Video telecommunications server and method of providing video fast forward and reverse

• US 6,012,091 A
• Filed: 06/30/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boyce, Jill MacDonald
• Primary Examiner(s): GRANT, CHRISTOPHER C
• Application Number:
  US08/885,911
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 348/14, 348/15, 348/16, 348/17, 348/18, 348/19, 348/10, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 386/68, 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/004 Predictors, e.g. intraframe, interframe coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23 Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware

Abstract

A video telecommunication server for use in providing a fast scan of a video telecommunication comprises a bitstream store for receiving and storing a coded input video telecommunication digital bitstream. The server further comprises a video decoder for decoding the received digital video bitstream and, in one embodiment, a representation of every nth frame of said decoded digital video signal is stored in a frame store depending on a desired speed-up rate, where n is greater than one. A video encoder reencodes the stored video telecommunication predictively such that every nth frame is predicted based on the preceding frame. A fast scan digital video bitstream is generated for output by the video encoder that represents the fast scan video telecommunication, either in a fast forward or fast reverse direction. A receiver for receiving a control input may receive data representing the direction of fast scan and the speed-up rate. In further embodiments, the video encoder comprises an intra frame encoder or provides for requesting intra frames from a transmitting video encoder at periodic intervals.

Claims

1. A video telecommunication server for use in providing a fast scan of a coded video telecommunication comprising

a digital video bitstream store for receiving and storing a coded digital video bitstream of a video telecommunication,

a video decoder for decoding said coded digital video bitstream and outputing a decoded digital video signal,

a video signal store for storing a representation of every nth frame of said decoded digital video signal, where n is greater than one, depending on a speed-up rate, and

a video encoder for encoding said decoded digital video signal for output as a fast scan video telecommunication bitstream.

2. A video telecommunication server as in claim 1 wherein said video encoder encodes a predictive coding of a sequence formed of every nth frame stored in said video signal store.

3. A video telecommunication server as in claim 1 wherein said video encoder outputs an intracoding of every nth frame.

4. A video telecommunication server as in claim 1, said server periodically requesting an intracoded frame from a video encoder transmitting said video telecommunication.

5. A video telecommunication server as in claim 1, said server further comprising an input for receiving a signal indicating a speed-up rate n.

6. A video telecommunication server as in claim 1, said video encoder for encoding said decoded digital video signal for output at plural speed-up rates n.

7. A video telecommunication server as in claim 1 wherein said coded video telecommunication is compressed, said video decoder for decoding and decompressing all of said stored digital video bitstream.

8. A video telecommunication server as in claim 1 wherein said coded video telecommunication is compressed according to ITU standards.

9. A video telecommunication server as in claim 1 wherein said coded video telecommunication is also compressed and said video decoder operates at sufficiently high speeds to decode and decompress said received telecommunication as soon as said telecommunication is retrieved at said speed-up rate.

10. A video telecommunication server as in claim 2 wherein said video encoder has a sufficiently increased motion estimation range to achieve prediction in a sequence of frames comprising action and changes in scenes in real time at reasonable perceived quality.

11. A video telecommunication server as in claim 1, wherein said video encoder encodes frames at a rate that is not equal to a frame rate of said received video telecommunication.

12. A video telecommunication server as in claim 1, wherein said video encoder encodes frames at a different bit rate than a bit rate of a received video telecommunication.

13. A video telecommunication server as in claim 1, wherein said server further comprises an input for receiving fast scan direction data, said fast scan being in a selected fast forward or fast reverse direction.

14. A video telecommunication server for use in providing a fast scan of a coded video telecommunication comprising

a digital video bitstream store for receiving and storing a coded digital video bitstream of a video telecommunication,

a video decoder for decoding said coded digital video bitstream and outputting a decoded digital video signal,

a video signal store for storing a representation of every nth frame of said decoded digital video signal, where n is greater than one, depending on a speed-up rate,

a video encoder for encoding said decoded digital video signal for output as a fast scan video telecommunication bitstream, and

an intra video encoder, an intra-coded bitstream storage and an intra video decoder for outputting an intra-decoded sequence of frames for encoding by said video encoder.

