Video Stream Composed of Combined Video Frames and Methods and Systems for its Generation, Transmission, Reception and Reproduction

• US 20130307942A1
• Filed: 01/10/2012
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sisvel S.p.A. (Fineur International S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Sisvel S.p.A. (Fineur International S.A.)
• Inventors: Dini, Roberto, D'Amato, Paolo, Celia, Saverio
• Granted Patent: US 9,843,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 for processing graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/816 involving special video data, e.g 3D video
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85406 involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

A video stream composed of combined video frames having a first resolution and include in their entirety two contents usable through extraction from the aforesaid video frame: a first content belonging to a video stream (F1) at a second resolution lower than the first resolution of the frame; and, in the area of the frame formed by the remaining pixels, at least a second content belonging to an information stream (F2) having, in the case where it is also a video stream, a resolution equal to or less than the second resolution, where during the fruition of one of the two video streams it is shown full-screen in its entirety, or in the case of a data information stream, data encoded via a set of pixels, the number of which is less than or equal to the number of pixels left free by the first video stream.

Claims

1. A system for the composition and fruition of a video frame having a first resolution and comprising;

in their entirety, two contents usable through extraction from the aforesaid video frame;

a first content belonging to a video stream (F1) at a second resolution lower than said first resolution of said video frame; and

in the area of the video frame formed by the remaining pixels, at least a second content belonging to an information stream (F2) having, in the case where it is also a video stream, a resolution equal to or less than said second resolution, where during the fruition of one of said two video streams said video stream is shown full-screen in its entirety, or, in the case of a data information stream, data encoded via a set of pixels, the number of which is less than or equal to the number of pixels left free by the first video stream, said video frame being suitable to produce, through a temporal sequence of video frames formed in this way,

a video stream (C) comprising

at least two information streams, one composed of said video stream (F1) and the other composed of said information stream (F2) with content independent of the previous video stream (F1).

2. The system for the composition and fruition of a video frame according to claim 1, wherein the video frame is of the Full HD type, and the first content and the second content are images belonging to two independent 2D video streams of lower resolution than Full HD and both are contained in the Full HD format, and where both video streams are free-to-air.

3. The system for the composition and fruition of a video frame according to claim 1, wherein the frame is of the Full HD type, and the first content and the second content are images belonging to two independent 2D video streams of lower resolution than Full HD and both are contained in the Full HD format, and where one of the video streams is encrypted.

4. The system for the composition and fruition of a video frame according to claim 1, wherein the frame is of the Full HD type, and the first content and the second content are images belonging to two independent 2D video streams of lower resolution than Full HD and both are contained in the Full HD format, and where both video streams are encrypted.

5. The system for the composition and fruition of a video frame according to claim 1, wherein the frame is of the Full HD type, the first content is a 2D image of lower resolution than Full HD and the remaining space of the Full HD video frame contains the second content, which is a software update.

6. The system for the composition and fruition of a video frame according to claim 1, wherein the frame is of the Full HD type, and the first content and the second content are images belonging to two independent 3D video streams of lower resolution than Full HD and both are contained in the full HD format.

16. A system for the generation and transmission of video streams constituted by a temporal sequence of video frames according to claim 1 at a first resolution containing a first content belonging to a video stream (F1) at a second resolution lower than said first resolution, and, in the area of the video frame formed by the remaining pixels, at least a second content belonging to an information stream (F2) having, in the case where it is also a video stream, a resolution equal to or less than said second resolution, or in the case of a data information stream, data encoded via a set of pixels, the number of which is less than or equal to the number of pixels left free by the first video stream, said system comprising:

at least one source (1) of said video stream (F1);

at least one source (2) of said information stream (F2);

at least one multiplexer unit connected to said sources (1 and 2) of said video and information streams (F1 and F2) and able to forward as output a composite video stream of said video and information streams (F1 and F2);

at least one encoder and encapsulator connected to said multiplexer unit and able to receive as input said composite video stream (C) and generate as output a multimedia stream (FM);

at least one channel encoder and modulator able to receive as input said multimedia stream (FM) and transform it into a form suitable for transmission via the means of transmission.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising a control unit connected to a command unit and to said encoder and encapsulator to enable an operator to set the composition mode of said video frame.

