System and method for transferring video information

• US 20060015919A1
• Filed: 07/13/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Lainema, Jani, Karppinen, Henrik
• Application Number:
  US10/890,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20060015919A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/156 Mixing image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/305 using lenticular lenses, e.g. arrangements of cylindrical lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/31 using parallax barriers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution

Abstract

A device, system and method for coding and transferring video information. Embodiments of the present invention may be used in three-dimensional video applications. According to embodiments of the present invention, video streams may be obtained and sub-sampled. The sub-sampled video streams may be combined. The sub-sampled, combined video stream may then be transferred to a display system to form a three-dimensional image.

Claims

1. A method for transferring a video stream comprising:

obtaining a plurality of video streams;

sub-sampling at least one video stream of the plurality of video streams; and

transferring the at least one sub-sampled video stream to a display system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of video streams comprises a first video stream and a second video stream.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein sub-sampling at least one video stream of the plurality of video streams comprises sub-sampling the first video stream and sub-sampling the second video stream.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein sub-sampling at least one video stream of the plurality of video streams comprises sub-sampling the first video stream only.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein sub-sampling at least one video stream of the plurality of video streams comprises sub-sampling the second video stream only.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sub-sampling comprises horizontal sub-sampling.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a sub-sampled bit rate is one-half a bit rate of the plurality of video streams.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a sub-sampled bit rate is one-half a pixel-processing rate of the plurality of video streams.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the plurality of video streams comprises obtaining the plurality of video streams from a video encoder.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the display system comprises display circuitry and a display.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising combining the first sub-sampled video stream and the second sub-sampled video stream to form a three-dimensional video stream.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising transferring video streams that have not been sub-sampled to the display system.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the display is a three-dimensional display.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the display is a parallax barrier display.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the display is a lenticular lens display.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the display is disposed on a mobile device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of video streams is arranged as separate video streams.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of video streams is arranged as a composite video stream.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of video streams is arranged as an interlaced video streams.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring a mapping of the at least one sub-sampled video stream to the display system.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein transferring a mapping comprises transferring a mapping via a Supplemental Enhancement Information message.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein transferring a mapping further comprises transferring a Picture Order Count tag.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising transferring sub-sampling information relating to the at least one sub-sampled video stream to the display system.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein transferring sub-sampling information comprises transferring sub-sampling information via a Supplemental Enhancement Information message.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the Supplemental Enhancement Information message is transferred with the at least one sub-sampled video stream.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the sub-sampling information comprises two one-bit Supplemental Enhancement Information messages.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the Supplemental Enhancement Information message indicates that the at least one sub-sampled video stream is horizontally sub-sampled.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the Supplemental Enhancement Information message indicates that a first view of the at least one sub-sampled video stream and a second view of the at least one sub-sampled video stream are both horizontally sub-sampled by a factor of two when a frame size of the first view and a frame size of the second view are equal.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the Supplemental Enhancement Information message indicates that only a first view of the at least one sub-sampled video stream or only a second view of the at least one sub-sampled video stream is horizontally sub-sampled by a factor of two when a frame size of the first view is not equal to a frame size of the second view.

30. A device for obtaining and transferring a video stream comprising:

a storage unit for storing a plurality of video streams; and

a processor for retrieving the plurality of video streams from the storage unit,

wherein the processor is configured to

sub-sample at least one video stream of the plurality of video streams; and

transfer the at least one sub-sampled video stream to a display system

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the plurality of video streams comprises a first video stream and a second video stream.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the processor is configured to sub-sample the first video stream and the second video stream.

33. The device of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to sub-sample horizontally.

34. The device of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to sub-sample at a rate that is one-half a bit rate of the plurality of video streams.

35. The device of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to sub-sample at a rate that is one-half a pixel-processing rate of the plurality of video streams.

36. The device of claim 30, wherein the display system comprises display circuitry and a display.

37. The device of claim 30, wherein the display system is configured to combine the first sub-sampled video stream and the second sub-sampled video stream to form a three-dimensional video stream.

38. The device of claim 36, wherein the display is a three-dimensional display.

39. The device of claim 36, wherein the display is a parallax barrier display.

40. The device of claim 36, wherein the display is a lenticular lens display.

41. The device of claim 36, wherein the display is disposed on a mobile device.

42. The device of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured to transfer a mapping of the at least one sub-sampled video stream to the display system.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the processor is further configured to transfer a mapping via a Supplemental Enhancement Information message.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to transfer a Picture Order Count tag to the display system.

45. The device of claim 42, wherein the processor is further configured to transfer sub-sampling information relating to the at least one sub-sampled video stream to the display system.

