Motion and audio detection based webcamming and bandwidth control

• US 6,813,372 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech, Inc. (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Bateman, John D., Standridge, Aaron D., Billerbeck, Bryed L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jayanti K.
• Application Number:
  US09/823,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20020141619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/103, 382/107, 382/232, 382/236, 340/506, 340/531, 345/163, 345/719, 345/156, 348/207.99, 348/211.3, 375/240.01, 709/217, 715/500.1, 715/513, 725/46, 725/105
• US Class Current: 382/107
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/132 Sampling, masking or truncation of coding units, e.g. adaptive resampling, frame skipping, frame interpolation or high-frequency transform coefficient masking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/587 involving temporal sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. decimation or subsequent interpolation of pictures in a video sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23418 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics television picture signal circuitry for scene change detection H04N5/147; filtering for image enhancement G06T5/00; methods or arrangements for recognising scenes G06V20/00; arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN

Abstract

The disclosure includes a video (including audio) processing system for transmission of a video frame across a network. The system includes a video input mechanism, a motion detection mechanism, and a web cam mechanism. The video input mechanism is configured to receive a first video frame and a second video frame. The motion detection mechanism is configured to compare the first video frame with the second video frame. It is also configured to generate a motion-detected signal if the comparison of the frames deviates from a threshold value. The web cam mechanism is configured to transmit the second video frame if it received the motion detection signal from the motion detection mechanism. The disclosure also includes a method for processing a selected video frame for transmission across a network. The method includes receiving a video frame, comparing it with a reference frame to determine if it deviates from a threshold value, and transmitting the video frame if it does deviate from the threshold value or discarding it if does not.

Claims

1. A video processing system for transmission of a video frame across a network, the system comprising:

a video input mechanism configured to receive a first video frame and a second video frame;

a motion detection mechanism configured to compare the first video frame with the second video frame using a processing technique from a group consisting of;

a pixel comparison technique, a blob comparison technique, and a frame zone comparison technique, and configured to generate a motion-detected signal in response to the comparison deviating from a threshold value; and

a web cam mechanism configured to transmit the second video frame in response to receiving the motion detection signal.

2. The video processing system in claim 1, wherein the motion detection mechanism is further configured to compare the first video frame with the second video frame using a pixel-by-pixel comparison technique.

3. The video processing system in claim 1 wherein deviating from the threshold value indicates an occurrence of motion in the second video frame with respect to the first video frame.

4. The video processing system in claim 1, wherein the web cam mechanism generates a video frame capture signal in response to receiving the motion-detected signal.

5. The video processing system in claim 4, wherein the video input mechanism captures the second video frame in response to receiving the video frame capture signal.

6. The video processing system in claim 1 wherein the web cam mechanism determines the threshold value for the motion detection mechanism.

7. The video processing system in claim 1 further comprising an interface configured to receive input from a user, the input including at least one from a group consisting of the threshold value, a video frame comparison technique to compare the first video frame and the second video frame, and a video frame input rate into the video processing system.

8. The video processing system in claim 1 wherein the video input mechanism consisting of one from a group of a video camera configured to generate video frames, a storage having a video clip, and memory having a video clip.

9. The video processing system in claim 1 wherein the web cam mechanism transmits the second video frame to one from a group consisting of a web host and a peer user system.

10. The video processing system in claim 1 wherein the web cam mechanism is further configured to receive a request for a video frame from a peer user system and is configured to reply to the request in response to the second video frame deviating from the threshold value.

11. The video processing system in claim 1 wherein the video frame includes an audio segment.

12. A video processing system for transmission of a video frame across a network, the system comprising:

a video input mechanism configured to receive a first video frame and a second video frame;

a motion detection mechanism configured to compare the first video frame with the second video frame and configured to generate a motion-detected signal in response to the comparison deviating from a threshold value; and

a web cam mechanism configured to transmit the second video frame in response to receiving the motion detection signal, wherein the video processing system includes at least one from a group consisting of;

the video input mechanism is further configured to receive a first audio frame and a second audio frame;

the motion detection mechanism is further configured to compare the first audio frame and the second audio frame and configured to generate an audio-detected signal in response to the comparison deviating from an audio threshold value; and

the web cam mechanism is further configured to transmit the second audio frame in response to receiving the audio-detection signal.

