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US6496980B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of providing replay on demand for streaming digital multimedia

Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1998-12-07
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Granted: 2002-12-17
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Expires: 2018-12-07
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Abstract

Abstract High quality replay of a streaming multimedia video segment on demand is provided. The multimedia segment may be transmitted as a stream by a server system and received by a client system over a fixed bandwidth communications path. The client system receives a base layer of the stream, decodes the base layer and displays the decoded base layer at a first quality level. The client system stores at least a portion of the base layer in a cache. When a request for replay service for the multimedia segment is received from a user, for high quality replay, the client system may receive at least one enhancement layer of the stream corresponding to the stored portion of the base layer. The client system may then read the stored portion of the base layer from the cache, decode the stored portion of the base layer and the at least one enhancement layer, and display the decoded base and enhancement layers at a second quality level, higher than the first quality level.

Inventors

  • 👤 Rachel E. Tillman
  • 👤 Thomas R. Gardos
  • 👤 John J. Kirby
  • 👤 Jeff N. Kidder
  • 👤 Rajeeb Hazra

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 11:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/433; H04N21/4331; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/234; H04N21/2343; H04N21/234327; H04N21/60; H04N21/61; H04N21/6106; H04N21/6125; H04N21/63; H04N21/647; H04N21/64784; H04N21/64792; H04N21/65; H04N21/658; H04N21/6581; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/845; H04N21/8456; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of replaying on demand of a multimedia segment received in a digital multimedia stream representing the multimedia segment on a limited bandwidth communications path, the method comprising: storing at least a portion of a first layer of the digital multimedia stream in a memory; requesting transmission of a second layer from a server system; receiving the second layer of the digital multimedia stream corresponding to the stored portion of the first layer over the limited bandwidth communications path; reading the stored portion of the first layer from the memory; decoding the stored portion of the first layer and the received second layer; and displaying the decoded first and second layers to the user.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of replaying on demand of a multimedia segment received in a digital multimedia stream representing the multimedia segment on a limited bandwidth communications path, the method comprising: storing at least a portion of a first layer of the digital multimedia stream in a memory; requesting transmission of a second layer from a server system; receiving the second layer of the digital multimedia stream corresponding to the stored portion of the first layer over the limited bandwidth communications path; reading the stored portion of the first layer from the memory; decoding the stored portion of the first layer and the received second layer; and displaying the decoded first and second layers to the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a base layer and the second layer comprises an enhancement layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the enhancement layer comprises at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) enhancement layer, a spatial enhancement layer, and a temporal enhancement layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the multimedia segment represents live events captured and transmitted to a client system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the multimedia segment represents pre-recorded multimedia content.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a request to replay the multimedia segment at a higher quality than an original display of the multimedia segment.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 113 words
A method of providing replay on demand of a multimedia segment obtained from a signal source by a server system, a first portion of the multimedia segment being transmitted as a first layer in a digital multimedia stream on a limited bandwidth communications path to a client system, the method comprising: storing a second portion of the multimedia segment as at least one second layer in a memory in the server system; receiving a request for replay service of the multimedia segment from the client system; reading the at least one second layer from the memory; and transmitting the at least one second layer in the digital multimedia stream to the client system.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 113 words
A method of providing replay on demand of a multimedia segment obtained from a signal source by a server system, a first portion of the multimedia segment being transmitted as a first layer in a digital multimedia stream on a limited bandwidth communications path to a client system, the method comprising: storing a second portion of the multimedia segment as at least one second layer in a memory in the server system; receiving a request for replay service of the multimedia segment from the client system; reading the at least one second layer from the memory; and transmitting the at least one second layer in the digital multimedia stream to the client system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting the first layer to the client system concurrently with storing the second portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 7 , further comprising encoding the at least one second layer prior to transmission.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the first layer comprises a base layer and the second layer comprises an enhancement layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the enhancement layer comprises at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) enhancement layer, a spatial enhancement layer, and a temporal enhancement layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the multimedia segment represents live events captured and transmitted to the client system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the multimedia segment represents pre-recorded multimedia content.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 156 words
A method of providing replay on demand of a video segment having digital video data signals, the video segment being transmitted as a stream, the stream being received by a client system from a server system on a limited bandwidth communications path, the method comprising: receiving a base layer of the stream, decoding the base layer and displaying the decoded base layer at a first quality level; storing at least a portion of the base layer in a memory in the client system; receiving a request for replay for the video segment from a user of the client system; receiving at least one enhancement layer of the stream corresponding to the stored portion of the base layer; reading the stored portion of the base layer from the memory; decoding the stored portion of the base layer and the at least one enhancement layer; and displaying the decoded base and enhancement layers at a second quality level.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 156 words
