Methods and Systems for Video Delivery Supporting Adaptation to Viewing Conditions

Abstract

Described herein are methods and systems associated with viewing condition adaption of multimedia content. A method for receiving multimedia content with a device from a network may include determining a viewing parameter, transmitting a request for the multimedia content to the network, whereby the request may be based on the viewing parameter, and receiving the multimedia content from the network, whereby the multimedia content may be processed at a rate according to the viewing parameter. The viewing parameter may include at least one of: a user viewing parameter, a device viewing parameter, or a content viewing parameter. The method may further include receiving a multimedia presentation description (MPD) file from the network. The MPD file may include information relating to the rate of the multimedia content and information relating to the rate may include a descriptor relating to the viewing parameter, whereby the descriptor may be required or optional.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for receiving multimedia content with a device from a network, the method comprising:
 receiving a first segment of the multimedia content from the network, the first segment processed at a first rate;   determining a viewing parameter;   transmitting a request for a second segment of the multimedia content to the network, the request based on the viewing parameter; and   receiving the second segment of the multimedia content from the network, the second segment processed at a second rate according to the viewing parameter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viewing parameter comprises at least one of: a user viewing parameter, a device viewing parameter, or a content viewing parameter. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user viewing parameter comprise at least one of: a user's presence, a user's location with respect to a screen of the device, a user's orientation with respect to a screen of the device, a user's viewing angle with respect to a screen of the device, a user's distance from a screen of the device, a user's visual acuity, an ambient lighting condition, a number of users viewing a screen of the device, or a user's point of attention. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the device viewing parameter comprise at least one of: mobility of the device, size of a screen of the device, resolution of a screen of the device, contrast of a screen of the device, brightness of a screen of the device, pixel density of a screen of the device, size of a window displaying the multimedia content on the device, or a location of a window displaying the multimedia content on the device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the content viewing parameter comprise at least one of: contrast of the multimedia content, color gamut of the multimedia content, presence of third-dimension of multimedia content, or range of depth of three-dimensional content of the multimedia content. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rate is a function of at least one of: an encoding rate of the multimedia content, a spatial resolution of the multimedia content, a temporal resolution of the multimedia content, quantization parameters, rate control parameters, target bit rate of the multimedia content, spatial filtering of the multimedia content, or temporal filtering of the multimedia content. 
     
     
         7 . A device configured to receive multimedia content from a network, the device comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive a first segment of the multimedia content from the network, the first segment processed at a first rate; 
 determine a viewing parameter; 
 transmit a request for a second segment of the multimedia content to the network, the request based on the viewing parameter; and 
 receive the second segment of the multimedia content from the network, the second segment processed at a second rate according to the viewing parameter. 
   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the viewing parameter comprises at least one of: a user viewing parameter, a device viewing parameter, or a content viewing parameter. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the user viewing parameter comprise at least one of: a user's presence, a user's location with respect to a screen of the device, a user's orientation with respect to a screen of the device, a user's viewing angle with respect to a screen of the device, a user's distance from a screen of the device, a user's visual acuity, an ambient lighting condition, a number of users viewing a screen of the device, or a user's point of attention. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device viewing parameter comprise at least one of: mobility of the device, size of a screen of the device, resolution of a screen of the device, pixel density of a screen of the device, size of a window displaying the multimedia content on the device, or a location of a window displaying the multimedia content on the device. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the content viewing parameter comprise at least one of: contrast of the multimedia content, color gamut of the multimedia content, presence of third-dimension of multimedia content, or range of depth of three-dimensional content of the multimedia content. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the rate is a function of at least one of: an encoding rate of the multimedia content, a spatial resolution of the multimedia content, a temporal resolution of the multimedia content, quantization parameters, rate control parameters, target bit rate of the multimedia content, spatial filtering of the multimedia content, or temporal filtering of the multimedia content. 
     