13. A method for processing a selected video frame for transmission across a network, the method comprising:

receiving a first video frame;

comparing the received first video frame with a reference video frame using

a comparison technique selected from a group consisting of;

a pixel

comparison technique, a blob comparison technique, and a frame zone comparison technique;

determining if the comparison of the first video frame and the reference video frame deviates from a threshold value;

transmitting the first video frame in response to deviating from the threshold value; and

discarding the first video frame in response to not deviating from the threshold value.

14. The method for processing the selected video frame in claim 13 further comprising comparing the received video first videoframe with a reference video frame using a pixel-by-pixel comparison technique.

15. The method for processing the selected video frame in claim 13 further comprising capturing the first video frame in response to deviating from the threshold value.

16. The method for processing the selected video frame in claim 13 wherein the first video frame is the reference video frame in response to deviating from the threshold value.

17. The method for processing the selected video frame in claim 13 wherein the first video frame is received from one of a group consisting of:

a video camera configured to generate video frames, a storage having a video clip, and memory having a video clip.

18. The method for processing the selected video frame in claim 13 wherein the first video frame is transmitted to a host in response to deviating from the threshold value.

19. The method for processing the selected video frame in claim 13 wherein the first video frame is transmitted to a peer user system in response to deviating from the threshold value.

20. The method for processing the selected video frame in claim 13 further comprising receiving a request from a peer user system for a video frame.

21. The method for processing the selected video frame in claim 20 wherein a reply to the peer user system includes the first video frame in response to deviating from the threshold value.

22. The method for processing the selected video frame in claim 20 wherein the peer user system includes a web browser configured to provide a threshold value.

23. The method for processing the selected video frame in claim 13 wherein each video frame comprises an audio segment.

24. A method for processing a selected video frame for transmission across a network, the method comprising:

receiving a first video frame;

comparing the received first video frame with a reference video frame, wherein each video frame includes an audio frame;

determining if the comparison of the first video frame and the reference video frame deviates from a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is selected from a group consisting of;

a change in shading, a binary change, a decibel level change, a frequency level change, and a sound pressure level change;

transmitting the first video frame in response to deviating from the threshold value; and

discarding the first video frame in response to not deviating from the threshold value.

25. A video processing system configured to transmit a selected video frame across a network, the system comprising:

a means for receiving a first video frame;

a means for comparing the first video frame with a reference video frame to determine movement in the first video frame, wherein the means for comparing comprises one selected from the group consisting of;

a pixel comparison technique, a blob comparison technique, and a frame zone comparison technique;

a means for determining whether the comparison of the first video frame and the reference video frame deviates from a threshold value; and

a means for transmitting the first video frame to the network in response to deviating from the threshold value.

26. The video processing system in claim 25 further comprising a means for capturing the first video frame in response to deviating from the threshold value.

27. The video processing system in claim 26 wherein the captured first video frame becomes the reference video frame.

28. The video processing system in claim 25 wherein the means for comparing further comprises a means for identifying a first pixel set value in the first video frame and a second pixel set value in the reference frame and a means for evaluating a change between the first pixel set value and the second pixel set value.

29. The video processing system in claim 25, further comprising a means for generating video frames.

30. The video processing system in claim 25, wherein the means for comparing comprises a motion detector.

31. The video processing system in claim 25 wherein the means for determining comprises at least one from a group consisting of a motion detector and a web cam application.

32. The video processing system in claim 25 further comprising a means for receiving a request for a video frame from a peer user system.

33. The video processing system in claim 32 further comprising a means for generating in response to the request a reply having the first video frame in response to deviating from the threshold value.

34. The video processing system in claim 32 wherein the request provides the threshold value.

35. The video processing system in claim 32 wherein each video frame comprises an audio frame.

36. A video processing system configured to transmit a selected video frame across a network, the system comprising:

a means for receiving a first video frame;

a means for comparing the first video frame with a reference video frame to determine movement in the first video frame, wherein each video frame comprises an audio segment;

a means for determining whether the comparison of the first video frame and the reference video frame deviates from a threshold value, wherein the threshold value represents one from a group consisting of;

a change in shading, a binary change change, a decibel level change, a frequency level change, and a sound pressure level change;

a means for receiving a request for a video frame from a peer user system; and

a means for transmitting the first video frame to the network in response to deviating from the threshold value.

37. A method for selectively transmitting video frames across a network, the method comprising:

receiving a video frame having a first value from a video input;

retrieving a reference video frame having a second value from a memory;

retrieving a threshold value from the memory;

comparing the first value with the second value to determine a difference value;

capturing the video frame in the memory in response to the difference value deviating from the threshold value;

transmitting the captured video frame to the network;

replacing the reference video frame with the captured video frame so that the captured video frame is the reference video frame; and

discarding the video frame in response to the difference value not deviating from the threshold value.

38. The method for selectively transmitting video frames in claim 37 further comprising receiving the threshold value from a web browser and storing the threshold value in the memory.

39. The method for selectively transmitting video frames in claim 37 wherein the video input comprises one from a group consisting of:

a video camera, a memory having a video frame, and a storage device having a video frame.

40. The method for selectively transmitting video frames in claim 37, wherein a frame zone includes at least one pixel.

41. The method for selectively transmitting video frames in claim 37 wherein each video frame comprises an audio frame.

42. The method for selectively transmitting video frames in claim 41, wherein the audio frame comprises an audio signal.

43. The method for selectively transmitting video frames in claim 37 wherein deviating from the threshold value includes one from a group exceeding the threshold value and falling below the threshold value.

44. The method for selectively transmitting video frames in claim 37 wherein deviating from the threshold value includes equaling the threshold value.

45. A method for selectively transmitting video frames across a network, the method comprising:

receiving a video frame having a first value from a video input;

retrieving a reference video frame having a second value from a memory, wherein

each video frame includes an audio segment;

retrieving a threshold value from the memory, wherein the threshold value represents one from a group consisting of;

a change in shading, a binary change, a decibel level change, a frequency level change, and a sound pressure level change;

comparing the first value with the second value to determine a difference value;

capturing the video frame in the memory in response to the difference value deviating from the threshold value;

transmitting the captured video frame to the network;

replacing the reference video frame with the captured video frame so that the captured video frame is the reference video frame; and

discarding the video frame in response to the difference value not deviating from the threshold value.

46. A system for processing at least one from a group of a video frame and an audio frame for transmission across a network, the system comprising

an input mechanism configured to receive a frame, the frame including at least one from a group comprising a video frame and an audio frame;

a detection mechanism configured to compare the received frame with a reference frame, the reference frame comprising a reference video frame in response to the received frame being a video frame or comprising a reference audio frame in response to the received frame being an audio frame, wherein the detection mechanism compares the received frame with the reference frame using a processing technique from a group consisting of;

a pixel comparison technique, a blob comparison technique, and a frame zone comparison technique in response to the received frame comprising a video frame, the detection mechanism further configured to generate a detection signal in response to the comparison between the reference frame and the received frame deviating from a threshold value,

a web cam application configured to transmit the received frame to the network in response to receiving the detection signal and configured to determine an update of the reference frame with a new reference frame.

47. A system for processing at least one from a group of a video frame and an audio frame for transmission across a network, the system consisting of

an input mechanism configured to receive a frame, the frame including at least one from a group comprising a video frame and an audio frame;

a detection mechanism configured to compare the received frame with a reference frame, the reference frame comprising a reference video frame in response to the received frame being a video frame or comprising a reference audio frame in response to the received frame being an audio frame, wherein the detection mechanism compares the received frame with the reference frame using one from a group consisting of;

determining a differential in a decibel level, a frequency level, and a sound pressure level in response to the received frame comprising an audio frame, the detection mechanism further configured to generate a detection signal in response to the comparison between the reference frame and the received frame deviating from a threshold value; and

a web cam application configured to transmit the received frame to the network in response to receiving the detection signal and configured to determine an update of the reference frame with a new reference frame.