Audio-video data switching and viewing system

• US 7,571,244 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2001
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Antonio Rossi, Filippo Costanzo, Saverio Roncolini
• Original Assignee: Antonio Rossi, Filippo Costanzo, Saverio Roncolini
• Inventors: Roncolini, Saverio, Rossi, Antonio, Costanzo, Filippo
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Meucci, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US09/897,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,955 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/231, 345/723, 380/212, 725/94, 725/109, 704/375
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5681 Pre-fetching or pre-delivering data based on network characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21805 enabling multiple viewpoints, e.g. using a plurality of cameras
• 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 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A computer system and method providing for viewing and switching of audio-video data. The system comprises: a plurality of audio/video sources containing information referring to an event; a streaming server, streaming the contents of a first audio signal and a first video signal from the audio and video sources to a user; a feed distributor controllably feeding the first audio signal and first video signal to the streaming server; and a user-operated control unit communicating with the feed distributor and controlling operation of the feed distributor, so as to instruct the feed distributor to switch between audio or video. Switching between audio signals occurs without altering the video signals and switching between video signals occurs without altering the audio signals.

Claims

1. A computer system for viewing and switching of audio-video data, comprising:

a plurality of audio and video sources containing information referring to an event;

a streaming server, streaming the contents of a first audio file and a first video file from the audio and video sources to a plurality of users over a network, the first audio file being interleaved with the first video file, the streaming server establishing separate sessions with the plurality of users by sending each user a separate stream;

a feed distributor, connected between the audio and video sources and the streaming server, the feed distributor controllably feeding the first audio file and first video file to the streaming server; and

a user-operated control unit communicating with the feed distributor and controlling operation of the feed distributor, so as to instruct the feed distributor to switch between video files whereby, upon switching, the feed distributor feeds to the streaming server a second video file which is different from the first video file without altering the first audio file, the second video file being interleaved with the first audio file.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user-operated control unit is a remote control unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a client-server system, the control unit being located on the client side, and the streaming server and the feed distributor being located on the server side.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the streaming server and the feed distributor are located on the same machine.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the streaming server and the feed distributor are located on different machines.

6. The system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of client applications, each client application comprising a client-specific user-operated control unit communicating with the feed distributor on the server side and controlling operation of the feed distributor on the server side separately from the other client applications.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein a user controls switching for a number of other users.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the streaming server sends different streams to different clients, one audio file and one video file being sent to each of said different clients, each of said different clients switchably controlling said video files independently from the other clients.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of audio and video files comprises a single audio file and a plurality of video files, each video file corresponding to a different point of view of the event.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein video files are differentially compressed before streaming and comprise key frames, and wherein the control unit instructs the feed distributor to switch between the first video file and the second video file when a key frame of the second video file is encountered.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the event is described through event parameters.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the user-operated control unit first requests the event parameters to the feed distributor and then instructs the streaming server to start streaming.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said parameters comprise:

1) A number of different points of view of the event;

2) A textual description of each point of view;

3) A unique logic identifier of each point of view;

4) A size of a main screen window visualizing a current point of view;

5) A stream bandwidth;

6) A duration of the event; and

7) An initial point of view.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said parameters comprise:

1) A number of different points of view of the event;

2) A textual description of each point of view;

3) A unique logic identifier of each point of view;

4) A size of a main screen window visualizing a current point of view;

5) A stream bandwidth;

6) A duration of the event; and

7) An initial point of view.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the logic identifier of each point of view is locally defined.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the feed distributor comprises a server session manager, a theatre descriptor and a stream reader;

the streaming server comprises a stream producer; and

the user-operated control unit comprises an interface builder.

17. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said streaming server streams additional audio and video files, the additional audio and video files being output on secondary windows of a screen of the user, the secondary windows being different from a main window of the screen of the user where said first audio file and said first video file are output and on which switching occurs.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein said additional audio and video files occupy a bandwidth which is reduced when compared with the bandwidth occupied by said first audio and video file.

