BaseParse

This base class is for parser elements that process data and splits it into separate audio/video/whatever frames.

It provides for:

  • provides one sink pad and one source pad
  • handles state changes
  • can operate in pull mode or push mode
  • handles seeking in both modes
  • handles events (SEGMENT/EOS/FLUSH)
  • handles queries (POSITION/DURATION/SEEKING/FORMAT/CONVERT)
  • handles flushing

The purpose of this base class is to provide the basic functionality of a parser and share a lot of rather complex code.

Description of the parsing mechanism:

Set-up phase

  • #GstBaseParse calls #GstBaseParseClass::start to inform subclass that data processing is about to start now.
  • #GstBaseParse class calls #GstBaseParseClass::set_sink_caps to inform the subclass about incoming sinkpad caps. Subclass could already set the srcpad caps accordingly, but this might be delayed until calling gstbase.base_parse.BaseParse.finishFrame with a non-queued frame.
  • At least at this point subclass needs to tell the #GstBaseParse class how big data chunks it wants to receive (minimum frame size ). It can do this with gstbase.base_parse.BaseParse.setMinFrameSize.
  • #GstBaseParse class sets up appropriate data passing mode (pull/push) and starts to process the data.

Parsing phase

  • #GstBaseParse gathers at least min_frame_size bytes of data either by pulling it from upstream or collecting buffers in an internal #GstAdapter.
  • A buffer of (at least) min_frame_size bytes is passed to subclass with #GstBaseParseClass::handle_frame. Subclass checks the contents and can optionally return #GST_FLOW_OK along with an amount of data to be skipped to find a valid frame (which will result in a subsequent DISCONT). If, otherwise, the buffer does not hold a complete frame, #GstBaseParseClass::handle_frame can merely return and will be called again when additional data is available. In push mode this amounts to an additional input buffer (thus minimal additional latency), in pull mode this amounts to some arbitrary reasonable buffer size increase.

    Of course, gstbase.base_parse.BaseParse.setMinFrameSize could also be used if a very specific known amount of additional data is required. If, however, the buffer holds a complete valid frame, it can pass the size of this frame to gstbase.base_parse.BaseParse.finishFrame.

    If acting as a converter, it can also merely indicate consumed input data while simultaneously providing custom output data. Note that baseclass performs some processing (such as tracking overall consumed data rate versus duration) for each finished frame, but other state is only updated upon each call to #GstBaseParseClass::handle_frame (such as tracking upstream input timestamp).

    Subclass is also responsible for setting the buffer metadata (e.g. buffer timestamp and duration, or keyframe if applicable). (although the latter can also be done by #GstBaseParse if it is appropriately configured, see below). Frame is provided with timestamp derived from upstream (as much as generally possible), duration obtained from configuration (see below), and offset if meaningful (in pull mode).

    Note that #GstBaseParseClass::handle_frame might receive any small amount of input data when leftover data is being drained (e.g. at EOS).

  • As part of finish frame processing, just prior to actually pushing the buffer in question, it is passed to #GstBaseParseClass::pre_push_frame which gives subclass yet one last chance to examine buffer metadata, or to send some custom (tag) events, or to perform custom (segment) filtering.
  • During the parsing process #GstBaseParseClass will handle both srcpad and sinkpad events. They will be passed to subclass if #GstBaseParseClass::sink_event or #GstBaseParseClass::src_event implementations have been provided.

Shutdown phase

  • #GstBaseParse class calls #GstBaseParseClass::stop to inform the subclass that data parsing will be stopped.

Subclass is responsible for providing pad template caps for source and sink pads. The pads need to be named "sink" and "src". It also needs to set the fixed caps on srcpad, when the format is ensured (e.g. when base class calls subclass' #GstBaseParseClass::set_sink_caps function).

This base class uses gst.types.Format.Default as a meaning of frames. So, subclass conversion routine needs to know that conversion from gst.types.Format.Time to gst.types.Format.Default must return the frame number that can be found from the given byte position.

#GstBaseParse uses subclasses conversion methods also for seeking (or otherwise uses its own default one, see also below).

Subclass @start and @stop functions will be called to inform the beginning and end of data processing.

