OBJECT ORIENTED VIDEO SYSTEM

• US 20070005795A1
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ActiveSky, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ActiveSky, Inc.
• Inventors: Gonzalez, Ruben
• Application Number:
  US11/470,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20070005795A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/186 the unit being a colour or a chrominance component
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/23 with coding of regions that are present throughout a whole video segment, e.g. sprites, background or mosaic
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/25 with scene description coding, e.g. binary format for scenes [BIFS] compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/94 Vector quantisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/96 Tree coding, e.g. quad-tree coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23412 for generating or manipulating the scene composition of objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4351 involving reassembling additional data, e.g. rebuilding an executable program from recovered modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44012 involving rendering scenes according to scene graphs, e.g. MPEG-4 scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/52 : Systems for transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals, e.g. an audio signal or a synchronizing signal assembling of a multiplex stream by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, assembling of a packetised elementary stream at server side H04N21/236; disassembling of a multiplex stream, remultiplexing of multiplex streams, extraction or processing of Service Information, disassembling of packetised elementary stream at client side H04N21/434

Abstract

A method of generating an object oriented interactive multimedia file, including encoding data comprising at least one of video, text, audio, music and/or graphics elements as a video packet stream, text packet stream, audio packet stream, music packet stream and/or graphics packet stream respectively, combining the packet streams into a single self-contained object, said object containing its own control information, placing a plurality of the objects in a data stream, and grouping one or more of the data streams in a single contiguous self-contained scene, the scene including format definition as the initial packet in a sequence of packets. An encoder for executing the method is provided together with a player or decoder for parsing and decoding the file, which can be wirelessly streamed to a portable computer device, such as a mobile phone or a PDA. The object controls provide rendering and interactive controls for objects allowing users to control dynamic media composition, such as dictating the shape and content of interleaved video objects, and control the objects received.

Claims

1. A method of generating an object oriented interactive multimedia file, including:

encoding data comprising at least one of video, text, audio, music and/or graphics elements as a video packet stream, text packet stream, audio packet stream, music packet stream and/or graphics packet stream respectively;

combining said packet streams into a single self-contained object, said object containing its own control information;

placing a plurality of said objects in a data stream; and

grouping one or more of said data streams in a single contiguous self-contained scene, said scene including format definition as the initial packet in a sequence of packets.

2. A method of generating an interactive multimedia file according to claim 1, including combining one or more of said scenes.

3. A method of generating an interactive multimedia file according to claim 1 wherein a single scene contains an object library.

4. A method of generating an interactive multimedia file according to claim 1 wherein data for configuring customisable decompression transforms is included within said objects.

5. A method of generating an interactive object oriented multimedia file according to claim 1 wherein object control data is attached to objects which are interleaved into a video bit stream, and said object control data controls interaction behaviour, rendering parameters, composition, and interpretation of compressed data.

6. A method of generating an interactive object oriented multimedia file according to claim 1 comprising a hierarchical directory structure wherein first level directory data comprising scene information is included with the first said scene, second level directory data comprising stream information is included with one or more of said scenes, and wherein third level directory data comprising information identifying the location of intra-frames is included in said data stream.

8. A method of generating an interactive object oriented multimedia file according to claim 1, wherein said object control data takes the form of messages encapsulated within object control packets and represents parameters for rendering video and graphics objects, for defining the interactive behaviour of said objects, for creating hyperlinks to and from said objects, for defining animation paths for said objects, for defining dynamic media composition parameters, for assigning values to user variables, for redirecting or retargeting the consequences of interactions with objects and other controls from one object to another, for attaching executable behaviours to objects, including voice calls and starting and stop timers, and for defining conditions for the execution of control actions.

135. A video decoding method for decoding video data encoded according to a method as claimed in claim 1.

136. A video decoding method as claimed in claim 135, including parsing said encoded data to distribute object control packets to an object management process and encoded video packets to a video decoder.

141. A video decoding method as claimed in claim 136 including generating video object controls for a user based on said object control packets for received and rendered video objects.

