Video Processing and Telepresence System and Method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A codec, comprising:
- a video input for receiving a continuous video stream;
an encoder for encoding the continuous video stream to result in an encoded video stream;
a video output for transmitting the encoded video stream; and
switching means for switching the encoder during encoding between a first mode, in which the continuous video stream is encoded in accordance with a first encoding format, to a second mode, in which the continuous video stream is encoded in accordance with a second encoding format.
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Abstract
A codec having a video input for receiving a continuous video stream, an encoder for encoding the continuous video stream to result in an encoded video stream, a video output for transmitting the encoded video stream, and switching means for switching the encoder during encoding between a first mode, in which the continuous video stream is encoded in accordance with a first encoding format, to a second mode, in which the continuous video stream is encoded in accordance with a second encoding format.
36 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A codec, comprising:
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a video input for receiving a continuous video stream; an encoder for encoding the continuous video stream to result in an encoded video stream; a video output for transmitting the encoded video stream; and switching means for switching the encoder during encoding between a first mode, in which the continuous video stream is encoded in accordance with a first encoding format, to a second mode, in which the continuous video stream is encoded in accordance with a second encoding format. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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2. A codec, comprising:
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a video input for receiving an encoded video stream; a decoder for decoding the encoded video stream to result in a decoded video stream; a video output for transmitting the decoded video stream; and switching means for switching the decoder during decoding between a first mode, in which the encoded video stream is decoded in accordance with a first encoding format, to a second mode, in which the encoded video stream is decoded in accordance with a second encoding format.
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5. A telepresence system, comprising:
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a camera for filming a subject to be displayed as an isolated subject image and/or Pepper'"'"'s Ghost; a first codec for receiving a video stream generated by the camera and outputting an encoded video stream, the first codec including a first video input for receiving the video stream, an encoder for encoding the video stream to result in the encoded video stream, a first video output for transmitting the encoded video stream, and switching means for switching the encoder during encoding between a first encoding mode, in which the video stream is encoded in accordance with a first encoding format, to a second encoding mode, in which the video stream is encoded in accordance with a second encoding format; means for transmitting the encoded video stream to a second codec at a remote location, the second codec including a second video input for receiving the encoded video stream, a decoder for decoding the encoded video stream to result in a decoded video stream, a second video output for transmitting the decoded video stream, and switching means for switching the decoder during decoding between a first decoding mode, in which the encoded video stream is decoded in accordance with the first encoding format, to a second decoding mode, in which the encoded video stream is decoded in accordance with the second encoding format, the second codec arranged to decode the encoded video stream and output the decoded video stream to apparatus for producing the isolated subject image and/or Pepper'"'"'s Ghost based on the decoded video stream; and a user operated switch arranged to generate a control signal to cause the first codec to switch between the first encoding mode and the second encoding mode. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method of generating a telepresence of a subject, comprising:
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filming the subject to generate a continuous video stream; transmitting the continuous video stream to a remote location to generate a transmitted video stream; and producing an isolated subject image and/or Pepper'"'"'s Ghost at the remote location based on the transmitted video stream; wherein transmitting the continuous video stream comprises selecting different ones of a plurality of encoding formats during transmission of the continuous video stream based on changes in action being filmed and changing encoding format to selected encoding formats during transmission. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A video processer, comprising:
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a video input for receiving a video stream; a video output for transmitting processed video stream; wherein the video processor is arranged to identify an outline of a subject in each frame of the video stream by scanning pixels of each frame to identify pixels or sets of pixels that have a contrast above a predetermined level and defining the outline of the subject as a continuous line between the pixels or sets of pixels, and make pixels that fall outside the outline of the subject a preselected colour. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A data carrier having stored thereon instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive a video stream;
- process the video stream to generate a processed video stream by identifying an outline of a subject in each frame of the video stream by scanning pixels of each frame to identify pixels or sets of pixels that have a contrast above a predetermined level, defining the outline of the subject as a continuous line between the pixels or sets of pixels, and making pixels that fall outside the outline of the subject a preselected colour; and
to transmit the processed video stream.
- process the video stream to generate a processed video stream by identifying an outline of a subject in each frame of the video stream by scanning pixels of each frame to identify pixels or sets of pixels that have a contrast above a predetermined level, defining the outline of the subject as a continuous line between the pixels or sets of pixels, and making pixels that fall outside the outline of the subject a preselected colour; and
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17. A codec, comprising:
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a video input for receiving a video stream of a subject; an encoder for encoding the video stream to result in an encoded video stream; and a video output for transmitting the encoded video stream; wherein the encoder is arranged to process each frame of the video stream by identifying an outline of the subject and encoding pixels that fall within the outline of the subject while disregarding pixels that fall outside the outline of the subject to form the encoded video stream. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A codec, comprising:
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a video input for receiving a video stream and an associated audio stream; an encoder for encoding the video and associated audio streams; and a video output for transmitting the encoded video and associated audio streams to a second codec; wherein the codec is arranged to, during transmission of the video and associated audio streams, periodically transmit to the second codec a test signal, receive an echo response to the test signal from the second codec, determine from a time between sending the test signal and receiving the echo response a signal latency for transmission to the second codec and introduce a suitable delay to the video and associated audio streams for the signal latency.
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22. A codec, comprising:
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a video input for receiving from a second codec an encoded video stream and associated audio stream; a decoder for decoding the encoded video stream and associated audio stream to generate a decoded video stream and associated audio stream; and a video output for transmitting the decoded video and associated audio streams; wherein the codec is arranged to, during transmission of the decoded video and associated audio streams, transmit an echo response to the second codec in response to receiving a test signal.
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23. A system for transmitting a plurality of video streams to be displayed as an isolated subject and/or Pepper'"'"'s Ghost, comprising:
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a codec for receiving a plurality of video streams, encoding the plurality of video streams to generate a plurality of encoded video streams, and transmitting the plurality of encoded video streams to a remote location; wherein the plurality of video streams are generation locked based on one of the plurality of video streams.
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24. A video processor, comprising:
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a video input for receiving a video stream; and a video output for transmitting a processed video stream; wherein the video processor is arranged to identify an outline of a subject in each frame of the video stream by scanning each line of pixels of each frame to identify pixels or sets of pixels that have a contrast above a predetermined level due to a dark background compared to a bright subject and modifying the pixels or sets of pixels to have a higher luminescence than an original luminescence of the pixel or set of pixels.
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25. A telepresence system, comprising:
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a filming system at a first location for filming a subject to be projected as an isolated subject or Pepper'"'"'s Ghost image and generating a corresponding video stream, the filming system including a codec for encoding the corresponding video stream using one of a plurality of encoding formats to generate an encoded video stream and varying encoding of the corresponding video stream from any one of the plurality of encoding formats to another in response to changes in action being filmed; a projecting system at a second location for producing the isolated subject or Pepper'"'"'s Ghost image filmed with the filming system, the projecting system including a second codec for receiving the encoded video stream from the filming system and for decoding the encoded video stream to generate a decoded video stream, the second codec operable to switch to a decoding mode capable of decoding the encoded video stream in response to a control signal received from a user operated switch or in response to the second codec automatically determining which one of the plurality of encoding formats was used to encode the encoded video stream; and a bi-directional communication link connected to the filming system and the projecting system for communicating data between the first location and the second location. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification