Method of relaying digital video & audio data via a communication media

• US 6,243,865 B1
• Filed: 04/01/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Multiscience Systems Pte Limited
• Original Assignee: Multiscience Systems Pte Limited
• Inventors: Xu, Zhong Hua, Wei, Winston Ser Tuen
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Keiu-Oanh
• Application Number:
  US09/053,878
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 348/416, 348/845, 348/699, 348/17, 348/18, 348/19, 348/7, 348/15, 348/385, 348/387, 348/388, 348/36, 348/39, 348/575, 348/576, 348/578, 345/327, 345/328, 345/355, 345/357, 345/473, 702/395, 382/248, 382/244
• US Class Current: 725/41
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23412 for generating or manipulating the scene composition of objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects

Abstract

A method of relaying digital video data over a communications medium such as the Internet is provided where accelerated relaying time can be realised. The method involves assembling digital data of one frame representing a scene of a video image plus data of one or more filters and parameters therefor to be applied to the digital data over a plurality of repeated frames of that scene. All that data is relayed to a users personal computer and then an apparent video movie is generated at the personal computer over a plurality of repeated frame images of the one frame by applying the filters thereto. The filters can include PAN ZOOM FADE etc., so that when applied over the plurality of frames each of the same scene, there will be an apparent motion video movie. Many scenes and filters can be employed to enhance the video. In providing a video of real estate, such as details of an apartment, a 2-D floor plan of the apartment can also be relayed so that a viewer of the apparent video can obtain a better understanding of the image being viewed at any given point of time. The 2-D floor plan can have a route-of-path line drawn thereon to further enhance the understanding of the image being viewed. A moving indicator can be displayed over the route-of-path which can be approximately synchronised with the apparent video to give an approximate indication on the route-of-path for the image being viewed at any given point of time.

Claims

1. A method of relaying digital video data, said method including:

providing a first set of digital data of a first frame representing a first scene of a video image,

assembling data of one or more filters, and parameters therefor to be applied to the digital data over a plurality of repeated frames of the first scene,

providing a second set of digital data of a second frame representing a second scene of a video image,

assembling data of one or more filters, and parameters therefor to be applied to the digital data over a plurality of repeated frames of the second scene,

relaying the first and second sets of digital data and the data of the filters, and parameters therefor, together with transition data, On a single file, from a first location to a second location over a communications medium,

and at said second location receiving and reproducing the first and second sets of digital data over the plurality of repeated frames with one or more video filters, and parameters therefor and transition data applied whereby to generate at the second location an apparent video movie over those reproduced video frames, wherein said transition data controls the way in which there is transition between the first and second scenes.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communications medium is the Internet.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the filters include one or more of ZOOM, PAN, TILT, DISTORT, MORPH, FADE and other effect filters.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the digital data of at least one frame is compressed according to a particular codec prior to relaying over the communications medium, and is decompressed according to the same codec at the another location.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein a server computer is provided at said one location and a personal computer (PC) is provided at said another location, and wherein the Internet is the communications medium with the server computer being connected to be accessible as a web site on the Internet, and where the digital data and data of the filters and parameters therefor are downloadable from the server by said PC as “

Plug-In”

files to the PC.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein each scene is part of a 2-D area, and wherein a floor plan of that area is also relayed from said one location to another location so that said floor plan can be reproduced concurrently with the apparent video.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the floor plan includes a rout-of-path line to indicate a path of movement which corresponds with the reproduction of apparent movement of the apparent video.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein an indicator is displayed with the route-of-path line to indicate an approximate position on the route-of-path of viewing at any given instant of playing of the apparent video.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein timing data is relayed from the one location to the another location to define an end point time of the line of route-of-path in order that the indicator can be tracked to the end of that line at a required time instant.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein there are three or more scenes, each with their own data of one or more filters, transitions, and parameters therefor to be applied to the digital data over a plurality of repeated frames of the scenes and wherein all the digital data of a single frame of each scene, and the data of one or more filters, transitions and parameters therefor is relayed in a single file from said first location to said second location, and received and reproduced at said second location as an apparent video including all the scenes.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said timing data represents a time of change when the apparent video movie changes from one scene to the next scene so that said indicator will reach a change of direction point on said route-of-path at approximately the same time there is a scene change in the apparent video.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein digital data of each scene, the time durations thereof, filter and transtions and their start and end times is assembled in one file, data representative of the floor plan of the 2-D area is assembled in another file, and said timing data is assembled in another file, and all three files are relayed from one location to said another location as “

plug-in”

files, and then used at said another location for the generation of the apparent video movie.

13. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the apparent video is controllable at the another location by PLAY and STOP buttons on a video controller displayable on a monitor screen of said personal computer.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the digital data of each scene, the time durations thereof, filters and transitions and their start and end times are data of differing file types and wherein said one file has a unique file extension identifying that it is a file containing different file types.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission time over the transmission medium is less than that required to transmit digital data of a video movie of the same content if digital data of all of those reproduced video frames were transmitted.