Data transmission with receiver side control

• US 6,445,824 B2
• Filed: 04/22/1998
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hieda, Teruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Couso, Jose L.
• Application Number:
  US09/064,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 382/232, 382/236, 382/238, 382/239, 382/240, 348/384, 348/14, 348/552, 348/571, 348/405, 348/408, 348/412, 348/415, 348/419, 348/423, 348/430, 348/431, 348/439
• US Class Current: 382/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• 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 21/440227 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6373 for rate control , e.g. request to the server to modify its transmission rate flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

This invention provides communication method, communication device, transmitting device, receiving device, communication system, and memory medium which can take high quality pictures and communicate efficiently. According to one aspect, this invention is a communication method for supplying moving picture data sent from a transmitter to a receiver side through a transmission channel, characterized by the transmitter sends moving picture data of a predetermined resolution and/or frame rate based on an instruction from the receiver.

Claims

1. Communication method for supplying moving picture data sent from a transmitter to a receiver through a transmission channel, said method comprising:

a reception step of receiving an instruction at the transmitter from the receiver concerning a resolution and frame rate of the moving picture data; and

a transmission step of sending the moving picture data from the transmitter to the receiver, with a resolution and frame rate of the moving picture data being based on the instruction from the receiver.

2. Communication method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted moving picture data is formatted hierarchically.

3. Communication method according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter transmits a part of the hierarchical moving picture data that includes a layer corresponding to the instruction from the receiver.

4. Communication method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits the moving picture data obtained from an object.

5. Communication method according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits a sequence of moving picture data, which is of an identity that is based on the instruction from the receiver, from among a plurality of sequences of moving picture data.

6. Communication method according to claim 1, wherein the receiver displays an image based on the moving picture data from the transmitter.

7. Communication method for supplying moving picture data to a receiver through a transmission channel, said method comprising:

a reception step of receiving an instruction from the receiver concerning a resolution and frame rate of the moving picture data; and

a transmission step of sending the moving picture data to the receiver at a resolution and frame rate based on the instruction from the receiver.

8. Communication method according to claim 7, wherein the transmitted moving picture data is formatted hierarchically.

9. Communication method according to claim 8, wherein a part of the hierarchical moving picture data includes a layer corresponding to the instruction from the receiver.

10. Communication method according to claim 7, wherein a transmitter transmits the moving picture data obtained from an object.

11. Communication method according to claim 7, wherein the moving picture data is selected, based on the instruction from the receiver, from among a plurality of sequences of moving picture data.

12. Communication method according to claim 7, wherein the receiver displays an image based on the moving picture data from a transmitter.

13. Communication method for receiving moving picture data from a transmitter to a receiver through a transmission channel, said method comprising:

a transmission step of sending an instruction to the transmitter concerning a resolution and frame rate of the moving picture data; and

a reception step of receiving the moving picture data from the transmitter, with a resolution and frame rate of the moving picture data being based on the instruction.

14. Communication method according to claim 13, wherein the transmitted moving picture data is formatted hierarchically.

15. Communication method according to claim 14, wherein the transmitter transmits a part of the hierarchical moving picture data that includes a layer corresponding to the instruction.

16. Communication method according to claim 13, wherein the transmitter transmits the moving picture data obtained from an object.

17. Communication method according to claim 13, wherein the transmitter transmits the moving picture data, of which kind is based on the instruction from the receiver, from among a plurality of sequences of moving picture data.

18. Communication method according to claim 13, wherein an image is displayed based on the moving picture data from the transmitter.

19. Communication method for supplying moving picture data sent from a transmitter to a receiver through a transmission channel, said method comprising a transmission step of sending, from the transmitter, moving picture data of a predetermined resolution and frame rate based on an instruction from the receiver.

20. Communication method according to claim 19, wherein the transmitter transmits a part of the hierarchical moving picture data that includes a layer corresponding to the instruction from the receiver.

21. Communication method according to claim 19, wherein the receiver instructs a resolution or a frame rate to the transmitter.

22. Communication method according to claim 19, wherein the transmitter transmits the moving picture data obtained from an object.

23. Communication method according to claim 19, wherein the transmitter transmits the moving picture data, of which kind is based on the instruction from the receiver, from among a plurality of sequences of moving picture data.

24. Communication method according to claim 19, wherein the receiver displays an image based on the moving picture data from the transmitter.

25. Communication method between a transmitter, which produces digital moving picture data, and a receiver, which receives the digital moving picture data through a network and displays the digital moving picture data, said method comprising:

a notification step of notifying the transmitter of a predetermined resolution and frame rate, which is set at the receiver; and

a transmission step of supplying from the transmitter to the receiver the moving picture data of the predetermined resolution and frame rate,

wherein the moving picture data is obtained from hierarchical data based on a notification in said notification step.