Things that subclass need to take care of:

Members

Functions

addIndexEntry
bool addIndexEntry(ulong offset, gst.types.ClockTime ts, bool key, bool force)

Adds an entry to the index associating offset to ts. It is recommended to only add keyframe entries. force allows to bypass checks, such as whether the stream is (upstream) seekable, another entry is already "close" to the new entry, etc.

convertDefault
bool convertDefault(gst.types.Format srcFormat, long srcValue, gst.types.Format destFormat, long destValue)

Default implementation of #GstBaseParseClass::convert.

drain
void drain()

Drains the adapter until it is empty. It decreases the min_frame_size to match the current adapter size and calls chain method until the adapter is emptied or chain returns with error.

finishFrame
gst.types.FlowReturn finishFrame(gstbase.base_parse_frame.BaseParseFrame frame, int size)

Collects parsed data and pushes it downstream. Source pad caps must be set when this is called.

mergeTags
void mergeTags(gst.tag_list.TagList tags, gst.types.TagMergeMode mode)

Sets the parser subclass's tags and how they should be merged with any upstream stream tags. This will override any tags previously-set with gstbase.base_parse.BaseParse.mergeTags.

pushFrame
gst.types.FlowReturn pushFrame(gstbase.base_parse_frame.BaseParseFrame frame)

Pushes the frame's buffer downstream, sends any pending events and does some timestamp and segment handling. Takes ownership of frame's buffer, though caller retains ownership of frame.

setAverageBitrate
void setAverageBitrate(uint bitrate)

Optionally sets the average bitrate detected in media (if non-zero), e.g. based on metadata, as it will be posted to the application.

setDuration
void setDuration(gst.types.Format fmt, long duration, int interval)

Sets the duration of the currently playing media. Subclass can use this when it is able to determine duration and/or notices a change in the media duration. Alternatively, if interval is non-zero (default), then stream duration is determined based on estimated bitrate, and updated every interval frames.

setFrameRate
void setFrameRate(uint fpsNum, uint fpsDen, uint leadIn, uint leadOut)

If frames per second is configured, parser can take care of buffer duration and timestamping. When performing segment clipping, or seeking to a specific location, a corresponding decoder might need an initial lead_in and a following lead_out number of frames to ensure the desired segment is entirely filled upon decoding.

setHasTimingInfo
void setHasTimingInfo(bool hasTiming)

Set if frames carry timing information which the subclass can (generally) parse and provide. In particular, intrinsic (rather than estimated) time can be obtained following a seek.

setInferTs
void setInferTs(bool inferTs)

By default, the base class might try to infer PTS from DTS and vice versa. While this is generally correct for audio data, it may not be otherwise. Sub-classes implementing such formats should disable timestamp inferring.

setLatency
void setLatency(gst.types.ClockTime minLatency, gst.types.ClockTime maxLatency)

Sets the minimum and maximum (which may likely be equal) latency introduced by the parsing process. If there is such a latency, which depends on the particular parsing of the format, it typically corresponds to 1 frame duration.

setMinFrameSize
void setMinFrameSize(uint minSize)

Subclass can use this function to tell the base class that it needs to be given buffers of at least min_size bytes.

setPassthrough
void setPassthrough(bool passthrough)

Set if the nature of the format or configuration does not allow (much) parsing, and the parser should operate in passthrough mode (which only applies when operating in push mode). That is, incoming buffers are pushed through unmodified, i.e. no #GstBaseParseClass::handle_frame will be invoked, but #GstBaseParseClass::pre_push_frame will still be invoked, so subclass can perform as much or as little is appropriate for passthrough semantics in #GstBaseParseClass::pre_push_frame.

setPtsInterpolation
void setPtsInterpolation(bool ptsInterpolate)

By default, the base class will guess PTS timestamps using a simple interpolation (previous timestamp + duration), which is incorrect for data streams with reordering, where PTS can go backward. Sub-classes implementing such formats should disable PTS interpolation.

setSyncable
void setSyncable(bool syncable)

Set if frame starts can be identified. This is set by default and determines whether seeking based on bitrate averages is possible for a format/stream.

setTsAtOffset
void setTsAtOffset(size_t offset)

This function should only be called from a handle_frame implementation.

Inherited Members

From Element

makeFromUri
gst.element.Element makeFromUri(gst.types.URIType type, string uri, string elementname)

Creates an element for handling the given URI.

register
bool register(gst.plugin.Plugin plugin, string name, uint rank, gobject.types.GType type)

Create a new elementfactory capable of instantiating objects of the type and add the factory to plugin.

stateChangeReturnGetName
string stateChangeReturnGetName(gst.types.StateChangeReturn stateRet)

Gets a string representing the given state change result.

stateGetName
string stateGetName(gst.types.State state)

Gets a string representing the given state.

typeSetSkipDocumentation
void typeSetSkipDocumentation(gobject.types.GType type)

