE 14. The method of EEE 12 or 13, wherein a same label of a first coded packet of the plurality of coded packets and a second coded packet of the plurality of coded packets indicates that the first coded packet and the second coded packet belong to a same sub-stream of the bitstream.

[0308] EEE 15. The method of any previous EEE, wherein the timestamp indicates the time of a sample of a third coded packet following the timestamp.

[0309] EEE 16. The method of EEE 15, wherein the sample is a first sample in time of a part of the waveform data encoded in the third coded packet.

[0310] EEE 17. The method of EEE 15, wherein the timestamp indicates a position of the sample in the third coded packet.

[0311] EEE 18. The method of any one of EEEs 15 to 17, wherein the time of the sample is the time at which the sample has been generated.

[0312] EEE 19. The method of any one of EEEs 15 to 17 when depending on EEE 13, wherein the timestamp comprises the same label as the third coded packet.

[0313] EEE 20. The method of any one of EEEs 15 to 17 when depending on EEE 13, wherein the timestamp comprises a label indicating that the timestamp applies to the third coded packet irrespective of the label of the third coded packet. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0314] EEE 2 The method of EEE 20, wherein the third coded packet comprises a plurality of third coded packets, each with a different label.

[0315] EEE 22. The method of any previous EEE, wherein the timestamp indicates an encoding start time of the one or more coded packets, or an encoding end time of the one or more coded packets.

[0316] EEE 23. The method of EEE 22 when depending on EEE 13, wherein the timestamp comprises a label indicating that the timestamp applies to the one or more coded packets irrespective of the label of the one or more coded packets.

[0317] EEE 24. The method of any previous EEE, the timing data comprises a time and a date.

[0318] EEE 25. The method of any previous EEE, wherein a format of the timestamp comprises an initial time and a time offset.

[0319] EEE 26. The method of EEE 25, wherein the format of the timestamp further comprises a time type and an offset type, wherein the time type indicates a number of bits used for representing the initial time and wherein the offset type indicates a unit type used for the time offset.

[0320] EEE 27. The method of any one of EEEs 1 to 24, wherein a format of the timestamp corresponds to a timestamp format defined in ISO / IEC 23001-17.

[0321] EEE 28. The method of any previous EEE, wherein the waveform data has been generated by at least two different sensors or at least two different settings of a same sensor; the timing data comprises first acquisition timing data and second acquisition timing data indicating a time at which the waveform data corresponding to the at least two different sensors or the at least two different settings of a same sensor has been generated, respectively; and the timestamp comprises a first timestamp and a second timestamp generated based on the first acquisition timing data and the second acquisition timing data, respectively.

[0322] EEE 29. The method of any previous EEE, wherein the method further comprises receiving identification data, wherein the identification data is related to generation of the waveform data; and inserting the timestamp into the bitstream to generate a combined bitstream comprises inserting the timestamp and an identifier into the bitstream, Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 wherein the identifier is generated based on the identification data.

[0323] EEE 30. The method of EEE 29, wherein the identification data is indicative of a user for which the waveform data has been generated or indicative of a sensor with which the waveform data has been generated.

[0324] EEE 3 E The method of EEE 29 or 30, wherein the identifier comprises a label.

[0325] EEE 32. The method of EEE 31 when depending on EEE 13, wherein the identifier is associated with all coded packets with a same label as the label of the identifier.

[0326] EEE 33. The method of EEE 31 when depending on EEE 13, wherein the identifier is associated with all coded packets, if the label of the identifier indicates a universal association.

[0327] EEE 34. The method of any one of EEEs 29 to 33, wherein a format of the identifier comprises a full format, and the full format indicates that the identifier is comprised in a single segment in the bitstream.

[0328] EEE 35. The method of any one of EEEs 29 to 33, wherein a format of the identifier comprises a partial format, and the partial format indicates that the identifier is comprised in at least two segments in the bitstream.

