US 2020/0206609 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPRESSING VIDEO FOR STREAMING VIDEO GAME CONTENT TO REMOTE CLIENTS

Abstract

Computer-implemented methods for hosting online video games are provided. One method includes generating a plurality of video frames. The method includes initiating a sending of each one of the plurality of video frames to a client. Each of the video frames that is sent is compressed. The method includes stopping the compression and sending of video frames when one of the plurality of video frames is taking longer than a frame time to compress and send. A frame time is defined as one over a frame rate, and wherein stopping the compression of video frames includes ignoring said video frames by an encoder. The method includes continuing to compress and send audio data to the client when one or more of said plurality of video frames are not sent to the client. The client is configured to display a received video frame for more than one frame time when a video frame is not received due to the stopping of the compression and the sending, and the client will have a reduced frame rate for display of said plurality of video frames during said stopping of the compression and the sending.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, from an interface provided by a server, a request from a client of a user for playing a video game;
determining, periodically by the server, a data rate for a channel for communicating with the client, the data rate for the channel varies over time;
identifying, by the server, a target data rate for transmitting video frames for display on the client;
executing, at the server, the video game responsive to control inputs received from the client to generate a sequence of video frames for a video output of the video game;
and
sending a first video frame and a second video frame that immediately follows the first video frame within the sequence of video frames to the client if the data rate is determined to be at or above the target data rate;
wherein the second video frame is ignored by an encoder associated with the server and not sent to the client if the data rate is determined to be below the target data rate after sending the first video frame;
wherein audio data associated with the second video frame continues to be sent even when the second video frame is not sent.

5 more elements

Computer readable media having program instructions for processing a method, comprising:

program instructions for receiving, from an interface provided by a server, a request from a client of a user for playing a video game;
program instructions for determining, periodically by the server, a data rate for a channel for communicating with the client, the data rate for the channel varies over time;
program instructions for identifying, by the server, a target data rate for transmitting video frames for display on the client;
program instructions for executing, at the server, the video game responsive to control inputs received from the client to generate a sequence of video frames for a video output of the video game;
and
program instructions for sending a first video frame and a second video frame that immediately follows the first video frame within the sequence of video frames to the client if the data rate is determined to be at or above the target data rate;
wherein the second video frame is ignored by an encoder associated with the server and not sent to the client if the data rate is determined to be below the target data rate after sending the first video frame;
wherein audio data associated with the second video frame continues to be sent even when the second video frame is not sent.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for compressing video for streaming video game content to remote clients

Life of this patent

System and method for compressing video for streaming video game content to remote clients

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18