Remote fast forward and rewind functionality for client devices
AssigneeMobiTV, Inc.
InventorsKent Karlsson, Anders Odlund, Todd Stiers, Cedric Fernandes, Kay Johansson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A client device receiving a media stream from a remote content server can fast forward and rewind the media stream without storing the media stream on the client device. In some examples, the client sends index, direction, and speed information to the content server based on desired fast forward and rewind operation. The content server transmits selected sets of frames to the client devices based on the index, direction, and speed information to allow a client to play a fast forward or rewind media stream that provides a user with discernible portions of content.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- receiving a rewind request from a client device at a content server, the rewind request associated with media data transmitted from the content server to the client device, the media data including a first group of pictures (GOP) comprising a first key frame and a first plurality of predicted frames, the media data further including a second group of pictures (GOP) comprising a second key frame and a second plurality of predicted frames, the second group of pictures sequenced for transmission after the first group of pictures during playback of the media data;
- selecting the second key frame and a subset of the second plurality of predicted frames;
- selecting the first key frame and a subset of the first plurality of predicted frames;
- transmitting the second key frame and the subset of the second plurality of predicted frames before the first key frame and the subset of the first plurality of predicted frames to respond to the rewind request.
A content server, comprising:
- an interface operable to receive a rewind request from a client device at the content server, the rewind request associated with media data transmitted from the content server to the client device, the media data including a first group of pictures (GOP) comprising a first key frame and a first plurality of predicted frames, the media data further including a second group of pictures (GOP) comprising a second key frame and a second plurality of predicted frames, the second group of pictures sequenced for transmission after the first group of pictures during playback of the media data;
- a processor operable to select the second key frame and a subset of the second plurality of predicted frames and select the first key frame and a subset of the first plurality of predicted frames;
- wherein the interface is further operable to transmit the second key frame and the subset of the second plurality of predicted frames before the first key frame and the subset of the first plurality of predicted frames to respond to the rewind request.
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for receiving a rewind request from a client device at a content server, the rewind request associated with media data transmitted from the content server to the client device, the media data including a first group of pictures (GOP) comprising a first key frame and a first plurality of predicted frames, the media data further including a second group of pictures (GOP) comprising a second key frame and a second plurality of predicted frames, the second group of pictures sequenced for transmission after the first group of pictures during playback of the media data;
- means for selecting the second key frame and a subset of the second plurality of predicted frames;
- means for selecting the first key frame and a subset of the first plurality of predicted frames;
- means for transmitting the second key frame and the subset of the second plurality of predicted frames before the first key frame and the subset of the first plurality of predicted frames to respond to the rewind request.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.