18. The system according to claim 16, further comprising at least one storage medium able to store said multimedia stream (FM) created by said encoder and encapsulator in the form of a multimedia file (F).

19. A system for the reception and reproduction of video streams constituted by a temporal sequence of video frames at a first resolution containing a first content belonging to a video stream (F1) at a second resolution lower than said first resolution, and, in the area of the video frame formed by the remaining pixels, at least a second content belonging to an information stream (F2) having, in the case where it is also a video stream, a resolution equal to or less than said second resolution, or in the case of a data information stream, data encoded via a set of pixels, the number of which is less than or equal to the number of pixels left free by the first video stream, said system according to claim 1, comprising:

at least one demodulator able to receive from the means of transmission and demodulate a multimedia stream (FMR) composed of said video stream (F1) and said information stream (F2);

at least one decapsulator/decoder connected to said demodulator and able to receive said demodulated multimedia stream (FM) from the latter and forward as output a composite video stream (C);

at least one demultiplexer unit video connected to said decapsulator/decoder and able to separately forward as output said video stream (F1) and said information stream (F2).

20. The system according to claim 19, further comprising a control unit connected to a command unit and to said decapsulator/decoder to enable an operator to set the mode for splitting up and using said video frame.

21. The system according to claim 19, further comprising at least one storage medium able to store said multimedia stream received from said means of transmission in the form of a multimedia file (F).

7. A method for the generation of video streams, comprises comprising the steps of:

inserting, in a video frame at a first resolution, a first content belonging to a video stream (F1) at a second resolution lower than said first resolution of said video frame;

inserting, in the area of the video frame formed by the remaining pixels, at least a second content belonging to an information stream (F2) having, in the case where it is also a video stream, a resolution equal to or less than said second resolution, where during the fruition of one of said two video streams said video stream is shown full-screen in its entirety, or in the case of a data information stream, data encoded via a set of pixels, the number of which is less than or equal to the number of pixels left free by the first video stream; and

making a temporal sequence of frames formed in this way so as to constitute a video stream comprising at least two information streams, one composed of said video stream (F1) and the other composed of said information stream (F2) with content independent of the previous video stream (F1),

wherein said two contents can be used through extraction from the aforesaid video frame.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of making a temporal sequence of frames comprises the steps of:

multiplexing at least said video stream (F1) and said information stream (F2) to create a composite video stream (C); and

encoding and encapsulating said composite video stream (C) to create a multimedia stream (FM).

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

subjecting said multimedia stream to channel encoding and modulation; and

transmitting said modulated multimedia stream.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the video frame is of the Full HD type, and the first content and the second content are images belonging to two independent 2D video streams of lower resolution than Full HD and both are contained in the Full HD format, and where both video streams are free-to-air.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the frame is of the Full HD type, and the first content and the second content are images belonging to two independent 2D video streams of lower resolution than Full HD and both are contained in the Full HD format, and where one of the video streams is encrypted.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the video frame is of the Full HD type, and the first content and the second content are images belonging to two independent 2D video streams of lower resolution than Full HD and both are contained in the Full HD format, and where both video streams are encrypted.

14. The method according to claim 7, wherein the video frame is of the Full HD type, the first content is a 2D image of lower resolution than Full HD and the second content is a software update.

15. The method according to claim 7, wherein the video frame is of the Full HD type, and the first content and the second content are images belonging to two independent 3D video streams of lower resolution than Full HD and are both contained in the Full HD format.

10. A method for the reproduction of video streams constituted by a temporal sequence of video frames at a first resolution containing a first content belonging to a video stream (F1) at a second resolution lower than said first resolution, and, in the area of the frame formed by the remaining pixels, at least a second content belonging to an information stream (F2) having, in the case where it is also a video stream, a resolution equal to or less than said second resolution, or in the case of a data information stream, data encoded via a set of pixels, the number of which is less than or equal to the number of pixels left free by the first video stream, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a transmitted multimedia stream (FM);

demodulating said received multimedia stream;

decapsulating and decoding said multimedia stream to obtain a composite video stream (C);

demultiplexing said composite video stream (C) to separately obtain said video stream (F1) and said information stream (F2); and

reproducing at least one of said video stream (F1) and said information stream (F2).

22. (canceled)