Method of streaming video from multiple sources over a network
First Claim
1. A method of receiving digital multimedia data signals from multiple sources in a stream communicated over a fixed bandwidth communications path comprising:
- subscribing to a first layer of a first source, a first layer of a second source, and a second layer of the first source;
receiving data signals corresponding to the subscribed layers of the first and second sources in the stream over the fixed bandwidth communications path;
producing output signals corresponding to the received data signals for the first source and for the second source;
displaying the output signals for the first source in a first portion of a display;
substantially simultaneously displaying the output signals for the second source in a second portion of the display;
unsubscribing the second layer of the first source; and
subscribing to a second layer of the second source.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Reception of digital multimedia data signals from multiple sources in a stream over a fixed bandwidth communications path may be accomplished by subscribing to a base layer of a first source and a base layer of a second source, and subscribing to an enhancement layer of the first source. Data signals corresponding to the subscribed layers of the first and second sources may be received in a stream over the fixed bandwidth communications path, output signals may be produced which correspond to the received data signals for the first source, and output signals may be produced corresponding to the received data signals for the second source. The output signals for the first source may be displayed in a first portion or window of a display, and output signals for the second source may be simultaneously displayed in a second portion or window of the display, thereby providing a picture-in-picture (PIP) display for streaming digital video.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of receiving digital multimedia data signals from multiple sources in a stream communicated over a fixed bandwidth communications path comprising:
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subscribing to a first layer of a first source, a first layer of a second source, and a second layer of the first source;
receiving data signals corresponding to the subscribed layers of the first and second sources in the stream over the fixed bandwidth communications path;
producing output signals corresponding to the received data signals for the first source and for the second source;
displaying the output signals for the first source in a first portion of a display;
substantially simultaneously displaying the output signals for the second source in a second portion of the display;
unsubscribing the second layer of the first source; and
subscribing to a second layer of the second source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
subscribing to a third layer of the first source, the third layer comprising audio data signals;
receiving data signals corresponding to the third layer of the first source in a second stream over the fixed bandwidth communications path; and
producing audio output signals corresponding to the received data signals for the third layer.
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4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second layer of the second source comprises an enhancement layer of the second stream.
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5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
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displaying the output signals for the first source in the second portion of a display; and
substantially simultaneously displaying the output signals for the second source in the first portion of the display.
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6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
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unsubscribing the second layer of the second source; and
subscribing to the second layer of the first source.
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7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:
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displaying the output signals for the first source in the first portion of a display; and
substantially simultaneously displaying the output signals for the second source in the second portion of the display.
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- 8. An article comprising a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor the instructions subscribe the processor to receive a first layer of a first source, a first layer of a second source, and a second layer of the first source, control the reception of data signals corresponding to the subscribed layers of the first and second sources in a stream over a fixed bandwidth communications path, produce output signals corresponding to the received data signals for the first source and the second source, display the output signals for the first source in a first portion of a display, substantially simultaneously display the output signals for the second source in a second portion of the display, unsubscribe the second layer of the first source, and to subscribe the processor to a second layer of the second source.
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12. A method of streaming digital multimedia data signals of multiple sources from at least one server system in a layered stream over a fixed bandwidth communications path in a network to a client system comprising:
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subscribing to base layers of the multiple sources;
subscribing to an enhancement layer of a selected one of the sources;
receiving the base layers and the enhancement layer in the layered stream over the fixed bandwidth communications path at the client system;
displaying the base layer and the enhancement layer of the selected source in a first portion of a display of the client system;
substantially simultaneously displaying the base layer of at least one non-selected source in at least one other portion of the display; and
unsubscribing the enhancement layer of the selected source and subscribing to an enhancement layer of a newly selected source. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
receiving the base layers of the sources and the enhancement layer of the newly selected source;
displaying the base layer and the enhancement layer of the newly selected source in the first portion of the display; and
substantially simultaneously displaying the base layer of at least one non-selected source in at least one other portion of the display.
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15. The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling subscription of the enhancement layer by a user of the client system by a graphical user interface.
- 16. An article comprising a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor of a client system the instructions subscribe the client system to base layers of multiple sources of multimedia data, subscribe the client system to an enhancement layer of a selected one of the sources, control the reception of the base layers and the enhancement layer in a layered stream over a fixed bandwidth communications path at the client system, display the base layer and the enhancement layer of the selected source in a first portion of a display of the client system, display the base layer of at least one non-selected source in at least one other portion of the display, unsubscribe the enhancement layer of the selected source and subscribe to an enhancement layer of a newly selected source.
Specification