[0329] EEE 36. The method of EEE 35, wherein the format of the identifier comprises a segment of the identifier, a segment start indication, a segment end indication, and segment length indication, wherein the segment start indication indicates a first segment of the identifier, the segment end indication indicates a last segment of the identifier and the segment length indication indicates a length of the segment.

[0330] EEE 37. The method of EEE 36, wherein when the identifier indicates the first segment and the last segment, the segment comprises the full identifier.

[0331] EEE 38. A method of inserting an identifier into a bitstream, the method comprising: obtaining the bitstream comprising one or more coded packets of waveform data; receiving identification data, wherein the identification data is related to generation of the waveform data; and inserting the identifier into the bitstream to generate a combined bitstream, wherein the identifier is generated based on the identification data. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0332] EEE 39. The method of EEE 38, wherein obtaining the bitstream comprises: receiving the waveform data; and encoding the waveform data to generate the bitstream.

[0333] EEE 40. The method of EEE 38, wherein obtaining the bitstream comprises receiving the bitstream.

[0334] EEE 4E The method of any one of EEEs 38 to 40, wherein the identification data is indicative of a user for which the waveform data has been generated or indicative of a sensor with which the waveform data has been generated.

[0335] EEE 42. The method of any one of EEEs 38 to 41, wherein the waveform data represents continuous measurements by a sensor.

[0336] EEE 43. The method of any one of EEEs 38 to 42, wherein the waveform data is biomedical waveform data or waveform data representing mechanical motion.

[0337] EEE 44. The method of EEE 43, wherein the waveform data represents signals by a seismometer or an accelerometer.

[0338] EEE 45. The method of EEE 43, wherein the biomedical waveform data is any one of electrocardiography data, electroencephalography data, electromyography data, electrooculogram data, electroretinogram data, electrogastrogram data or photoplethysmogram data.

[0339] EEE 46. The method of any one of EEEs 38 to 45, wherein each coded packet of the one or more coded packets comprises a label.

[0340] EEE 47. The method of EEE 46, wherein the identifier comprises a label.

[0341] EEE 48. The method of EEE 46 or 47, wherein the one or more coded packets are a plurality of coded packets, and wherein a same label of a first coded packet of the plurality of coded packets and a second coded packet of the plurality of coded packets indicates the first coded packet and the second coded packet belong to a same sub-stream of the bitstream.

[0342] EEE 49. The method of EEE 47, wherein the identifier is associated with all coded packets with a same label as the label of the identifier.

[0343] EEE 50. The method of EEE 47, wherein the identifier is associated with all coded packets, if the label of the identifier indicates a universal association. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0344] EEE 5 The method of any one of EEEs 38 to 50, wherein a format of the identifier comprises a full format, and the full format indicates that the identifier is comprised in a single segment in the bitstream.

[0345] EEE 52. The method of any one of EEEs 38 to 50, wherein the one or more coded packets are a plurality of coded packets, and wherein a format of the identifier comprises a partial format, and the partial format indicates that the identifier is comprised in at least two segments in the bitstream.

[0346] EEE 53. The method of EEE 52, wherein the format of the identifier comprises a segment of the identifier, a segment start indication, a segment end indication, and segment length indication, wherein the segment start indication indicates a first segment of the identifier, the segment end indication indicates a last segment of the identifier and the segment length indication indicates a length of the segment.

[0347] EEE 54. The method of EEE 53, wherein when the identifier indicates the first segment and the last segment, the segment comprises the full identifier.

[0348] EEE 55. The method of any one of EEEs 38 to 54, wherein the one or more coded packets are a plurality of coded packets; waveform data has been generated by at least two different sensors or for at least two different users; the identification data comprises first identification data and second identification data for the at least two different sensors or for at least to two different users, respectively; and the identifier comprises a first identifier and a second identifier generated based on the first identification data and the second identification data, respectively.

