U.S. patent application number 15/937394 was filed with the patent office on 2018-10-04 for virtual high definition video player.
The applicant listed for this patent is SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC. Invention is credited to David Perry.
Application Number | 20180288484 15/937394 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55075711 |
Filed Date | 2018-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180288484 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Perry; David |
October 4, 2018 |
VIRTUAL HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO PLAYER
Abstract
A video service is provided by one or more servers which
communicate directly with one more clients over a network. The
service may provide digital optical disc data storage formatted
video, such as for example a Blu-ray format video, and allows
Blu-ray video to be streamed to a client device over the network.
The system may utilize direct and fast content delivery of content
typically found on a high definition digital optical disc. The
content may include a movie as well as featurettes and other
content. The video service may also include augmented content and
may provide overlay content. In addition to these features, the
video streaming service may also provide community content as an
overlay to improve a user's viewing experience.
Inventors: |
Perry; David; (Monarch
Beach, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC |
San Mateo |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55075711 |
Appl. No.: |
15/937394 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15497053 |
Apr 25, 2017 |
9930414 |
|
|
15937394 |
|
|
|
|
14335793 |
Jul 18, 2014 |
9635424 |
|
|
15497053 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/2181 20130101;
H04N 21/4722 20130101; H04N 21/2343 20130101; H04N 21/435 20130101;
H04N 21/235 20130101; H04N 21/6587 20130101; H04N 21/47202
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/4722 20060101
H04N021/4722; H04N 21/6587 20060101 H04N021/6587; H04N 21/435
20060101 H04N021/435; H04N 21/2343 20060101 H04N021/2343; H04N
21/218 20060101 H04N021/218; H04N 21/472 20060101 H04N021/472; H04N
21/235 20060101 H04N021/235 |
Claims
1. A system for providing formatted content over a network, the
system comprising: an application server comprising: a network
interface that receives a content request transmitted from at least
one remote client device over a communication network, the received
request specifying a content title in a specified video format, a
video player associated with the specified video format, wherein
the video player plays the requested content title, and a graphic
user interface engine executable by a processor to construct a
frame of the requested content title as played by the video player,
wherein the network interface transmits the constructed frame to
the requesting client device over the communication network.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the requested video format is one
of Blu-Ray, DVD, laser disk, CD, 3D, 4k, and 8k.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface transmits a
subsequent constructed frame to the at least one remote client
device when the subsequent constructed frame is changed in
comparison to a preceding frame, and wherein the network interface
does not transmit the subsequent constructed frame to the at least
one remote client device when the subsequent constructed frame is
unchanged in comparison to the preceding frame.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the received request includes a
request for access to a specified part within the content
title.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the video player starts play of
the requested content title at the specified part, and wherein the
graphic user interface constructs the constructed frame based on
the specified part as played by the video player.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the requested content title is a
video game.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication network is the
Internet, and wherein the application server is a cloud server in
communication with the at least one remote client device over the
Internet.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one remote client
device is a virtual reality headset.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the virtual reality headset
receives a plurality of frames and positions the received frames at
different locations within a display interface of the virtual
reality headset.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphic user interface
constructs the constructed frame in accordance to setting
configurations stored in a user profile associated with the at
least one remote client device.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein a different user profile
comprises different setting configurations.
12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a data store that
stores the user profile.
13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data store that
stores the requested content title, and wherein the video player
retrieves the requested content title from a plurality of content
titles stored in the data store.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface further
receives control input from the at least one remote client device
over the communication network, and wherein the video player plays
the requested content title in accordance with the received control
input.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein the application server further
provides one or more interaction features to a plurality of remote
client devices over the communication network.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the interaction
features receives input from one of the plurality of remote client
devices over the communication network and shares the received
input in real-time with a remainder of the plurality of remote
client devices over the communication network.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of remote client
devices request the same content title from the application server,
and wherein the application server synchronizes transmission of
constructed frames for the same content title over the
communication network to the plurality of remote client
devices.
18. The system of claim 1, wherein the application server further
comprises a search engine that retrieves the requested content
title and related data from over the communication network.
