Video system

Abstract

A network node apparatus is disclosed for the capture, storage and replay of video data at separate respective nodes of a communications network arranged to operably couple the node apparatus. The node apparatus may include a video capture node operable to capture video data and to transmit captured data via the communications network to a video storage node. The video storage node is arranged to store captured video data, and to transmit stored data via the communications network to a video replay node which renders an image therefrom. The video storage node transmits video data to the video replay node only if the content of a transmit buffer therein matches or exceeds a predetermined lower content value and the content of a receive buffer in the replay node does not exceed a predetermined upper content value.

1 . Network apparatus to store and replay video data at separate, but connected nodes on a communications network, the apparatus comprising:
 a video storage node arranged to store video data and to transmit, via a transmit buffer, stored video data via the communications network;   a video replay node having a receive buffer arranged to receive, via the communications network, video data transmitted by the video storage node, and to render an image therefrom;   wherein the storage node includes a load management module configured to generate a frame decimation control signal to selectively reduce and increase the number of frames being transmitted over the network to a maximum data transmission rate supported by the network and to a maximum rate at which video frames can be rendered at the replay node.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame decimation control signal is configured to decrease a rate of frame decimation when the receive buffer of the video replay node has less data than a predetermined low marker, and to increase the rate of frame decimation when the receive buffer of the video replay node has more data than a predetermined high marker. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the video replay node comprises data flow control means to generate a dataflow control signal and transmit the dataflow control signal to the load management module in the video storage node, the dataflow control signal based upon a predetermined low marker and a high marker. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the video replay node includes a flow controller that gathers information regarding: quality of rendered video as selected by a user; playback rate of frames; and current content level of the receive buffer of the video replay node. 
     
     
         5 . A method for storing and replaying of video data at different nodes on a communications network, the method comprising:
 controlling a number of frames being transmitted by a video storage node over a network to a video replay node at a maximum data transmission rate supported by the network and the replay node, the method including:   the video replay node transmitting a dataflow control signal to the video storage node based upon a predetermined low marker and a high marker, and   the video storage node receiving the dataflow control signal and decreasing a rate of frame decimation when the receive buffer of the video replay node has less data than a predetermined low marker, and increasing the rate of frame decimation when the receive buffer of the video replay node has more data than a predetermined high marker;   wherein frame decimation includes skipping intermediate time-stamps and respective intermediate frames within a given video sequence.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the video replay node transmits a data flow control signal after gathering information regarding: quality of rendered video as selected by a user; playback rate of frames; and current content level of the receive buffer of the video replay node.