A method of providing replay on demand of a video segment having digital video data signals, the video segment being transmitted as a stream, the stream being received by a client system from a server system on a limited bandwidth communications path, the method comprising: receiving a base layer of the stream, decoding the base layer and displaying the decoded base layer at a first quality level; storing at least a portion of the base layer in a memory in the client system; receiving a request for replay for the video segment from a user of the client system; receiving at least one enhancement layer of the stream corresponding to the stored portion of the base layer; reading the stored portion of the base layer from the memory; decoding the stored portion of the base layer and the at least one enhancement layer; and displaying the decoded base and enhancement layers at a second quality level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the base and enhancement layers represent live events captured and transmitted to the client system in real-time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the enhancement layer comprises at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) enhancement layer, a spatial enhancement layer, and a temporal enhancement layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the second quality level is higher than the first quality level.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 125 words
A method of providing replay on demand of a video segment having digital video data signals, the video segment being transmitted as a stream by a server system to a client system on a limited bandwidth communications path, the method comprising: transmitting a first portion of the video segment as a base layer of the stream to the client system; storing a second portion of the video segment, the second portion corresponding to the first portion, as at least one enhancement layer in a memory in the server system; receiving a request for replay service of the video segment; reading the second portion from the memory; and transmitting the second portion as the at least one enhancement layer in the stream to the client system.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 125 words
A method of providing replay on demand of a video segment having digital video data signals, the video segment being transmitted as a stream by a server system to a client system on a limited bandwidth communications path, the method comprising: transmitting a first portion of the video segment as a base layer of the stream to the client system; storing a second portion of the video segment, the second portion corresponding to the first portion, as at least one enhancement layer in a memory in the server system; receiving a request for replay service of the video segment; reading the second portion from the memory; and transmitting the second portion as the at least one enhancement layer in the stream to the client system.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 119 words
An apparatus for providing replay on demand of a multimedia segment having digital multimedia data signals comprising: a decoder to receive and decode a base layer of a stream representing the multimedia segment and to receive and decode an enhancement layer of the stream, the enhancement layer corresponding to the base layer; and a graphical user interface, coupled to the decoder to display the decoded base layer of the stream as an original display of the multimedia segment at a first quality level, to receive a request for replay of the multimedia segment, and to display the decoded base layer and the decoded enhancement layer of the multimedia segment at a second quality level in response to the request.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 119 words
An apparatus for providing replay on demand of a multimedia segment having digital multimedia data signals comprising: a decoder to receive and decode a base layer of a stream representing the multimedia segment and to receive and decode an enhancement layer of the stream, the enhancement layer corresponding to the base layer; and a graphical user interface, coupled to the decoder to display the decoded base layer of the stream as an original display of the multimedia segment at a first quality level, to receive a request for replay of the multimedia segment, and to display the decoded base layer and the decoded enhancement layer of the multimedia segment at a second quality level in response to the request.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the second quality level is higher than the first quality level.
Claim 26
Independent Claim 141 words
An apparatus for providing replay on demand service for a streaming multimedia segment having digital multimedia data signals, comprising: a source of the multimedia segment; a memory to store at least a first portion of the multimedia segment; and an encoder, coupled to the source and the memory, to receive the multimedia segment from the source, to encode a second portion of the multimedia segment as a first layer in a stream, to transmit the first layer of the stream to a client system for an original display of the multimedia segment, to receive a request for replay service, and to retrieve the first portion of the multimedia segment from the memory and transmit the first portion as a second layer in the stream to the client system for a replay display of the multimedia segment in response to the request.
Claim 27
Independent Claim 141 words
An apparatus for providing replay on demand service for a streaming multimedia segment having digital multimedia data signals, comprising: a source of the multimedia segment; a memory to store at least a first portion of the multimedia segment; and an encoder, coupled to the source and the memory, to receive the multimedia segment from the source, to encode a second portion of the multimedia segment as a first layer in a stream, to transmit the first layer of the stream to a client system for an original display of the multimedia segment, to receive a request for replay service, and to retrieve the first portion of the multimedia segment from the memory and transmit the first portion as a second layer in the stream to the client system for a replay display of the multimedia segment in response to the request.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 17 words
The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the source comprises a storage medium having pre-recorded multimedia content.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the source comprises a camera capturing live events.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the first layer comprises a base layer and the second layer comprises an enhancement layer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 139 words
An article comprising a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions cause a multimedia segment received in a digital multimedia stream representing the multimedia segment on a limited bandwidth communications path to be replayed by storing at least a portion of a first layer of the digital multimedia stream in a memory, requesting transmission of a second layer from a server system, by receiving the second layer of the digital multimedia stream corresponding to the stored portion of the first layer over the limited bandwidth communications path, by reading the stored portion of the first layer from the memory, by decoding the stored portion of the first layer and the received second layer, and by displaying the decoded first and second layers to the user.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 139 words
An article comprising a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions cause a multimedia segment received in a digital multimedia stream representing the multimedia segment on a limited bandwidth communications path to be replayed by storing at least a portion of a first layer of the digital multimedia stream in a memory, requesting transmission of a second layer from a server system, by receiving the second layer of the digital multimedia stream corresponding to the stored portion of the first layer over the limited bandwidth communications path, by reading the stored portion of the first layer from the memory, by decoding the stored portion of the first layer and the received second layer, and by displaying the decoded first and second layers to the user.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 134 words
An article comprising a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions cause replay of a multimedia segment obtained from a signal source by a server system, a first portion of the multimedia segment being transmitted as a first layer in a digital multimedia stream over a limited bandwidth communications path to a client system, by storing a second portion of the multimedia segment as at least one second layer in a memory in the server system, by receiving a request for replay service of the multimedia segment from the client system, by reading the at least one second layer from the memory, and by transmitting the at least one second layer in the digital multimedia stream to the client system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 134 words
