Method and apparatus for encoding video content

• US 7,023,492 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2001
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sullivan, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M.
• Application Number:
  US09/982,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20020047918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 348/565, 348/564, 348/569, 348/584, 348/588, 348/598, 375/240.1, 725/144, 725/146, 725/114, 725/116, 725/43
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0122 the input and the output signals having different aspect ratios
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A system identifies video data to be encoded as well as multiple display regions associated with a particular video display type. Each of the multiple display regions is associated with a different portion of an image associated with the video data. The video data is encoded such that the encoded video data includes information regarding the multiple display regions. Each of the multiple display regions has an associated display region identifier. Additionally, the system may identify an active region of the video data. The active region may be located anywhere within an image associated with the video data. The video data is encoded such that the encoded video data includes information regarding the active region.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying video content to be encoded;

identifying a first display region associated with a first video display type;

identifying a second display region associated with the first video display type, wherein the first and second display regions are associated with different portions of an image associated with the video content, and wherein the first and second display regions overlap one another; and

encoding the video content such that the encoded video content includes information regarding the first display region and the second display region.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a third display region associated with a second video display type; and

identifying a fourth display region associated with the second video display type, wherein the encoded video content includes information regarding the first display region, the second display region, the third display region, and the fourth display region.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising identifying an active region of the video content wherein encoding the video content includes indicating the active region of the image associated with the video content.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein each display region has an associated display region identifier.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating the encoded video content to a plurality of receivers.

6. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 1.