Image Display System with Visual Server

• US 20120100913A1
• Filed: 10/26/2011
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Pixels Limited
• Original Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Inventors: Kent, Osman, Baldwin, David R., Murphy, Nicholas J.N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,560,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/005 General purpose rendering architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/16 involving adaptation to the client's capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/00 Image coding bandwidth or redundancy reduction for static pictures H04N1/41; coding or decoding of static colour picture signals H04N1/64; methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00

Abstract

An image display system with one or more client computers in selective communication with a visual server having image processing capabilities. The client computer generates image modifying data corresponding to a generated image, and transmits the data to the visual server. The visual server receives the image-modifying data, generates a modified image based upon the image-modifying data, and transmits the modified image as compressed data to the client. The client decompresses the modified image data and displays the modified image. In the system, the visual server and client can provide a sequential display of modified frames on client to support animation with complex 3-dimensional graphics.

Claims

1-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A system for playing a game, comprising:

a client device having an image display and being configured to receive user input control signals;

a server device running a support software and a game;

said client device being configured to communicate said user input control signals, to said support software;

said support software being configured to provide control inputs to said game in at least partial dependence on said user input control signals, to generate images and thereby generate a compressed stream of frames;

said client device being configured to receive, decompress and display said compressed stream of frames;

wherein said client device is separate from said server.

49. The system of claim 48,

wherein said transmitting and said sending are performed across at least one of an Internet, a WAN, a LAN, an Ethernet, or wireless communication.

50. The system of claim 48,

wherein said input control signals are generated by a game input device.

51. The system of claim 48,

wherein said receiving said compressed stream of frames uses higher bandwidth than said transmitting said user input control signals.

52. The system of claim 48,

wherein said compressed stream of frames comprises one or more frames.

53. The system of claim 48,

wherein said compressed stream of frames comprises an amount of frames generated during a specified elapsed time.

54. The system of claim 48,

wherein said client device does not have sufficient processing power to both run a client-device-only version of said game and display graphics corresponding to said version of said game at an acceptable frame rate.

55. A method of displaying interactive video, comprising:

receiving, from a client device, image-modifying data which includes control signals at a first software program running on a server;

controlling, using said first software program, an interactive video software program running on said server, said controlling being at least partially in dependence on said image-modifying data; and

generating, using at least said interactive video software program, a compressed stream of images, which are sent to said client device, where they are decompressed and displayed,

wherein said client device is separate from said server.

56. The method of claim 55,

wherein said sending and said receiving are performed across at least one of an Internet, a WAN, a LAN, an Ethernet, or wireless communication.

57. The method of claim 55,

wherein said control signals are generated by a user input device.

58. The method of claim 55,

wherein said sent control signals are sent after a specified elapsed time.

59. The method of claim 55,

wherein said control signals are sent to said first software program as they are entered.

60. The method of claim 55,

wherein said interactive video software program is a game.

61. The method of claim 55,

wherein said sending said compressed stream of images uses higher bandwidth than said receiving said image-modifying data.

62. The method of claim 55,

wherein said client device does not have sufficient processing power to both run a client-device-only version of said interactive video software program and display graphics corresponding to said version of said interactive video software program at an acceptable frame rate.

66. The method of claim 62,

wherein said sending said compressed stream of images uses higher bandwidth than said receiving said control signals.

67. The method of claim 62,

wherein said client device does not have sufficient processing power to both run a client-device-only version of said interactive video software component and display graphics corresponding to said version of said interactive video software component at an acceptable frame rate.

63. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, direct a server device to generate interactive video, as follows:

receive control signals at a support software running on a server;

provide control inputs, using said support software, to an interactive video software component running on said server, said control inputs being at least partially in dependence on said control signals;

generate a compressed stream of images using at least said interactive video software component, said compressed stream of images being configured to be decompressible and then displayable on said client device; and

send said compressed stream of images to said client device;

wherein said client device is separate from said server.

64. The method of claim 63,

wherein said sending and said receiving are performed across at least one of the Internet, a WAN, a LAN, an Ethernet, or wireless communication.

65. The method of claim 63,

wherein said interactive video software component is a game.