Method and apparatus for dual image video teleconferencing

• US 6,677,979 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Westfield, William Chops
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/880,236
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.714, 348/14-1-, 348/14.1, 348/14.11, 348/14.12, 348/14.13, 348/14.16, 348/220, 370/260, 370/261, 709/204, 709/205
• US Class Current: 348/14.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing digital video teleconferencing over a network that allows a user to view the event in a manner more closely approximating live viewing are provided, while not requiring excessive use of bandwidth. Low resolution and high resolution of a videoconference event are obtained, preferably by using two cameras at the event. A whole eye view is sent to clients at low resolution. A user at the client can select one or more areas of interest to him (“attention windows”). High resolution data from the attention window(s) selected by each user is sent to the respective client. The client displays the whole eye view and the attention window data.

Claims

1. A method for providing video teleconferencing comprising:

receiving a low resolution data stream comprising an image of a first field of view from an event;

receiving a high resolution data stream comprising a second image, said second image being of a second field of view, said second field of view including an area of overlap with the said first field of view;

sending the low resolution data stream to a plurality of clients; and

for each of the plurality of clients performing;

simultaneously sending a subset of the high resolution data stream to said each of the plurality of clients;

wherein said subset of the high resolution data stream is different for at least two of said plurality of clients.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said subset is selected in accordance with an attention window associated with said each of the plurality of clients.

3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving updated attention window information for one or more of said plurality of clients.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

for one or more of said plurality of clients, updating an associated attention window in response to receiving updated window information.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said area of overlap comprises a majority of said field field of view.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the high resolution data is sent at a lower frame rate than the low resolution data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the low resolution data steam comprises sending the same image to each of said plurality of clients.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the low resolution data stream comprises sending multicast packets.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein sending low resolution data comprises sampling high resolution data.

10. A system for providing video teleconferencing comprising:

a processing system;

a memory storing code for operating said processing system, said code comprising;

code configured to receive a low resolution data stream comprising an image of a field of view of an event;

code configured to receive a high resolution data stream over a second field of view of the event, said second field of view including an area of overlap with the said first field of view;

code configured to send the low resolution data stream to a plurality of clients; and

code configured to, for each of the plurality of clients, simultaneously send a subset of the high resolution data stream to said each of the plurality of clients;

wherein said subset of the high resolution data stream is different for at least two of said plurality of clients.

11. A system as in claim 10 wherein said area of overlap comprises a majority of an area of said first field of view.

12. A computer program product for providing video teleconferencing comprising:

computer code that receives a low resolution data stream representing a view from an event;

computer code that receives a high resolution data stream over substantially the same view;

computer code that sends the low resolution data stream to a plurality of clients;

computer code that, for each of the plurality of clients, simultaneously sends a subset of the high resolution data stream to said each of the plurality of clients, wherein said subset of the high resolution data stream is different for at least two of said plurality of clients; and

a computer-readable medium for storing the codes.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer readable medium is a CD-ROM, floppy disk, tape, flash memory, system memory, hard drive, or data signal embodied in a carrier wave.

14. An apparatus for providing video teleconferencing comprising:

means for receiving a low resolution data stream comprising an image of a first field of view from an event;

means for receiving a high resolution data stream comprising a second image, said second image being of a second field of view, said second field of view including an area of overlap with the said first field of view;

means for sending the low resolution data stream to a plurality of clients; and

means for, for each of the plurality of clients, simultaneously sending a subset of the high resolution data stream to said each of the plurality of clients;

wherein said subset of the high resolution data stream is different for at least two of said plurality of clients.