     
         13 . A method for receiving multimedia content with a device from a network, the method comprising:
 determining a viewing parameter;   transmitting a request for the multimedia content to the network, the request based on the viewing parameter; and   receiving the multimedia content from the network, the multimedia content processed at a rate according to the viewing parameter.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the viewing parameter comprises at least one of: a user viewing parameter, a device viewing parameter, or a content viewing parameter. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the user viewing parameter comprise at least one of: a user's presence, a user's location with respect to a screen of the device, a user's orientation with respect to a screen of the device, a user's viewing angle with respect to a screen of the device, a user's distance from a screen of the device, a user's visual acuity, an ambient lighting condition, a number of users viewing a screen of the device, or a user's point of attention. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the device viewing parameter comprise at least one of: mobility of the device, size of a screen of the device, resolution of a screen of the device, pixel density of a screen of the device, size of a window displaying the multimedia content on the device, or a location of a window displaying the multimedia content on the device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the content viewing parameter comprise at least one of: contrast of the multimedia content, color gamut of the multimedia content, presence of third-dimension of multimedia content, or range of depth of three-dimensional content of the multimedia content. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the rate is a function of at least one of: an encoding rate of the multimedia content, a spatial resolution of the multimedia content, a temporal resolution of the multimedia content, quantization parameters, rate control parameters, target bit rate of the multimedia content, spatial filtering of the multimedia content, or temporal filtering of the multimedia content. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the viewing parameter is determined using at least one of: a size of a screen of the device, a resolution of a screen of the device, an angle of a screen of the device, a pixel density of a screen of the device, a contrast ratio of a screen of the device, a user proximity sensor, a front facing camera, a back facing camera, a light sensor, an infra-red imaging device, an ultra-sonic sensor, a microphone, an accelerometer, a compass, or a gyroscope sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the request transmitted by the device determines the rate of multimedia content received by the device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the network determines the rate of the multimedia content received by the device according to the request. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the request is a multimedia presentation description (MPD) file that comprises the viewing parameter. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving a multimedia presentation description (MPD) file from the network, the MPD file comprising information relating to the rate of the multimedia content.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the information relating to the rate comprises a descriptor relating to the viewing parameter, and wherein the MPD file indicates whether the descriptor is required or optional. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a required descriptor indicates that the device must meet the requirements of the descriptor to receive the multimedia content processed at the rate, and wherein an optional descriptor indicates that the device may meet the requirements of the descriptor to receive the multimedia content processed at the rate. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the multimedia content comprises a video file. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method is performed via a DASH client of the device. 
     
     
         28 . A device configured to receive multimedia content from a network, the device comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 determine a viewing parameter; 
 transmit a request for the multimedia content to the network, the request based on the viewing parameter; and 
 receive the multimedia content from the network, the multimedia content processed at a rate according to the viewing parameter. 
   
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the viewing parameter comprises at least one of: a user viewing parameter, a device viewing parameter, or a content viewing parameter. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the user viewing parameter comprise at least one of: a user's presence, a user's location with respect to a screen of the device, a user's orientation with respect to a screen of the device, a user's viewing angle with respect to a screen of the device, a user's distance from a screen of the device, a user's visual acuity, an ambient lighting condition, a number of users viewing a screen of the device, or a user's point of attention. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the device viewing parameter comprise at least one of: mobility of the device, size of a screen of the device, resolution of a screen of the device, pixel density of a screen of the device, size of a window displaying the multimedia content on the device, or a location of a window displaying the multimedia content on the device. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the content viewing parameter comprise at least one of: contrast of the multimedia content, color gamut of the multimedia content, presence of third-dimension of multimedia content, or range of depth of three-dimensional content of the multimedia content. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the rate is a function of at least one of: an encoding rate of the multimedia content, a spatial resolution of the multimedia content, a temporal resolution of the multimedia content, quantization parameters, rate control parameters, target bit rate of the multimedia content, spatial filtering of the multimedia content, or temporal filtering of the multimedia content. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the viewing parameter is determined using at least one of: a size of a screen of the device, a resolution of a screen of the device, an angle of a screen of the device, a pixel density of a screen of the device, a contrast ratio of a screen of the device, a user proximity sensor, a front facing camera, a back facing camera, a light sensor, an infra-red imaging device, an ultra-sonic sensor, a microphone, an accelerometer, a compass, or a gyroscope sensor. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the request transmitted by the device determines the rate of multimedia content received by the device. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the network determines the rate of the multimedia content received by the device according to the request. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the request is a multimedia presentation description (MPD) file that comprises the viewing parameter. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a multimedia presentation description (MPD) file from the network, the MPD file comprising information relating to the rate of the multimedia content.   
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein the information relating to the rate comprises a descriptor relating to the viewing parameter, and wherein the MPD file indicates whether the descriptor is required or optional. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein a required descriptor indicates that the device must meet the requirements of the descriptor to receive the multimedia content processed at the rate, and wherein an optional descriptor indicates that the device may meet the requirements of the descriptor to receive the multimedia content processed at the rate. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the multimedia content comprises a video file. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the processor is part of a DASH client residing on the device. 
     
