Remote server switching of video streams

• US 20030122924A1
• Filed: 12/31/2001
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Meyers, Stephan
• Granted Patent: US 6,839,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.11
• 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: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• 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 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A portable video switching device receives video streams from a multiple number of different video capture devices located remotely and selects one of the video streams for further transmission. The portable video switching device receives video streams via wired, wireless or mobile telecommunication network connection and has video production capability to manipulate the selected video stream to add special effects, fading and the like.

Claims

1. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams comprising:

a source of video streams; and

portable video switch means located remotely from said source of video streams and having input means for receiving at least one video stream and means for selecting one of said at least one video streams for further transmission.

2. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 1, wherein said source of the remote video stream further comprises a remote video capture device.

3. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 2, wherein said remote video capture device comprises a videophone.

4. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 1 further including:

a network, and

network server means for receiving at least one video stream from at least one video source connected to the network, said network server means further being coupled to said portable video switch means.

5. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 1 further comprising said network server means having an output coupled to a further transmission means for transmitting a selected video stream for viewing at a location remote from said network server means.

6. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 4, wherein said further transmission means comprises a global computer network.

7. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 4 wherein said network server further comprises a dedicated network server.

8. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 1 further including a wireless local area network (LAN) coupled to said portable video switch means for transferring at least one video stream from at least one video source connected to the wireless LAN.

9. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 8 further comprising:

wireless LAN access means for receiving said at least one video stream from said at least one video source, and

network server means coupled to said wireless LAN access means and said portable video switch means for manipulating a selected video stream to add special effects in response to instructions received from said portable video switch means.

10. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 1, wherein said portable video switch means further comprises a mobile terminal for receiving a multiple number of different video streams from a multiple number of different video sources by means of a mobile telecommunication network, each of said different video sources having mobile telecommunication capability to selectively connect to said portable video switch means by accessing the mobile terminal associated with said portable video switch means.

11. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 1 further comprising said portable video switch having means for viewing the content of said at least one video stream.

12. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 11 further comprising said portable video switch means having input means and processing means for manipulating a selected video stream to add special effects in response to directions from said input means.

13. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 11 further comprising said portable video switch means having video capture means co-located with said portable video switch means for providing a source of video streams.

14. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 10 further comprising each of said different video sources having mobile telecommunication capability to connect to any one of a number of different portable video switch means via a mobile telecommunication network to transmit its respective remote video stream to the said connected one of the number of different portable video switch means.

15. Apparatus for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 14 wherein said mobile communication network further comprises a cellular telephone network.

16. Method for remote switching of video streams comprising the steps of:

providing at least two video streams to a network server;

providing a portable video switch for viewing the information content of the at least two video streams provided to the network server;

selecting via the portable video switch a desired one of the at least two video streams at the network server based on the information content, and

transmitting the selected video stream for viewing at a location remote from the network server.

17. The method for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 16 further including the step of providing instructions to the network server via the portable video switch to modify the selected video stream with desired video effects for further transmission.

18. The method for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 17 further including the step of providing a dedicated network server.

19. The method for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 17 further including the step of providing a wireless LAN network.

20. The method for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 16 further including the step of providing a portable video switch with mobile telecommunication capability.

21. The method for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 16 wherein the step of providing video streams further includes providing video streams from a video capture device.

22. The method for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 21 further including the step of providing video streams from a video telephone.

23. The method for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 20 further including the step of providing a portable video switch with video processor capability wherein the portable video switch also functions as the network server.

24. The method for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 16 further including the step of transmitting the selected video stream to the global computer network.

25. The method for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 20 further including the step of transmitting the selected video stream to a remote video telephone that has established a communication link with the portable video switch.

26. The method for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 16 further including the step of providing a portable video switch with video signal enhancing capability.

27. A system for remote switching of video streams comprising:

a network;

at least one source of video streams coupled to the network;

a network server for receiving at least one video stream from said at least one video stream source connected to the network;

a portable video switch located remotely from said source of video streams and coupled to said network server, said portable video switch further including means for receiving said at least one video stream and means for selecting at said network server a desired one of said at least one video streams for further transmission by said network server, and

said network server further having output means coupled to a further transmission means for transmitting said selected video stream for viewing at a location remote from said network server.

28. A system for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 27 wherein said at least one source of video streams further comprises a remote video capture device.

29. A system for remote switching of video streams as defined in claim 28 wherein said remote video capture device further comprises a videophone.