Remote video observation systems
First Claim
1. The method of transmitting video images from a sender to a receiver comprising the steps of:
- encoding at the sender each image as a plurality of digitally coded pixels;
transmitting from the sender to the receiver a first portion of the data for each pixel, said first portion having the same significance for all pixels;
displaying at the receiver the portion of the image represented by said first portions; and
transmitting from the sender to the receiver a second portion of the data for each pixel only if said portion of the image represented by said first portions is not sufficient information about the original image, said second portions having the same significance for all pixels.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
To speed the transmission of video images via transmission lines which can be of relatively low grade (e.g., voice-grade telephone transmission lines), each video image is encoded as a plurality of pixels, and the bits for each pixel are transmitted in order of significance (i.e., the most significant bits for all pixels are sent first, then the next most significant bits for all pixels are sent, and so on). At the receiver the image is displayed as it is received, and transmission is terminated as soon as the observer of the display has sufficient information about the image. Although many other applications are possible, the illustrative embodiment is a remote railroad freight car identification system.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. The method of transmitting video images from a sender to a receiver comprising the steps of:
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encoding at the sender each image as a plurality of digitally coded pixels; transmitting from the sender to the receiver a first portion of the data for each pixel, said first portion having the same significance for all pixels; displaying at the receiver the portion of the image represented by said first portions; and transmitting from the sender to the receiver a second portion of the data for each pixel only if said portion of the image represented by said first portions is not sufficient information about the original image, said second portions having the same significance for all pixels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Apparatus for transmitting video images from a sender via a transmission medium to a receiver comprising:
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first means associated with the sender for encoding each image as a plurality of digitally coded pixels; second means associated with the sender for applying to the transmission medium for transmission to the receiver a first portion of the data for each pixel, said first portions having the same mathematical significance for all pixels; third means associated with the receiver for receiving said first portions from the transmission medium and for displaying the portion of the image represented by said first portions; fourth means associated with the receiver for applying to the transmission medium for transmission to the sender a signal indicative of the acceptability of the image displayed by said third means; and fifth means associated with the sender for receiving said signal indicative of the acceptability of the image displayed by said third means and for applying to the transmission medium for transmission to the receiver a second portion of the data for each pixel only if said signal indicates that the image displayed by said third means is not acceptable, said second portions having the same mathematical significance for all pixels. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for remote observation of objects at a point of observation which is remote from said objects comprising:
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first means adjacent the objects for periodically generating data representative of an image of said objects, said data being broken into segments, each of which represents an element of said image; second means adjacent said objects for transmitting to said point of observation the most significant portion of the data segment associated with each image element; third means adjacent said point of observation for receiving said most significant portions and for displaying an image based on said most significant portions; fourth means adjacent said point of observation for transmitting to the location of said objects a first signal indicative of the acceptability of the image displayed by said third means; fifth means adjacent said objects for receiving said first signal and for transmitting to said point of observation the next most significant portion of the data segment associated with each image element only if said first signal indicates that the image displayed by said third means is not acceptable; and sixth means adjacent said point of observation for receiving said next most significant portions and for displaying an image based on said most and next most significant portions if said next most significant portions are transmitted. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification