US6941575B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Webcam-based interface for initiating two-way video communication and providing access to cached video
Assignee: Vulcan Ventures Inc
•
Filing: 2001-06-26
•
Granted: 2005-09-06
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Expires: 2021-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of live video streams are generated by video cameras associated with terminals in a network. In one embodiment, the live video streams are received and cached by a first terminal. In addition, the live video streams are simultaneously displayed on the first terminal in one of various formats, such as a grid format or a ticker format. In response to a user selecting one of the live video streams being displayed, an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream is retrieved and displayed to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul G. Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N21/42684; H04N21/20; H04N21/21; H04N21/222; H04N21/2221; H04N21/23; H04N21/231; H04N21/23106; H04N21/422; H04N21/4223; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4314; H04N21/433; H04N21/4331; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; H04N21/4788; H04N21/482; H04N21/4821; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; H04N7/147; H04N7/148
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 66
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for providing access to cached video footage from multiple networked video cameras, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of live video streams, each live video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal in a network; simultaneously displaying the plurality of live video streams on first terminal, wherein the plurality of live video streams are arranged in a ticker format; detecting a user selection of one of the live video streams being displayed; obtaining an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream; and playing back the cached segment on the first terminal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for providing access to cached video footage from multiple networked video cameras, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of live video streams, each live video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal in a network; simultaneously displaying the plurality of live video streams on first terminal, wherein the plurality of live video streams are arranged in a ticker format; detecting a user selection of one of the live video streams being displayed; obtaining an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream; and playing back the cached segment on the first terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one video camera comprises a webcam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one terminal comprises an interactive television system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: caching the plurality of live video streams within at least one storage device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one live video stream is cached by the terminal from which the live video stream originated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one live video stream is cached by the first terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one live video stream is cached by an intermediate network node linking the first terminal and the terminal from which the live video stream originated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the intermediate network node comprises one of a cable head-end and a satellite broadcast center.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the network comprises one of cable network and a satellite network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying comprises: arranging the plurality of live video streams in a grid format on the first terminal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: moving the displayed video streams in a same direction across at least a portion of a display screen of the first terminal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining comprises: obtaining the cached segment from the terminal from which the selected live video stream originated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining comprises: obtaining the cached segment from an intermediate network node linking the first terminal and the terminal from which the selected live video stream originated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining comprises: obtaining the cached segment from a storage device integrated with the first terminal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein playing back the cached segment comprises: enlarging the cached segment as displayed on the first terminal relative to the live video streams.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein playing back the cached segment comprises: replacing the live video streams being displayed on the first terminal with a display of the cached segment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the cached segment comprises a beginning point and an ending point, and wherein playing back the cached segment comprises: playing back the cached segment in reverse direction starting with the ending point thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving comprises: selectively receiving a live video stream based upon a corresponding entry in a video phonebook.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting comprises: moving a selection outline around a displayed video stream in response to user activation of navigational buttons on a remote control device; and detecting user activation of a specifically-designated button on the remote control device for providing access to cached video footage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer program product comprising program code for performing method for providing access to cached video footage from multiple networked video cameras, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of live video streams, each live video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal in a network; simultaneously displaying the plurality of live video streams on a first terminal, wherein the plurality of live video streams are arranged in a ticker format; detecting a user selection of one of the live video streams being displayed; obtaining an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream; and playing back the cached segment on the first terminal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer program product comprising program code for performing method for providing access to cached video footage from multiple networked video cameras, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of live video streams, each live video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal in a network; simultaneously displaying the plurality of live video streams on a first terminal, wherein the plurality of live video streams are arranged in a ticker format; detecting a user selection of one of the live video streams being displayed; obtaining an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream; and playing back the cached segment on the first terminal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein at least one video camera comprises a webcam.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein at least one terminal comprises an interactive television system.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , the method further comprising: caching the plurality of live video streams within at least one storage device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer program product of claim 23 , wherein at least one live video stream is cached by the terminal from which the live video stream originated.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer program product of claim 24 , wherein at least one live video stream is cached by the first terminal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer program product of claim 23 , wherein at least one live video stream is cached by an intermediate network node linking the first terminal and the terminal from which the live video stream originated.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer program product of claim 26 , wherein the intermediate network node comprises one of a cable head-end and a satellite broadcast center.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein the network comprises one of cable network and a satellite network.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein displaying comprises: arranging the plurality of live video streams in a grid format on the first terminal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer program product of claim 20 the method further comprising: moving the displayed video streams in a same direction across at least a portion of a display screen of the first terminal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein obtaining comprises: obtaining the cached segment from the terminal from which the selected live video stream originated.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein obtaining comprises: obtaining the cached segment from an intermediate network node linking the first terminal and the terminal from which the selected live video stream originated.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein obtaining comprises: obtaining the cached segment from a storage device integrated with the first terminal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein playing back the cached segment comprises: enlarging the cached segment as displayed on the first terminal relative to the live video streams.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein playing back the cached segment comprises: replacing the live video streams being displayed on the first terminal with a display of the cached segment.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein the cached segment comprises a beginning point and an ending point, and wherein playing back the cached segment comprises: playing back the cached segment in reverse direction starting with the ending point thereof.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein receiving comprises: selectively receiving a live video stream based upon a corresponding entry in a video phonebook.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer program product of claim 20 , wherein detecting comprises: moving a selection outline around a displayed video stream in response to user activation of navigational buttons on a remote control device; and detecting user activation of a specifically-designated button on the remote control device for providing access to cached video footage.