     
         43 . A method for transmitting multimedia content, the method comprising:
 receiving a request from the user, the request based on a viewing parameter of the user;   determining a rate for multimedia content based on the viewing parameter; and   transmitting the multimedia content to the user, the multimedia content processed at the rate.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the viewing parameter comprises at least one of: a user viewing parameter, a device viewing parameter, or a content viewing parameter. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the user viewing parameter comprise at least one of: a user's presence, a user's location with respect to a screen of the device, a user's orientation with respect to a screen of the device, a user's viewing angle with respect to a screen of the device, a user's distance from a screen of the device, a user's visual acuity, an ambient lighting condition, a number of users viewing a screen of the device, or a user's point of attention. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the device viewing parameter comprise at least one of: mobility of the device, size of a screen of the device, resolution of a screen of the device, pixel density of a screen of the device, size of a window displaying the multimedia content on the device, or a location of a window displaying the multimedia content on the device. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the content viewing parameter comprise at least one of: contrast of the multimedia content, color gamut of the multimedia content, presence of third-dimension of multimedia content, or range of depth of three-dimensional content of the multimedia content. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the rate is a function of at least one of: an encoding rate of the multimedia content, a spatial resolution of the multimedia content, a temporal resolution of the multimedia content, quantization parameters, rate control parameters, target bit rate of the multimedia content, spatial filtering of the multimedia content, or temporal filtering of the multimedia content. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the viewing parameter is determined using at least one of: a size of a screen of the device, a resolution of a screen of the device, an angle of a screen of the device, a pixel density of a screen of the device, a contrast ratio of a screen of the device, a user proximity sensor, a front facing camera, a back facing camera, a light sensor, an infra-red imaging device, an ultra-sonic sensor, a microphone, an accelerometer, a compass, or a gyroscope sensor. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 transmitting a multimedia presentation description (MPD) file to the user, the MPD file comprising information relating to the rate of the multimedia content.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the information relating to the rate comprises a descriptor relating to the viewing parameter, and wherein the MPD file indicates whether the descriptor is required or optional. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein a required descriptor indicates that the device must meet the requirements of the descriptor to receive the multimedia content processed at the rate, and wherein an optional descriptor indicates that the device may meet the requirements of the descriptor to receive the multimedia content processed at the rate. 
     
     
         53 . A system configured to transmit multimedia content to a user, the system comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive a request from the user, the request based on a viewing parameter of the user; 
 determine a rate for multimedia content based on the viewing parameter; and 
 transmit the multimedia content to the user, the multimedia content processed at the rate. 
   
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the viewing parameter comprises at least one of: a user viewing parameter, a device viewing parameter, or a content viewing parameter. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the user viewing parameter comprise at least one of: a user's presence, a user's location with respect to a screen of the device, a user's orientation with respect to a screen of the device, a user's viewing angle with respect to a screen of the device, a user's distance from a screen of the device, a user's visual acuity, an ambient lighting condition, a number of users viewing a screen of the device, or a user's point of attention. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the device viewing parameter comprise at least one of: mobility of the device, size of a screen of the device, resolution of a screen of the device, pixel density of a screen of the device, size of a window displaying the multimedia content on the device, or a location of a window displaying the multimedia content on the device. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the content viewing parameter comprise at least one of: contrast of the multimedia content, color gamut of the multimedia content, presence of third-dimension of multimedia content, or range of depth of three-dimensional content of the multimedia content. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the rate is a function of at least one of: an encoding rate of the multimedia content, a spatial resolution of the multimedia content, a temporal resolution of the multimedia content, quantization parameters, rate control parameters, target bit rate of the multimedia content, spatial filtering of the multimedia content, or temporal filtering of the multimedia content. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the viewing parameter is determined using at least one of: a size of a screen of the device, a resolution of a screen of the device, an angle of a screen of the device, a pixel density of a screen of the device, a contrast ratio of a screen of the device, a user proximity sensor, a front facing camera, a back facing camera, a light sensor, an infra-red imaging device, an ultra-sonic sensor, a microphone, an accelerometer, a compass, or a gyroscope sensor. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 53 , further comprising:
 transmitting a multimedia presentation description (MPD) file to the user, the MPD file comprising information relating to the rate of the multimedia content.   
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the information relating to the rate comprises a descriptor relating to the viewing parameter, and wherein the MPD file indicates whether the descriptor is required or optional. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein a required descriptor indicates that the device must meet the requirements of the descriptor to receive the multimedia content processed at the rate, and wherein an optional descriptor indicates that the device may meet the requirements of the descriptor to receive the multimedia content processed at the rate.