Method, apparatus, and system for video fast forward functionality in a mobile phone

• US 7,493,644 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1999
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Tanskanen, Erkki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Application Number:
  US09/473,356
• Time in Patent Office: 3,339 Days
• Field of Search: 725/97, 725/105, 725/139, 725/143, 725/62
• US Class Current: 725/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234381 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. decreasing the frame rate by frame skipping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6373 for rate control , e.g. request to the server to modify its transmission rate flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/816 involving special video data, e.g 3D video
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

This present invention includes a method and an apparatus for receiving motion video, a method and a system for transmitting motion video, and software to implement the methods and to program the system and the apparatus. The method for receiving motion video includes receiving motion video data at a wireless from a motion video server via a wireless interface, displaying the motion video on a video display on the wireless terminal, and transmitting to the motion video server via the wireless interface display control commands to alter the presentation characteristics of received motion video. If for instance the display control command instructs the motion video server to increase the speed of the motion depicted in the video presentation, the motion video server may filter out any audio data and reduce the number of video image frames transmitted to the wireless terminal. The method for transmitting motion video includes receiving motion video data from a motion video server, transmitting the motion video data to a wireless terminal via a wireless interface, receiving from the wireless terminal via the wireless interface display control commands to alter the presentation characteristics of motion video, and transmitting the display control commands to the motion video server. The invention may be implemented, for example, in an apparatus such as a wireless telephone and in a system such as a digital wireless telephony network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting via a wireless interface from a motion video server to a wireless apparatus, a first data stream comprising a motion video having a plurality of intra-frames, each intra-frame being distant from another intra-frame by at least one inter-frame, the motion video having initial presentation characteristics, wherein the motion video is synchronized to audio data;

receiving at the motion video server via the wireless interface a first display control command at the wireless apparatus comprising an indication of intended presentation characteristics of the motion video;

creating at the motion video server, based upon reception of the first control command, a second data stream comprising motion video having the intended presentation characteristics, wherein the second data stream is created by filtering inter-frames between each intra-frame of the first data stream, causing the number of inter-frames between each intra-frame to be an altered value from a group of available values, according to a presentation speed selected from a plurality of presentation speeds specified within the first control command; and

storing time stamp information for maintaining synchronization of the motion video and audio data comprising the location and timing of each audio and video frame relative to the beginning of the motion video.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the second data stream from the motion video server via the wireless interface to the wireless apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial presentation characteristics comprise a presentation direction selected from the group consisting of forward and reverse, and further comprise a presentation speed selected from the group consisting of slower than real-time, substantially real-time, and faster than real-time, and wherein

the first display control command comprises a display control command altering the initial presentation characteristics and is selected accordingly from the group consisting of Stop, Pause, Slow Forward, Play Forward, Fast Forward, Slow Reverse, Play Rewind, and Fast Rewind.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving the motion video server via the wireless interface a second display control command to alter presentation characteristics of the second data stream, the second display control command comprising a synchronization command to maintain synchronization between the audio data and the video data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the second data stream further comprises a plurality of Intra-frames, each Intra-frame of the second data stream being separate from other Intra-frames in the plurality of Intra-frames by fewer Intra-frames than separate the Intra-frames in the first data stream,

the altered presentation characteristics differ from the initial presentation characteristics; and

the altered presentation characteristics further comprise a faster than real-time presentation selected from the group consisting of the presentations associated with display control commands Fast Forward and Fast Rewind.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the wireless interface further comprises a digital cellular telephony network comprising a plurality of cellular base stations;

the wireless interface is connected to the motion video server via a network connection; and

the wireless apparatus further comprises a cellular telephone.

7. A computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed perform a method comprising:

receiving by radio frequency receiver circuitry at a wireless apparatus a first data stream from a motion video server via a wireless interface, wherein the—

first data stream comprises a motion video having a plurality of intra-frames, each intra-frame being distant from another intra-frame by at least one inter-frame, the motion video having initial presentation characteristics, wherein the motion video is synchronized to audio data;

displaying the motion video having initial presentation characteristics on a video display of the apparatus; and

transmitting by radio frequency transmitter circuitry to the motion video server via the wireless interface a—

first display control command at the apparatus comprising an indication of intended presentation characteristics of the motion video, wherein the first control command is configured to request a second data stream comprising motion video having the intended presentation characteristics, wherein the second data stream is created by filtering inter-frames between each intra-frame of the first data stream, causing the number of inter-frames between each intra-frame to be an altered value from a group of available values, according to a presentation speed selected from a plurality of presentation speeds specified within the first control command wherein time stamp information is created for maintaining synchronization of the motion video and audio data comprising the location and timing of each audio and video frame relative to the beginning of the motion video.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising instructions, that when executed, further comprise:

receiving the second data stream from the motion video server via the wireless interface at the apparatus.

