METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR STREAMING CONTENT

• US 20170324945A1
• Filed: 05/16/2017
• Published: 11/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nevermind Capital LLC
• Original Assignee: NextVR, Inc. (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Cole, David Michael, Moss, Alan McKay
• Application Number:
  US15/597,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20170324945A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0435 Change or adaptation of the frame rate of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2350/00 Solving problems of bandwidth in display systems
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/30 on the same track as the main recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/366 using viewer tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/816 involving special video data, e.g 3D video

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for streaming content corresponding to a 360 degree field of view are described. The methods and apparatus of the present invention are well suited for use with 3D immersion systems and/or head mounted display which allow a user to turn his or her head and see a corresponding scene portion. The methods and apparatus can support real or near real time streaming of 3D image content corresponding to a 360 degree field of view.

Claims

1. A method of delivering content corresponding to a 360 degree scene, the method comprising:

partitioning said 360 degree scene into a plurality of N portions;

determining a current viewing angle of a user; and

determining which of said N portions to stream to a playback device corresponding to said user during a first time interval based on the current viewing angle of said user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

determining which of said N portions to stream to a playback device corresponding to said user during a time interval based on the current viewing angle of said user includes:

selecting at least two different portions of said 360 degree scene to be streamed to said user during said first time interval.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining which of said N portions to stream to a playback device corresponding to said user during a time interval based on the current viewing angle of said user includes:

determining a number of different portions to stream based on a data rate available for streaming content to the user.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting at least two different portions of said 360 degree scene to be streamed to said user during said first time interval includes:

selecting a first scene portion to which said current viewing angle corresponds; and

selecting a second scene portion which is directly adjacent said first scene portion.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said second scene portion is selected as a function of the viewing angle, said second scene portion being a scene portion adjacent said first scene portion which is closest to the angle within said first scene portion indicated by said viewing angle.