US 2006/0150224 A1 · Video streaming

Abstract

A file server (1) in communication with a remote client (e.g. PPC 7, Mobile phone client 5) receives images from a camera (2) or video store (4) as full frame images. A selection and compression programme enable the transmission of bit streams defining a compressed video image for display on the comparatively small screen of the mobile client and permits simple virtual zoom and frame area selection to be viewed by the user. Compression and selection algorithms enable the user to select an angle view having a corresponding number of pixels to the local screen but derived from the whole of the original frame and fully compressed and with varying selections of compression between down to selection by the file server (1) of a portion of the original frame having the same number of pixels. The system may find use particularly where bandwidth between the client and the file server is limited so that it is unnecessary for the whole of the video frame to be transmitted to the client and only limited return signalling from the client to the server is required.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method of streaming video signals comprising the steps of capturing and/or storing a video frame or a series of video frames each frame comprising a matrix of “m” pixels by “n” pixels, compressing the or each said m by n frame to a respective derived frame of “p” pixels by “q” pixels, where p and q are respectively substantially less than m and n, for display on a screen capable of displaying a frame of at least p pixels by q pixels, transmitting the at least one derived frame and receiving signals defining a preferred selected viewing area of less than m by n pixels, compressing the selected viewing area to a further derived frame or series of further derived frames of p pixels by q pixels and transmitting the further derived frames for display characterised in that the received signals include data defining a preferred location within the transmitted further derived frame which determines the location within the m pixel by n pixel frame from which the next further derived frame is selected.

A server comprising a computer or file server (1) having access to a plurality of video stores (4) each of which stores video frames each of which comprises a matrix of “pixels by “n” pixels;

and/or connection to a camera (2) for capturing images to be transmitted and a digital image store (3) in which such images are held as a series of video frames each frame comprising a matrix of “m” pixels by “n” pixels;
the computer (1) including means (9) to compress each said m by n frame to a derived frame of “p” pixels by “q” pixels, where p and q are respectively substantially less than m and n, for display on a screen (6) capable of displaying a frame of at least p pixels by q pixels, and causing the or each frame to be transmitted, the server (1) being responsive to received signals defining a preferred selection of viewing area of less than m by n pixels, to cause compression of the selected viewing area to a derived frame or series of further derived frames of p pixels by q pixels and causing the transmission of the further derived frames for display characterised in that the server (1) is responsive to data signals defining a preferred location within an earlier transmitted frame to select the location within the m by n major frame from which the next p by q derived frame is transmitted.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Video streaming

Life of this patent

Video streaming

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21