19. A method for providing formatted content over a network, the
method comprising: receiving a content request sent from a remote
client device over a communication network to a cloud-based server,
the received request specifying a content title in a specified
video format; playing the requested content title using a video
player associated with the specified video format, the video player
associated with the cloud-based server; constructing a frame of the
requested content title as played by the video player; and
transmitting the constructed frame over the communication network
to the requesting client device.
20. A system for providing video content over a network, the system
comprising: a data store that stores user setting data for a client
device and a plurality of different content titles in different
content formats; a high definition video player that outputs frames
of one of the content titles from the data store; and a server that
receives the outputted frames from the high definition video player
and transmits each frame of the video content to the client device
over the network, wherein each of the outputted frames is formatted
based on the user setting data.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation and claims the priority
benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/497,053 filed Apr.
25, 2017, issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 9,930,414, which is a
continuation and claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/335,793 filed Jul. 18, 2014, now U.S. Pat.
No. 9,635,424, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to streaming of digital media.
In particular, the present invention relates to streaming of video
content from a disk player and other sources.
Related Art
[0003] As transmission speed and capacity for networks increases,
more applications and data are provided over those networks. For
example, companies provide streaming video over the Internet. The
video content may include a movie transmitted directly to a client
device. Additional content such as commentary and featurettes which
may be included on a physical DVD disc or Blu-ray disc are
typically not transmitted or made available by the service
providers--only the movie itself. Additionally, the videos are
usually provided via a data stream that can only be watched in
sequence. Video stream providers do not allow a user to view any
part of the video they wish without any delay, especially when the
video is a high definition video. Rather, previous solutions
pre-buffer portions of a video to allow only the pre-buffered
portion to be provided to the customer.
[0004] What is needed is an improved method for providing a high
definition video to a client over a network.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present system provides a virtual high definition video
service over a network. The service may be provided by one or more
servers that may each directly connect with and provide content to
one or more clients. The service may provide digital optical disc
data storage formatted video, such as for example a Blu-ray, DVD,
laser disk, CD, 3D, 4k, and 8K format video. The system may allow
video to be streamed to a client device over the network. The
system may utilize direct and fast content delivery of content
typically found on a high definition digital optical disc such as
for example a Blu-ray or DVD disc. The content may include a movie
as well as featurettes and other content typically found on such
disks. The video service may also include augmented content and may
provide overlay content. In addition to these features, the video
streaming service may also provide community content as an overlay
to improve a user's viewing experience.
[0006] In an embodiment, a system for providing video content over
a network may include a high definition video player and a server.
The high definition video player outputs frames of high definition
video content. The server may receive the high definition video
content from the high definition video player and transmit each
frame of the high definition video content to a client over a
network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for providing a
virtual Blu-ray experience to a user over a network.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an application server.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computing environment for use
with the present technology.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The present system includes one or more servers that provide
a video service over a network. The video service may provide
digital optical disc data storage formatted video such as Blu-ray,
DVD, laser disk, CD, 3D, 4k, and 8K format video. The system may
allow video to be streamed to a client device directly from a
server over the network. The system may utilize direct and fast
content delivery of content typically found on a digital optical
disc such as a Blu-ray disc or DVD disk. The content may include a
movie as well as featurettes and other content typically found on
such disks. The video service may also include augmented content
and may provide overlay content. In addition to these features, the
video streaming service may also provide community content as an
overlay to improve a user's viewing experience.
[0011] The present system allows a user to provide input to control
playback of digital video at a client device such that the control
input is ultimately received and implemented at a server. The user
may effectively fast forward, rewind, skip to other parts of a
movie, access other content, and experience other content provided
by the server by providing input at a client device. The server may
include one or more video players such as Blu-ray, DVD, laser disk,
CD, 3D, 4k, 8k and other disc players. The video output by the
server's video player is transmitted to the user frame process by
frame process over a high speed network. In some instances, only
changes between frames are transmitted to a client device by the
server. By providing the video output process frame by process
frame, there is no need to stream and cache video data, and any
latency associated with allowing a data stream to load in time for
viewing are avoided.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for providing a
virtual Blu-ray experience to a user over a network. The system of
FIG. 1 includes client 110, client 120, and application server 150.
Clients 110 and 120 may include devices which are suitable for
receiving a high definition data stream from application server
150. Client 110 may be implemented as a mobile device, a gaming
console, a computer device, or some other device suitable for
receiving high definition data such as video frames.
[0013] Clients 110 and 120 may communicate with application server
150 over network 130. Network 130 may include a private network, a
public network, a local area network, a wide area network, a
cellular network, an intranet, the internet, and a combination of
these networks. In some embodiments, the network 130 may be
suitable to provide video frames output from the a high definition
video disc player fast enough to avoid any lag at the client
device.
[0014] Application server 150 may communicate with clients directly
over network 130. Application server 140 may receive data and
requests from one or more clients via network 130 process those
requests, and provide video and other content directly to one or
more of clients 110-120. In some embodiments, application server
150 may include a network server that processes requests received
over network 130.
[0015] Application server 150 may include one or more machines for
providing a video experience, such as a Blue Ray or DVD video
experience, directly to one or more clients over a network 130. The
servers may be implemented "in the cloud" and may be streamed to
client devices 110 and 120. The servers provide direct and fast
content delivery to each client. For example, a user may provide
input at client 110 to get instant access to any frame in a high
definition video such. To achieve this, application server 150 may
provide frame process by frame process transmission from the video
player "in the cloud" to the client device receiving the frame
process by frame process transmission. More information for
application server 150 is discussed with respect to FIG. 2.
[0016] Data store 160 may store data which is accessed, stored, and
processed by application server 150. Data store 160 may include
data such as Blu-ray video content, featurettes and other content
commonly found on Blu-ray discs, menu content for a Blu-ray disc,
related interviews, articles, news, video games, media, soundtrack
and other audio, and other data associated with a movie, actors
within a movie, or otherwise associated with one or more movies
stored at data store 160, contacts and account information for a
user associated with the service provided by application server
150, and other data.
[0017] Data store 160 may include physical media such as blue ray
discs, DVD discs, laser disks, CD disks, and other optical media
discs suitable for playback on a corresponding disk player. The
physical media may collectively form an optical disk "jukebox in
the cloud" such that a user may provide input from a client device
to access one or more disks from the collection of disks, and the
content may be streamed to the user's client device. In some
instances, content from more than one disk may be provided
simultaneously directly to the user client device.
[0018] FIG. 2 provides a block diagram of an application server.
The application server 200 of FIG. 2 includes Blu-ray player 210,
graphical user interface engine 220, and search engine 230. Though
only a Blu-ray player is illustrated in FIG. 2, it is intended that
other video players may be used.
[0019] Blu-ray player 210 may provide Blu-ray file playback as
controlled by a client device. Search engine 230 may retrieve other
content over one or more networks such as the internet, such as
related interviews, articles, news, video games, media, soundtrack
and other audio, and other data and store that data at data store
160. The graphical user interface engine may construct frames of
the transmission provided by Blu-ray player 210 and transmit each
of those frames over network 130 to client 110.
[0020] The service provided by an application server of the present
invention may provide augmented content in addition to the typical
content found on a Blu-ray disc. The augmented content may be
streamed to include Blu-ray disc featurettes, menu content and
other data. The stream content may also include content pulled from
other sources than the Blu-ray disc, such as related interviews,
articles, news and other information.
[0021] Smart content may be overlaid within a graphical user
interface provided by the application server to a client. The smart
content overlay may allow multiple perspective views. For example,
video streams captured with multiple cameras can be viewed by a
user individually, such as for example when a user changes a
current stream through input received by client 110. In some
embodiments, the client 110 may be implemented as a virtual reality
headset and the video streams may be changed by the user through
the virtual reality headset input. A user may position frames at
different locations locally through the virtual reality headset.
For example, a user may provide a customized contact interface
around a main screen viewable through the virtual reality headset.