46. The device of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to transfer the Supplemental Enhancement Information message with the at least one sub-sampled video stream.

47. The device of claim 45, wherein the sub-sampling information comprises two one-bit Supplemental Enhancement Information messages.

48. The device of claim 43, wherein the Supplemental Enhancement Information message indicates that the at least one sub-sampled video stream is horizontally sub-sampled by a factor of two.

49. The device of claim 43, wherein the Supplemental Enhancement Information message indicates that a first view of the at least one sub-sampled video stream and a second view of the at least one sub-sampled video stream are both horizontally sub-sampled by a factor of two when a frame size of the first view and a frame size of the second view are equal.

50. The device of claim 43, wherein the Supplemental Enhancement Information message indicates that only a first view of the at least one sub-sampled video stream or only a second view of the at least one sub-sampled video stream is horizontally sub-sampled by a factor of two when a frame size of the first view is not equal to a frame size of the second view.

51. A system for transferring a video stream comprising:

a storage system for storing a plurality of video streams; and

a processing system for retrieving the plurality of video streams from the storage unit; and

a display system for displaying video streams,

wherein the processing system is configured to

sub-sample at least one video stream of the plurality of video streams; and

transfer the at least one sub-sampled video stream to the display system.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the plurality of video streams comprises a first video stream and a second video stream.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the processing system is configured to sub-sample the first video stream and the second video stream.

54. The system of claim 51, wherein the processing system is configured to sub-sample at a rate that is one-half a bit rate of the plurality of video streams.

55. The system of claim 51, wherein the processing system is configured to sub-sample at a rate that is one-half a pixel-processing rate of the plurality of video streams.

56. The system of claim 51, wherein the display system comprises display circuitry and a display.

57. The system of claim 51, wherein the processing system is configured to combine the first sub-sampled video stream and the second sub-sampled video stream to form a three-dimensional video stream.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the display is a three-dimensional display.

59. The system of claim 56, wherein the display is a parallax barrier display.

60. The system of claim 56, wherein the display is a lenticular lens display.

61. The system of claim 56, wherein the display is disposed on a mobile device.

62. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor to transfer a video stream, the computer program comprising:

an obtaining procedure that enables the processor to transfer a plurality of video streams;

a sub-sampling procedure that enables the processor to sub-sample at least one video stream of the plurality of video streams; and

a transferring procedure that enables the processor to transfer the at least one sub-sampled video stream to a display system.

63. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the plurality of video streams comprises a first video stream and a second video stream.

64. The computer program product of claim 63, wherein the sub-sampling procedure enables the processor to sub-sample the first video stream and the second video stream.

65. The computer program product of claim 63, wherein the transferring procedure enables the processor to transfer the first video stream and the second video stream.

66. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the sub-sampling procedure enables the processor to sub-sample at a sub-sampling rate that is one-half a bit rate of the plurality of video streams.

67. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the sub-sampling procedure enables the processor to sub-sample at a sub-sampling rate that is one-half a pixel-processing rate of the plurality of video streams.

68. The computer program product of claim 63, wherein the sub-sampling procedure enables the processor to sub-sample the first video stream and the second video stream.

69. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the display system comprises display circuitry and a display.

70. The computer program product of claim 63, further comprising a combining procedure that enables the processor to cause the first sub-sampled video stream and the second sub-sampled video stream to be combined to form a three-dimensional video stream.

71. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the display is a three-dimensional display.

72. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the display is a parallax barrier display.

73. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the display is a lenticular lens display.

74. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the display is disposed on a mobile device.

75. A system for transferring a video stream comprising:

means for obtaining a plurality of video streams;

means for sub-sampling at least one video stream of the plurality of video streams; and

means for transferring the at least one sub-sampled video stream to a display system.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein the plurality of video streams comprises a first video stream and a second video stream.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein the means for sub-sampling sub-samples the first video stream and the second video stream.

78. The system of claim 75, wherein the means for sub-sampling sub-samples a rate that is one-half a bit rate of the plurality of video streams.

79. The system of claim 75, wherein the means for sub-sampling sub-samples a rate that is one-half a pixel-processing rate of the plurality of video streams.

80. The system of claim 77, further comprising means for combining the first sub-sampled video stream and the second sub-sampled video stream.

81. A device for sending a video stream, comprising:

a processor for;

obtaining at least one video stream;

downsampling the at least one video stream; and

creating a Supplemental Enhancement Information message;

a transmitter configured for sending the at least one video stream and Supplemental Enhancement Information message.

82. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling the sending of a video stream, the computer program comprising:

obtaining at least one video stream;

downsampling the at least one video stream;

creating a Supplemental Enhancement Information message; and

sending the at least one video stream and Supplement Enhancement Information message.