Real time video streaming and data collaboration over wireless networks

• US 20070112971A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Infodraw Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Infodraw Incorporated
• Inventors: Noff, Jacob, Segalowitz, Eliezer, Dolev-Lipitz, David
• Application Number:
  US11/271,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20070112971A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A method of real time computerized image collaboration of a computerized image stored in memory of transmitting computer. A window is opened which selects a portion of the computerized image and a corresponding portion of memory. Image data stored in the memory portion is compressed and the compressed image data is transferred over a network to a client computer attached to the network. The image portion is visually presented in real time on a client video display attached to the client computer. A user of a client computer requests of the window. Upon receiving control of the window, the controlling user may add metadata by overlaying the image portion or perform other tasks such as move, resize the window and change image parameters. The image portion along with the metadata is shared in real time among other clients.

Claims

1. A method of real time computerized image collaboration, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a computerized image stored in memory operatively attached to a transmitting computer;

(b) opening a window thereby selecting an image portion of said image, and a corresponding memory portion of said memory;

(c) compressing image data stored in said memory portion into compressed image data;

(d) transferring said compressed image data over at least one network to a client computer, wherein said transmitting computer and said client computer are operatively attached through said at least one network; and

(e) visually presenting in real-time said image portion on a client video display attached to said client computer.

2. The method, according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(f) requesting control of said image portion by one controller selected from the group of users consisting of a user of said transmitting computer and a user of said client computer.

(g) upon said controller receiving control of said image portion, performing at least one task selected from the group of tasks consisting of adding metadata to said image portion, changing dimensions of said window, changing image parameters of said image portion, moving said window and marking features within said window.

3. The method, according to claim 1, wherein said compressing includes transforming solely a portion of a frame of said image, said portion being smaller than all macro blocks included in said frame, wherein said portion includes changed macro blocks within said frame.

4. The method, according to claim 1, wherein said transferring over said at least one network is limited to a rate of data transfer less than a streaming image data rate which updates said image portion in real time, further comprising the step of:

(f) sending a control signal thereby reducing said streaming image data rate

5. The method, according to claim 1, wherein said at least one network is a cellular telephone network, wherein said window has size corresponding to a display of a cellular telephone.

6. A system comprising:

(a) a computerized image stored in memory attached to a transmitting computer;

(b) a client computer operatively connected to said transmitting computer;

(c) a video collaboration application wherein a first portion of said application runs on said transmitting computer and a second portion of said application runs on said client computer, wherein an image portion of said computerized image and a corresponding memory portion of said memory are selected;

wherein said application compresses image data stored in said memory portion into compressed image data and transfers said compressed image data to said client computer; and

(d) a client video display operatively attached to said client computer which visually presents in real-time said image portion.

7. The system, according to claim 6, wherein said application enables a controller to be selected from the group of users consisting of a user of said transmitting computer or a user of said client computer, wherein said controller opens a window on a visual display of said image, wherein said window encloses said image portion.

8. The system, according to claim 7, wherein one of said users requests control of said image portion and when one user receives said control, said controller performs at least one task selected from the group of tasks consisting of adding metadata to said image portion, changing dimensions of said window, changing image parameters of said image portion, moving said window and marking features within said window.

9. The system, according to claim 6, wherein said application compresses by transforming solely a portion of a frame of said computerized image, wherein said portion includes solely changed macro blocks within said frame.

10. The system, according to claim 6, further comprising:

(d) at least one network which operatively connects said client computer to said transmitting computer, wherein data transfer over said at least one network is limited to a rate less than a streaming image data rate which updates said image portion in real time; and

(f) a feedback mechanism which sends a control signal causing a reduction in said streaming image data rate.

11. The system, according to claim 6, further comprising:

(f) a video collaboration server operatively connecting said transmitting computer and said client computer, said server transferring said image portion from said transmitting computer to said client computer.

12. The system, according to claim 11, wherein said server further transfers control commands from said client computer to said transmitting computer.

13. A program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a method of real time computerized image collaboration, wherein a computerized image is stored in memory operatively attached to the computer, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) opening a window thereby selecting an image portion of said image, and a corresponding memory portion of the memory;

(b) compressing image data stored in said memory portion into compressed image data; and

(c) transferring said compressed image data over at least one network to a client computer, wherein said transmitting computer and said client computer are operatively attached through said at least one network; and

(d) visually presenting in real-time said image portion on a client video display attached to said client computer.