An article comprising a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions cause replay of a multimedia segment obtained from a signal source by a server system, a first portion of the multimedia segment being transmitted as a first layer in a digital multimedia stream over a limited bandwidth communications path to a client system, by storing a second portion of the multimedia segment as at least one second layer in a memory in the server system, by receiving a request for replay service of the multimedia segment from the client system, by reading the at least one second layer from the memory, and by transmitting the at least one second layer in the digital multimedia stream to the client system.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 182 words
An article comprising a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions cause replay of a multimedia segment having digital multimedia data signals, the multimedia segment being transmitted as a stream, the stream being received by a client system from a server system on a limited bandwidth communications path, by receiving a base layer of the stream, by decoding the base layer and displaying the decoded base layer at a first quality level, by storing at least a portion of the base layer in a memory in the client system, by receiving a request for replay service for the multimedia segment from a user of the client system, by receiving at least one enhancement layer of the stream corresponding to the stored portion of the base layer, by reading the stored portion of the base layer from the cache; by decoding the stored portion of the base layer and the at least one enhancement layer, and by displaying the decoded base and enhancement layers at a second quality level.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 182 words
An article comprising a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions cause replay of a multimedia segment having digital multimedia data signals, the multimedia segment being transmitted as a stream, the stream being received by a client system from a server system on a limited bandwidth communications path, by receiving a base layer of the stream, by decoding the base layer and displaying the decoded base layer at a first quality level, by storing at least a portion of the base layer in a memory in the client system, by receiving a request for replay service for the multimedia segment from a user of the client system, by receiving at least one enhancement layer of the stream corresponding to the stored portion of the base layer, by reading the stored portion of the base layer from the cache; by decoding the stored portion of the base layer and the at least one enhancement layer, and by displaying the decoded base and enhancement layers at a second quality level.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 147 words
An article comprising a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions cause replay of a multimedia segment having digital multimedia data signals, the multimedia segment being transmitted as a stream by a server system to a client system on a limited bandwidth communications path, by transmitting a first portion of the multimedia segment as a base layer of the stream to the client system, by storing a second portion of the multimedia segment, the second portion corresponding to the first portion, as at least one enhancement layer in a memory in the server system, by receiving a request for replay service of the multimedia segment, by reading the second portion from the memory, and by transmitting the second portion as the at least one enhancement layer in the stream to the client system.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 147 words
An article comprising a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions cause replay of a multimedia segment having digital multimedia data signals, the multimedia segment being transmitted as a stream by a server system to a client system on a limited bandwidth communications path, by transmitting a first portion of the multimedia segment as a base layer of the stream to the client system, by storing a second portion of the multimedia segment, the second portion corresponding to the first portion, as at least one enhancement layer in a memory in the server system, by receiving a request for replay service of the multimedia segment, by reading the second portion from the memory, and by transmitting the second portion as the at least one enhancement layer in the stream to the client system.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 22 words
The article of claim 25 , wherein the first layer comprises a base layer and the second layer comprises an enhancement layer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 30 words
The article of claim 29 , wherein the enhancement layer comprises at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) enhancement layer, a spatial enhancement layer, and a temporal enhancement layer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 20 words
The article of claim 25 , wherein the multimedia segment represents live events captured and transmitted to a client system.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 14 words
The article of claim 25 , wherein the multimedia segment represents pre-recorded multimedia content.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 30 words
The article of claim 25 , further comprising instructions for receiving a request to replay the multimedia segment at a higher quality than an original display of the multimedia segment.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 24 words
The article of claim 26 , further comprising instructions for transmitting the first layer to the client system concurrently with storing the second portion.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 20 words
The article of claim 26 , further comprising instructions for encoding the at least one second layer prior to transmission.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 22 words
The article of claim 26 , wherein the first layer comprises a base layer and the second layer comprises an enhancement layer.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 30 words
The article of claim 36 , wherein the enhancement layer comprises at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) enhancement layer, a spatial enhancement layer, and a temporal enhancement layer.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 20 words
The article of claim 26 , wherein the multimedia segment represents live events captured and transmitted to the client system.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 14 words
The article of claim 26 , wherein the multimedia segment represents pre-recorded multimedia content.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim 24 words
The article of claim 26 , wherein the base and enhancement layers represent live events captured and transmitted to the client system in real-time.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim 30 words
The article of claim 27 , wherein the enhancement layer comprises at least one of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) enhancement layer, a spatial enhancement layer, and a temporal enhancement layer.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim 18 words
The article of claim 27 , wherein the second quality level is higher than the first quality level.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5585852A Cited
US5852565A Cited
US6148030A Cited
US6233017B1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-12-16 2006-06-17 2006-12-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2009-12-16 2010-06-17 2010-12-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2013-12-16 2014-06-17 2014-12-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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