Method And Apparatus For Transmitting Video Signals

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for transmitting, multicasting, or broadcasting video signals from a video source to one or more remotely located computers and/or video clients. Specifically, the disclosed method and apparatus effectively digitizes and compresses received video signals such that they may be transmitted with other digitized signals directly or via a network, such as the Internet, to a multitude of computers and/or independent video display devices. The video transmission system is also capable of receiving video signals from a non-networked computer that does not require any hardware or software modifications to be compatible with the video transmission system. The disclosed video transmission system operates independently (i.e., does not require a service provider) and is capable of recording video transmissions.

1 . A method for transmitting video signals via a video transmission system comprising the steps of:
 receiving said video signals from a non-networked video origination device;   transmitting said video signals to one or more video receiving devices via a network; and   wherein said video origination device does not require hardware or software modifications to be compatible with said video transmission system.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said video receiving device is selected from the group consisting of a standalone computer, a networked computer, a standalone device having a processor, a networked device having a processor, a networked client device of said video transmission system, and a non-networked client device of said video transmission system. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said network is selected from the group consisting of the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, and a wireless network. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating systems of said video origination device and said video receiving devices comprises more than one type of operating system. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 authenticating the identity of said video receiving device; and   authorizing said video receiving device to receive said video signals.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 displaying said video signals on a video display unit coupled to said video receiving device.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 converting said video signals from analog to digital.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 filtering said video signals.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 compressing said video signals.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 decompressing said video signals.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 recording said video signals;   wherein said recorded video signals may be played back subsequent to said recording.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting comprises one of the group consisting of multicasting and broadcasting. 
     
     
         13 . A method for transmitting video signals via a video transmission system comprising the steps of:
 receiving said video signals from a video origination device;   transmitting said video signals to at least one non-networked video receiving device; and   transmitting said video signals to at least one networked video receiving device.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said video origination device does not require hardware or software modifications to be compatible with said video transmission system. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said video receiving device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a device having a processor, and a client device of said video transmission system. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said network is selected from the group consisting of the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, and a wireless network. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 displaying said video signals on a video display unit coupled to said video receiving device.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 converting said video signals from analog to digital.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 filtering said video signals.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 compressing said video signals.