[0349] EEE 56. A method of aligning waveform data with a timestamp, the method comprising: receiving a bitstream comprising a plurality of coded packets, wherein a first subset of the plurality of coded packets comprises a first timestamp and a second subset of the plurality of coded packets comprises a second timestamp; and decoding the plurality of coded packets to obtain decoded waveform data; aligning the decoded waveform data based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0350] EEE 57. The method of EEE 56, wherein the decoded waveform data represents continuous measurements by a sensor.

[0351] EEE 58. The method of EEE 56 or 57, wherein the decoded waveform data is biomedical waveform data or waveform data representing mechanical motion.

[0352] EEE 59. The method of EEE 58, wherein the decoded waveform data represents signals by a seismometer or an accelerometer.

[0353] EEE 60. The method of EEE 58, wherein the biomedical waveform data is any one of electrocardiography data, electroencephalography data, electromyography data, electrooculogram data, electroretinogram data, electrogastrogram data or photoplethysmogram data.

[0354] EEE 61. The method of any of EEEs 56 to 60, wherein aligning the decoded waveform data based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp comprises aligning first decoded waveform data corresponding to the first subset and second decoded waveform data corresponding to the second subset by comparing the first timestamp and the second timestamp and shifting the first decoded waveform data or the second decoded waveform such that the first decoded waveform data and the second decoded waveform data are synchronized in time.

[0355] EEE 62. The method of EEE 61, wherein the first decoded waveform data and second decoded waveform data correspond to any one of different sensor data of a same device, sensor data of different settings from a same sensor or different sensor data of different devices.

[0356] EEE 63. The method of any one of EEEs 56 to 62, wherein aligning the decoded waveform data based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp further comprises using an alignment algorithm to compensate for a trigger drift or / and a clock drift of a device and / or a sensor used for generating waveform data corresponding to the decoded waveform data.

[0357] EEE 64. The method of EEE 63, wherein the alignment algorithm comprises resampling and cross-correlation of the decoded waveform data.

[0358] EEE 65. The method of any one of EEEs 56 to 64, wherein each coded packet comprises a label.

[0359] EEE 66. The method of EEE 65, wherein a same label of a first coded packet of the plurality of coded packets and a second coded packet of the plurality of coded packets indicates Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 that the first coded packet and the second coded packet belong to a same sub-stream of the bitstream.

[0360] EEE 67. The method of any one of EEEs 65 to 66, wherein coded packets of the first subset comprise a first label and the coded packets of the second subset comprise a second label.

[0361] EEE 68. The method of EEE 67, wherein the first timestamp indicates the time of a sample of a third coded packet with the first label following the first timestamp and the second timestamp indicates the time of a sample of a fourth coded packet with the second label following the second timestamp.

[0362] EEE 69. The method of EEE 68, wherein the sample is a first sample in time of a part of the waveform data encoded in the third coded packet and the fourth coded packet, respectively.

[0363] EEE 70. The method of EEE 68, wherein the first timestamp indicates the position of the sample in the third coded packet and the second timestamp indicates the position of the sample in the fourth coded packet.

[0364] EEE 71. The method of any one of EEEs 68 or 70, wherein the time of the sample is the time at which the sample has been generated.

[0365] EEE 72. The method of any one of EEEs 56 to 71, wherein coded packets of the first subset and the second subset are interleaved.

[0366] EEE 73. The method of any one of EEEs 56 to 72, wherein a format of the first and second timestamp comprises an initial time and a time offset.

[0367] EEE 74. The method of EEE 73, wherein the format of the first and second timestamp further comprises a time type and an offset type, wherein the time type indicates a number of bits used for representing the initial time and wherein the offset type indicates a unit type used for the time offset.

[0368] EEE 75. The method of any one of EEEs 56 to 72, wherein the format of the first and second timestamp corresponds to a timestamp format defined in ISO / IEC 23001-17.

