Methods And Systems For Image Processing

• US 20100214484A1
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weaver, Timothy H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,912,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/581
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234372 for performing aspect ratio conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26616 for merging a unicast channel into a multicast channel, e.g. in a VOD application, when a client served by unicast channel catches up a multicast channel to save bandwidth data multicast over packet-switching network H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Variable video stream delivery tools include methods and systems that detect activation of a zoom command during presentation of a first stream of data to a multimedia device and that supplants a second stream of data having a higher resolution for a zoomed image plane of the first stream of data in order to conserve bandwidth. Further exemplary embodiments detect activation of a rotational command and that refreshes the second stream of data with a zoomed, spherical-panorama presentation. And, further exemplary embodiments enable restoration of the first stream of data. These tools may be utilized during presentation of media content, when the media content is initially ordered, or when future presentation of media content is selected to record.

Claims

1. A method for providing variable video stream resolutions to a multimedia device, comprising:

providing a first video stream having a sequence of frames of video data, each frame having an image plane with a predetermined image pixel density wherein the image pixel density comprises an x-dimension of a predetermined number of pixels and a y-dimension of a predetermined number of pixels;

detecting a zoom command from the multimedia device, the zoom command comprising an instruction to magnify a portion of the image plane;

supplanting the first video stream with a second video stream having a sequence of zoomed frames for the portion of image plane, each zoomed frame having a higher image pixel density than the predetermined pixel density of the first video stream for the portion of the image plane, wherein the higher image pixel density comprises an x-dimension of an increased number of pixels for the portion of the image plane and a y-dimension of an increased number of pixels for the portion of the image plane; and

providing the second video stream.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a rotation command from the multimedia device, the rotation command comprising an instruction to alter a center position of the sequence of zoomed frames, the center position comprising a horizontal center and a vertical center.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

refreshing the second video stream with a plurality of sequential, rotation frames correlated with one or more of the zoomed frames, the rotation frames magnified in accordance with the zoom command such that visualization of one or more portions of the zoomed and rotated portion of the image plane comprises a zoomed, spherical-panorama presentation; and

providing the refreshed second video stream.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

presenting the full resolution audio stream with the second video stream; and

continuing uninterrupted presentation of the full resolution audio stream with the refreshed second video stream.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

presenting a restoration prompt to the multimedia device such that selection of the restoration prompt fully restores the image plane of the first video stream.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a full resolution audio stream with the first video stream; and

continuing uninterrupted presentation of the full resolution audio stream with the supplanted second video stream.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a notification message with the second video stream, the notification message comprising data associated with the zoom command.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

discontinuing presentation of the notification message after a predetermined amount of time elapses from activation of the zoom command.

9. The method of claim 8, the predetermined amount of time comprising at least one second.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a restoration command to restore the image plane of the first video stream and to discontinue magnification of the portion;

supplanting the second video stream with the first video stream; and

providing the first video stream.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

presenting the full resolution audio stream with the second video stream; and

continuing uninterrupted presentation of the full resolution audio stream with the supplanted first video stream.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a restoration prompt to the multimedia device such that selection of the restoration prompt fully restores the image plane of the first video stream.

13. A device, comprising:

a processor communicating with means for detecting a zoom command to a multimedia device,

the processor commanding delivery of a first stream of data to the multimedia device, and if the zoom command is activated, then the processor accessing a second stream of data for a zoomed image plane of the first stream of data, the second stream of data comprising a higher resolution of the zoomed image plane, and

the processor commanding delivery of the second stream of data to the multimedia device.

14. The device of claim 13, the processor further for discontinuing delivery of the first stream of data during delivery of the second stream of data.

15. The device of claim 13, the processor further for degrading delivery of the first stream of data during delivery of the second stream of data.

16. The device of claim 13, the processor further communicating with means for detecting a rotational command to the multimedia device, and the processor refreshing the second stream of data with a plurality of sequential, rotation frames associated with the zoomed image plane, such that visualization of one or more portions of the zoomed and rotated portion of the image plane comprises a zoomed, spherical-panorama presentation.

17. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded instructions for:

providing a first video stream having a sequence of frames of video data, each frame having an image plane with a predetermined image pixel density wherein the image pixel density comprises an x-dimension of a predetermined number of pixels and a y-dimension of a predetermined number of pixels;

detecting a zoom command from the multimedia device, the zoom command comprising an instruction to magnify a portion of the image plane;

supplanting the first video stream with a second video stream having a sequence of zoomed frames for the portion of image plane, each zoomed frame having a higher image pixel density than the predetermined pixel density of the first video stream for the portion of the image plane, wherein the higher image pixel density comprises an x-dimension of an increased number of pixels for the portion of the image plane and a y-dimension of an increased number of pixels for the portion of the image plane; and

providing the second video stream.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for:

detecting a rotation command from the multimedia device, the rotation command comprising an instruction to alter a center position of the sequence of zoomed frames, the center position comprising a horizontal center and a vertical center.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for:

refreshing the second video stream with a plurality of sequential, rotation frames correlated with one or more of the zoomed frames, the rotation frames magnified in accordance with the zoom command such that visualization of one or more portions of the zoomed and rotated portion of the image plane comprises a zoomed, spherical-panorama presentation; and

providing the refreshed second video stream.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for:

restoring the image plane of the first video stream.