142. A video decoder having components for executing the steps of the video decoding method as claimed in claim 135.

143. A computer device having a video decoder as claimed in claim 142.

144. A computer device as claimed in claim 143, wherein said device is portable and handheld, such as a mobile phone or PDA.

147. A computer device having an ultrathin client for executing the video decoding method as claimed in claim 135 and adapted to access a remote server including said video objects.

154. An interactive mobile video system including a video decoder as claimed in claim 142.

156. A computer program stored on a computer readable storage medium including code for executing a video decoding method as claimed in claim 135 and generating a video display including controls for said video objects, and adjusting said display in response to application of said controls.

157. A computer program as claimed in claim 156 including IAVML instructions.

7. A method of generating an object oriented interactive multimedia file, including:

encoding data comprising at least one of video and audio elements as a video packet stream and audio packet stream respectively;

combining said packet streams into a single self-contained object;

placing said object in a data stream;

placing said stream in a single contiguous self-contained scene, said scene including format definition; and

combining a plurality of said scenes.

9. A method of generating an interactive object oriented multimedia file according to claim 7, wherein said rendering parameters represent object transparency, scale, volume, position, z-order, background colour and rotation, where said animation paths affect any of said rendering parameters, said hyperlinks support non-linear video and links to other video files, individual scenes within a file, and other object streams within a scene as targets, said interactive behaviour data includes the pausing of play and looping play, returning user information back to the server, activating or deactivating object animations, defining menus, and simple forms that can register user selections.

10. A method of generating an interactive object oriented multimedia file according to claim 7, wherein conditional execution of rendering actions or object behaviours is provided and conditions take the form of timer events, user events, system events, interaction events, relationships between objects, user variables, and system status such as playing, pausing, streaming or stand-alone play.

11. An interactive multimedia file format comprising single objects containing video, text, audio, music, and/or graphical data wherein at least one of said objects comprises a data stream, and at least one of said data streams comprises a scene, at least one of said scenes comprises a file, and wherein directory data and metadata provide file information.

12. A system for dynamically changing the actual content of a displayed video in an object-oriented interactive video system comprising:

a dynamic media composition process including an interactive multimedia file format including objects containing video, text, audio, music, and/or graphical data wherein at least one of said objects comprises a data stream, at least one of said data streams comprises a scene, at least one of said scenes comprises a file;

a directory data structure for providing file information;

selecting mechanism for allowing the correct combination of objects to be composited together;

a data stream manager for using directory information and knowing the location of said objects based on said directory information; and

control mechanism for inserting, deleting, or replacing in real time while being viewed by a user, said objects in said scene and said scenes in said video.

13. A system according to claim 12 including remote server non-sequential access capability, selection mechanism for selecting appropriate data components from each object stream, interleaving mechanism for placing said data components into a final composite data stream, and wireless transmission mechanism for sending said final composite stream to a client.

14. A system according to claim 12 including remote server non-sequential access capability, including a mechanism for executing library management instructions delivered to said system from said remote server, said server capable of querying said library and receiving information about specific objects contained therein, and inserting, updating, or deleting the contents of said library;

and said dynamic media composition engine capable of sourcing object data stream simultaneously both from said library and remote server if required.

15. A system according to claim 12 including a local server providing offline play mode;

a storage mechanism for storing appropriate data components in local files;

selection mechanism for selecting appropriate data components from separate sources;

a local data file including multiple streams for each scene stored contiguously within said file;

access mechanism for said local server to randomly access each stream within a said scene;

selection mechanism for selecting said objects for rendering;

a persistent object library for use in dynamic media composition capable of being managed from said remote server, said objects capable of being stored in said library with full digital rights management information;

software available to a client for executing library management instructions delivered to it from said remote server, said server capable of querying said library and receiving information about specific objects contained therein, and inserting, updating, or deleting the contents of said library; and

said dynamic media composition engine capable of sourcing object data stream simultaneously both from said library and remote server.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein each said stream includes an end of stream packet for demarcating stream boundaries, said first stream in a said scene containing descriptions of said objects within said scene;

object control packets within said scene provide information for interactivity, changing the source data for a particular object to a different stream;

reading mechanism in said server for reading more than one stream simultaneously from within a said file when performing local playback; and

mechanism for managing an array or linked list of streams, data stream manager capable of reading one packet from each stream in a cyclical manner;

storage mechanism for storing the current position in said file; and

storage mechanism for storing a list of referencing objects.

