Selective communication of a vector graphics format version of a video content item

• US 10,313,765 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaw, Venson, He, Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Somera, Caroline
• Application Number:
  US14/845,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20170070792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 725 62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23805 Controlling the feeding rate to the network, e.g. by controlling the video pump
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 for processing graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85406 involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format

Abstract

A method includes receiving a first request for a video content item. The first request is received at a media server from a first electronic device. The method includes selectively communicating a vector graphics format version of the video content item or a bitmap graphics format version of the video content item to the first electronic device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a media server from a first electronic device, a first request for a video content item;

based on the first request, determining a particular geographic location of the first electronic device;

selecting a vector graphics format version of the video content item as a selected version to communicate to the first electronic device based on the particular geographic location corresponding to a first coverage area;

selecting a bitmap graphics format version of the video content item as the selected version to communicate to the first electronic device based on a movement of the first electronic device to a second location that is within a second coverage area that is different than the first coverage area; and

communicating the selected version of the video content item to the first electronic device in response to the first request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the selected version from the bitmap graphics format version to the vector graphics format version based on a time of day of the first request corresponding to a busy time period of bandwidth usage of a wireless network in use by the first electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining the busy time period based on historical data.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining the busy time period based on measurements of usage of the wireless network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether to change the selected version from the bitmap graphics format version to the vector graphics format version based on the particular geographic location of the first electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request indicates that the first electronic device includes a vector video decoder.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vector graphics format version is selected further based on a determination that a network bandwidth usage of a wireless communications network for communication of the video content item to the first electronic device satisfies a threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the media server from a second electronic device, a second request for the video content item; and

communicating the vector graphics format version of the video content item to the second electronic device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the bitmap graphics format version of the video content item is communicated to the first electronic device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first request is received via a first network component, and wherein the second request is received via a second network component.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first network component includes a first wireless network access device of a plurality of wireless network access devices of a wireless communications network, and wherein the second network component includes a second wireless network access device of the plurality of wireless network access devices.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vector graphics format version of the video content item is transmitted from the second wireless network access device to the second electronic device via a vector video broadcast transmission.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second request from the first electronic device, the second request indicating a second video content item and an acceptance of a fee associated with a particular version of media content; and

in response to the second request indicating the acceptance of the fee, sending the second video content item to the first electronic device using the bitmap graphics format version.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory accessible to the processor, the memory comprising instructions executable by the processor to initiate, control, or perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving, from an electronic device, a request for a video content item;

based on the request, determining a particular geographic location of the electronic device;

selecting a vector graphics format version of the video content item as a selected version to communicate to the electronic device based on the particular geographic location corresponding to a first coverage area;

selecting a bitmap graphics format version of the video content item as the selected version to communicate to the electronic device based on a movement of the electronic device to a second location that is within a second coverage area that is different than the first coverage area; and

communicating the selected version of the video content item to the electronic device in response to the request.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an image capture device, wherein the operations further comprise encoding a second video content item captured by the image capture device into a bitmap graphics format version or a vector graphics format version.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving the bitmap graphics format version of the video content item from a video content provider in response to the selected version being the vector graphics format version; and

converting the bitmap graphics format version of the video content item into the vector graphics format version of the video content item.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise selecting a particular vector video distribution server of a plurality of vector video distribution servers for communication of the vector graphics format version of the video content item to the electronic device.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the operations further include:

receiving, from the electronic device, a user input; and

changing the selected version from the bitmap graphics format version to the vector graphics format version responsive to the receiving the user input.

19. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions executable by a processor to initiate, control, or perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving, from an electronic device, a request for a video content item;

based on the request, determining a particular geographic location associated with the electronic device;

selecting a vector graphics format version of the video content item as a selected version to communicate to the electronic device based on the particular geographic location corresponding to a first coverage area;

selecting a bitmap graphics format version of the video content item as the selected version to communicate to the electronic device based on a movement of the electronic device to a second location that is within a second coverage area that is different than the first coverage area; and

communicating the selected version of the video content item to the electronic device in response to the request.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the vector graphics format version is selected further based on a content type of the video content item corresponding to cartoon content, animated content, gaming content, or a combination thereof.