Transcoder supporting selective delivery of 2d, stereoscopic 3d, and multi-view 3d content from source video

Abstract

Transcoders are provided for transcoding three-dimensional content to two-dimensional content, and for transcoding three-dimensional content of a first type to three-dimensional content of another type. Transcoding of content may be performed due to user preference, display device capability, bandwidth constraints, user payment/subscription constraints, device loading, and/or for other reason. Transcoders may be implemented in a content communication network in a media source, a display device, and/or in any device/node in between.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed on video content, the video content being three-dimensional video content, the method supporting a visual presentation to a viewer, the method comprising:
 receiving the video content that has first data and second data, the first data representative of a first perspective view, and the second data representative of a second perspective view;   selectively processing the video content to delete the second data from the video content; and   forwarding the video content that has been selectively processed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said selectively processing the video content to delete the second data from the video content produces the video content that has been selectively processed to include a single frame sequence corresponding to a single perspective view. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting to support the visual presentation to the viewer in either three-dimensions or two-dimensions;   forwarding, upon selecting the three-dimensions, the video content; and   wherein said selectively processing the video content includes selectively processing upon selecting the two-dimensions.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video content is encoded content, the method further comprising:
 decoding the video content prior to selectively processing the video content; and   encoding the video content that has been selectively processed prior to said forwarding.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video content is encrypted content, the method further comprising:
 decrypting the video content prior to selectively processing the video content.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said selectively processing comprises:
 decoding the video content, the decoded video content including a first frame sequence as the first data and a second frame sequence as the second data;   removing the second frame sequence from the decoded video content; and   encoding the decoded video content from which the second frame sequence was removed to produce encoded video content that has been selectively processed.   
     
     
         7 . Video circuitry configured to be used with video content, the video content being representative of a plurality of perspective views that support a multi-dimensional visual presentation to a viewer, the video circuitry comprising:
 processing circuitry configured to:
 receive the video content, and 
 selectively process the video content to remove data corresponding to at least one of the plurality of perspective views, the data including at least one frame sequence; and 
   output interface circuitry through which the processing circuitry is configured to deliver the video content that has been selectively processed.   
     
     
         8 . The video circuitry of  claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to remove the at least one frame sequence from the first video content to produce the video content that has been selectively processed to include a single frame sequence corresponding to a single perspective view. 
     
     
         9 . The video circuitry of  claim 7 , wherein the video content is encoded content, and the processing circuitry includes a decoder configured to decode at least a portion of the video content subsequent to receiving the video content and prior to selectively processing the video content. 
     
     
         10 . The video circuitry of  claim 7 , wherein the video content is encrypted content, and the processing circuitry includes a decrypter configured to decrypt at least a portion of the video content subsequent to receiving the video content and prior to selectively processing the video content. 
     
     
         11 . The video circuitry of  claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to change a resolution of the video content that has been selectively processed. 
     
     
         12 . The video circuitry of  claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry removes at least one frame sequence from the first video content to produce the second video content to include a pair of frame sequences corresponding to first and second eye perspective views. 
     
     
         13 . The video circuitry of  claim 7 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to remove the at least one frame sequence from the video content to produce the video content that has been selectively processed as a result of a received indication of available communication bandwidth. 
     
     
         14 . The video circuitry of  claim 7 , wherein video circuitry is included in a computer, a server, a game console, a set top box, a digital video recorder, a stereo receiver, a mobile phone, a gateway device, an access point, or a display device. 
     
     
         15 . A device associated with video content, the video content being representative of a plurality of perspective views that support a multi-dimensional visual presentation to a viewer, the device comprising:
 processing circuitry configured to:
 receive the video content via content interface circuitry, and 
 remove data from the video content corresponding to at least one of the plurality of perspective views to alter the video content to have a single frame sequence corresponding to a single perspective view. 
   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 the content interface circuitry; and   output interface circuitry through which the processing circuitry delivers the altered video content.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of perspective views comprises more than two perspective views; and
 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 remove data from the video content corresponding to at least two of the plurality of perspective views. 
   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to remove data by removing pixel data from the video content corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of perspective views. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of perspective views is identified to be removed according to header information of a frame in a frame sequence. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the device is a computer, a server, a game console, a set top box, a digital video recorder, a stereo receiver, a mobile phone, a gateway device, an access point, or a display device.