17. A system according to claim 12, wherein data is streamed to a media player client, said client capable of decoding packets received from the remote server and sending back user operations to said server, said server responding to user operations such as clicking, and modifying said data sent to said client, each said scene containing a single multiplexed stream composed of one or more objects, said server capable of composing scenes in real-time by multiplexing multiple object data streams based on client requests to construct a single multiplexed stream for any given scene, and wireless streaming to said client for playback.

18. A system according to claim 12 including playing mechanism for playing a plurality of video objects simultaneously, each of said video objects capable of originating from a different source, said server capable of opening each of said sources, interleaving the bit streams, adding appropriate control information and forwarding the new composite stream to said client.

19. A system according to claim 12 including a data source manager capable of randomly accessing said source file, reading the correct data and control packets from said streams which are needed to compose the display scene, and including a server multiplexer capable of receiving input from multiple source manager instances with single inputs and from said dynamic media composition engine, said multiplexer capable of multiplexing together object data packets from said sources and inserting additional control packets into said data stream for controlling the rendering of component objects in the composite scene.

20. A system according to claims 12 including an XML parser to enable programmable control of said dynamic media composition through IAVML scripting.

21. A system according to claims 12, wherein said remote server is capable of accepting a number of inputs from the server operator to further control and customize said dynamic media composition process, said inputs including user profile, demographics, geographic location, or the time of day.

22. A system according to claims 12, wherein said remote server is capable of accepting a number of inputs from the server operator to further control and customize said dynamic media composition process, said inputs including a log of user interaction such as knowledge of what advertisements have success with a user.

116. A system according to claim 12 including a persistent object library on a portable client device for use in dynamic media composition said library being capable of being managed from said remote server, software available to a client for executing library management instructions delivered to it from said remote server, said server capable of querying said library and receiving information about specific objects contained therein, and inserting, updating, or deleting the contents of said library;

and said dynamic media composition engine capable of sourcing object data stream simultaneously both from said library and remote server, if required, said persistent object library storing object information including expiry dates, access permissions, unique identifiers, metadata and state information, said system performing automatic garbage collection on expired objects, access control, library searching, and various other library management tasks.

23. An object oriented interactive multimedia file, comprising:

a combination of one or more of contiguous self-contained scenes,

each said scene comprising scene format definition as the first packet, and a group of one or more data streams following said first packet;

each said data stream apart from first data stream containing objects which may be optionally decoded and displayed according to a dynamic media composition process as specified by object control information in said first data stream; and

each said data stream including one or more single self-contained objects and demarcated by an end stream marker;

said objects each containing it'"'"'s own control information and formed by combining packet streams;

said packet streams formed by encoding raw interactive multimedia data including at least one or a combination of video, text, audio, music, or graphics elements as a video packet stream, text packet stream, audio packet stream, music packet stream and graphics packet stream respectively.

24. An object-oriented interactive video system including an interactive multimedia file format according to claim 23 including:

server software for performing said dynamic media composition process, said process allowing the actual content of a displayed video scene to be changed dynamically in real-time while a user views said video scene, and for inserting, replacing, or adding any of said scene'"'"'s arbitrary shaped visual/audio video objects; and

a control mechanism to replace in-picture objects by other objects to add or delete in-picture objects to or from a current scene to perform said process in a fixed, adaptive, or user-mediated mode.

25. An object oriented interactive multimedia file according to claim 23 including data for configuring customisable decompression transforms within said scenes.

