Combined MPEG-4 FGS and modulation algorithm for wireless video transmission

• US 20030103571A1
• Filed: 12/05/2001
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Meehan, Joseph, van der Schaar, Mihaela
• Granted Patent: US 6,909,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/34 Scalability techniques involving progressive bit-plane based encoding of the enhancement layer, e.g. fine granular scalability [FGS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/67 involving unequal error protection [UEP], i.e. providing protection according to the importance of the data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/89 involving methods or arrangements for detection of transmission errors at the decoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440227 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6379 directed to encoder , e.g. for requesting a lower encoding rate

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for modulating an MPEG-4 FGS compressed video stream for variable-bandwidth transmission. A source of a video stream is provided, and a display having means for generating a control input signal for controlling one or more of video compression, error correction code generation, or symbol constellation mapping. The source video stream is compressed using MPEG-4 FGS compression to generate a compressed output video stream. The video compression is optionally performed based upon the control input signal from the display. Error correction code for the compressed video stream may be added, and its generation and addition may be optionally controlled based upon the control input signal from the display. The resulting video symbols may then be mapped to constellations, with this mapping also optionally controlled based upon the control input signal. The resulting compressed output video stream is then transmitted to the display.

Claims

1. A method of modulating a compressed video stream for variable-bandwidth transmission, wherein the compressed video stream uses Fine Granularity Scalable (FGS), the method comprising the steps of

providing a source of a video stream;

providing a display having means for generating a control input signal for controlling video compression;

compressing the video stream from the source using a video compression with FGS to generate a compressed output video stream having a base layer and at least one enhancement layer, video compression performed based upon the control input signal from the display;

transmitting the compressed output video stream;

displaying the transmitted compressed output video stream.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the video compression is MPEG-4 FGS video compression.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the video compression defines an amount of base layer of the video stream to be mapped to most significant bits (MSBs) and an amount of enhancement layer to be mapped to least significant bits (LSBs), the video compression being modified in accordance with the control input signal from the display to change an amount of the base layer mapped to the MSBs of the compressed video stream.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the transmission of the compressed video stream uses a robust channel coding for the MSBs and a less robust channel coding for the LSBs.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the video compression of the video stream includes mapping the base layer to a lower constellation than the at least one enhanced layer.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmission of the compressed video stream uses a robust channel coding for the base layer and a less robust channel coding for the at least one enhanced layers.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the channel coding is made robust and less robust by hierarchical modulation of a physical layer of the transmitted video stream.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the channel coding is made robust and less robust by time division modulation of a physical layer of the transmitted video stream.

9. A method of modulating a compressed video stream for variable-bandwidth transmission, wherein the compressed video stream uses FGS, the method comprising the steps of

providing a source of a video stream;

providing a display having means for generating a control input signal for controlling error correction code generation;

compressing the video stream from the source using a compression with FGS to generate a compressed output video stream;

generating error correction code for the compressed video stream, error correction code generation being controlled based upon the control input signal from the display;

adding the error correction code generated to the compressed output video stream to generate a compressed output video stream with error correction code;

transmitting the compressed output video stream with error correction code; and

displaying the transmitted compressed output video stream with error correction code.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the video compression is MPEG-4 FGS video compression.

11. A method of modulating a compressed video stream for variable-bandwidth transmission, wherein the compressed video stream uses FGS, the method comprising the steps of

providing a source of a video stream;

providing a display having means for generating a control input signal for controlling mapping of video symbols to constellations;

compressing the video stream from the source using a compression with FGS to generate a compressed output video stream;

mapping video symbols to constellations, mapping being controlled based upon the control input signal from the display;

transmitting the compressed output video stream; and

displaying the transmitted compressed output video stream.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the video compression is MPEG-4 FGS compression.

13. A system for modulating a compressed video stream for variable-bandwidth transmission, wherein the compressed video stream uses Fine Granularity Scalable (FGS), the system comprising

a source of a video stream;

a display having means for generating a control input signal for controlling video compression;

a video stream compression engine with FGS for generating a compressed output video stream from said source of a video stream, video compression performed based upon the control input signal from the display; and

a transmitter for transmitting the compressed output video stream to the display.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the video compression used is MPEG-4 FGS video compression.

15. The system according to claim 13, further comprising an error correction code generator, for generating error correction code for the compressed video stream, said error correction code being added to the compressed video stream, wherein the control input signal of the display controls said error correction code generator.

16. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a symbol mapper, which maps video symbols of the compressed video stream to constellations prior to transmission of the compressed video stream, wherein the control input signal of the display controls said symbol mapper.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein channel coding of the compressed video stream is made robust or less robust by hierarchical modulation of a physical layer of the prior to transmission of the compressed video stream.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein channel coding of the compressed video stream is made robust or less robust by time division modulation of a physical layer of the prior to transmission of the compressed video stream.

19. A method of modulating an MPEG-4 FGS compressed video stream for variable-bandwidth transmission, the method comprising the steps of

providing a source of a video stream;

providing a display having means for generating a control input signal for controlling one or more of video compression, error correction code generation, or symbol constellation mapping;

compressing the video stream from the source using a video compression with FGS to generate a compressed output video stream, video compression optionally performed based upon the control input signal from the display;

generating and adding error correction code for the compressed video stream, error correction code generation and addition being optionally controlled based upon the control input signal from the display;

mapping video symbols to constellations, mapping being optionally controlled based upon the control input signal from the display;

transmitting the compressed output video stream; and

displaying the transmitted compressed output video stream.