Marks type as "documentation should be skipped". Can be useful for dynamically registered element to be excluded from plugin documentation system.

abortState
void abortState()

Abort the state change of the element. This function is used by elements that do asynchronous state changes and find out something is wrong.

addPad
bool addPad(gst.pad.Pad pad)

Adds a pad (link point) to element. pad's parent will be set to element; see gst.object.ObjectGst.setParent for refcounting information.

addPropertyDeepNotifyWatch
gulong addPropertyDeepNotifyWatch(string propertyName, bool includeValue)
addPropertyNotifyWatch
gulong addPropertyNotifyWatch(string propertyName, bool includeValue)
callAsync
void callAsync(gst.types.ElementCallAsyncFunc func)

Calls func from another thread and passes user_data to it. This is to be used for cases when a state change has to be performed from a streaming thread, directly via gst.element.Element.setState or indirectly e.g. via SEEK events.

changeState
gst.types.StateChangeReturn changeState(gst.types.StateChange transition)

Perform transition on element.

continueState
gst.types.StateChangeReturn continueState(gst.types.StateChangeReturn ret)

Commit the state change of the element and proceed to the next pending state if any. This function is used by elements that do asynchronous state changes. The core will normally call this method automatically when an element returned gst.types.StateChangeReturn.Success from the state change function.

createAllPads
void createAllPads()

Creates a pad for each pad template that is always available. This function is only useful during object initialization of subclasses of #GstElement.

decorateStreamId
string decorateStreamId(string streamId)

Creates a stream-id for element by combining the upstream information with the stream_id.

foreachPad
bool foreachPad(gst.types.ElementForeachPadFunc func)

Call func with user_data for each of element's pads. func will be called exactly once for each pad that exists at the time of this call, unless one of the calls to func returns false in which case we will stop iterating pads and return early. If new pads are added or pads are removed while pads are being iterated, this will not be taken into account until next time this function is used.

foreachSinkPad
bool foreachSinkPad(gst.types.ElementForeachPadFunc func)

Call func with user_data for each of element's sink pads. func will be called exactly once for each sink pad that exists at the time of this call, unless one of the calls to func returns false in which case we will stop iterating pads and return early. If new sink pads are added or sink pads are removed while the sink pads are being iterated, this will not be taken into account until next time this function is used.

foreachSrcPad
bool foreachSrcPad(gst.types.ElementForeachPadFunc func)

Call func with user_data for each of element's source pads. func will be called exactly once for each source pad that exists at the time of this call, unless one of the calls to func returns false in which case we will stop iterating pads and return early. If new source pads are added or source pads are removed while the source pads are being iterated, this will not be taken into account until next time this function is used.

getBaseTime
gst.types.ClockTime getBaseTime()

Returns the base time of the element. The base time is the absolute time of the clock when this element was last put to PLAYING. Subtracting the base time from the clock time gives the running time of the element.

getBus
gst.bus.Bus getBus()

Returns the bus of the element. Note that only a #GstPipeline will provide a bus for the application.

getClock
gst.clock.Clock getClock()

Gets the currently configured clock of the element. This is the clock as was last set with gst.element.Element.setClock.

getCompatiblePad
gst.pad.Pad getCompatiblePad(gst.pad.Pad pad, gst.caps.Caps caps)

Looks for an unlinked pad to which the given pad can link. It is not guaranteed that linking the pads will work, though it should work in most cases.

getCompatiblePadTemplate
gst.pad_template.PadTemplate getCompatiblePadTemplate(gst.pad_template.PadTemplate compattempl)

Retrieves a pad template from element that is compatible with compattempl. Pads from compatible templates can be linked together.

getContext
gst.context.Context getContext(string contextType)

Gets the context with context_type set on the element or NULL.

getContextUnlocked
gst.context.Context getContextUnlocked(string contextType)

Gets the context with context_type set on the element or NULL.

getContexts
gst.context.Context[] getContexts()

Gets the contexts set on the element.

getCurrentClockTime
gst.types.ClockTime getCurrentClockTime()

Returns the current clock time of the element, as in, the time of the element's clock, or GST_CLOCK_TIME_NONE if there is no clock.

getCurrentRunningTime
gst.types.ClockTime getCurrentRunningTime()

Returns the running time of the element. The running time is the element's clock time minus its base time. Will return GST_CLOCK_TIME_NONE if the element has no clock, or if its base time has not been set.

getFactory
gst.element_factory.ElementFactory getFactory()

Retrieves the factory that was used to create this element.

getMetadata
string getMetadata(string key)

Get metadata with key in klass.