26. An object-oriented interactive video system including an interactive multimedia file format according to claim 23 including:

a control mechanism to provide a local object library to support said process, said library including a storage means for storing objects for use in said process, control mechanism to enable management of said library from a streaming server, control mechanism for providing versioning control for said library objects, and for enabling automatic expiration of non persistent library objects; and

control mechanism for updating objects automatically from said server, for providing multilevel access control for said library objects, and for supporting a unique identity, history and status for each of said library objects.

27. An object-oriented interactive video system including an interactive multimedia file format according to claim 23 including:

a control mechanism for responding to a user click on a said object in a session by immediately performing said dynamic media composition process; and

control mechanism for registering a user for offline follow-up actions, and for moving to a new hyperlink destination at the end of said session.

28. A method of real-time streaming of file data in the object oriented file format according to claim 23, over a wireless network whereby a scene includes only one stream, and said dynamic media composition engine interleaves objects from other streams at an appropriate rate into the said first stream.

29. A method of real-time streaming of file data in the object oriented file format according to claim 23, over a wireless network whereby a scene includes only one stream, and said dynamic media composition engine interleaves objects from other streams at an appropriate rate into the said first stream.

30. A method according to claim 28 of streaming live video content to a user where said other streams include streams which are encoded in real time.

31. A method according to claim 29 of streaming live video content to a user comprising the following steps:

said user connecting to a remote server; and

said user selecting a camera location to view within a region handled by the operator/exchange;

32. A method according to claim 29 of streaming live video content to a user comprising the following steps:

said user connects to a remote server; and

said user'"'"'s geographic location, derived from a global positioning system or cell triangulation, is used to automatically provide a selection of camera locations to view for assistance with said user'"'"'s selection of a destination.

33. A method according to claim 29 of streaming live traffic video content to a user comprising the following steps:

said user registers for a special service where a service provider calls said user and automatically streams video showing a motorist'"'"'s route that may have a potential problem area;

upon registering said user may elect to nominate a route for this purpose, and may assist with determining said route; and

said system tracks said user'"'"'s speed and location to determine the direction of travel and route being followed, said system could then search its list of monitored traffic cameras along potential routes to determine if any sites are problem areas, and if any problems exist, said system notifies said user and plays a video to present the traffic information and situation.

34. A method of advertising according to claim 24, wherein said dynamic media composition process selects objects based on a subscriber'"'"'s own profile information, stored in a subscriber profile database.

35. A method of providing a voice command operation of a low power device capable of operating in a streaming video system, comprising the following steps:

capturing a user'"'"'s speech on said device;

compressing said speech;

inserting encoded samples of said compressed speech into user control packets;

sending said compressed speech to a server capable of processing voice commands;

said server performs automatic speech recognition;

said server maps the transcribed speech to a command set;

said system checks whether said command is generated by said user or said server;

if said transcribed command is from said server, said server executes said command;

if said transcribed command is from said user said system forwards said command to said user device; and

said user executes said command.

36. A method of providing a voice command operation of a low power device capable of operating in a streaming video system, according to claim 35 wherein:

said system determines whether transcribed command is pre-defined;

if said transcribed command is not pre-defined, said system sends said transcribed text string to said user; and

said user inserts said text string into an appropriate text field.

37. A method of processing objects, comprising the steps of:

parsing information in a script language;

reading a plurality of data sources containing a plurality of objects in the form of at least one of video, graphics, animation, and audio;

attaching control information to the plurality of objects based on the information in the script language; and

interleaving the plurality of objects into at least one of a data stream and a file.

38. A method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of inputting information from a user, wherein the step of attaching is performed based on the information in the script language and the information from the user.

39. A method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of inputting control information selected from at least one of profile information, demographic information, geographic information, and temporal information, wherein the step of attaching is performed based on the information in the script language and the control information.

40. A method according to claim 39, further comprising the step of inputting information from a user, wherein the step of attaching is performed based on the information in the script language, the control information, and the information from the user.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein the step of inputting information from the user comprises graphically pointing and selecting an object on a display.

