Apparatus for video access and control over computer network, including image correction

• US 20040010804A1
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: McCoskey, John S., Hendricks, John S., Asmussen, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/448,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20040010804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• 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 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• 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 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for communicating multiple live video feeds over the Internet. Users may be able to view a plurality of remote locations in real time. In one embodiment, text, graphics, and other video information supplement one or more video pictures to provide an educational and entertaining system. In accordance with the present invention, information is accessible to users who are viewing multiple video pictures. The information relates and describes what is being viewed. Users who have different types of equipment, with different data rates, are able to access and use the system of the present invention. In another embodiment, users may interactively communicate with a video lecturer by asking questions and receiving answers. The invention may be connected to, and in communication with, broadcast and/or cable television systems.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating audio and video signals to user terminals, the apparatus comprising:

a web site, connected to a plurality of user terminals, comprising;

a means for receiving digitally compressed audio and video;

an audio-video server for providing a plurality of digital video signals;

a means for switching and combining the plurality of digital video signals;

an administrative unit, connected to the means for switching and combining, which directs which signals are switched and combined; and

a means, connected to the switching and combining means, for communicating the digital audio and video signals to the user terminals as video streams.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the web site further comprises:

an audio and video storage device, connected to the receiving means, which stores at least some received audio and video;

a data storage device, connected to the receiving means, which stores textual and graphical data;

a database server, connected to the administrative unit, the switching means, the audio and video storage device and the data storage device;

wherein the administrative means directs the database server to retrieve and supply to the switching means the audio and video information from the audio and video storage device and the textual and graphical data from the data storage device.

3. An apparatus for use with a computer network, the apparatus comprising:

a web server, which receives compressed video and outputs one or more video streams to communications equipment;

communications equipment, operably connected to the web server and a plurality of user terminals, and having a plurality of input/output ports and a means for determining the data rate of each connected user terminal, wherein the video streams provided to user terminals are provided at the data rate determined by the determining means.

4. A system for obtaining and communicating video, comprising:

a means for obtaining video;

a first matrix switch, in operative communication with the obtaining means, which switches the obtained video;

an output device, in operative communication with the first matrix switch, which outputs the switched video;

wherein users receive the video from the output device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for obtaining includes a receiver that receives video.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the means for obtaining further includes a video compressor.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the receiver is a broadcast television receiver.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive compressed video over a communication network.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for obtaining comprises an input interface, the input interface connected to a paging receiver.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for obtaining comprises an input interface, the input interface connected to a cable headend.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for obtaining comprises an input interface, the input interface connected to a network controller.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for obtaining comprises an input interface, the input interface connected to a set top terminal.

13. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for obtaining comprises an input interface, the input interface connected to a cable television system.

14. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for obtaining comprises a file server that stores video.

15. The system of claim 4, further comprising a second matrix switch connected to a plurality of video servers, wherein the first matrix switch is in operative communication with the obtaining means via the second matrix switch and the video servers.

16. The system of claim 4, wherein the video is distorted wide-angle video, the system further comprising:

an administrative unit which removes the distortion from a segment of the stored video.

17. The system of claim 4, wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a paging system transmitter.

18. The system of claim 4, wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a television broadcast transmitter.

19. The system of claim 4, wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to an operations center.

20. The system of claim 4, wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a cable headend.

21. The system of claim 4, wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a network controller.

22. The system of claim 4, wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a network manager.

23. The system of claim 4, wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a set top terminal.

24. The system of claim 4, wherein the output device comprises an output interface, the output interface connected to a cable television system.

25. A method of providing interactive presentations to users, comprising the steps of:

connecting to at least one user via a communications media;

obtaining video of a plurality of remote sites for communication to the user;

receiving a request from the user concerning video at a single remote site;

communicating, via the communications media, at least part of the video concerning the requested remote site to the user.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of compressing video concerning the requested remote site.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of obtaining video comprises the step of retrieving the video from a video storage device.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of obtaining video comprises the step of receiving the video from a communications media.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

retrieving data concerning the requested remote site;

retrieving graphics concerning requested remote site; and

wherein the step of communicating further comprises the step of providing the retrieved data and graphics to the user.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of obtaining video further comprises the step of acquiring video of a plurality of different views of a single remote site.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of sending video of a single view of the remote site to the user.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the acquired video is distorted wide-angle video, and wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of removing distortion from a portion of the video.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the acquired video is video from a plurality of cameras, and wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of sending video from a single camera to the user.

34. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a question concerning the remote site;

generating reply data to the received question; and

wherein the step of communicating includes the step of transmitting the reply data to the user.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of generating further comprises the steps of:

presenting the question to a person knowledgeable about the remote site; and

receiving reply data from the person.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the reply data comprises pre-stored graphics and text, and wherein the step of generating further comprises the step of retrieving the prestored graphics and text.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the reply data further comprises pre-stored video data and the step of generating further comprises the step of retrieving the pre-stored video data.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the question is a request for information concerning the remote site.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of:

receiving information concerning the remote site; and

wherein the step of communicating comprises the step of sending the information to the user.

40. The method of claim 25, further comprising step of:

receiving information concerning the data rate of the user'"'"'s communications system; and

wherein the step of communicating further comprises the step of matching to the user'"'"'s data rate.

41. A method of providing an interactive lecture to users, comprising the steps of:

obtaining video of a lecturer;

connecting to one or more users via a communications medium;

receiving questions from the users;

presenting the questions to the lecturer;

acquiring the lecturer'"'"'s response to one or more questions;

communicating the video and the lecturer'"'"'s response to the one or more users via the communications medium.