US 10,951,924 B2Granted

Video encoder

AssigneeDigital Barriers Services Ltd.

InventorsRobert Lambert, Gordon Innes, Andrew Didsbury

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A video encoder (2) is disclosed for sending video data to a server (4) over a channel. A video compressor (16) can compress video data using an adjustable compression factor. A multiplexer/pack constructor (18) can receive compressed video from the compressor, together with non-video data, and can queue data for transmission. A bandwidth monitor (20) is provided for monitoring the performance of the channel based on the behaviour of transmitted data packets, including their round-trip travel time to and from the server (4). The compressor (16) can modify the adjustable compression factor based on the performance of the channel, as determined by the bandwidth monitor, and the amount of non-video data received by the packet constructor. This can permit transmission of non-video data without disrupting the live video feed or introducing any delay.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A video encoder configured to send video data over a single channel between a single port at the encoder and a single port at a server, the encoder comprising a hardware processor configured to execute instructions corresponding to a video compressor, a packet constructor and a bandwidth monitor, wherein:

the video compressor is configured to compress video data using an adjustable compression factor;
the packet constructor is configured to receive compressed video from the video compressor, to queue data for transmission, to construct data packets from the queued data, and to transmit the constructed data packets over the single channel;
wherein the packet constructor is configured to receive non-video data for transmission in the single channel and configured to multiplex received unrelated non-video data with received compressed video data,
and
the bandwidth monitor is configured to monitor performance of the single channel based on a time required to transmit data packets over the single channel,
wherein the video compressor is configured to modify the adjustable compression factor for video data based on an amount of unrelated non-video data received by the packet constructor that is queued but has not yet been transmitted, and in response to the performance of the single channel, as determined by the bandwidth monitor, and
wherein the bandwidth monitor is configured to instruct the video compressor to modify the adjustable compression factor for video data so as to minimize video latency and in response to the performance of the single channel and the amount of unrelated non-video data received by the packet constructor.

4 more elements

A method of sending video data over a single channel between a single port at an encoder and a single port at a server, the method comprising:

(a) receiving and compressing video data using an adjustable compression factor based on a quantity and a type of data that is queued but has not yet been transmitted;
(b) queuing the compressed video data for transmission over the single channel;
(c) receiving and queuing non-video data for transmission over the single channel, and multiplexing received non-video data with received compressed video data;
(d) constructing data packets including the compressed video and the non-video data, wherein the received non-video data and the received compressed video data are unrelated to one another;
(e) transmitting the constructed data packets over the single channel;
and
(f) monitoring performance of the single channel based on a time required to transmit data packets over the single channel;
the method further comprising repeating (a)-(f) for subsequent video and non-video data and
(g) modifying the adjustable compression factor for video data based on an amount of unrelated non-video data received for construction in (d) that is queued but has not yet been transmitted, and in response to the performance of the single channel as determined in (f), the modification of the adjustable compression factor for video data being performed to minimize video latency.

6 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program comprising processor readable instructions that, when executed, direct a device for sending data over a single channel between a single port at an encoder and a single port at a server to perform actions comprising:

(a) receiving and compressing video data using an adjustable compression factor based on a quantity and a type of data that is queued but has not yet been transmitted;
(b) queuing the compressed video data for transmission over the single channel;
(c) receiving and queuing non-video data for transmission over the single channel, and multiplexing received non-video data with received compressed video data;
(d) constructing data packets including the compressed video and the non-video data wherein the received non-video data and the received compressed video data are unrelated to one another;
(e) transmitting the constructed data packets over the single channel;
(f) monitoring performance of the single channel based on a time required to transmit data packets over the single channel;
repeating (a) to (f) for subsequent video data and non-video data;
and
modifying the adjustable compression factor for video data based on an amount of unrelated non-video data received for construction in (d) that is queued but has not yet been transmitted, and in response to the performance of the single channel as determined in (f), the modification of the adjustable compression factor for video data being performed to minimize video latency.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/550,753Filed 21 Oct 2015
Priority: GB 150243413 Feb 2015
Published: US 2018/0035135 A11 Feb 2018
Granted: 16 Mar 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H04N 21/2187
Source of audio or video content , e.g. local disk arrays: live feed
H04N 7/183
Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast: for receiving images from a single remote source
H04N 7/185
For receiving images from a single remote source: from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
H04N 21/23406
Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs: involving management of…