Dynamically generating video streams for user interfaces based on device capabilities

• US 20060037053A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: McDowell, Brian C., Evans, Stephen S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• 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 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

The present invention provides for transferring user interface information from a host computing device to an electronic device that typically has limited resources. A request to display a user interface on an electronic device is received. Further, information about the electronic device is received for determining the capabilities of the electronic device. Based on the determination, a video codec is utilized for dynamically generating a video data stream that includes user interface information corresponding to at least a portion of the user interface. The video data stream is then transmitted to the electronic device for rendering the user interface on a display of the electronic device.

Claims

1. In an entertainment network comprising a host computing device and at least one electronic device that typically has limited resources, a method of transferring user interface information from the computing device to the electronic device for rendering a user interface on a display of the electronic device, the method comprising acts of:

receiving a request to display a user interface on an electronic device;

receiving information about the electronic device for determining the capabilities of the electronic device;

based on the determination, utilizing a video codec for dynamically generating a video data stream that includes user interface information corresponding to at least a portion of the user interface; and

transmitting the video data stream to the electronic device for rendering the user interface on a display of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the capabilities determined are one or more of central processing unit speed, available bandwidth, sustained bandwidth, resolution of a display, color depth, amount of memory available, memory access speed and graphics capabilities.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the graphics capabilities are one or more of alpha blending and support for 3D image rendering.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising acts of:

receiving user input that indicates a change in one or more portions of the user interface; and

altering the video data stream in accordance with the user input received.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user input is received through a back channel associated with a video stream channel used to transmit the video data stream.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the user input is received directly from a remote device by one or more of inferred light, microwaves or radio waves.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the video data stream further includes control information configured to be processed by a central processing unit in the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the control information includes object information associated with a portion of the user interface configured to be stored by the electronic device for future reference.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the object information is configured to be used in rendering portions of other user interfaces on the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the control information includes command data, which indicates how an instance of the object is to be manipulated on the electronic device, the command data including one or more of a sizing, a location, the graphical appearance and a behavior of the instance.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to dynamically generating the video stream, the user interface information is formatted by one or more of a re-sampling or resizing based on the display capabilities of the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the video data stream includes an audio data stream portion.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the video stream format is one of MPEG, MPEG 2, DMV or WMV.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is chosen from a set top box, DVD player, network television set, or digital media adapter.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein UPNP AV is used to detect the presence of the host computer, the electronic device, or both.

16. In an entertainment network comprising a host computing device and at least one electronic device that typically has limited resources, a method of transferring user interface information from the computing device to the electronic device for rendering a user interface on a display of the electronic device, the method comprising:

an act of receiving a request to display a user interface at an electronic device;

a step for determining the capabilities of the electronic device;

based on the determination, a step for dynamically generating a video data stream that includes image data corresponding to at least a portion of graphics for the user interface; and

an act of transmitting the video stream to the consumer device for rendering the user interface on a display of the electronic device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the capabilities determined are one or more of central processing unit speed, available bandwidth, sustained bandwidth, resolution of a display, color depth, amount of memory available, memory access speed and graphics capabilities.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the graphics capabilities are one or more of alpha blending and support for 3D image rendering.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising acts of:

receiving user input that indicates a change in one or more portions of the user interface; and

altering the video data stream in accordance with the user input received.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the user input is received through a back channel associated with a video stream channel used to transmit the video data stream.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the user input is received directly from a remote device by one or more of inferred light, microwaves or radio waves.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the video data stream further includes control information configured to be processed by a central processing unit in the electronic device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the control information includes object information, associated with a portion of the user interface configured to be stored by the electronic device for future reference.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the object information is configured to be used in rendering portions of other user interfaces on the electronic device.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the control information includes command data, which indicates how an instance of the object is to be manipulated on the electronic device, the command data including one or more of a sizing, a location, the graphical appearance and a behavior of the instance.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein prior to dynamically generating the video stream, the user interface information is formatted by one or more of a re-sampling or resizing based on the display capabilities of the electronic device.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the video data stream includes an audio data stream portion.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the video stream format is one of MPEG, MPEG 2, DMV or WMV.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the electronic device is chosen from a set top box, DVD player, network television set, or digital media adapter.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein UPnP AV is used to detect the presence of the host computer, the electronic device, or both.

31. In an entertainment network comprising a host computing device and at least one electronic device that typically has limited resources, a computer program product for implementing a method of transferring user interface information from the computing device to the electronic device for rendering a user interface on a display of the electronic device, the computer program product comprising one or more computer readable media having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, can cause the distributed computing system to perform the following:

receive a request to display a user interface on an electronic device;

receive information about the electronic device for determining the capabilities of the electronic device;

based on the determination, utilize a video codec for dynamically generating a video data stream that includes user interface information corresponding to at least a portion of the user interface; and

transmit the video data stream to the electronic device for rendering the user interface on a display of the electronic device.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the capabilities determined are one or more of central processing unit speed, available bandwidth, sustained bandwidth, resolution of a display, color depth, amount of memory available, memory access speed and graphics capabilities.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the graphics capabilities are one or more of alpha blending and support for 3D image rendering.

34. The computer program product of claim 31, further comprising computer executable instructions that can cause the distributed computing system to perform the following:

receive user input that indicates a change in one or more portions of the user interface; and

alter the video data stream in accordance with the user input received.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the user input is received through a back channel associated with a video stream channel used to transmit the video data stream.

36. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the user input is received directly from a remote device by one or more of inferred light, microwaves or radio waves.

37. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the video data stream further includes control information configured to be processed by a central processing unit in the electronic device.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the control information includes object information associated with a portion of the user interface configured to be stored by the electronic device for future reference.

39. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the object information is configured to be used in rendering portions of other user interfaces on the electronic device.

40. The computer program product of claim 38, wherein the control information includes command data, which indicates how an instance of the object is to be manipulated on the electronic device, the command data including one or more of a sizing, a location, the graphical appearance and a behavior of the instance.