getPadTemplate
gst.pad_template.PadTemplate getPadTemplate(string name)

Retrieves a padtemplate from element with the given name.

getPadTemplateList
gst.pad_template.PadTemplate[] getPadTemplateList()

Retrieves a list of the pad templates associated with element. The list must not be modified by the calling code.

getRequestPad
gst.pad.Pad getRequestPad(string name)

The name of this function is confusing to people learning GStreamer. gst.element.Element.requestPadSimple aims at making it more explicit it is a simplified gst.element.Element.requestPad.

getStartTime
gst.types.ClockTime getStartTime()

Returns the start time of the element. The start time is the running time of the clock when this element was last put to PAUSED.

getState
gst.types.StateChangeReturn getState(gst.types.State state, gst.types.State pending, gst.types.ClockTime timeout)

Gets the state of the element.

getStaticPad
gst.pad.Pad getStaticPad(string name)

Retrieves a pad from element by name. This version only retrieves already-existing (i.e. 'static') pads.

isLockedState
bool isLockedState()

Checks if the state of an element is locked. If the state of an element is locked, state changes of the parent don't affect the element. This way you can leave currently unused elements inside bins. Just lock their state before changing the state from #GST_STATE_NULL.

iteratePads
gst.iterator.Iterator iteratePads()

Retrieves an iterator of element's pads. The iterator should be freed after usage. Also more specialized iterators exists such as gst.element.Element.iterateSrcPads or gst.element.Element.iterateSinkPads.

iterateSinkPads
gst.iterator.Iterator iterateSinkPads()

Retrieves an iterator of element's sink pads.

iterateSrcPads
gst.iterator.Iterator iterateSrcPads()

Retrieves an iterator of element's source pads.

link
bool link(gst.element.Element dest)

Links src to dest. The link must be from source to destination; the other direction will not be tried. The function looks for existing pads that aren't linked yet. It will request new pads if necessary. Such pads need to be released manually when unlinking. If multiple links are possible, only one is established.

linkFiltered
bool linkFiltered(gst.element.Element dest, gst.caps.Caps filter)

Links src to dest using the given caps as filtercaps. The link must be from source to destination; the other direction will not be tried. The function looks for existing pads that aren't linked yet. It will request new pads if necessary. If multiple links are possible, only one is established.

linkPads
bool linkPads(string srcpadname, gst.element.Element dest, string destpadname)

Links the two named pads of the source and destination elements. Side effect is that if one of the pads has no parent, it becomes a child of the parent of the other element. If they have different parents, the link fails.

linkPadsFiltered
bool linkPadsFiltered(string srcpadname, gst.element.Element dest, string destpadname, gst.caps.Caps filter)

Links the two named pads of the source and destination elements. Side effect is that if one of the pads has no parent, it becomes a child of the parent of the other element. If they have different parents, the link fails. If caps is not null, makes sure that the caps of the link is a subset of caps.

linkPadsFull
bool linkPadsFull(string srcpadname, gst.element.Element dest, string destpadname, gst.types.PadLinkCheck flags)

Links the two named pads of the source and destination elements. Side effect is that if one of the pads has no parent, it becomes a child of the parent of the other element. If they have different parents, the link fails.

lostState
void lostState()

Brings the element to the lost state. The current state of the element is copied to the pending state so that any call to gst.element.Element.getState will return gst.types.StateChangeReturn.Async.

messageFull
void messageFull(gst.types.MessageType type, glib.types.Quark domain, int code, string text, string debug_, string file, string function_, int line)

Post an error, warning or info message on the bus from inside an element.

messageFullWithDetails
void messageFullWithDetails(gst.types.MessageType type, glib.types.Quark domain, int code, string text, string debug_, string file, string function_, int line, gst.structure.Structure structure)

Post an error, warning or info message on the bus from inside an element.

noMorePads
void noMorePads()

Use this function to signal that the element does not expect any more pads to show up in the current pipeline. This function should be called whenever pads have been added by the element itself. Elements with #GST_PAD_SOMETIMES pad templates use this in combination with autopluggers to figure out that the element is done initializing its pads.

postMessage
bool postMessage(gst.message.Message message)

Post a message on the element's #GstBus. This function takes ownership of the message; if you want to access the message after this call, you should add an additional reference before calling.

provideClock
gst.clock.Clock provideClock()

Get the clock provided by the given element. > An element is only required to provide a clock in the PAUSED > state. Some elements can provide a clock in other states.

query
bool query(gst.query.Query query)

Performs a query on the given element.