42. A method according to claim 37, further comprising the steps of inserting an object into the at least one of the data stream and file.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein said inserting step comprises inserting an advertisement into the at least one of the data stream and file.

44. A method according to claim 43, further comprising the step of replacing the advertisement with a different object.

45. A method according to claim 42, wherein said inserting step comprises inserting a graphical character into the at least one of the data stream and file.

46. A method according to claim 45, wherein said step of inserting a graphical character comprises inserting the graphical character based on a geographical location of a user.

47. A method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of replacing one of the plurality of objects with another object.

48. A method according to claim 47, wherein said step of replacing one of the plurality of objects comprises replacing the one of the plurality of objects which is a viewed scene with a new scene.

49. A method according to claim 37, wherein said step of reading a plurality of data sources comprises reading a least one of the plurality of data sources which is training video.

50. A method according to claim 37, wherein said step of reading a plurality of data sources comprises reading a least one of the plurality of data sources which is an educational video.

51. A method according to claim 37, wherein said step of reading a plurality of data sources comprises reading a least one of the plurality of data sources which is a promotional video.

52. A method according to claim 37, wherein said step of reading a plurality of data sources comprises reading a least one of the plurality of data sources which is an entertainment video.

53. A method according to claim 37, wherein said step of reading a plurality of data sources comprises obtaining video from a surveillance camera.

54. A method according to claim 42, wherein said inserting step comprises inserting a video from a camera for viewing automobile traffic into the at least one of the data stream and file.

55. A method according to claim 42, wherein said inserting step comprises inserting information of a greeting card into the at least one of the data stream and file.

56. A method according to claim 42, wherein said inserting step comprises inserting a computer generated image of a monitor of a remote computing device.

57. A method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of providing the at least one of a data stream and a file to a user, wherein the at least one of a data stream and a file include an interactive video brochure.

58. A method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of providing the at least one of a data stream and a file which includes an interactive form to a user;

electronically filling out the form by the user; and

electronically storing information entered by the user when filling out the form.

59. A method according to claim 58, further comprising the step of transmitting the information which has been electronically stored.

60. A method according to claim 57, wherein the step of attaching control information comprises attaching control information which indicates interaction behaviour.

61. A method according to claim 37, wherein the step of attaching control information comprises attaching control information which includes rendering parameters.

62. A method according to claim 37, wherein the step of attaching control information comprises attaching control information which includes composition information.

63. A method according to claim 37, wherein the step of attaching control information comprises attaching control information which indicates how to process compressed data.

64. A method according to claim 37, wherein the step of attaching control information comprises attaching an executable behaviour.

65. A method according to claim 64, wherein the step of attaching an executable behaviour comprises attaching rendering parameters used for animation.

66. A method according to claim 64, wherein the step of attaching an executable behaviour comprises attaching a hyperlink.

67. A method according to claim 64, wherein the step of attaching an executable behaviour comprises attaching a timer.

68. A method according to claim 64, wherein the step of attaching an executable behaviour comprises attaching a behaviour which allows making a voice call.

69. A method according to claim 64, wherein the step of attaching an executable behaviour comprises attaching systems states including at least one of pause and play.

70. A method according to claim 64, wherein the step of attaching an executable behaviour comprises attaching information which allows changing of user variables.

113. A method according to claim 37, wherein the step of attaching control information comprises attaching conditions for execution of controls.

114. A method according to claim 39 further comprising the steps of obtaining information from user flags or variables, wherein the step of attaching is performed based on the information in the script language, the control information, and the information from said user flags.

115. A method according to claim 37, wherein said step of reading a plurality of data sources comprises reading a least one of the plurality of data sources which take the form of marketing, promotional, product information, entertainment videos videos.

71. A system for processing objects, comprising:

means for parsing information in a script language;

means for reading a plurality of data sources containing a plurality of objects in the form of at least one of video, graphics, animation, and audio;

means for attaching control information to the plurality of objects based on the information in the script language; and

means for interleaving the plurality of objects into at least one of a data stream and a file.

