Media player with high-resolution and low-resolution image frame buffers

• US 20060127059A1
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Fanning, Blaise
• Application Number:
  US11/011,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20060127059A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/248
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/423 characterised by memory arrangements H04N19/433 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/59 involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/89 involving methods or arrangements for detection of transmission errors at the decoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a low-resolution buffer may be provided to store lower-resolution image frame information associated with first media content. A high-resolution buffer may also be provided to store higher-resolution image frame information also associated with the first media content. A playback device may then receive (i) the higher-resolution image frame information if the higher-resolution image frame information is available or (ii) the lower-resolution image frame information if the higher-resolution image frame information is not available.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a lower-quality media portion in a media information stream, the lower-quality media portion being associated with first media content; and

receiving a higher-quality media portion in the media information stream, the higher-quality portion being (i) associated with the first media content and (ii) received after the lower-quality portion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the lower-quality media portion in a secondary buffer;

storing the higher-quality media portion in a primary buffer; and

arranging for the higher-quality portion to be provided from the primary buffer.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining that a particular higher-quality portion associated with second media content is not available in the primary buffer; and

arranging for a lower-quality portion associated with the second media content to be provided from the secondary buffer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the higher-quality portion is image information having a first resolution and the lower-quality portion is image information having a second resolution, the second resolution be less than the first resolution.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a low-resolution buffer to store lower-resolution image frame information, the lower-resolution image frame information being associated with first media content;

a high-resolution buffer to store a higher-resolution image frame information associated with the first media content; and

a playback device to receive (i) the higher-resolution image frame information when the higher-resolution image frame information is available and (ii) the lower-resolution image frame information when the higher-resolution image frame information is not available.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the low-resolution and high-resolution buffers comprise at least one of a software buffer or a hardware buffer.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the low-resolution buffer is to store the lower-resolution image frame information before the high-resolution buffer is to store the higher-resolution image frame information

8. An apparatus comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in the following;

receiving a lower-quality frame of image information,

determining that no valid higher-quality frame associated with the lower-quality frame is available, and

arranging for the lower-quality frame to be provided to a playback device in place of the higher-quality frame.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the playback device is associated with at least one of:

(i) a digital display device, (ii) a television, (iii) a personal video recorder, (iv) a game device, (v) a personal computer, (vi) a set-top box, or (vii) a home digital media adapter device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said receiving is associated with at least one of:

(i) a Motion Picture Experts Group protocol, (ii) a Windows media format, (iii) a QuickTime media format, or (iii) a RealNetworks media format.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein execution of said instructions further result in:

receiving a second lower-quality frame of image information,

receiving a higher-quality frame, higher-quality frame being received after and associated with the second lower-quality frame of information, and

arranging for the higher-quality frame to be provided to the playback device.

12. A method, comprising:

transmitting a lower-quality media portion in a media information stream, the lower-quality media portion being associated with first media content; and

after the lower-quality media portion has been transmitted, transmitting a higher-quality media portion in the media information stream, the higher-quality portion also being associated with the first media content.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the lower-quality media portion comprises an encoded low-resolution frame of image information and the higher-quality media portion comprises an encoded high-resolution frame of image information.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said transmitting is performed via at least one of:

(i) a cable-based communication network, (ii) a satellite communication network, (iii) an over-the-air television broadcast, or (iv) a wired Ethernet network, or (v) a wireless network.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a media content storage unit;

a media server, including;

a primary unit to generate a high-resolution image frame to be included in

a media information stream, and

a secondary unit to generate a low-resolution image frame for the media information stream, the low-resolution image frame representing the same picture as the high-resolution image frame; and

a transmitter to first transmit the low-resolution image frame and then transmit the high resolution image frame in the media information stream.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of the primary unit and the secondary unit operates in accordance with at least one of:

(i) a Motion Picture Experts Group protocol, (ii) a Windows media format, (iii) a QuickTime media format, or (iii) a RealNetworks media format.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the transmitter transmits information via at least one of:

(i) a cable-based communication network, (ii) a satellite communication network, (iii) an over-the-air television broadcast, or (iv) a wired Ethernet network, or (v) a wireless network.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a machine result in the following;

determining media content to be provided via a communication network,

based on an image in the media content, generating a low-quality image signal,

based on the image, generating a high-quality image signal, and

arranging for the high-quality image signal to be transmitted after the low-quality image signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least one of the low-quality image signal or high-quality image signal is encoded in accordance with at least one of:

(i) a Motion Picture Experts Group protocol, (ii) a Windows media format, (iii) a QuickTime media format, or (iii) a RealNetworks media format.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising

multiplexing the low-quality image signal and the high-quality image signal in a transport stream.

21. A system, comprising:

a low-resolution storage unit to store lower-resolution image information, the lower-resolution image information being associated with a picture;

a high-resolution storage unit to store higher-resolution image information associated with the picture;

an output engine to receive (i) the higher-resolution image information if the higher-resolution image information is available or (ii) the lower-resolution image information if the higher-resolution image information is not available; and

a remote interface to facilitate operation of the system by a user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the low-resolution and high-resolution storage devices comprise at least one of a random access memory unit or a hard disk drive.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the remote interface is associated with at least one of:

(i) an infra-red receiver, or (ii) a wireless communication network.