System and Method to Provide a Unified Video Signal for Diverse Receiving Platforms

• US 20110167442A1
• Filed: 02/07/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hartman, David Bruce, Nadarajah, Dinesh, Ansari, Ahmad C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,966,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4353 involving decryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440227 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44029 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4408 involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6336 directed to decoder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system includes a signal-processing engine configured to generate a video data stream including a plurality of data packets based on a received video signal. A first subset of the plurality of data packets is usable to generate a video display of content having a first quality and all of the plurality of data packets are usable to generate a second video display of the content having a second quality. The second quality is higher than the first quality. The signal-processing engine is further configured to distinguish the first subset of the plurality of data packets from other data packets of the plurality of data packets by applying a tag to particular data packets to form tagged data packets. The system also includes a transmitter coupled to the signal-processing engine and configured to transmit the plurality of data packets of the video data stream.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a signal-processing engine configured to;

generate a video data stream including a plurality of data packets based on a received video signal, wherein a first subset of the plurality of data packets is usable to generate a video display of content having a first quality and all of the plurality of data packets are usable to generate a second video display of the content having second quality, the second quality higher than the first quality; and

distinguish the first subset of the data packets from other data packets of the plurality of data packets by applying a tag to particular data packets to form tagged data packets; and

a transmitter coupled to the signal-processing engine and configured to transmit the plurality of data packets of the video data stream.

2. The system as in claim 1, further comprising a remote gateway configured to receive the video data stream and to distribute the plurality of data packets to a first video display device that is capable of displaying the content at the second quality, and to distribute copies of the first subset of data packets to a second video display device that is capable of displaying the content at the first quality.

3. The system as in claim 1, further comprising at least one of a security module and a digital rights management module to authorize a video display device and to enable secure communications with the video display device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first quality includes a first display resolution parameter and the second quality includes a second display resolution parameter that is higher than the first display resolution parameter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first quality includes a first data rate and the second quality includes a second data rate that is higher than the first data rate.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a first tag is applied to data packets of the first subset of the data packets and a second tag is applied to the other data packets of the plurality of data packets.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag is applied to data packets of the first subset of the data packets and no tag is applied to the other data packets of the plurality of data packets.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag is applied the other data packets of the plurality of data packets and no tag is applied to data packets of the first subset of the data packets.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a receiver having a splitter, wherein the splitter is configured to generate copies of data packets of the first subset of the data packets of the video data stream and to send the copies of data packets of the first subset of the data packets to a video display device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the video data stream generated by the signal-processing engine further comprises a second subset of the plurality of data packets, wherein the second subset of the plurality of data packets includes one or more data packets that are not included in the first subset of data packets and wherein the second subset of data packets are usable to generate a second video display of the content having a third quality, the third quality different than the first quality, and wherein the second subset of data packets are distinguished from other data packets of the plurality of data packets by a second tag.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal-processing engine is further configured to distinguish a second subset of data packets by applying a second tag, wherein the second subset of data packets is a subset of the first subset of data packets and wherein the second subset of data packets is usable to generate a second video display of the content having a third quality, the third quality lower than the first quality.

12. A method comprising:

receiving a video signal at a signal-processing engine;

generating, at the signal-processing engine, a video data stream including a plurality of data packets based on the video signal, wherein a first subset of the plurality of data packets is usable to generate a video display of content having a first quality and all of the plurality of data packets are usable to generate a second video display of the content having a second quality, the second quality higher than the first quality; and

applying a tag to particular data packets to form tagged data packets, wherein the tag distinguishes the first subset of the data packets from other data packets of the plurality of data packets; and

transmitting the video data stream.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the video data stream is transmitted to a gateway device that is configured to transmit copies of the first subset of the plurality of data packets to a first video display device and to transmit all of the plurality of data packets to a second video display device.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a second subset of the plurality of data packets, wherein the second subset of the plurality of data packets includes one or more data packets that are not included in the first subset of the plurality of data packets and wherein the second subset of the plurality of data packets is usable to generate a second video display of the content having a third quality, the third quality different than the first quality; and

applying a second tag that distinguishes the second subset of the plurality of data packets from other data packets of the plurality of data packets.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising applying a second tag that distinguishes a second subset of data packets, wherein the second subset of data packets is a subset of the first subset of data packets and wherein the second subset of data packets is usable to generate a second video display of the content having a third quality, the third quality lower than the first quality.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the video signal comprises a high-resolution video signal, and wherein the method further comprises compressing the high-resolution video signal.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting the particular data packets to tag based on a tagging sampling rate.

18. A device comprising:

a receiver configured to;

receive a video data stream via a network, the video data stream comprising a plurality of data packets, wherein a first subset of the plurality of data packets is usable to generate a video display of content having a first quality and all of the plurality of data packets are usable to generate a second video display of the content having a second quality, the second quality higher than the first quality, and wherein the first subset of the plurality of data packets is distinguished from other data packets of the plurality of data packets by a tag; and

generate copies of the first subset of the plurality of data packets and send the copies of the first subset of the plurality of data packets to a first display device; and

a transmitter configured to send the plurality of data packets to a second device.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the tag is associated with a video input parameter and wherein the video input parameter is associated with a device type of at least one of the first display device and the second device.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the video data stream further comprises a second subset of the plurality of data packets, wherein the second subset of the plurality of data packets is usable to generate a video display of the content having a third quality, the third quality lower than the first quality, wherein the second subset of the plurality of data packets is distinguished from other data packets of the plurality of data packets by a second tag, and wherein the receiver is further configured to generate copies of the second subset of the plurality of data packets and send the copies of the second subset of the plurality of data packets to a third display device.