72. A system according to claim 71, further comprising means for inputting information from a user, wherein the means for attaching operates based on the information in the script language and the information from the user.

73. A system according to claim 71, further comprising means for inputting control information selected from at least one of profile information, demographic information, geographic information, and temporal information, wherein the means for attaching operates based on the information in the script language and the control information.

74. A system according to claim 73, further comprising means for inputting information from a user, wherein the means for attaching operates based on the information in the script language, the control information, and the information from the user.

75. A system according to claim 74, wherein the means for inputting information from the user comprises means for graphically pointing and selecting an object on a display.

76. A system according to claim 71, further comprising means for inserting an object into the at least one of the data stream and file.

77. A system according to claim 76, wherein said means for inserting comprises means for inserting an advertisement into the at least one of the data stream and file.

78. A system according to claim 77, further comprising means for replacing the advertisement with a different object.

79. A system according to claim 76, wherein said means for inserting comprises means for inserting a graphical character into the at least one of the data stream and file.

80. A system according to claim 79, wherein said means for inserting a graphical character comprises means for inserting the graphical character based on a geographical location of a user.

81. A system according to claim 71, further comprising means for replacing one of the plurality of objects with another object.

82. A system according to claim 71, wherein said means for replacing one of the plurality of objects comprises means for replacing the one of the plurality of objects which is a viewed scene with a new scene.

83. A system according to claim 71, wherein said means for reading a plurality of data sources comprises means for reading a least one of the plurality of data sources which is a training video.

84. A system according to claim 71, wherein said means for reading a plurality of data sources comprises means for reading a least one of the plurality of data sources which is a promotional video.

85. A system according to claim 71, wherein said means for reading a plurality of data sources comprises means for reading a least one of the plurality of data sources which is an entertainment video.

86. A system according to claim 71, wherein means for reading a plurality of data sources comprises means for reading a least one of the plurality of data sources which is an educational video.

87. A system according to claim 71, wherein said means for reading a plurality of data sources comprises means for obtaining video from a surveillance camera.

88. A system according to claim 75, wherein said means for inserting comprises means for inserting a video from a camera for viewing automobile traffic into the at least one of the data stream and file.

89. A system according to claim 75, wherein said means for inserting comprises means for inserting information of a greeting card into the at least one of the data stream and file.

90. A system according to claim 75, wherein said means for inserting comprises inserting a computer generated image of a monitor of a remote computing device.

91. A system according to claim 71, further comprising means for providing the at least one of a data stream and a file to a user, wherein the at least one of a data stream and a file includes an interactive video brochure.

92. A system according to claim 71, further comprising means for providing the at least one of a data stream and a file which includes an interactive form to a user;

means for electronically filling out the form by the user; and

means for electronically storing information entered by the user when filling out the form.

93. A system according to claim 92, further comprising means for transmitting the information which has been electronically stored.

94. A system according to claim 71, wherein the means for attaching control information comprises means for attaching control information which indicates interaction behaviour.

95. A system according to claim 71, wherein the means for attaching control information comprises means for attaching control information which includes rendering parameters.

96. A system according to claim 71, wherein the means for attaching control information comprises means for attaching control information which includes composition information.

97. A system according to claim 71, wherein the means for attaching control information comprises means for attaching control information which indicates how to process compressed data.

98. A system according to claim 71, wherein the means for attaching control information comprises means for attaching an executable behaviour.

99. A system according to claim 98, wherein the means for attaching an executable behaviour comprises means for attaching rendering parameters used for animation.

100. A system according to claim 98, wherein the means for attaching an executable behaviour comprises means for attaching a hyperlink.

101. A system according to claim 98, wherein the means for attaching an executable behaviour comprises means for attaching a timer.

102. A system according to claim 98, wherein the means for attaching an executable behaviour comprises means for attaching a behaviour which allows making a voice call.

103. A system according to claim 98, wherein the means for attaching an executable behaviour comprises means for attaching systems states including at least one of pause and play.

104. A system according to claim 98, wherein the means for attaching an executable behaviour comprises means for attaching information which allows changing of user variables.

105. A method of transmitting an electronic greeting card, comprising the steps of:

inputting information indicating features of a greeting card;

generating image information corresponding to the greeting card;

encoding the image information as an object having control information;

transmitting the object having the control information over a wireless connection;

receiving the object having the control information by a wireless hand-held computing device;

decoding the object having the control information into a greeting card image by the wireless hand-held computing device; and

displaying the greeting card image which has been decoded on the hand-held computing device.

106. A method according to claim 105, wherein the step of generating image information comprises capturing at least one of an image and as series of images as custom image information, wherein the encoding step further comprises encoding said custom image as an object having control information, wherein said step of decoding comprises decoding the object encoded using the image information and decoding the object encoded using the custom image information, wherein said displaying step comprises displaying image information and the custom image information as the greeting card.

107. A system transmitting an electronic greeting card, comprising:

means for inputting information indicating features of a greeting card;

means for generating image information corresponding to the greeting card;

means for encoding the image information as an object having control information;

means for transmitting the object having the control information over a wireless connection;

means for receiving the object having the control information by a wireless hand-held computing device;

means for decoding the object having the control information into a greeting card image by the wireless hand-held computing device; and

means for displaying the greeting card image which has been decoded on the hand-held computing device.

108. A system according to claim 107, wherein the means for generating image information comprises means for capturing at least one of an image and as series of images as custom image information, wherein the means for encoding further comprises means for encoding said custom image as an object having control information, wherein said means for decoding comprises means for decoding the object encoded using the image information and decoding the object encoded using the custom image information, wherein said means for displaying comprises means for displaying image information and the custom image information as the greeting card.

109. An object oriented multimedia video system capable of supporting multiple arbitrary shaped video objects without the need for extra data overhead or processing overhead to provide video object shape information.

110. A system according to claim 109, wherein said video objects have their own attached control information.

111. A system according to claim 109, wherein said video objects are streamed from a remote server to a client.

112. A system according to claim 109, wherein said video object shape is intrinsically encoded in the representation of the images.

117. A video encoding method, including:

encoding video data with object control data as a video object; and

generating a data stream including a plurality of video objects with respective video data and object control data.

118. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, including:

generating a scene packet representative of a scene and including a plurality of said data stream with respective video objects.

119. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 118, including generating a video data file including a plurality of said scene packet with respective data streams and user control data.

120. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, wherein said video data represents video frames, audio frames, text and/or graphics.

121. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, wherein said video object comprises a packet with data packets of said encoded video data and at least one object control packet with said object control data for said video object.

122. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 118, wherein said video data file, said scene packets and said data streams include respective directory data.

123. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, wherein said object control data represents parameters defining said video object to allow interactive control of said object within a scene by a user.

124. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, wherein said encoding includes encoding luminance and colour information of said video data with shape data representing the shape of said video object.

125. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, wherein said object control data defines shape, rendering, animation and interaction parameters for said video objects.

129. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 118, including dynamically generating said scene packets for a user in real-time based on user interaction with said video objects.

130. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, wherein said object control data represents parameters for (i) rendering video objects, for (ii) defining the interactive behaviour of said objects, for (iii) creating hyperlinks to and from said objects, for (iv) defining animation paths for said objects, for (v) defining dynamic media composition parameters, for (vi) assigning of values to user variables and/or for (vii) defining conditions for execution of control actions.

137. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 130, wherein said rendering parameters represent object transparency, scale, volume, position and rotation.

138. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 130, wherein said animation paths adjust said rendering parameters.

139. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 130, wherein said hyperlinks represent links to respective video files, scene packets and objects.

140. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 130, wherein said interactive behaviour data provides controls for play of said objects, and return of user data.

145. A dynamic colour space encoding method including executing the video encoding method as claimed in claim 117 and adding additional colour quantisation information for transmission to a user to enable said user to select a real-time colour reduction.

146. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, including adding targeted user and/or local video advertising with said video object.