[0369] EEE 76. The method of any one of EEEs 56 to 75, wherein the method further comprises providing the aligned decoded waveform data for further processing. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0370] EEE 77. The method of EEE 76, wherein the further processing comprises analyzing the aligned decoded waveform data or using the aligned decoded waveform data for training or inference of a neural network.

[0371] EEE 78. The method of EEE 77, wherein analyzing the aligned decoded waveform data comprises estimating biomedical parameters.

[0372] EEE 79. The method of EEE 78, wherein the biomedical parameters comprise any one of a pulse wave velocity, a cuffless estimate of blood pressure or a heart rate variability.

[0373] EEE 80. The method of any one of EEE 56 to 79, wherein the bitstream further comprises an identifier.

[0374] EEE 81. The method of EEE 80, wherein the identifier comprises a label.

[0375] EEE 82. The method of EEE 81 when depending on EEE 65, wherein the identifier is associated with all coded packets with a same label as the label of the identifier.

[0376] EEE 83. The method of EEE 81 when depending on EEE 65 wherein the identifier is associated with all coded packets, if the label of the identifier indicates a universal association.

[0377] EEE 84. The method of any one of EEE 80 to 83, wherein a format of the identifier comprises a full format, and the full format indicates that the identifier is comprised in a single segment in the bitstream.

[0378] EEE 85. The method of any one of EEE 56 to 83, wherein a format of the identifier comprises a partial format, and the partial format indicates that the identifier is comprised in at least two segments in the bitstream.

[0379] EEE 86. The method of EEE 85, wherein the format of the identifier comprises a segment of the identifier, a segment start indication, a segment end indication, and segment length indication, wherein the segment start indication indicates a first segment of the identifier, the segment end indication indicates a last segment of the identifier and the segment length indication indicates a length of the segment.

[0380] EEE 87. The method of EEE 86, wherein when the identifier indicates the first segment and the last segment, the segment comprises the full identifier. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0381] EEE 88. The method of any one of EEE 80 to 87, wherein aligning the first decoded waveform data and the second decoded waveform data is based on the identifier, wherein the identifier indicates that the first decoded waveform data and the second decoded waveform data are from sensors of a same user, or from a same sensor type of different users.

[0382] EEE 89. The method of any one of EEE 80 to 87, wherein the identifier comprises a first identifier and a second identifier, wherein the first identifier identifies a sensor and / or user of the first subset and the second identifier identifies a sensor and / or user of the second subset.

[0383] EEE 90. The method of any one of EEEs 56 to 89, wherein the bitstream comprises a sampling rate of samples in the bitstream.

[0384] EEE 91. A method of identifying waveform data, the method comprising: receiving a bitstream comprising one or more coded packets and an identifier; decoding the one or more coded packets to obtain decoded waveform data; and identifying the decoded waveform data based on the identifier.

[0385] EEE 92. The method of EEE 91, wherein the decoded waveform data represents continuous measurements by a sensor.

[0386] EEE 93. The method of EEE 91 or 92, wherein the decoded waveform data is biomedical waveform data or waveform data representing mechanical motion.

[0387] EEE 94. The method of EEE 93, wherein the decoded waveform data represents signals by a seismometer or an accelerometer.

[0388] EEE 95. The method of EEE 93, wherein the biomedical waveform data is any one of electrocardiography data, electroencephalography data, electromyography data, electrooculogram data, electroretinogram data, electrogastrogram data or photoplethysmogram data.

[0389] EEE 96. The method of any one of EEEs 91 to 95, wherein each coded packet comprises a label.

[0390] EEE 97. The method of EEE 96, wherein a same label of a first coded packet and a second coded packet indicates that the first coded packet and the second coded packet belong to a same sub-stream of the bitstream.

[0391] EEE 98. The method of EEE 97 or 96, wherein the identifier comprises a label. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0392] EEE 99. The method of EEE 98, wherein the identifier is associated with all coded packets with a same label as the label of the identifier.

