Wireless Transfer of Digital Video Data

• US 20060171363A1
• Filed: 02/02/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elsa Carvalho, Judite Xavier
• Original Assignee: Elsa Carvalho, Judite Xavier
• Inventors: Xavier, Judite C., Carvalho, Elsa M.
• Application Number:
  US10/906,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20060171363A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

Improved methods and apparatuses are provided for wireless transfer of digital video from a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) to a Video Hosting Device (VHD). The wireless transfer can be performed over a plurality of wireless communication links, depending on transceiver used. The DVR may be factory-equipped with a wireless transceiver which is compliant with a high-throughput wireless standard, or alternatively, the DVR may have a media slot that supports a pluggable wireless transceiver card. Upon detection of a wireless network, the DVR'"'"'s transceiver initiates a session to transfer digital video over the wireless communication link to the VHD. The VHD is typically a personal computer (PC), but can also be other devices or even third-party, possibly web-hosted, applications.

Claims

1. A system for transferring digital video data from a wireless digital video recorder to a video hosting network device over a wireless communication link, the system comprising:

(a) a wireless digital video recorder configured to capture, store, playback, and wirelessly transmit digital video data to the wireless communications network, and (b) a wireless communications network configured to receive digital video data from the wireless digital video recorder and forward it to the video hosting network device, and (c) a video hosting network device configured to receive digital video data from the wireless communications network and store it for subsequent processing.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, the wireless digital video recorder comprising:

(a) a video capture subsystem configured to generate digital video data and forward it to the video storage subsystem, and (b) a video storage subsystem configured to save/store incoming digital video from the video capture subsystem and make it available to the video playback subsystem and the video transfer subsystem, and (c) a video playback subsystem configured to obtain digital video from the video storage subsystem and play it back through a digital display, and (d) a video transfer subsystem configured to obtain digital video from the video storage subsystem and transmit it wirelessly to a wireless communications network.

3. A system as defined in claim 2, the video transfer subsystem comprising:

(a) a wireless transceiver kit (including antenna) configured to transmit digital video data to a wireless communications network, and (b) internal video transfer logic configured to periodically retrieve digital video data from the video storage subsystem and forward the digital video data to the wireless transceiver kit for onward wireless transmission to the wireless communication network, and (c) internal video purging logic configured to periodically recycle storage space in the video storage subsystem by purging the oldest digital video data that was already successfully transferred to the video hosting network device.

4. A system as defined in claim 3, with the video transfer subsystem completely contained by the main physical housing/casing of the wireless digital video recorder, including the wireless transceiver kit, the internal video transfer logic, and the internal video purging logic.

5. A system as defined in claim 3, with the video transfer subsystem partially or completely separated from the main physical housing/casing of the wireless digital video recorder, but physically and logically connected via a cable, media port, or communications jack.

6. A system as defined in claim 3, with the video transfer subsystem partially or completely separated from the main physical housing/casing of the wireless digital video recorder, but wirelessly and logically connected via a short-range wireless communication link.

7. A method for wireless transfer of digital video data from a wireless digital video recorder to a video hosting network device, the method comprising:

(a) establishing a wireless communication link between the video transfer subsystem of the wireless digital video recorder and the video hosting network device; and

(b) transferring the digital video data from the wireless digital video recorder to the video hosting network device over the wireless communication link using the wireless transceiver kit of the video transfer subsystem.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising capturing and saving/storing digital video data to the video storage subsystem of the wireless digital video recorder.

9. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising preparing the digital video data for wireless transfer by compressing or converting the digital video to a more optimized transfer format.

10. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising recycling storage space in the video storage subsystem by purging the oldest digital video data that has been successfully transferred to the video hosting network device.