Method and streaming video server for use in a multimedia system

• US 9,420,341 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2014
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pixelworks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: VIXS Systems Incorporated (Pixelworks Incorporated)
• Inventors: Laksono, Indra
• Primary Examiner(s): Parra, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US14/514,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20150089537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23 Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• 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 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream or rendering scenes according to encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 : using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• 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 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only

Abstract

A multimedia server receives a plurality of programs of a multimedia source. The multimedia server includes a tuning module to receive the plurality of programs and to select a set of programs from the plurality of programs based on a set of program select commands that is derived from select requests. A program mixer mixes the set of programs into a stream of program data. One or more transceiving modules transmit the stream of program data on to corresponding communication paths and receive the select requests. A client module produces the select requests for one or more clients. The client module includes a selection module to produce at least one of the select requests. A network interface controller transmits at least one of select requests to the multimedia server and receives the stream of program data via the communication path or paths in response.

Claims

1. A streaming video server comprising

a network transceiver operably coupled to communicate with a plurality of client devices that each includes a video display, wherein the plurality of client devices include at least one cellphone remotely located from the streaming video server, wherein the network transceiver receives a first video request from a first client device of the plurality of client devices and a second video request from a second client device of the plurality of client devices;

an interface for coupling the streaming video server to a plurality of video sources, the plurality of video sources including at least one digital video storage module that digitally stores at least one video program, wherein the at least one video storage module responds to the first video request and generates a first video stream from the at least one video program digitally stored in the at least one digital video storage module and responds to the second video request and generates a second video stream from the at least one video program digitally recorded and stored in the video storage module; and

an encoding module operably coupled to format the first video stream and the second video stream in accordance with a packet format and forms a stream of video data that includes the first video stream and the second video stream, wherein the encoding module controls delivery of the first video stream to the first client device in accordance with a priority associated with real-time transmissions and further in accordance with pause, fast forward and rewind commands from the first client device, while also controlling delivery of the second video stream to the second client device in accordance with a priority associated with the real-time transmissions and further in accordance with pause, fast forward and rewind commands from the second client device;

wherein the encoding module adapts video quality of the first video stream based on first data received from the first client device;

wherein the encoding module adapts the video quality of the second video stream based on second data received from the second client device, and wherein the video quality of the first video stream differs from the video quality of the second video stream.

2. The streaming video server of claim 1 wherein the encoding module adapts the video quality of the first video stream by adjusting a video resolution.

3. The streaming video server of claim 1 wherein the first client device is a cellphone and wherein the encoding module adapts video quality of the first video stream based on first data received from the cellphone that indicates a video resolution.

4. The streaming video server of claim 1 wherein the first client device is a cellphone and wherein the encoding module adapts video quality of the first video stream based on a bandwidth of communications with the cellphone.

5. The streaming video server of claim 1 further comprising:

a control module operably coupled to evaluate the first video request, to determine if the first client device is authenticated, to determine if access privileges associated with a user of the first client device permit fulfillment of the first video request, and to authorize the at least one digital video storage module to satisfy the first video request when the first client device is authenticated and also the access privileges associated with the user permit fulfillment of the first video request.

6. The streaming video server of claim 1 further comprising:

a control module operably coupled to evaluate the first video request, to determine if parental controls associated with a user of the first client device permit fulfillment of the first video request, and to authorize the at least one digital video storage module to satisfy the first video request when the parental controls associated with the user permit fulfillment of the first video request.

7. A method comprising

communicating with a plurality of client devices that each includes a video display, wherein the plurality of client devices are remotely located from a streaming video server, wherein the communicating includes receiving a first video request from a first client device of the plurality of client devices and a second video request from a second client device of the plurality of client devices;

coupling the streaming video server to a plurality of video sources, the plurality of video sources including at least one digital video storage module that digitally stores at least one video program;

responding to the first video request to generate a first video stream from the at least one video program digitally stored in the at least one digital video storage module;

responding to the second video request to generate a second video stream from the at least one video program digitally recorded and stored in the at least one digital video storage module;

formatting the first video stream and the second video stream in accordance with a packet format and forming a stream of video data that includes the first video stream and the second video stream; and

controlling delivery of the first video stream to the first client device in accordance with a priority associated with real-time transmissions and further in accordance with pause, fast forward and rewind commands from the first client device, while also controlling delivery of the second video stream to the second client device in accordance with a priority associated with real-time transmissions and further in accordance with pause, fast forward and rewind commands from the second client device, wherein a video quality of the first video stream is adapted based on first data received from the first client device, wherein the video quality of the second video stream is adapted based on second data received from the second client device, and wherein the video quality of the first video stream differs from the video quality of the second video stream.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the video quality of the first video stream is adapted by adjusting a video resolution.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the first client device is a cellphone and wherein a video quality of the first video stream is adapted based on first data received from the cellphone that indicates a video resolution.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the first client device is a cellphone and wherein a video quality of the first video stream is adapted based on a bandwidth of communications with the cellphone.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining if the first client device is authenticated; and

determining if access privileges associated with a user of the first client device permit fulfillment of the first video request,

wherein the first video request is satisfied when the first client device is authenticated and also the access privileges associated with the user permit fulfillment of the first video request.

12. A streaming video server comprising

a network transceiver operably coupled to communicate with a plurality of client devices that each includes a video display via a packet data network, wherein the plurality of client devices include at least one cellphone remotely located from the streaming video server, wherein the network transceiver receives a first video request from a first client device of the plurality of client devices and a second video request from a second client device of the plurality of client devices;

an interface for coupling the streaming video server to a plurality of video sources, the plurality of video sources including at least one digital video storage module that digitally stores at least one video program, wherein the at least one video storage module responds to the first video request and generates a first video stream from the at least one video program digitally stored in the at least one digital video storage module and responds to the second video request and generates a second video stream from the at least one video program digitally recorded and stored in the at least one digital video storage module; and

an encoding module operably coupled to format the first video stream and the second video stream in accordance with a packet format if the packet data network and forms a stream of video data that includes the first video stream and the second video stream, wherein the encoding module controls delivery of the first video stream to the first client device in accordance with a priority associated with real-time transmissions and further in accordance with pause, fast forward and rewind commands from the first client device, while also controlling delivery of the second video stream to the second client device in accordance with a priority associated with real-time transmissions and further in accordance with pause, fast forward and rewind commands from the second client device;

wherein the encoding module adapts video quality of the first video stream based on first data received from the first client device and wherein the encoding module adapts the video quality of the first video stream by adjusting a video resolution.

13. The streaming video server of claim 12 wherein the encoding module adapts the video quality of the second video stream based on second data received from the second client device, and wherein the video quality of the first video stream differs from the video quality of the second video stream.

14. The streaming video server of claim 12 wherein the first client device is a cellphone and wherein the encoding module adapts the video quality of the first video stream based on first data received from the cellphone that indicates the video resolution.

15. The streaming video server of claim 12 wherein the first client device is a cellphone and wherein the encoding module adapts the video quality of the first video stream based on a bandwidth of communications with the cellphone.