9. The computer-readable of claim 8, wherein:

the initial presentation characteristics comprise a presentation direction selected from the group consisting of forward and reverse, and, a presentation speed selected from the group consisting of slower than real-time, substantially real-time, and faster than real-time; and

the first display control command comprises a display control command altering the initial presentation characteristics and is selected accordingly from the group consisting of Stop, Pause, Slow Forward, Play Forward, Fast Forward, Slow Reverse, Play Rewind, and Fast Rewind.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 further comprising instructions, that when executed, further comprise:

receiving at the wireless apparatus a second data stream from the motion video server via the wireless interface having altered presentation characteristics;

displaying the motion video having altered presentation characteristics on the video display; and

transmitting to the motion video server via the wireless interface a second display control command to alter presentation characteristics of received motion video, the second display control command comprising a second synchronization command to maintain synchronization between the audio data and the video data.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein:

the altered presentation characteristics reflect the selection of the first display control command;

the altered presentation characteristics comprise a presentation direction selected from the group consisting of forward and reverse, and, a presentation speed selected from the group consisting of slower than real-time, substantially real-time, and faster than real-time;

the second display control command differs from the first display control command; and

the second display control command comprises a display control command altering the altered presentation characteristics and is selected accordingly from the group consisting of Stop, Pause, Slow Forward, Play Forward, Fast Forward, Slow Reverse, Play Rewind, and Fast Rewind.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein:

the second data stream further comprises a plurality of Intra-frames, each Intra-frame of the second data stream being separated from other Intra-frames in the plurality of Intra-frames by fewer Inter-frames than separate the Intra-frames in the first data stream,

the altered presentation characteristics differ from the initial presentation characteristics, and

the altered presentation characteristics further comprise a faster than real-time presentation selected from the group consisting of the presentations associated with display control commands Fast Forward and Fast Rewind.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein:

the wireless interface further comprises a digital cellular telephony network comprising a plurality of cellular base stations;

the wireless interface is connected to the motion video server via a network connection; and

the wireless apparatus further comprises a cellular telephone.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive from a motion video server via a wireless interface a motion video having a plurality of intra-frames, each intra-frame being distant from another intra-frame by at least one inter-frame, the motion video having initial presentation characteristics, wherein the motion video is synchronized to audio data;

a video display configured to receive the first data stream and further configured to display the motion video having the initial presentation characteristics;

a user-activated display control command input device configured to generate a first display control command subsequent to commencing display of at least a portion of the motion video, wherein the first display control command comprises a request for motion video having intended presentation characteristics created by filtering inter-frames between each intra-frame of the first data stream, causing the number of inter-frames between each intra-frame to be an altered value from a group of available values, according to a presentation speed selected from a plurality of presentation speeds specified within the first control command;

a transmitter configured to transmit to the motion video server via the wireless interface the first display control command, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a second data stream

comprising motion video having the intended presentation characteristics; and

a computer readable medium for storing time stamp information for maintaining synchronization of the motion video and audio data comprising the location and timing of each audio and video frame relative to the beginning of the motion video.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the initial presentation characteristics comprise a presentation direction selected from the group consisting of forward and reverse, and, a presentation speed selected from the group consisting of slower than real-time, substantially real-time, and faster than real-time; and

the first display control command comprises a display control command altering the initial presentation characteristics and is selected accordingly from the group consisting of Stop, Pause, Slow Forward, Play Forward, Fast Forward, Slow Reverse, Play Rewind, and Fast Rewind.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

the display control command input device is further configured to generate the second display control command and to transmit a second display control command to the transmitter circuitry.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the altered presentation characteristics reflect the selection of the first display control command;

the altered presentation characteristics comprise a presentation direction selected from the group consisting of forward and reverse, and, a presentation speed selected from the group consisting of slower than real-time, substantially real-time, and faster than real-time;

the second display control command differs from the first display control command; and

the second display control command comprises a display control command altering the altered presentation characteristics and is selected accordingly from the group consisting of Stop, Pause, Slow Forward, Play Forward, Fast Forward, Slow Reverse, Play Rewind, and Fast Rewind.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

the wireless interface further comprises a digital cellular telephony network comprising a plurality of cellular base stations;

the wireless interface is connected to the motion video server via a network connection; and

the wireless apparatus further comprises a cellular telephone.

19. An apparatus comprising:

processor—

configured to render video data into a first data stream, wherein the first data stream comprises a motion video having a plurality of intra-frames, each intra-frame being distant from another intra-frame by at least one inter-frame, the motion video having initial presentation characteristics, wherein the motion video is synchronized to audio data;

a transmitter for transmitting the first data stream to at least one wireless apparatus via a wireless communication network; and

a receiver for receiving display control commands that have been generated and transmitted by the at least one wireless apparatus, requesting alteration of the presentation characteristics of the motion video;

wherein upon receipt of a display control command the processor is configured to convert the video data into a second data stream comprising motion video having the intended presentation characteristics, wherein the second data stream is created by filtering inter-frames between each intra-frame of the first data stream, causing the number of inter-frames between each intra-frame to be an altered value from a group of available values, according to a presentation speed selected from a plurality of presentation speeds specified within the first control command; and

a computer-readable medium configured to determine time stamp information for maintaining synchronization of the motion video and audio data comprising the location and timing of each audio and video frame relative to the beginning of the motion video.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a multiplexer so that different data streams may be multiplexed for sending to different wireless apparatuses.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the display control commands further request an alteration in the bit rate of the first data stream.