15. A video telecommunication server for use in providing a fast scan of a coded video telecommunication comprising

a digital video bitstream store for receiving and storing a coded digital video bitstream of a video telecommunication,

a video decoder for decoding said coded digital video bitstream and outputting a decoded digital video signal,

a video signal store for storing a representation of every nth frame of said decoded digital video signal, where n is greater than one, depending on a speed-up rate,

a video encoder for encoding said decoded digital video signal for output as a fast scan video telecommunication bitstream, and

a video encoder having an extra I frame, a fast scan bitstream store, and a video decoder for outputting a sequence of frames for encoding by said video encoder.

16. A method of providing a fast scan of a coded video telecommunication comprising the steps of

storing an input digital video bitstream representing said coded video telecommunication,

decoding said stored digital video bitstream,

storing a representation of every nth frame of said decoded digital video signal, where n is greater than one, depending on a speed-up rate, and

reencoding said digital video signal for output as a fast scan video telecommunication bitstream.

17. A method of providing a fast scan as in claim 16 wherein said reencoding step comprises encoding a predictive coding of a sequence formed of every stored nth frame.

18. A method of providing a fast scan as in claim 16 wherein said encoding step comprises intracoding every nth frame.

19. A method of providing a fast scan as in claim 16 further comprising the step of periodically requesting an intracoded frame from a video encoder transmitting said video telecommunication.

20. A method of providing a fast scan as in claim 16, further comprising the step of receiving an input indicating a speed-up rate n.

21. A method of providing a fast scan as in claim 16, wherein said encoding and decoding of said digital video signal is performed at plural speed-up rates n.

22. A method of providing a fast scan as in claim 16 wherein said coded video telecommunication is compressed, and said decoding step comprises decoding and decompressing all of said stored digital video bitstream.

23. A method of providing a fast scan as in claim 16 wherein said coded video telecommunication is compressed according to ITU standards.

24. A method of providing a fast scan as in claim 16 wherein said coded video telecommunication is also compressed and said decoding step is performed at sufficiently high speeds to decode and decompress said received telecommunication as soon as said telecommunication is retrieved at said speed-up rate.

25. A method of providing a fast scan as in claim 17, said video encoding step having a sufficiently increased motion estimation range to achieve prediction in a sequence of frames comprising action and changes in scenes in real time at reasonable perceived quality.

26. A method of providing a fast scan as in claim 16, said video encoding step operating to encode frames at a rate that is not equal to a frame rate of said received video telecommunication.

27. A method of providing a fast scan as in claim 16, said video encoding step encoding frames at a different bit rate than a bit rate of a received video telecommunication.

28. A method of providing a fast scan as in claim 16 further comprising the step of receiving an input signal representing a choice of fast scan direction, said fast scan being in a selected fast forward or fast reverse direction.

29. A method of providing a fast scan as in claim 16 further comprising the steps of receiving a signal indicative of a change of speed to normal and outputting said stored digital video bitstream and bypassing said decoding, representation storing and reencoding steps.

30. A method of providing a fast scan comprising steps of:

storing an input digital video bitstream representing said coded video telecommunication;

decoding said stored digital video bitstream;

storing a representation of every nth frame of said decoded digital video signal, where n is greater than one, depending on a speed-up rate;

intracoding said stored frame sequence;

storing an intracoded bitstream;

intra video decoding said intracoded bitstream for outputting an intra-decoded sequence of frames for reencoding; and

reencoding said digital video signal for output as a fast scan video telecommunication bitstream.

31. A method of providing a fast scan comprising steps of:

storing an input digital video bitstream representing said coded video telecommunication,

decoding said stored digital video bitstream,

storing a representation of every nth frame of said decoded digital video signal, where n is greater than one, depending on a speed-up rate;

intracoding an extra I frame;

storing a fast scan bitstream;

decoding said fast scan bitstream to output a sequence of frames for encoding by a video encoder; and

reencoding said digital video signal for output as a fast scan video telecommunication bitstream.