System for transmitting video streams using a plurality of levels of quality over a data network to a remote receiver

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for transmitting video images allows a viewer to receive at a receiving display device, all or a selected portion of a video stream of frames, in a storage-efficient format from a transmitting device and view the received video stream of frames before the transmission is complete. The video system also allows a viewer to receive at the receiving device, all or a selected portion of a video stream of frames, in a high-resolution format, by marking sections of interest within the received stream of frames in the storage-efficient format and requesting enhancement of those marked sections of interest. This apparatus preferably includes a source device, a transmitting device and at least one receiving device. Preferably, the transmitting device and the receiving device communicate over a network such as the Internet Protocol network. Alternatively, the transmitting device and the receiving device communicate over any appropriate data network. The transmitting device transmits the video images to the receiving device for display and storage at the receiving device. The receiving device is also capable of communicating with the transmitting device while simultaneously receiving video images. The source device is preferably a medical test device such as an ultrasound, a sonogram, an echocardiogram, and the like. Alternatively, the source device can be any video capture or storage device capable of sourcing a stream of video frames.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of communications systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of video communications systems transmitting video data from a source device to a receiving device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In the last decade, there have been tremendous advances in medical devices which have greatly improved the ability to diagnose and treat patients. Ultrasounds, sonograms and echocardiograms are just a few modern tools developed to accurately diagnose patients with coronary problems, kidney stones, tumors, and other diseases without conducting risky and expensive exploratory surgeries. These tools are especially useful because they have the capability of being more accurate than exploratory surgeries and do not pose an additional risk to patients. [0003] Given the benefits of ultrasounds, sonograms and echocardiograms these tools are in widespread use in many hospitals, clinics, testing facil...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes a method and system for transmitting video images from a source device to a receiving device for display and storage. The video images are transmitted in a first format and can be marked up by the user while in storage. The receiving device requests the marked portion of the video stream in a second format, which is then transmitted to the receiving device. The system includes a source device, a transmitting device, and a receiving device. The technical effects of this invention include efficient storage and transmission of video images, as well as the ability to enhance specific sections of the image based on user requests."

Problems solved by technology

While these tools allow doctors to make their diagnosis without costly, risky, and time consuming exploratory surgeries, an error in administering an ultrasound, sonogram and echocardiogram can lead to a wrong diagnosis.

A wrong diagnosis can be catastrophic for the patient.

By receiving an incorrect diagnosis, the patient can potentially fail to receive needed medical treatment and / or be unnecessarily treated.

Whether needed medical treatment is withheld or unnecessary medical treatment is given due to an erroneous test result from an ultrasound, sonogram and echocardiogram, the patient unnecessarily suffers.

This method has the disadvantage that it can be very time consuming, because it requires that the entire movie is sent to the display device 10, before viewing of the movie can begin at the display device 10.

This has the disadvantage or requiring the movie to be transmitted in the format in which it was recorded.

This format may not be suitable for efficient transmission.

This system also has the disadvantage that the movie is not stored at the display device 10 and must be re-transmitted for each viewing.

This system has the disadvantage of not allowing the viewer to see frames of the movie as originally recorded.

Depending on the encoding format used, a user of such a system may notice a significant decrease in image quality.

This system also has the disadvantage that the movie is not stored at the display device and must be re-transmitted for each viewing.

Images