[0393] EEE 100. The method of EEE 98, wherein the identifier is associated with all coded packets, if the label of the identifier indicates a universal association.

[0394] EEE 101. The method of any one of EEEs 91 to 100, wherein a format of the identifier comprises a full format, and the full format indicates that the identifier is comprised in a single segment in the bitstream.

[0395] EEE 102. The method of any one of EEEs 91 to 100, wherein the one or more coded packets are a plurality of coded packets and a format of the identifier comprises a partial format, and the partial format indicates that the identifier is comprised in in at least two segments in the bitstream.

[0396] EEE 103. The method of EEE 102, wherein the format of the identifier comprises a segment of the identifier, a segment start indication, a segment end indication, and segment length indication, wherein the segment start indication indicates a first segment of the identifier, the segment end indication indicates a last segment of the identifier and the segment length indication indicates a length of the segment.

[0397] EEE 104. The method of EEE 103, wherein when the identifier indicates the first segment and the last segment, the segment comprises the full identifier.

[0398] EEE 105. The method of any one of EEEs 91 to 104, wherein the one or more coded packets are at least two coded packets; waveform data corresponding to the decoded waveform data has been generated by at least two different sensors or for at least two different users; the identification data comprises first identification data and second identification data for the at least two different sensors or for at least to two different users, respectively; and the identifier comprises a first identifier and a second identifier identifying the at least two different sensors or the at least to two different users, respectively.

[0399] EEE 106. The method of any one of EEEs 91 to 105, wherein the method further comprises providing the decoded waveform data for further processing based on the identification of the decoded waveform data. Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001

[0400] EEE 107. The method of EEE 106, wherein the further processing comprises analyzing the decoded waveform data based on the identification of the decoded waveform data or using the decoded waveform data for training or inference of a neural network based on the identification of the decoded waveform data.

[0401] EEE 108. A method of extracting a subset of data from a bitstream, the method comprising: receiving the bitstream, wherein the bitstream comprises a plurality of coded packets corresponding to waveform data and a timestamp, associated with a subset of the plurality of coded packets; and extracting a subset of the plurality of coded packets based on the associated timestamp.

[0402] EEE 109. The method of EEE 108, wherein the waveform data corresponding to the subset of the plurality of coded packets indicates a medical condition.

[0403] EEE 110. The method of EEE 108 or 109, wherein each coded packet in the plurality of coded packets comprises a label and the timestamp comprises a same label as the subset of the plurality of coded packets.

[0404] EEE 111. The method of EEE 110, wherein extracting the subset of the plurality of coded packets based on the associated timestamp: determining the subset of the plurality of coded packets based on the label of the timestamp; and solely decoding the subset of the plurality of coded packets to obtain decoded waveform data.

[0405] EEE 112. An apparatus, comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is adapted to carry out the method according to any one of EEEs 1 to 111.

[0406] EEE 113. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out the method according to any one of EEEs 1 to 111.

[0407] EEE 114. A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to EEE 113.

Claims

Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001CLAIMS1. A method of inserting a timestamp into a bitstream, the method comprising: obtaining the bitstream comprising one or more coded packets of waveform data; obtaining timing data; and inserting the timestamp into the bitstream to generate a combined bitstream, wherein the timestamp is generated based on the timing data; wherein the timestamp indicates the time of a sample of a first coded packet following the timestamp, and the first coded packet comprises a first label and the timestamp comprises a second label; and the first label is equal to the second label; or the second label indicates that the timestamp applies to the first coded packet irrespective of a relation between the first label and the second label.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the bitstream comprises: receiving the waveform data; and encoding the waveform data to generate the bitstream; and wherein obtaining the timing data comprises: receiving the timing data, wherein the timing data is acquisition timing data that is indicative of a time at which the waveform data has been generated; and / or the timing data is encoding timing data that is generated based on the encoding of the waveform data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the bitstream comprises receiving the bitstream; and wherein obtaining the timing data comprises receiving the timing data; and wherein the timing data is acquisition timing data that is indicative of a time at which the waveform data has been generated, and / or the timing data is encoding timing data that is indicative of a time at which the waveform data has been encoded.64Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W0014. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the acquisition timing data indicates a time at which a sample of the waveform data has been generated.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the sample is a first sample in time of the waveform data, a first sample in time after a discontinuity in the waveform data, or a last sample in time before a discontinuity in the waveform data.