26. Communication apparatus that supplies moving picture data sent from a transmitter to receiver through a transmission channel, said apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting moving picture data, said transmitter including an image processor for obtaining moving picture data and a transmission circuit for sending the moving picture data obtained by the image processor to a transmission channel; and

a receiver for receiving the moving picture data transmitted by said transmitter,

wherein the transmission circuit sends the moving picture data of a predetermined resolution and frame rate obtained from hierarchical data based on an instruction from said receiver.

27. Communication apparatus according to claim 26,

wherein the transmission circuit includes a data generator for producing hierarchical data based on the moving picture data obtained by the image processor, and

wherein the transmission circuit sends a part of the hierarchical data that includes a layer corresponding to the instruction from said receiver.

28. Communication apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said receiver includes an input unit for inputting a resolution or a frame rate, and said receiver instructs the resolution or the frame rate to the transmission circuit.

29. Communication apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the image processor includes an image capturing unit for taking pictures of an object and generating moving picture data.

30. Communication apparatus according to claim 26, wherein

the image processor includes a memory for storing a plurality of sequences of moving picture data, and

the transmission circuit sends a selected sequence of moving picture data based on the instruction from said receiver from among the plurality of sequences of moving picture data stored in the memory.

31. Communication apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said receiver includes a display unit for displaying an image based on the moving picture data from said transmitter.

32. Communication apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for generating digital moving picture data; and

a receiver for displaying an image based on the digital moving picture data received from the transmitter through a transmission channel, wherein

said receiver notifies a resolution and a frame rate, which are pre-set, to said transmitter, and

said transmitter supplies, to said receiver, the digital moving picture data of the pre-set resolution and pre-set frame rate obtained from hierarchical data based on an instruction from said receiver.

33. Communication apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for generating digital moving picture data; and

a receiver for displaying an image based on the digital moving picture data transmitted from said transmitter through a transmission channel, wherein

said receiver notifies a predetermined resolution and frame rate to said transmitter, and

said transmitter supplies, to said receiver, the digital moving picture data of the predetermined frame rate obtained from hierarchical data based on an instruction from said receiver.

34. Transmitting apparatus that sends moving picture data via a transmission channel, said apparatus comprising:

an image processor for obtaining moving picture data; and

a transmission circuit for sending the moving picture data to the transmission channel,

wherein said transmission circuit sends the moving picture data of a predetermined resolution and frame rate obtained from hierarchical data based on an instruction supplied through the transmission channel from a receiver.

35. Transmitting apparatus according to claim 34,

wherein said transmission circuit includes a data generator for producing hierarchical data based on the moving picture data obtained by said image processor, and

wherein said transmission circuit sends a part of the hierarchical data that includes a layer corresponding to the instruction.

36. Transmitting apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said image processor includes an image capturing unit for taking pictures of an object and generating the moving picture data.

37. Transmitting apparatus according to claim 34, wherein

said image processor includes a memory for storing a plurality of sequences of moving picture data, and

said transmission circuit sends a selected sequence of moving picture data based on the instruction from among the plurality of sequences of moving picture data stored in the memory.

38. Receiving apparatus that receives moving picture data from a transmitter through a transmission channel, said apparatus comprising:

a command unit for instructing a predetermined resolution and frame rate to the transmitter; and

a receiver for receiving the moving picture data of the predetermined resolution and frame rate obtained from hierarchical data based on an instruction by said command unit.

39. Receiving apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said receiver receives a part of the hierarchical data that includes a layer corresponding to the instruction by said command unit.

40. Receiving apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising an input unit for inputting a resolution or a frame rate,

wherein said command unit instructs the resolution or the frame rate input by said input unit to the transmitter.

41. Receiving apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said receiver receives the moving picture data obtained by taking pictures of an object.

42. Receiving apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said receiver receives a selected sequence of moving picture data based on the instruction of said command unit from among a plurality of sequences of moving picture data.

43. Receiving apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising a display unit for displaying an image based on the received moving picture data.

44. A computer-executable program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium, said computer-executable program product for supplying moving picture data sent from a transmitter to a receiver through a transmission channel, said computer-executable program product comprising:

computer-readable program code for receiving an instruction at the transmitter from the receiver concerning a resolution and frame rate of the moving picture data; and

computer-readable program code for sending the moving picture data from the transmitter to the receiver at a resolution and frame rate based on the instruction from the receiver.

45. A computer-executable program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium, said computer-executable program product for supplying moving picture data to a receiver through a transmission channel, said computer-executable program product comprising:

computer-readable program code for receiving an instruction from the receiver concerning a resolution and frame rate of the moving picture data; and

computer-readable program code for sending the moving picture data to the receiver at a resolution and frame rate based on the instruction from the receiver.

46. A computer-executable program product stored on a computer-readable medium, said computer-executable program product for receiving, at a receiver, moving picture data transmitted from a transmitter through a transmission channel, said computer-executable program product including:

computer-readable program code for sending an instruction to the transmitter concerning a resolution and frame rate of the moving picture data; and

computer-readable program code for receiving the moving picture data from the transmitter at a resolution and frame rate based on the instruction.