queryConvert
bool queryConvert(gst.types.Format srcFormat, long srcVal, gst.types.Format destFormat, long destVal)

Queries an element to convert src_val in src_format to dest_format.

queryDuration
bool queryDuration(gst.types.Format format, long duration)

Queries an element (usually top-level pipeline or playbin element) for the total stream duration in nanoseconds. This query will only work once the pipeline is prerolled (i.e. reached PAUSED or PLAYING state). The application will receive an ASYNC_DONE message on the pipeline bus when that is the case.

queryPosition
bool queryPosition(gst.types.Format format, long cur)

Queries an element (usually top-level pipeline or playbin element) for the stream position in nanoseconds. This will be a value between 0 and the stream duration (if the stream duration is known). This query will usually only work once the pipeline is prerolled (i.e. reached PAUSED or PLAYING state). The application will receive an ASYNC_DONE message on the pipeline bus when that is the case.

releaseRequestPad
void releaseRequestPad(gst.pad.Pad pad)

Makes the element free the previously requested pad as obtained with gst.element.Element.requestPad.

removePad
bool removePad(gst.pad.Pad pad)

Removes pad from element. pad will be destroyed if it has not been referenced elsewhere using gst.object.ObjectGst.unparent.

removePropertyNotifyWatch
void removePropertyNotifyWatch(gulong watchId)
requestPad
gst.pad.Pad requestPad(gst.pad_template.PadTemplate templ, string name, gst.caps.Caps caps)

Retrieves a request pad from the element according to the provided template. Pad templates can be looked up using gst.element_factory.ElementFactory.getStaticPadTemplates.

requestPadSimple
gst.pad.Pad requestPadSimple(string name)

Retrieves a pad from the element by name (e.g. "src_\d"). This version only retrieves request pads. The pad should be released with gst.element.Element.releaseRequestPad.

seek
bool seek(double rate, gst.types.Format format, gst.types.SeekFlags flags, gst.types.SeekType startType, long start, gst.types.SeekType stopType, long stop)

Sends a seek event to an element. See gst.event.Event.newSeek for the details of the parameters. The seek event is sent to the element using gst.element.Element.sendEvent.

seekSimple
bool seekSimple(gst.types.Format format, gst.types.SeekFlags seekFlags, long seekPos)

Simple API to perform a seek on the given element, meaning it just seeks to the given position relative to the start of the stream. For more complex operations like segment seeks (e.g. for looping) or changing the playback rate or seeking relative to the last configured playback segment you should use gst.element.Element.seek.

sendEvent
bool sendEvent(gst.event.Event event)

Sends an event to an element. If the element doesn't implement an event handler, the event will be pushed on a random linked sink pad for downstream events or a random linked source pad for upstream events.

setBaseTime
void setBaseTime(gst.types.ClockTime time)

Set the base time of an element. See gst.element.Element.getBaseTime.

setBus
void setBus(gst.bus.Bus bus)

Sets the bus of the element. Increases the refcount on the bus. For internal use only, unless you're testing elements.

setClock
bool setClock(gst.clock.Clock clock)

Sets the clock for the element. This function increases the refcount on the clock. Any previously set clock on the object is unreffed.

setContext
void setContext(gst.context.Context context)

Sets the context of the element. Increases the refcount of the context.

setLockedState
bool setLockedState(bool lockedState)

Locks the state of an element, so state changes of the parent don't affect this element anymore.

setStartTime
void setStartTime(gst.types.ClockTime time)

Set the start time of an element. The start time of the element is the running time of the element when it last went to the PAUSED state. In READY or after a flushing seek, it is set to 0.

setState
gst.types.StateChangeReturn setState(gst.types.State state)

Sets the state of the element. This function will try to set the requested state by going through all the intermediary states and calling the class's state change function for each.

syncStateWithParent
bool syncStateWithParent()

Tries to change the state of the element to the same as its parent. If this function returns false, the state of element is undefined.

unlink
void unlink(gst.element.Element dest)

Unlinks all source pads of the source element with all sink pads of the sink element to which they are linked.

unlinkPads
void unlinkPads(string srcpadname, gst.element.Element dest, string destpadname)

Unlinks the two named pads of the source and destination elements.

connectNoMorePads
ulong connectNoMorePads(T callback, Flag!"After" after)

Connect to NoMorePads signal.

connectPadAdded
ulong connectPadAdded(T callback, Flag!"After" after)

Connect to PadAdded signal.

connectPadRemoved
ulong connectPadRemoved(T callback, Flag!"After" after)

Connect to PadRemoved signal.