148. A method of multivideo conferencing including executing the video encoding method as claimed in claim 117.

149. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, including generating video menus and forms for user selections for inclusion in said video objects.

150. A method of generating electronic cards for transmission to mobile phones including executing said video encoding method as claimed in claim 117.

151. A video encoder having components for executing the steps of the video encoding method as claimed in claim 117.

152. A video on demand system including a video encoder as claimed in claim 151.

153. A video security system including a video encoder as claimed in claim 151.

163. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, wherein said object control data includes shape parameters that allow a user to render arbitrary shape video corresponding to said video object.

164. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, wherein said object control data includes condition data determining when to invoke corresponding controls for said video object.

165. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, wherein said object control data represents controls for affecting another video object.

166. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, including controlling dynamic media composition of said video objects on the basis of at least one state set in response to events or user interactions

167. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 117, including broadcasting and/or multicasting said data stream.

126. A video encoding method, including:

quantising colour data in a video stream based on a reduced representation of colours;

generating encoded video frame data representing said quantised colours and transparent regions; and

generating encoded audio data and object control data for transmission with said encoded video data as a video object.

127. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 126, including:

generating motion vectors representing colour changes in a video frame of said stream;

said encoded video frame data representing said motion vectors.

128. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 127, including:

generating encoded text object and vector graphic object and music object data for transmission with said encoded video data; and

generating encoded data for configuring customisable decompression transformations.

131. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 126, wherein said object control data represents parameters for rendering objects of a video frame.

132. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 126, wherein said parameters represents transparency, scale, volume, position, and rotation.

133. A video encoding method as claimed in claim 126, wherein said encoded video, audio and control data are transmitted as respective packets for respective decoding.

134. A video encoding method, including:

(i) selecting a reduced set of colours for each video frame of video data;

(ii) reconciling colours from frame to frame;

(iii) executing motion compensation;

(iv) determining update areas of a frame based on a perceptual colour difference measure;

(v) encoding video data for said frames into video objects based on steps (i) to (iv); and

(vi) including in each video object animation, rendering and dynamic composition controls.

155. A video decoding method as claimed in 135 including processing voice commands from a user to control a video display generated on the basis of said video objects.

158. A wireless streaming video and animation system, including:

(i) a portable monitor device and first wireless communication means;

(ii) a server for storing compressed digital video and computer animations and enabling a user to browse and select digital video to view from a library of available videos; and

(iii) at least one interface module incorporating a second wireless communication means for transmission of transmittable data from the server to the portable monitor device, the portable monitor device including means for receiving said transmittable data, converting the transmittable data to video images displaying the video images, and permitting the user to communicate with the server to interactively browse and select a video to view.

159. A wireless streaming video and animation system as claimed in claim 158, wherein said portable wireless device is a hand held processing device.

160. A method of providing wireless streaming of video and animation including at least one of the steps of:

(a) downloading and storing compressed video and animation data from a remote server over a wide area network for later transmission from a local server;

(b) permitting a user to browse and select digital video data to view from a library of video data stored on the local server;

(c) transmitting the data to a portable monitor device; and

(d) processing the data to display the image on the portable monitor device.

161. A method of providing an interactive video brochure including at least one of steps of:

(a) creating a video brochure by specifying (i) the various scenes in the brochure and the various video objects that may occur within each scene, (ii) specifying the preset and user selectable scene navigational controls and the individual composition rules for each scene, (iii) specifying rendering parameters on media objects, (iv) specifying controls on media objects to create forms to collect user feedback, (v) integrating the compressed media streams and object control information into a composite data stream.

162. A method as claimed in claim 161, including:

(a) processing the composite data stream and interpreting the object control information to display each scene;

(b) processing user input to execute any relevant object controls, such as navigation through the brochure, activating animations etc, registering and user selections and other user input;

(c) storing the user selections and user input for later uploading to the provider of the video brochures network server when a network connection becomes available; and

(d) at a remote network server, receiving uploads of user selections from interactive video brochures and processing the information to integrate it into a customer/client database.