Content transmission apparatus, content transmission method, content reproduction apparatus, content reproduction method, program, and content delivery system

• US 8,842,974 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kitazato, Naohisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, EILEEN M
• Application Number:
  US13/238,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20120082440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 386/282
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234345 the reformatting operation being performed only on part of the stream, e.g. a region of the image or a time segment
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/45455 applied to a region of the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4728 for selecting a Region Of Interest [ROI], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613

Abstract

A content transmission apparatus includes: a retaining section adapted to retain a high-definition video image content; a reception section adapted to receive picture frame information transmitted from a content reproduction apparatus; a calculation section adapted to calculate a cutout range based on the received picture frame information; a cutout section adapted to cut out the calculated cutout range from the retained high-definition video image content; and a signaling section adapted to signal an arbitrary picture frame content configured from a result of the cutout to the content reproduction apparatus.

Claims

1. A content transmission apparatus, comprising:

circuitry configured to

retain a high-definition video image content;

receive picture frame information transmitted from a content reproduction apparatus, the picture frame information defining a user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content;

calculate a cutout range corresponding to the user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content based on the received picture frame information, the received picture frame information including a user-defined position of the cutout range;

cut out the calculated cutout range from the high-definition video image content; and

signal an arbitrary picture frame content configured from a result of the cutout, from the high-definition video image content, to the content reproduction apparatus.

2. The content transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said circuitry calculates the cutout range for each frame based on the received picture frame information, and

said circuitry cuts out the cutout range calculated for each frame from each frame of the high-definition video image content.

3. The content transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

convert the definition of the high-definition video image content into a full picture frame content;

and

deliver the produced full picture frame content.

4. The content transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the user-defined position is an initial position of the cutout range, and

the picture frame information further includes a moving amount per unit time.

5. The content transmission apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the picture frame information further includes an enlarging or reducing amount of the cutout range per unit time.

15. The content transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the picture frame information is designated by a user of the content reception apparatus.

6. A content transmission method for a content transmission apparatus, comprising:

receiving picture frame information transmitted from a content reproduction apparatus, the picture frame information defining a user-defined sub-region of a high-definition video image content;

calculating, by circuitry of the content transmission apparatus, a cutout range corresponding to the user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content based on the received picture frame information, the received picture frame information including a user-defined position of the cutout range;

cutting out, by the circuitry of the content transmission apparatus, the calculated cutout range from the high-definition video image content; and

signaling an arbitrary picture frame content configured from a result of the cutout, from the high-definition video image content, to the content reproduction apparatus.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform a content transmission method comprising:

receiving picture frame information transmitted from a content reproduction apparatus, the picture frame information defining a user-defined sub-region of a high-definition video image content;

calculating, by the computer, a cutout range corresponding to the user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content based on the received picture frame information, the received picture frame information including a user-defined position of the cutout range;

cutting out, by the computer, the calculated cutout range from the high-definition video image content; and

signaling an arbitrary picture frame content configured from a result of the cutout, from the high-definition video image content, to the content reproduction apparatus.

8. A content reproduction apparatus, comprising:

circuitry configured to

input an operation of a user for designating an arbitrary cutout range on a screen of a high-definition video image content;

produce picture frame information based on the inputted operation, the picture frame information defining a user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content and including a user-defined position of the cutout range;

transmit the produced picture frame information, defining the user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content, to a content transmission apparatus; and

receive an arbitrary picture frame content which is signaled from the content transmission apparatus in response to the transmitted picture frame information and whose cutout range designated by the user and corresponding to the user-defined sub-region is cut out from the high-definition video image content.

9. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the circuitry is further configured to convert the definition of the received arbitrary picture frame content.

10. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the user-defined position is an initial position of the cutout range, and

the picture frame information further includes a moving amount per unit time.

11. The content reproduction apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the picture frame information further includes an enlarging or reducing amount of the cutout range per unit time.

12. A content reproduction method for a content reproduction apparatus, comprising:

inputting, by circuitry of the content reproduction apparatus, an operation of a user for designating an arbitrary cutout range on a screen of a high-definition video image content;

producing, by the circuitry of the content reproduction apparatus, picture frame information based on the inputted operation, the picture frame information defining a user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content and including a user-defined position of the cutout range;

transmitting the produced picture frame information, defining the user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content, to a content transmission apparatus; and

receiving an arbitrary picture frame content which is signaled from the content transmission apparatus in response to the transmitted picture frame information and whose cutout range designated by the user and corresponding to the user-defined sub-region is cut out from the high-definition video image content.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform a content reproduction method comprising:

inputting, by the computer, an operation of a user for designating an arbitrary cutout range on a screen of a high-definition video image content;

producing, by the computer, picture frame information based on the inputted operation, the picture frame information defining a user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content and including a user-defined position of the cutout range;

transmitting the produced picture frame information, defining the user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content, to a content transmission apparatus; and

receiving an arbitrary picture frame content which is signaled from the content transmission apparatus in response to the transmitted picture frame information and whose cutout range designated by the user and corresponding to the user-defined sub-region is cut out from the high-definition video image content.

14. A content delivery system, comprising:

a content transmission apparatus including circuitry configured to

retain a high-definition video image content,

receive picture frame information transmitted from a content reproduction apparatus, the picture frame information defining a user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content,

calculate a cutout range corresponding to the user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content based on the received picture frame information, the received picture frame information including a user-defined position of the cutout range,

cut out the calculated cutout range from the high-definition video image content, and

signal an arbitrary picture frame content configured from a result of the cutout, from the high-definition video image content, to the content reproduction apparatus,

the content reproduction apparatus including circuitry configured to

input an operation of a user for designating an arbitrary cutout range on a screen of the high-definition video image content,

produce the picture frame information, defining the user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content, based on the inputted operation,

transmit the produced picture frame information, defining the user-defined sub-region of the high-definition video image content, to the content transmission apparatus, and

receive the arbitrary picture frame content which is configured from the result of the cutout from the high-definition video image content and is signaled from the content transmission apparatus in response to the transmitted picture frame information.