6. The method of any previous claim, wherein a same label of a second coded packet of the plurality of coded packets and a third coded packet of the plurality of coded packets indicates that the second coded packet and the third coded packet belong to a same sub-stream of the bitstream.

7. The method of any previous claim, wherein the sample is a first sample in time of a part of the waveform data encoded in the first coded packet.

8. The method of any previous claim, wherein the timestamp indicates a position of the sample in the first coded packet.

9. The method of any previous claim, wherein when the second label indicates that the timestamp applies to the first coded packet irrespective of the relation between the first label and the second label, the first coded packet comprises a plurality of first coded packets, each with a different label.

10. A method of inserting an identifier into a bitstream, the method comprising: obtaining the bitstream comprising one or more coded packets of waveform data; receiving identification data, wherein the identification data is related to generation of the waveform data; and inserting the identifier into the bitstream to generate a combined bitstream, wherein the identifier is generated based on the identification data;65Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 wherein each coded packet of the one or more coded packets comprises a first label and the identifier comprises a second label; and the identifier is associated with all coded packets with a same label as the second label; or the identifier is associated with all coded packets, if the second label indicates a universal association.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein obtaining the bitstream comprises: receiving the waveform data; and encoding the waveform data to generate the bitstream.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein obtaining the bitstream comprises receiving the bitstream.

13. The method of any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the identification data is indicative of a user for which the waveform data has been generated or indicative of a sensor with which the waveform data has been generated.

14. The method of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the waveform data represents continuous measurements by a sensor.

15. The method of claim 10 or 14, wherein the one or more coded packets are a plurality of coded packets, and wherein a same label of a first coded packet of the plurality of coded packets and a second coded packet of the plurality of coded packets indicates the first coded packet and the second coded packet belong to a same sub-stream of the bitstream.

16. The method of any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein a format of the identifier comprises a full format, and the full format indicates that the identifier is comprised in a single segment in the bitstream.

17. The method of any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the one or more coded packets are a plurality of coded packets, and wherein a format of the identifier comprises a partial format,66Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 and the partial format indicates that the identifier is comprised in at least two segments in the bitstream.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the format of the identifier comprises a segment of the identifier, a segment start indication, a segment end indication, and segment length indication, wherein the segment start indication indicates a first segment of the identifier, the segment end indication indicates a last segment of the identifier and the segment length indication indicates a length of the segment.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein when the identifier indicates the first segment and the last segment, the segment comprises the full identifier.

20. A method of aligning waveform data with a timestamp, the method comprising: receiving a bitstream comprising a plurality of coded packets, wherein a first subset of the plurality of coded packets comprises a first timestamp and a second subset of the plurality of coded packets comprises a second timestamp; and decoding the plurality of coded packets to obtain decoded waveform data; aligning the decoded waveform data based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp; wherein coded packets of the first subset comprise a first label and coded packets of the second subset comprise a second label, and the first timestamp comprises the first label and the second timestamp comprises the second label; and the first timestamp indicates the time of a sample of a first coded packet with the first label following the first timestamp and the second timestamp indicates the time of a sample of a second coded packet with the second label following the second timestamp.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein aligning the decoded waveform data based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp comprises aligning first decoded waveform data corresponding to the first subset and second decoded waveform data corresponding to the second subset by comparing the first timestamp and the second timestamp and shifting the first decoded67Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 waveform data or the second decoded waveform such that the first decoded waveform data and the second decoded waveform data are synchronized in time.

