Method of video transmission and display

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method, in a video output device, for acquiring video data for outputting to a display. The method comprises subscribing to a multicast stream of a plurality of multicast streams. Each multicast stream is streamed from a video source and comprises video frame data corresponding to a portion of a video frame. The multicast stream to which the video output device subscribes comprises video frame data that is for display on a display associated with the video output device. The method then comprises receiving the video frame data that is for display on the display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, in a video client, for acquiring video data for output to a display of a video wall, the method comprising:
 transmitting, to a video server, a request for video frame data for a portion of a video frame, the portion of the video frame being associated with the display of the video wall;   receiving video frame data from the video server, the received video frame data comprising data for a portion of the video frame corresponding to the request;   transmitting, to the video server, one or more further requests for video frame data for different portions of the video frame, the different portions of the video frame being associated with the display of the video wall; and   receiving further video frame data from the video server, the received further video frame data comprising data for further portions of the video frame corresponding to the one or more further requests.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the request defines the portion of the video frame based on a location of the portion of the video frame within the video frame; and   the further request defines the different portion of the video frame based on a different location of the different portion of the video frame within the video frame.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , the method comprising outputting display data, based on the received video frame data, to the display. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the request or further request for video frame data comprises a request for a block of pixels. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the request for a block of pixels comprises a location for the block of pixels. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the request for a block of pixels comprises a location of a pixel in the block of pixels. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the request for a block of pixels comprises an identifier of the block of pixels. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the method comprises determining a mapping of at least one pixel of the display to a location in the block of pixels. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the or each block of pixels has predefined spatial dimensions. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the mapping is such that a requested block of pixels is for display on a block of pixels of the display, the block of pixels of the display having the same dimensions as the requested block of pixels. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the mapping is such that a requested block of pixels is for display on a block of pixels of the display; and   the method comprises determining pixel values of the block of pixels of the display by interpolating between pixel values of the requested block of pixels.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein:
 the video server is one of a plurality of video servers, each video server of the plurality being configured to provide corresponding video frame data for display on the video wall; and 
 the method comprises selecting the server to which a request is sent based on which video frame data is to be displayed on the display. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 transmitting, to a second video server, a second request for video frame data for a portion of a second video frame, the portion of the second video frame being associated with the display of the video wall; and   receiving second video frame data from the second video server, the received second video frame data comprising data for a portion of the second video frame corresponding to the second request.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising receiving the video frame data as streamed video data. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the or each request comprises an indication of a desired video quality; and   the received video frame data comprises video frame data at the desired video quality.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the desired video quality comprises a desired video frame resolution. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the desired video quality comprises a desired degree of video compression. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A video client associated with a display of a video wall, the video client comprising:
 a network interface; and   a processor coupled to the network interface and configured to:   transmit, to a video server via the network interface, a request for video frame data for a portion of a video frame, the portion of the video frame being associated with the display;   receive video frame data, via the network interface, from the video server, the received video frame data comprising data for a portion of the video frame corresponding to the request;   transmit, to the video server, one or more further requests for video frame data for different portions of the video frame, the different portions of the video frame being associated with the display of the video wall; and   receive further video frame data from the video server, the received further video frame data comprising data for further portions of the video frame corresponding to the one or more further requests.   
     
     
         20 . A video wall system comprising:
 a video wall comprising a plurality of display devices;   at least one video server, the or each video server being configured to provide video frame data; and   a plurality of video clients, each video client being associated with a corresponding display device of the video wall and each video client being configured to:   transmit to a video server of the at least one video server, a request for video frame data for a portion of a video frame, the portion of the video frame being associated with the display of the video wall; and   transmit to the video server of the at least one video server, one or more further requests for video frame data for different portions of the video frame, the different portions of the video frame being associated with the display of the video wall;   the one or more video servers each being configured to store video frame data and, in response to:
 receiving a request from one of said plurality of video clients, transmit video frame data to the corresponding video client, the video frame data comprising data for a portion of the video frame corresponding to the request; and 
 receiving one or more further requests from one or said plurality of video clients, transmit further video frame data to the corresponding video client, the further video frame data comprising data for further portions of the video frame corresponding to the one or more further requests. 
   
     
     
         21 . A video wall system according to  claim 20 , wherein:
 the plurality of video clients and the at least one video server comprise nodes of a network;   the network comprises a network switch which couples each video client to each video server;   each video client is configured to transmit requests for video data via the network switch; and   the or each video server is configured to transmit video frame data via the network switch.   
     
     
         22 . A method of video frame transmission in a video wall system, the system comprising a plurality of video clients wherein each video client is associated with a corresponding display of the video wall, the method comprising:
 transmitting, from a video client of the plurality of video clients and to a video server, a request for video frame data for a portion of a video frame, the portion of the video frame being associated with the corresponding display of the video wall;   responsive to receiving a said request from a video client, transmitting, from the video server and to the video client, video frame data comprising data for a portion of video frame corresponding to the request;   transmitting, from the video client of the plurality of video clients and to the video server, one or more further requests for video frame data for different portions of the video frame, the different portions of the video frame being associated with the corresponding display of the video wall; and   responsive to receiving the one or more further requests from the video client, transmitting, from the video server and to the video client, further video frame data comprising data for further portions of the video frame corresponding to the one or more further requests.   
     
     
         23 . A method, in a video server, for providing video data for display on a display of a video wall, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a video client, a request for video frame data for a portion of a video frame;   transmitting video frame data to the video client, the transmitted video frame data comprising data for a portion of the video frame corresponding to the request;   receiving, from the video client, one or more further requests for video frame data for different portions of the video frame; and   transmitting further video frame data to the video client, the transmitted further video frame data comprising data for further portions of the video frame corresponding to the one or more further requests.   
     
     
         24 . A video server comprising:
 a network interface; and   a processor coupled to the network interface and configured to:   receive, via the network interface and from a video client, a request for video frame data for a portion of a video frame, the portion of the video frame being associated with the display;   transmit video frame data, via the network interface, to the video client, wherein the transmitted video frame data comprises data for a portion of the video frame corresponding to the request;   receive, via the network interface and from the video client, one or more further requests for video frame data for different portions of the video frame, the different portions of the video frame being associated with the display; and   transmit further video frame data, via the network interface, to the video client, wherein the transmitted further video frame data comprises data for further portions of the video frame corresponding to the one or more further requests.