Method of transmitting layered video-coded information

• US 20040261113A1
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Haskell, Barin Geoffry, Puri, Atul, Schmidt, Robert Lewis, Cash, Glenn L., Paul, Baldine-Brunel, Civanlar, M. Reha, Howard, Paul G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,958,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/631 Multimode Transmission, e.g. transmitting basic layers and enhancement layers of the content over different transmission paths or transmitting with different error corrections, different keys or with different transmission protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6437 Real-time Transport Protocol [RTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64738 Monitoring network characteristics, e.g. bandwidth, congestion level data switched network analysis H04L41/14; monitoring functioning in data switched networks H04L43/0817; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10

Abstract

Video-coded information is transmitted over a network at a priority level that is determined based on feedback from the network. In an embodiment, the feedback comprises a response to a request for information on whether the network currently has the available capacity to transmit additional high priority traffic. In an embodiment, a candidate base layer frame is transmitted over the network as a base layer frame if permission to send high priority data was granted and is transmitted over the network as an enhancement layer frame if permission to send high priority data was denied. In a further embodiment, the a candidate base layer frame deleted if permission to send high priority data was denied.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting information comprising transmitting video-coded information over a network at a priority level that is determined based on feedback from the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback comprises a response to a request for information on whether the network currently has available capacity to transmit additional high priority traffic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting video-coded information comprises:

receiving a frame of video data to be encoded;

requesting permission to send high priority data over the network;

receiving a response to the request for permission to send high priority data; and

encoding and transmitting the frame as a high priority video-coded frame if permission was granted to send high priority data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said transmitting video-coded information further comprises encoding and transmitting the frame as a low priority frame if permission was not granted to send high priority data.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said transmitting video-coded information further comprises deleting the video-coded frame from transmission if permission was not granted to send high priority data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting video-coded information comprises:

requesting permission to transmit high priority data;

encoding and buffering a high priority video frame at substantially the same time as said requesting permission to transmit high priority data;

transmitting the encoded video frame over the network as high priority data if permission to send high priority data was granted; and

deleting the encoded video frame from transmission if permission to send high priority data was not granted.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting video-coded information comprises:

encoding as high priority frames all video frames that are to be transmitted;

for each of said coded frames;

requesting permission to send high priority data;

transmitting the frame as a high priority frame if permission to transmit high priority data was granted; and

transmitting the frame as a low priority frame if permission to transmit high priority data was not granted.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the high priority frames are transmitted over the network separately than the low priority frames, wherein the high priority frames are transmitted over the network using a guaranteed quality of service trunk, and wherein the low priority frames are transmitted over the network on a best-effort truck.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting video-coded information comprises:

encoding a plurality of frames as either high priority frames or low priority frames according to a priority selection algorithm;

receiving information about loss of low priority frames by the network; and

if more than a threshold amount of low priority frames are being lost, encoding an additional number of the frames as high priority frames than is dictated by said algorithm, wherein said additional high priority frames are encoded at a lower quality than is generally used for high priority frames.

10. A method for transmitting video-coded information, the method comprising:

receiving video data to be coded into a video-coded frame;

requesting information relating to a network'"'"'s available capacity to sending high priority data;

receiving capacity information in response to said request; and

transmitting the video data as a video-coded base layer frame if the capacity information indicates that the network has capacity available to send high priority data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises transmitting the video data as a video-coded enhancement layer frame if the capacity information indicates that the network does not have capacity available to send high priority data.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein base layer frames are transmitted over the network separately than enhancement layer frames, wherein base layer frames are transmitted over the network using a guaranteed quality of service trunk, and wherein the enhancement layer frames are transmitted over the network on a best-effort truck.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises deleting the video data without transmitting said video data if the capacity information indicates that the network does not have capacity available to send high priority data.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the video data is encoded as a base layer frame and buffered at substantially the same time as said requesting information relating to the network'"'"'s available capacity, and wherein said buffered frame is deleted if the capacity information indicates that the network does not have capacity available to send a high priority data.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein received video data is coded as a base layer frame prior to receiving information relating to the network'"'"'s available capacity, and wherein said buffered frame is transmitted as an enhancement layer frame if said information indicates that the network does not have capacity available to send a high priority data.

16. A method of transmitting video-coded information over a network comprising:

determining that a candidate base layer frame is available to be encoded; and

before encoding the candidate base layer frame, requesting permission from the network to send high priority data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a response from the network to the request which response provides permission to send high priority data;

coding the candidate base layer frame as a base layer frame; and

transmitting the coded base layer frame over the network.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a response from the network to the request which response denies permission to send high priority data;

coding the candidate base layer frame as an enhancement layer frame; and

transmitting the coded enhancement layer frame over the network.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a response from the network to the request which response denies permission to send high priority data; and

deleting the candidate base layer frame.

20. A method of transmitting video-coded information over a network comprising:

determining that a candidate base layer frame is available to be encoded;

requesting permission from the network to send high priority data;

encoding the candidate base layer frame and buffering the encoded frame at substantially the same time as requesting permission from the network to send high priority data;

transmitting the buffered frame as a base layer frame if permission to send high priority data is granted; and

transmitting the buffered frame as an enhancement layer frame if permission to send high priority data is denied.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein base layer frames are transmitted over the network separately than enhancement layer frames, wherein base layer frames are transmitted over the network using a guaranteed quality of service trunk, and wherein the enhancement layer frames are transmitted over the network on a best-effort truck.

22. A method of transmitting video-coded information over a network comprising:

receiving a plurality of video frames to be coded;

for all of the video frames received;

requesting permission from the network to transmit a high priority frame;

coding the video frame as a high priority frame;

transmitting the coded frame as a high priority frame if permission to transmit a high priority frame is received; and

transmitting the coded frame as a low priority frame if permission to transmit a high priority frame is denied.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein requesting permission from the network and coding the video frame are done at substantially the same time.

24. A method of transmitting video-coded information from an encoder over a network comprising:

receiving information from the network on how much bandwidth is allocated to the encoder for high priority frames;

encoding a plurality of frames as either high priority frames or low priority frames according to a priority selection algorithm and based upon said received bandwidth information;

receiving information about loss of low priority frames by the network; and

if more than a threshold amount of low priority frames are being lost, encoding an additional number of the frames as high priority frames than is dictated by said algorithm, wherein said additional high priority frames are encoded at a lower quality than is generally used for high priority frames.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein information about loss of low priority frames by the network is received as network feedback.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein information about loss of low priority frames by the network is received using Real Time Control Protocol.