Interactive video distribution systems – Operator interface – To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-01
2001-06-05
Faile, Andrew (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Operator interface
To facilitate tuning or selection of video signal
C725S112000, C725S118000, C348S416100, C348S699000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243865
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of relaying digital video and audio data over a communications medium and relates particularly but not exclusively to such in an Internet environment.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Hitherto, when digital motion video data has been relayed on a communication medium such as the Internet, it has been usual for the duration of the motion video to be kept to a minimum because of the slow speed of the Internet transmission process and the very large size of the files necessary to transmit the video content. Because of the slow speed of the Internet, such as 28.8 k or 56 k, and the large file size, it has meant that a motion video image of image size of say 60×60 pixels, and 15 seconds duration can take up to 10 minutes or more to be downloaded. This is generally considered unacceptable. The resultant image quality is also generally considered unacceptable. Moreover, the width and height size is kept as small as possible to reduce the file size. Further, the frame rate is sometimes reduced from NTSC 30 frames per second or PAL 25 frames per second, to around 15 frames per second to again reduce the file size. In some instances, the picture detail of the video image is traded off by having low resolution images and consequential relatively smaller file sizes. Generally, transmission of motion video via the Internet has not been entirely satisfactory owing to the large transmission times needed to transmit the entire video content. The problem is further exacerbated if audio is to accompany the motion video transmission as the audio files are in general “wave” files and digital files in this format also have a very large file size.
It is generally acknowledged that the large file size of a video file can be reduced by a suitable compression codec such as an MPEG (Motion Picture Expert Group) codec or other codecs. The “wave” files can be similarly suitably compressed. In some motion video applications, video data and audio file data are interleaved, such as in the. AVI Video for Windows file format. In general, these techniques have not elevated video transmission over the Internet to a position where it can be considered as an efficient commercial option.
Several attempts have been made to provide enhanced video transmission over the Internet. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,792 describes a system that uses a frame dropping processes to remove predetermined frames from a transmission. In general, the more frames that are dropped, the more efficiently the video signals are transmitted however, this tends to deteriorate video quality by providing jerky video movement. Accordingly, this solution has limited application.
OBJECT AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention attempts to overcome one or more of the aforementioned problems by a completely different technique. In this technique one or more frames are relayed together with data of filters and parameters therefor to be applied to the one or more frames. When received, the data of one or more frames is then self generating over many frames with filters such as ZOOM, PAN, FADE etc., applied over those frames and this results in an apparent motion video image in the final video. As a consequence of the relayed data, the resultant motion video is generated at receivers personal computers. This substantially shortens the transmission time. An example of the invention has particular application in relaying motion video and audio data via the Internet. The video and audio content is particularly suited for providing motion video information in relation real estate where motion video of buildings/apartments can be received by intending purchasers to obtain a first hand viewing before making a physical site inspection or a purchase. In the case of use in a real estate environment, the system also enables a 2-D floor plan of the real estate to be provided and a walk through path provided on the 2-D floor plan indicating the path taken of a person walking through the real estate as the video plays. This, in turn, gives an apparent indication of the position in the real estate at any given instant of the viewed video. Whilst the invention has particular application in conveying video information concerning real estate the invention should not be considered limited thereto as it has application in many other fields.
Accordingly to a first broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of relaying digital video data,
said method involving providing a set of digital data of one frame representing a scene of a video image, assembling data of one or more filters and parameters therefor to be applied to the digital data over a plurality of repeated frames of that scene,
relaying the digital data and the data of the filters and parameters therefor from one location to another location over a communications medium,
and at said another location receiving and reproducing the digital data over the plurality of repeated frames with the one or more video filters and parameters therefor applied whereby to generate at the another location an apparent video movie over those reproduced video frames and whereby the transmission time over the transmission medium is less than that required to transmit digital data of a video movie of the same content if digital data of all of those reproduced video frames were transmitted.
Preferably, the communication medium is the Internet.
Preferably, the filters include one or more of ZOOM, PAN, TILT, DISTORT, MORPH, FADE and other effect filters.
Preferably, the video content is of a two dimensional area and a floor plan of that area is simultaneously displayed at said another location together with a route-of-path over the 2-D area, and a marker indicator is provided which progresses along the route-of-path in accordance with the particular image being viewed in the video whereby to provide an apparent location of where the image is being viewed at any given time.
Preferably, audio data is also transmitted from the one location to said another location so that when the video is generated at said another location, the audio component can be reproduced with the video component.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5191410 (1993-03-01), McCalley et al.
patent: 5736977 (1998-04-01), Hughes
patent: 5764276 (1998-06-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5926208 (1999-06-01), Noonen et al.
patent: 5958012 (1999-09-01), Battat et al.
patent: 6111605 (2000-08-01), Suzuki
Ser Tuen Wei Winston
Xu Zhong Hua
Bui Keiu-Oanh
Faile Andrew
Multiscience System PTL Ltd.
Sun Raymond
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