Setting configurations may be linked and saved to the user's
profile, such as subtitle and letter box format preferences and
other settings. The setting configurations may be particular to a
particular Blu-ray disc, a client device, the user, or set to be
associated in some other way.
[0022] Community content may also be overlaid for the user as
provided by application server 150. For example, community content
may include chat features, synchronized viewing, crowd source
translation, and commentary. The chat feature may be provided with
one or more contacts associated with a user viewing content. The
chat feature may allow for a user to chat with one or more users
while viewing a particular video. Similarly, viewing of content may
be synchronized with one or more other users while viewing a video.
The synchronized viewing of content with one or more of the user's
contacts may allow interaction with the contacts during the
synchronized viewing of the video. The interaction may be triggered
using local motion detection, audio detection, or some other input
by the client device 110. Real time crowd sourced movie and audio
translation may also be provided for the movie and/or community
content associated with the video. Commentary and sharing may also
be provided in real time.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computing environment. System
300 of FIG. 3 may be implemented in the contexts of the likes of
clients 110 and 120, network server 140, application server 150,
and data store 160. The computing system 300 of FIG. 3 includes one
or more processors 310 and memory 320. Main memory 320 stores, in
part, instructions and data for execution by processor 310. Main
memory 320 can store the executable code when in operation. The
system 300 of FIG. 3 further includes a mass storage device 330,
portable storage medium drive(s) 340, output devices 350, user
input devices 360, a graphics display 370, and peripheral devices
380.
[0024] The components shown in FIG. 3 are depicted as being
connected via a single bus 390. However, the components may be
connected through one or more data transport means. For example,
processor unit 310 and main memory 320 may be connected via a local
microprocessor bus, and the mass storage device 330, peripheral
device(s) 380, portable storage device 340, and display system 370
may be connected via one or more input/output (I/O) buses.
[0025] Mass storage device 330, which may be implemented with a
magnetic disk drive or an optical disk drive, is a non-volatile
storage device for storing data and instructions for use by
processor unit 310. Mass storage device 330 can store the system
software for implementing embodiments of the present invention for
purposes of loading that software into main memory 310.
[0026] Portable storage device 340 operates in conjunction with a
portable non-volatile storage medium, such as a floppy disk,
compact disk or Digital video disc, to input and output data and
code to and from the computer system 300 of FIG. 3. The system
software for implementing embodiments of the present invention may
be stored on such a portable medium and input to the computer
system 300 via the portable storage device 340.
[0027] Input devices 360 provide a portion of a user interface.
Input devices 360 may include an alpha-numeric keypad, such as a
keyboard, for inputting alpha-numeric and other information, or a
pointing device, such as a mouse, a trackball, stylus, or cursor
direction keys. Additionally, the system 300 as shown in FIG. 3
includes output devices 350. Examples of suitable output devices
include speakers, printers, network interfaces, and monitors.
[0028] Display system 370 may include a liquid crystal display
(LCD) or other suitable display device. Display system 370 receives
textual and graphical information, and processes the information
for output to the display device.
[0029] Peripherals 380 may include any type of computer support
device to add additional functionality to the computer system. For
example, peripheral device(s) 380 may include a modem or a
router.
[0030] The components contained in the computer system 300 of FIG.
3 are those typically found in computer systems that may be
suitable for use with embodiments of the present invention and are
intended to represent a broad category of such computer components
that are well known in the art. Thus, the computer system 300 of
FIG. 3 can be a personal computer, hand held computing device,
telephone, mobile computing device, workstation, server,
minicomputer, mainframe computer, or any other computing device.
When implemented as a mobile device, the system 300 may include
components typical to such devices such as antennas and radios,
microphones, LED touch screens, cameras, and other components.
[0031] The computer can also include different bus configurations,
networked platforms, multi-processor platforms, etc. Various
operating systems can be used including Unix, Linux, Windows,
Macintosh OS, Android OS, and other suitable operating systems.
[0032] The foregoing detailed description of the technology herein
has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It
is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the
precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments
were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the
technology and its practical application to thereby enable others
skilled in the art to best utilize the technology in various
embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the
technology be defined by the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *