Method and apparatus for distributing multimedia to remote clients

• US 7,103,668 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2000
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Viva Vision
• Original Assignee: Inetcam
• Inventors: Lund, Christopher D., Corley, Janine W., Rice, Keith O., Johnson, Bruce W., Davey, Jeffrey M., Nguyen, Tien H., Johnson, Dale R., Volfson, Leonid B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/652,113
• Time in Patent Office: 2,198 Days
• Field of Search: 709/233, 709/232, 709/231, 709/228, 725/105
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 adapting media to device capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles

Abstract

Video and audio signals are streamed to remote viewers that are connected to a communication network. A host server receives an originating video and audio signal that may arrive from a single source or from a plurality of independent sources. The host server provides any combination of the originating video and audio signals to viewers connected to a communication network. A viewer requests the host server provide a combination of video and audio signals from the host server. The host server transmits an instruction set to be executed by the viewer. The instruction set causes the viewer to transmit parameters to the host user, including parameters relating to the processing capabilities of the viewer. The host server then transmits multimedia data to the viewer according to the received parameters. A plurality of viewers may be simultaneously connected to the host server. Each of the plurality of viewers may configure the received video and audio signals independent of any other viewer and may generate alerts based on the video and audio content.

Claims

1. A method of distributing media data to a client computer via a network from a host computer, comprising:

receiving a data request at the host computer from a client computer via the network;

launching a module on the client computer;

receiving a client computer specific parameter from the module on the client computer;

streaming media data to the client computer from the host computer via the network according to the client computer specific parameter; and

detecting video motion, wherein said detecting is performed on a block level, by the process comprising;

receiving a video image;

subdividing the video image into a grid of blocks;

processing every block from the grid of blocks according to the following;

determining a cross correlation by comparing an individual block from a current grid of blocks with a corresponding individual block from a previous grid of blocks;

if the cross correlation is below a predetermined correlation threshold level, then;

calculating the variance in the brightness of the block over the corresponding block of the previous image;

if the variance in the brightness is above a variance threshold, then marking the block as having motion;

if the variance in the brightness is below the variance threshold, then marking the block as not having motion;

if the cross correlation is above the predetermined threshold level, then marking the block as not having motion; and

repeating the processing until video motion detection is determined for every block in the grid.

2. The method of distributing media data according to claim 1, wherein said client computer specific parameter comprises the processing capability of the client computer.

3. The method of distributing media data according to claim 2, wherein said streaming media data is at a rate compatible with the processing capability of the client computer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the media data stream is sent to the client computer while another media data stream is sent to another client at an independent rate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the client computer specific parameter is selected from the group consisting of video source selection, audio source selection, audio and video source selection, frame rate, compression level, image resolution, image brightness, image contrast, and image view.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the client computer is selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor- or processor-controlled device or system that permits access to a network, including a terminal device, such as a personal computer, a workstation, a server, a client, a mini-computer, a main-frame computer, a laptop computer, a network of individual computers, a mobile computer, a palm-top computer, a hand-held computer, a set top box for a television, an interactive television, an interactive kiosk, a personal digital assistant, an interactive wireless communications device, and a mobile browser.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the media data comprises audio data.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the media data comprises video data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the media data comprises video and audio data.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

launching a delay monitoring module on the client computer;

detecting a changed multimedia data stream transmission at the client computer;

sending a request via a network to a host computer requesting a changed multimedia data stream rate transmission;

sending a client computer specific parameter to the host computer via the network; and

sending a media data stream to the client computer via the network according to the client specific parameter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the media data stream transmission change occurs at a regular interval.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the media data stream occurs at a specific departure from a current transmission rate.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the media data stream is sent to the client computer while another media data stream to another client is sent at an independent rate.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the media data includes a video image, and further comprising:

selecting a region of the video image to view on the client computer;

sending a request to the host computer via the network requesting transmittal of data corresponding to the selected region of the video image; and

sending data to the client computer via the network corresponding to the selected region of the video image.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein successive regions are selected and viewed permitting panning.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a dynamic domain name system (DNS) by a host with a dynamic IP address comprising a process of:

connecting the host to the network;

determining if the host has a new IP address;

checking for a subsequent IP address change at regular intervals; and

if the host has a new IP address, then;

sending a request to a DNS server to update the IP address; and

sending to the host updated status from the DNS server.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the DNS server provides the client computer with an updated IP address.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the host computer specifies a schedule of availability to the DNS server.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the DNS host server directs the client to a message website posting the host'"'"'s schedule, if the host is unavailable.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the DNS host server monitors when the host is connected to the network and when the host is not connected the DNS host server refers the client to a message website posting the host'"'"'s schedule.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the module to the client computer via the network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein

transmitting the module to the client computer comprises transmitting a Java module to the client computer via the network.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising launching the Java module on the client computer via the network.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said media data comprises recorded media data.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the media data is streamed to the client computer while other media data is streamed to another client at an independent rate according to a client specific parameter for said another client.

26. A method of distributing media data to a client computer via a network from a host computer, comprising:

receiving a data request at the host computer from a client computer via the network;

launching a module on the client computer;

receiving a client computer specific parameter from the module on the client computer;

streaming media data to the client computer from the host computer via the network according to the client computer specific parameter; and

detecting video motion wherein detecting motion is performed on a frame level by comprising;

obtaining a reference video frame;

obtaining a current video frame;

determining motion detection on a block level comparing the current video frame to the reference video frame such that a number of blocks with motion detection is determined;

calculating a fraction of video blocks having motion;

if the fraction is below a low threshold value, then no motion is detected for the current video frame;

if the fraction is above the low threshold value, then determining if the fraction is below a medium threshold value;

if the fraction is below the medium threshold value, then performing a slight response and logging subsequent images;

if the fraction is above the medium threshold value, then determining if fraction is below a high threshold value;

if the fraction is below the high threshold value, then performing a moderate response and logging subsequent images; and

if the fraction is above the high threshold value, then performing a severe response and logging subsequent images.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein performing the slight response comprises at least one of transmitting a first email notification to an address determined by the host user, sounding an audible alert, originating a phone call to a first number determined by the host user, or initiating predetermined control of external hardware.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein performing the moderate response comprises at least one of transmitting a first email notification to an address determined by the host user, sounding an audible alert, originating a phone call to a first number determined by the host user, initiating predetermined control of external hardware, transmitting a second email message indicating the detected motion lies within the second range, or initiating a second predetermined phone message directed to a phone number determined by the host user.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein performing the severe response comprises at least one of transmitting a third email message to a predetermined address, originating a phone call with a “

severe”

message to a predetermined phone number, originating a phone call to a predetermined emergency phone number, or controlling external hardware associated with severe responses.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the logged images are time stamped.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the client computer specific parameter is selected from the group consisting of video source selection, frame rate, compression level, image resolution, image brightness, image contrast, and image view.