Audio-video data switching and viewing system

• US 10,305,948 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Antonio Rossi, Flippo Costanzo, Saverio Roncolini
• Original Assignee: Antonio Rossi, Flippo Costanzo, Saverio Roncolini
• Inventors: Costanzo, Flippo, Roncolini, Saverio, Rossi, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Blair, Douglas B
• Application Number:
  US14/993,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20160241616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5681 Pre-fetching or pre-delivering data based on network characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A computer system and method providing for viewing and switching of audio-video data. The system comprises: a plurality of audio/video sources containing information referring to an event; a streaming server, streaming the contents of a first audio signal and a first video signal from the audio and video sources to a user; a feed distributor controllably feeding the first audio signal and first video signal to the streaming server; and a user-operated control unit communicating with the feed distributor and controlling operation of the feed distributor, so as to instruct the feed distributor to switch between audio or video. Switching between audio signals occurs without altering the video signals and switching between video signals occurs without altering the audio signals.

Claims

1. A method for switching between audio-video streams transmitted to a plurality of users over the internet, comprising:

establishing at least one separate connection with each of said plurality of users over the internet;

streaming a first audio-video stream relating to a first point of view of an event to at least one of said plurality of users via at least one of said connections; and

,

for at least one of said plurality of users, switching the video in from said first stream to a video in a second audio-video stream relating to a second point of view of said event, wherein;

(a) only one of said first and second streams is streamed to a user at a time;

(b) the first and second streams comprise differentially compressed data; and

,

(c) the video in the first stream switches to the video in the second stream at a key frame in the video of the second stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch does not cause any interruptions to the audio or video.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said switch occurs in a pre-programmed way.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said switch occurs upon a command.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said command is from a user.