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for providing access to catched video footage from multiple networked video cameras, the system comprising: a stream reception component configured to receive a plurality of live video streams, each live video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal in a network; a stream display component configured to simultaneously display the plurality of live video streams on a first terminal, wherein the plurality of live video streams are arranged in a ticker format; a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the live video streams being displayed; and a cache interface component configured to obtain an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream; wherein the stream display component is further configured to play back the cached segment on the first terminal.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for providing access to catched video footage from multiple networked video cameras, the system comprising: a stream reception component configured to receive a plurality of live video streams, each live video stream being generated by a video camera associated with a different terminal in a network; a stream display component configured to simultaneously display the plurality of live video streams on a first terminal, wherein the plurality of live video streams are arranged in a ticker format; a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the live video streams being displayed; and a cache interface component configured to obtain an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream; wherein the stream display component is further configured to play back the cached segment on the first terminal.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein at least one video camera comprises a webcam.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein at least one terminal comprises an interactive television system.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 39 , further comprising: a stream caching component configured to cache the plurality of live video streams within at least one storage device.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 42 , wherein at least one live video stream is cached by the terminal from which the live video stream originated.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 42 , wherein at least one live video stream is cached by the first terminal.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 42 , wherein at least one live video stream is cached by an intermediate network node linking the first terminal and the terminal from which the live video stream originated.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 45 , wherein the intermediate network node comprises one of a cable head-end and a satellite broadcast center.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein the network comprises one of cable network and a satellite network.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein the stream display component is further configured to arrange the plurality of live video streams in a grid format on the first terminal.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein the stream display component is further configured to move the displayed video streams in a same direction across at least a portion of a display screen of the first terminal.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein the cache interface is further configured to obtain the cached segment from the terminal from which the selected live video stream originated.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein the cache interface is further configured to obtain the cached segment from an intermediate network node linking the first terminal and the terminal from which the selected live video stream originated.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein the cache interface is further configured to obtain the cached segment from a storage device integrated with the first terminal.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein the stream display component is further configured to enlarge the cached segment as displayed on the first terminal relative to the live video streams.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein the stream display component is further configured to replace the live video streams being displayed on the first terminal with a display of the cached segment.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein the cached segment comprises a beginning point and an ending point, and wherein the stream display component is further configured to play back the cached segment in reverse direction starting with the ending point thereof.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein the stream reception component is further configured to selectively receive a live video stream based upon a corresponding entry in a video phonebook.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein the stream selection component is further configured to move a selection outline around a displayed video stream in response to user activation of navigational buttons on a remote control device and detect user activation of a specifically-designated button on the remote control device for providing access to cached video footage.
Claim 61
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for providing access to cached video footage from multiple webcams, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of live video streams, each live video stream being generated by a video camera associated with an interactive television system in a network; caching the live video streams within a storage device; simultaneously displaying the plurality of live video streams on a first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of live video streams are arranged in a ticker format; detecting a user selection of one of the live video steams being displayed; retrieving an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream from the storage device; and laying back the cached segment on the first interactive television system.
Claim 62
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for providing access to cached video footage from multiple webcams, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of live video streams, each live video stream being generated by a video camera associated with an interactive television system in a network; caching the live video streams within a storage device; simultaneously displaying the plurality of live video streams on a first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of live video streams are arranged in a ticker format; detecting a user selection of one of the live video steams being displayed; retrieving an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream from the storage device; and laying back the cached segment on the first interactive television system.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
126 words
A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for providing access to cached video footage from multiple webcams, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of live video streams, each live video stream being generated by a video camera associated with an interactive television system in a network; caching the live video streams within a storage device; simultaneously displaying the plurality of live video streams on a first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of live video streams are arranged in a ticker format; detecting a user selection of one of the live video streams being displayed; retrieving an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream from the storage device; and playing back the cached segment on the first interactive television system.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
126 words
A computer program product comprising program code for performing a method for providing access to cached video footage from multiple webcams, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of live video streams, each live video stream being generated by a video camera associated with an interactive television system in a network; caching the live video streams within a storage device; simultaneously displaying the plurality of live video streams on a first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of live video streams are arranged in a ticker format; detecting a user selection of one of the live video streams being displayed; retrieving an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream from the storage device; and playing back the cached segment on the first interactive television system.
Claim 65
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for providing access to cached video footage from multiple webcams, the system comprising: a stream reception component configured to receive a plurality live video streams, each live video stream being generated by a video camera associated with an interactive television system in a network; a storage device configured to store video streams; a stream caching component configured to cache the live video streams within the storage device; a stream display component configured to simultaneously display the plurality of live video streams on a first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of live video streams are arranged in a ticker format; a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the live video streams being displayed; and a cache interface component configured to retrieve an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream from the storage device; wherein the stream display component is further configured to play back the catched segment on the first interactive television system.
Claim 66
Independent Claim
163 words
A system for providing access to cached video footage from multiple webcams, the system comprising: a stream reception component configured to receive a plurality live video streams, each live video stream being generated by a video camera associated with an interactive television system in a network; a storage device configured to store video streams; a stream caching component configured to cache the live video streams within the storage device; a stream display component configured to simultaneously display the plurality of live video streams on a first interactive television system, wherein the plurality of live video streams are arranged in a ticker format; a stream selection component configured to detect a user selection of one of the live video streams being displayed; and a cache interface component configured to retrieve an earlier-in-time cached segment of the selected live video stream from the storage device; wherein the stream display component is further configured to play back the catched segment on the first interactive television system.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-09-05 | 2009-03-07 | 2009-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-09-05 | 2013-03-07 | 2013-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-09-05 | 2017-03-07 | 2017-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |