Digital video recording and playback system with quality of service playback from multiple locations via a home area network

• US 20050155072A1
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ucentric Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Kaczowka, Peter A., Sparrell, Carlton J.
• Application Number:
  US10/959,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20050155072A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/95
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91364 the video signal being scrambled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• 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 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention allow fast playback of an audio-visual data stream that is transmitted within a Home Area Network in a manner that is consistent with a bandwidth-allocation constraint. In an embodiment, a bandwidth allocation is received for a stream of audio-visual data. The audio-visual data is transmitted within the Home Area Network. A user request for a fast rendering of the stream of audio-visual data is received, wherein the user request includes a speed factor. A fast playback frame sequence associated with the stream of audio-visual data based on the bandwidth allocation and the user request is then determined. The stream of audio-visual data may then be transmitted in accordance with the fast playback sequence that was determined.

Claims

1. A method for providing fast rendering of streamed digital content in a home area network, the method comprising:

receiving a bandwidth allocation for a stream of AV data;

receiving a user request for a fast rendering of the stream of AV data, wherein the user request includes a speed factor; and

determining a fast playback frame sequence associated with the stream of AV data based on the bandwidth allocation and the user request.

2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising transmitting the stream of AV data in accordance with the fast playback frame sequence of the determining step.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the determining comprises:

determining whether the fast rendering of the stream of AV data in an original playback frame sequence in accordance with the speed factor would exceed the bandwidth allocation; and

responsive to the step of determining whether the fast rendering of the stream of AV data in the original playback frame sequence in accordance with the speed factor would exceed the bandwidth allocation, selecting the original playback frame sequence as the fast playback frame sequence.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the determining comprises:

determining whether the fast rendering of the stream of AV data in an original playback frame sequence in accordance with the speed factor would exceed the bandwidth allocation; and

responsive to the step of determining whether the fast rendering of the stream of AV data in the original playback frame sequence in accordance with the speed factor would exceed the bandwidth allocation, selecting the fast playback frame sequence based on at least one of;

(i) dropping at least a first class of frames from the original playback frame sequence, and (ii) repeating a plurality of frames of a second class of frames from the original playback frame sequence.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein each of the first class of frames and the second class of frames is selected from the group consisting of MPEG intra-coded frames, MPEG predictive frames and MPEG bidirectional-predictive frames.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the fast playback frame sequence is based on deletion of a plurality of MPEG bidirectional-predictive frames from an original playback frame sequence.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the fast playback frame sequence is additionally based on deletion of a plurality of MPEG predictive frames from the original playback frame sequence.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the fast playback frame sequence is additionally based on repeating at least one MPEG intra-coded frame of the original playback frame sequence in place of the plurality of MPEG predictive frames.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the fast playback frame sequence is additionally based on deletion of at least one MPEG intra-coded frame from the original playback frame sequence and repetition of a preceding MPEG intra-coded frame in place of the at least one intra-coded frame.

10. The method of claim 2 further comprising, after the determining step:

detecting a change in the characteristics of the stream of AV data; and

re-determining the fast playback frame sequence associated with the stream of AV data based on the bandwidth allocation, the user request and the detected change in characteristics of the stream of AV data.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the detecting step is carried out based on extraction of stream-encoding parameters of the stream of AV data.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the detecting step is carried out based on information regarding the stream of AV data obtained from a database.

13. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform, in a home area network, a method for providing fast rendering of streamed digital content, the method comprising:

receiving a bandwidth allocation for a stream of AV data;

receiving a user request for a fast rendering of the stream of AV data, wherein the user request includes a speed factor; and

determining a fast playback frame sequence associated with the stream of AV data based on the bandwidth allocation and the user request.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the method additionally comprises transmitting the stream of AV data in accordance with the fast playback frame sequence of the determining step of the method.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the determining of the method comprises:

determining whether the fast rendering of the stream of AV data in an original playback frame sequence in accordance with the speed factor would exceed the bandwidth allocation; and

responsive to the step of determining whether the fast rendering of the stream of AV data in the original playback frame sequence in accordance with the speed factor would exceed the bandwidth allocation, selecting the original playback frame sequence as the fast playback frame sequence.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the determining of the method comprises:

determining whether the fast rendering of the stream of AV data in an original playback frame sequence in accordance with the speed factor would exceed the bandwidth allocation; and

responsive to the step of determining whether the fast rendering of the stream of AV data in the original playback frame sequence in accordance with the speed factor would exceed the bandwidth allocation, selecting the fast playback frame sequence based on at least one of;

(i) dropping at least a first class of frames from the original playback frame sequence, and (ii) repeating a plurality of frames of a second class of frames from the original playback frame sequence.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein each of the first class of frames and the second class of frames is selected from the group consisting of MPEG intra-coded frames, MPEG predictive frames and MPEG bidirectional predictive frames.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the fast playback frame sequence is based on deletion of a plurality of MPEG bidirectional-predictive frames from an original playback frame sequence.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein the fast playback frame sequence is additionally based on deletion of a plurality of MPEG predictive frames from the original playback frame sequence.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein the fast playback frame sequence is additionally based on repeating at least one MPEG intra-coded frame of the original playback frame sequence in place of the plurality of MPEG predictive frames.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein the fast playback frame sequence is additionally based on deletion of at least one MPEG intra-coded frame from the original playback frame sequence and repetition of a preceding MPEG intra-coded frame in place of the at least one intra-coded frame.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the method further comprises, after the determining step:

detecting a change in the characteristics of the stream of AV data; and

re-determining the fast playback frame sequence associated with the stream of AV data based on the bandwidth allocation, the user request and the detected change in characteristics of the stream of AV data.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein in the method the detecting step is carried out based on extraction of stream-encoding parameters of the stream of AV data.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein in the method the detecting step is carried out based on information regarding the stream of AV data obtained from a database.

25. An apparatus for providing fast rendering of streamed digital content in a home area network, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a bandwidth allocation for a stream of AV data;

means for receiving a user request for a fast rendering of the stream of AV data, wherein the user request includes a speed factor; and

means for determining a fast playback frame sequence associated with the stream of AV data based on the bandwidth allocation and the user request.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 additionally comprising means for transmitting the stream of AV data in accordance with the fast playback frame sequence of the determining step.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising:

means for determining whether the fast rendering of the stream of AV data in an original playback frame sequence in accordance with the speed factor would exceed the bandwidth allocation; and

means, responsive to the means for determining whether the fast rendering of the stream of AV data in an original playback frame sequence in accordance with the speed factor would exceed the bandwidth allocation, for selecting the original playback frame sequence as the fast playback frame sequence.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising:

means for determining whether the fast rendering of the stream of AV data in an original playback frame sequence in accordance with the speed factor would exceed the bandwidth allocation; and

means, responsive to the means for determining whether the fast rendering of the stream of AV data in an original playback frame sequence in accordance with the speed factor would exceed the bandwidth allocation, for selecting the fast playback frame sequence based on at least one of;

(i) dropping at least a first class of frames from the original playback frame sequence, and (ii) repeating a plurality of frames of a second class of frames from the original playback frame sequence.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein each of the first class of frames and the second class of frames is selected from the group consisting of MPEG intra-coded frames, MPEG predictive frames and MPEG bidirectional-predictive frames.

30. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the fast playback frame sequence is based on deletion of a plurality of MPEG bidirectional-predictive frames from an original playback frame sequence.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the fast playback frame sequence is additionally based on repeating at least one MPEG intra-coded frame of the original playback frame sequence in place of the plurality of MPEG predictive frames.

32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the fast playback frame sequence is additionally based on deletion of at least one MPEG intra-coded frame from the original playback frame sequence and repetition of a preceding MPEG intra-coded frame in place of the at least one intra-coded frame.

33. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising:

means for detecting a change in the characteristics of the stream of AV data; and

means for re-determining the fast playback frame sequence associated with the stream of AV data based on the bandwidth allocation, the user request and the detected change in characteristics of the stream of AV data.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the means for detecting a change carries out its operation based on extraction of stream-encoding parameters of the stream of AV data.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the means for detecting a change carries out its operation based on information regarding the stream of AV data obtained from a database.

36. A signal embedded in a medium representing data, the data produced responsive to encoded instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform, in a home area network comprising a media server, a method for providing fast rendering of streamed digital content, the method comprising:

receiving a bandwidth allocation for a stream of AV data;

receiving a user request for a fast rendering of the stream of AV data, wherein the user request includes a speed factor; and

determining a fast playback frame sequence associated with the stream of AV data based on the bandwidth allocation and the user request.