Throughput enhanced video communication

• US 6,597,736 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadel, Charles K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, TUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/537,926
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: H04/B.166, 375/240, 375/240.01, 375/240.15, 375/240.16, 375/240.22, 382/107, 382/110, 382/117, 382/118, 382/119, 382/234, 382/236
• US Class Current: 375/240.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/001 Model-based coding, e.g. wire frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/186 the unit being a colour or a chrominance component

Abstract

Video image communication throughput is enhanced by mapping the video image based on a predetermined color range, creating a color mapped image. A first template is created around certain regions of the color mapped image. A second template is created around certain shapes within the first template. Bandwidth on the communications link is then allocated based on the regions of the video image relative to the boundaries of the templates. The techniques are primarily used to optimize video images of the human face. The first template approximates the shape of a human face. The second template approximates a rectangular shape of the eyes region of a human face and a triangular shape of the nose-mouth region of a human face. Bandwidth is the allocated based upon the defined regions.

Claims

1. A method providing throughput enhanced video communication comprising the steps of:

receiving a video image over a communications link;

mapping the video image based on a predetermined range, resulting in a range mapped image;

creating a first template around certain regions of the range mapped image;

creating a second template around certain regions within first template; and

directly allocating bandwidth on the communications link without requiring compression, based on the regions of the video image that are;

     1) outside the boundaries of the first template,

     2) inside the boundaries of the first template, and

     3) inside the boundaries of the second template.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined range can be adjusted.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined range is a range comprising at least one of a black and white, gray-scale or color spectrum.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the color range includes a range of flesh-tones.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the range is non-contiguous.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the boundaries of the first template can be adjusted.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first template is associated with a tracking system such that the first template is adjusted as the video image changes.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the certain regions define shapes.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the shapes approximate the shape of a human face.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the certain regions are non-contiguous.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the boundaries of the second template can be adjusted.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the second template is associated with a tracking system such that the second template is adjusted as the video image changes.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the certain regions within the first template define shapes.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the shapes approximates a rectangular shape of the eyes region of a human face and a triangular shape of the nose-mouth region of a human face.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the certain regions within the first template are non-contiguous.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein a highest amount of bandwidth is allocated to the image within the boundaries of the second template, a next highest amount of bandwidth is allocated to the image within the boundaries of the first template, and remaining bandwidth is allocated to the image outside the boundaries of the first template.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the allocation of bandwidth can be adjusted.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications link can be DSL, analog, cable, wireless or power line.

19. An apparatus providing throughput enhanced video communication comprising:

a communications interface device connected to a communications link receiving a video image;

a memory which can store;

a range mapped image created based on mapping the video image against a predetermined range,

a first template created around certain regions of the image mapped image;

a second template created around certain regions within the first template; and

the communications link having bandwidth directly allocated without requiring compression, based on the regions of the video image that are;

     1) outside the boundaries of the first template,

     2) inside the boundaries of the first template, and

     3) inside the boundaries of the second template.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the predetermined range can be adjusted.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the predetermined range is a range comprising at least one of black and white, gray-scale and color spectrum.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the color range includes a range of flesh-tones.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the range is non-contiguous.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the boundaries of the first template can be adjusted.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first template is associated with a tracking system such that the first template is adjusted as the video image changes.

26. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the certain regions define shapes.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the shapes approximate the shape of a human face.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the certain regions are non-contiguous.

29. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the boundaries of the second template can be adjusted.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the second template is associated with a tracking system such that the second template is adjusted as the video image changes.

31. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the certain regions within the first template define shapes.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the shapes approximates a rectangular shape of the eyes region of a human face and a triangular shape of the nose-mouth region of a human face.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the certain regions within the first template are non-contiguous.

34. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein a highest amount of bandwidth is allocated to the image within the boundaries of the second template, a next highest amount of bandwidth is allocated to the image within the boundaries of the first template, and remaining bandwidth is allocated to the image outside the boundaries of the first template.

35. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the allocation of bandwidth can be adjusted.

36. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the communications link can be DSL, analog, cable, wireless or power line.

37. An apparatus providing throughput enhanced video communication comprising:

a means for receiving a video image over a communications link;

a means for mapping the video image based on a predetermined range, resulting in a range mapped image;

a means for creating a first template around certain regions of the range mapped image;

a means for creating a second template around certain regions within the first template; and

a means for directly allocating bandwidth on the communications link without requiring compression, based on the regions of the video image that are;

     1) outside the boundaries of the first template,

     2) inside the boundaries of the first template, and

     3) inside the boundaries of the second template.

38. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium for providing throughput enhanced video communication;

a set of computer program instructions embodied on the computer usable medium, including instructions to;

receive a video image over a communications link;

map the video image based on a predetermined range, resulting in a range mapped image;

create a first template around certain regions of the range mapped image;

create a second template around certain regions within the first template; and

directly allocate bandwidth on the communications link without requiring compression, based on the regions of the video image that are;

     1) outside the boundaries of the first template,

     2) inside the boundaries of the first template, and

     3) inside the boundaries of the second template.

39. A propagated signal carried on an electromagnetic waveform, the signal comprising a set of computer program instructions to:

receive a video image over a communications link;

map the video image based on a predetermined range, resulting in a range mapped image;

create a first template around certain regions of the range mapped image;

create a second template around certain regions within the first template; and

directly allocate bandwidth on the communications link without requiring compression based on the regions of the video image that are;

     1) outside the boundaries of the first template,

     2) inside the boundaries of the first template, and

     3) inside the boundaries of the second template.