22. The method of any one of claims 20 to 21, wherein aligning the decoded waveform data based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp further comprises using an alignment algorithm to compensate for a trigger drift or / and a clock drift of a device and / or a sensor used for generating waveform data corresponding to the decoded waveform data.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the alignment algorithm comprises resampling and cross-correlation of the decoded waveform data.

24. The method of any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein a same label of a third coded packet of the plurality of coded packets and a fourth coded packet of the plurality of coded packets indicates that the first coded packet and the second coded packet belong to a same substream of the bitstream.

25. The method of any one of claims 20 to 24, wherein the sample is a first sample in time of a part of the waveform data encoded in the first coded packet and the second coded packet, respectively.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first timestamp indicates the position of the sample in the first coded packet and the second timestamp indicates the position of the sample in the second coded packet.

27. The method of any one of claims 20 to 26, wherein coded packets of the first subset and the second subset are interleaved.

28. A method of identifying waveform data, the method comprising: receiving a bitstream comprising one or more coded packets and an identifier; decoding the one or more coded packets to obtain decoded waveform data; and identifying the decoded waveform data based on the identifier;68Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 wherein each coded packet of the one or more coded packets comprises a first label and the identifier comprises a second label; and the identifier is associated with all coded packets with a same label as the second label; or the identifier is associated with all coded packets, if the second label indicates a universal association.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein a same label of a first coded packet and a second coded packet indicates that the first coded packet and the second coded packet belong to a same sub-stream of the bitstream.

30. The method of any one of claims 28 to 29, wherein a format of the identifier comprises a full format, and the full format indicates that the identifier is comprised in a single segment in the bitstream.

31. The method of any one of claims 28 to 29, wherein the one or more coded packets are a plurality of coded packets and a format of the identifier comprises a partial format, and the partial format indicates that the identifier is comprised in in at least two segments in the bitstream.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the format of the identifier comprises a segment of the identifier, a segment start indication, a segment end indication, and segment length indication, wherein the segment start indication indicates a first segment of the identifier, the segment end indication indicates a last segment of the identifier and the segment length indication indicates a length of the segment.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein when the identifier indicates the first segment and the last segment, the segment comprises the full identifier.

34. The method of any one of claims 28 to 33, wherein the one or more coded packets are at least two coded packets; waveform data corresponding to the decoded waveform data has been generated by at least two different sensors or for at least two different users;Dolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 the identification data comprises first identification data and second identification data for the at least two different sensors or for at least to two different users, respectively; and the identifier comprises a first identifier and a second identifier identifying the at least two different sensors or the at least to two different users, respectively.

35. The method of any one of claims 28 to 34, wherein the method further comprises providing the decoded waveform data for further processing based on the identification of the decoded waveform data.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the further processing comprises analyzing the decoded waveform data based on the identification of the decoded waveform data or using the decoded waveform data for training or inference of a neural network based on the identification of the decoded waveform data.

37. A method of extracting a subset of data from a bitstream, the method comprising: receiving the bitstream, wherein the bitstream comprises a plurality of coded packets corresponding to waveform data and a timestamp, associated with a subset of the plurality of coded packets; and extracting a subset of the plurality of coded packets based on the associated timestamp; wherein the timestamp indicates the time of a sample of a first coded packet following the timestamp, wherein the first coded packet belongs to the subset; and wherein each coded packet in the plurality of coded packets comprises a label and the timestamp comprises a same label as the subset of the plurality of coded packets.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the waveform data corresponding to the subset of the plurality of coded packets indicates a medical condition.

39. The method of claim 38 or 39, wherein extracting the subset of the plurality of coded packets based on the associated timestamp: determining the subset of the plurality of coded packets based on the label of the timestamp; andDolby International AB October 28, 2025 D24157W001 solely decoding the subset of the plurality of coded packets to obtain decoded waveform data.

40. An apparatus, comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is adapted to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 39.

41. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 39.

42. A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 41.

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