Apparatus and methods for video distribution via networks

• US 20030158899A1
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hughes, John
• Application Number:
  US09/958,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20030158899A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/89 involving methods or arrangements for detection of transmission errors at the decoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• 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 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Apparatus for video distribution to receiving units (6) over a network N. The apparatus comprises a distribution unit (4) at which video signals are compressed for transmission using intraframe and interframe coding, and at least one intermediate unit (10) disposed in a signal path between the distribution unit (4) and one or more receiving units (6). The intermediate unit (10) is arranged for storing intraframe coded signals and supplying such stored signals to one or more receiving units (6) when predetermined conditions are satisfied.

Claims

1. Apparatus for video distribution to receiving units (6) over a network, the apparatus comprising:

a distribution unit (4) at which video signals are compressed for transmission using intraframe and interframe coding;

one or more receiving units (6);

at least one intermediate unit (10) disposed in a signal path between the distribution unit (4) and the one or more receiving units (6), the intermediate unit (10) being arranged for storing intraframe coded picture information and supplying said intraframe coded picture information to the one or more receiving units (6) when predetermined conditions are satisfied.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the or each intermediate unit (10) is disposed in a signal path at, or adjacent to, a point where that signal path passes from a higher quality transmission medium to a lower quality transmission medium.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which said at least one intermediate unit (10) comprises a router.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the or each intermediate unit (10) is located adjacent to, or comprises, a router which is the final router in a signal path before that path passes from a higher quality transmission medium to a lower quality transmission medium.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the intermediate unit (10) is arranged to supply intraframe coded picture information in response to a request from a receiving unit (6).

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the intermediate unit (10) is arranged to store intraframe coded picture information received from the distribution unit (4).

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the intermediate unit (10) is arranged to request intraframe coded picture information from the distribution unit (4) under predetermined circumstances.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the intermediate unit (10) is arranged to generate and store intraframe coded picture information using interframe coded signals received from the distribution unit (4).

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which said intraframe coded picture information comprises one or more complete intraframe coded frames.

10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim which is arranged for multicast video distribution.

11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which part or all of the network is an Internet Protocol network (N).

12. A method of video distribution over a network in which video signals are compressed at a distribution unit (4) using intraframe and interframe coding for transmission to receiving units (6), the method comprising the steps of:

storing intraframe coded picture information at at least one intermediate unit (10) disposed in a signal path between the distribution unit (4) and one or more receiving units (6); and

supplying said intraframe coded picture information from the distribution unit (4) to one or more receiving units (6) when predetermined conditions are satisfied.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the or each intermediate unit (10) is disposed in a signal path at a point where that signal path passes from a higher quality transmission medium to a lower quality transmission medium.

14. A method according to claim 12 or claim 13 in which said at least one intermediate unit (10) comprises a router.

15. A method according to claim 13 in which the or each intermediate unit (10) is disposed adjacent to, or comprises, a router which is the final router in a signal path before that path passes from a higher quality transmission medium to a lower quality transmission medium.

16. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 15 comprising the step of supplying intraframe coded picture information from the intermediate unit (10) in response to a request from a receiving unit (6).

17. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 16 comprising the step of storing, at the intermediate unit (10), intraframe coded picture information received from the distribution unit (4).

18. A method according to claim 17 comprising the step of the intermediate unit (10) requesting intraframe coded picture information from the distribution unit (4) under predetermined circumstances.

19. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 18 comprising the steps of generating and storing intraframe coded picture information at the intermediate unit (10) using interframe coded signals received from the distribution unit (4).

20. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 19 in which said intraframe coded picture information comprises one or more complete intraframe coded frames.

21. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 20 which is a method of multicast video distribution.

22. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 21 in which the network or at least part of the network is an Internet Protocol network (N).

23. Apparatus for video distribution to receiving units over a network (N) substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, or as illustrated by FIG. 3 or FIG. 4.

24. A method of video distribution over a network substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, or as illustrated by FIG. 3 or FIG. 4.