19. The computer system of claim 1, where switching occurs in a preprogrammed way.

20. A computer system for viewing and switching of audio-video data, comprising:

a plurality of audio and video sources containing information referring to an event;

a streaming server, streaming the contents of a first audio file and a first video file from the audio and video sources to a plurality of users over a network, the first audio file being interleaved with the first video file, the streaming server establishing separate sessions with the plurality of users by sending each users a separate stream;

a feed distributor, connected between the audio and video sources and the streaming server, the feed distributor controllably feeding the first audio file and first video file to the streaming server; and

a user-operated control unit communicating with the feed distributor and controlling operation of the feed distributor, so as to instruct the feed distributor to switch between audio files whereby, upon switching, the feed distributor feeds to the streaming server a second audio file which is different from the first audio file without altering the first video file, the second audio file being interleaved with the first video file.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the user-operated control unit is a remote control unit.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the system is a client-server system, the control unit being located on the client side, and the streaming server and the feed distributor being located on the server side.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the streaming server and the feed distributor are located on the same machine.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the streaming server and the feed distributor are located on different machines.

25. The system of claim 22, further comprising a plurality of client applications, each client application comprising a client-specific user-operated control unit communicating with the feed distributor on the server side and controlling operation of the feed distributor on the server side separately from the other client applications.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein a user controls switching for a number of other users.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the streaming server sends different streams to different clients, one audio file and one video file being sent to each of said different clients, each of said different clients switchably controlling said audio files independently from the other clients.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of audio and video files comprises a single video file and a plurality of audio files.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein each audio file corresponds to a different listening point of the event.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein each audio file corresponds to a different audio source.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein audio files are differentially compressed before streaming and comprise key frames, and wherein the control unit instructs the feed distributor to switch between the first audio file and the second audio file when a key frame of the second audio file is encountered.

32. The system of claim 20, wherein the event is described through event parameters.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the user-operated control unit first requests the event parameters from the feed distributor and then instructs the streaming server to start streaming.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein said parameters comprise:

1) A number of different points of view of the event;

2) A textual description of each point of view;

3) A unique logic identifier of each point of view;

4) A size of a main screen window visualizing a current point of view;

5) A stream bandwidth;

6) A duration of the event; and

7) An initial point of view.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the logic identifier of each point of view is locally defined.

36. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the feed distributor comprises a server session manager, a theatre descriptor and a stream reader;

the streaming server comprises a stream producer; and

the user-operated control unit comprises an interface builder.

37. The system of claim 20, wherein said streaming server streams additional audio and video files, the additional audio and video files being output on secondary windows of a screen of the user, the secondary windows being different from a main window of the screen of the user where said first audio file and said first video file are output and on which switching occurs.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said additional audio and video files occupy a bandwidth which is reduced when compared with the bandwidth occupied by said first audio and video file.

39. The system of claim 20, where switching occurs in a preprogrammed way.

40. A computer-operated method for viewing and switching of audio-video data, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of audio and video sources containing information referring to an event;

streaming contents of a first audio file and a first video file from the audio and video sources to a plurality of users over a network, the first audio file being interleaved with the first video file;

establishing separate sessions with the plurality of users by sending each user a separate stream;

controlling the streaming of video files, so as to switch between video files, streaming, upon switching, a second video file which is different from the first video file without altering The first audio file, the second video file being interleaved with the first audio file.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the step of controlling is a step of remote controlling.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the step of controlling originates on a client side and the step of streaming originates on a server side.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein different streams are sent to different clients, each of said different clients switchably controlling the video files independently from the other clients.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein the plurality of audio and video sources comprises a single audio source and a plurality of video sources each video source corresponding to a different point of view of the event.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein video files are differentially compressed before streaming and comprise key frames, and wherein the controlling step switches between the first video file and the second video file when a key frame of the second video file is encountered.

46. A computer-operated method for viewing and switching of audio-video data, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of audio and video sources containing information referring to an event;

streaming contents of a first audio file and a first video file from the audio and video sources to a user over a network, the first audio file being interleaved with the first video file;

establishing separate sessions with the plurality of users by sending each user a separate stream;

controlling the streaming of audio files, so as to switch between audio files, streaming, upon switching, a second audio file which is different from the first audio file without altering the first video file, the second audio file being interleaved with the first video file.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of controlling is a step of remote controlling.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of controlling originates on a client side and the step of streaming originates on a server side.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein different streams are sent to different clients, each of said different clients switchably controlling the audio files independently from the other clients.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein the plurality of audio and video sources comprises a single video source and a plurality of audio sources each audio source corresponding to a different listening point of the event.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein audio files are differentially compressed before streaming and comprise key frames, and wherein the controlling step switches between the first audio file and the second audio file when a key frame of the second audio file is encountered.