Handheld wireless video receiver

Abstract

A handheld, wireless video receiver that receives compressed video, decompresses the compressed video, displays the decompressed video. The receiver is part of a system comprising methods, medium, and handheld, wireless devices which compress, enhance, encode, transmit, decompress and display digital video images in real time. Real time wireless videoconferences connect multiple handheld video devices. Real time compression is achieved by sub-sampling each frame of a video signal, filtering the pixel values, and encoding. Real time transmission is achieved due to high levels of effective compression. Real time decompression is achieved by decoding and decompressing the encoded data to display high quality images. The receiver can alter various setting including but not limited to the format for the compression, image size, frame rate, brightness and contrast. A zoom control can be used select a portion of interest of video being transmitted or being played back. The receiver may also have a touch sensitive display screen providing controls for video display and mobile telephone operation.

1 - 50 . (canceled) 
   
   
       51 . A handheld wireless video receiver, in a system for transmission and display of video and other media, the system comprising a wireless network, a media exchange, and a plurality of devices, each connected to the wireless network, wherein at least one device is capable of transferring a plurality of compressed video frames which make up a video stream, said handheld video receiver comprising:
 a) a color display having a predetermined display width and display height and having a touch screen for receiving input from a user, wherein the display width is a predetermined first number of pixels and the display height is a predetermined second number of pixels,   b) an audio output,   c) a program memory, for storing computer programs,   d) a processor, for executing computer programs from the program memory,   e) a data memory, for storing data,   f) a user interface on the touch screen comprising controls for interfacing with the executing computer programs,   g) a wireless network interface for connecting to the wireless network via wireless a communications channel, wherein the handheld video receiver maintains connection to the wireless network when being moved from one location to another location or while being freely carried by the user,   h) a decompressor, cooperating with the processor,   i) a video camera for capturing images in real-time,   j) a microphone for capturing an audio portion in real-time, and   k) a compressor configured to compress captured images,
 wherein the handheld video receiver has a weight of less than about six ounces, 
 wherein the handheld device has physical dimension allowing it to be held substantially in one hand of the user, 
 wherein the user interface is operated by one or more fingers of the user, 
 wherein each of the communications channels from the wireless network to the handheld video receiver has a predetermined bandwidth such that the maximum sustainable bandwidth measured in millions of bits per second, 
 wherein the compressed video frames are received over one of the communications channel, 
 wherein the decompressor decompresses the compressed video frames, 
 wherein the compressed video frames is stored in a video file, 
 wherein the data memory is configured to store a plurality of video files, 
 wherein at least a portion of the decompressed video frames is displayed on the color display in real time, 
 wherein the audio portion plays on the audio output, 
 wherein the handheld wireless video receiver receives one or more video files from the media exchange after the user agrees to pay a license fee determined by interaction of the user with the media exchange over the wireless network, 
 whereby user enters commands via the touch screen to play back any of the stored video files, and 
 whereby the video is displayed while the user carries the handheld wireless video receiver. 
   
   
   
       52 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 , wherein the controls further comprise:
 i) a zoom interface for issuing zoom in, zoom out, and pan commands, wherein the magnification and position of the portion of the displayed media are changed in response to one or more of the zoom in, zoom out, and pan commands, and   ii) mobile telephone controls for entering numeric telephone numbers and for controlling mobile telephone calls.   
   
   
       53 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 , further comprising an external digital camera interface for downloading still photographic images to the handheld wireless video receiver. 
   
   
       54 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 , further comprising an external video camera interface for downloading video images to the handheld wireless video receiver. 
   
   
       55 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 , further comprising an external computer interface connecting to a computer, whereby the data memory of the handheld wireless video receiver functions as an external disk drive of the computer. 
   
   
       56 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 ,
 wherein the data memory of the handheld wireless video receiver stores graphical user programs such as games,   wherein processor further executes the user programs from the data memory.   
   
   
       57 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 ,
 wherein the display height is greater than or equal to 480 pixels.   
   
   
       58 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 ,
 wherein the display width is greater than or equal to 320 pixels.   
   
   
       59 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 ,
 wherein the display width is less than or equal to 640 pixels.   
   
   
       60 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 ,
 wherein the handheld video receiver has a weight of less than about four ounces.   
   
   
       61 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 ,
 wherein the magnification and position of the portion of the displayed media are changed in response to one or more of the zoom in, zoom out, and pan commands.   
   
   
       62 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 ,
 wherein the controls further comprises commands relating to video quality and transmission,   wherein the handheld video receiver dynamically interprets control commands entered by the user via the touch screen,   whereby the user of the receiver views the optimum quality live video.   
   
   
       63 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 ,
 wherein the data memory comprises a hard disk drive,   wherein the video file is stored on the hard disk drive, and   wherein the video file stored on the hard disk drive is played back.   
   
   
       64 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 ,
 wherein the data memory comprises a non-volatile memory,   wherein the video file is stored on the non-volatile memory, and   wherein the video file stored on the non-volatile memory is played back.   
   
   
       65 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 ,
 wherein the video frames are compressed using a color lossless compression method.   
   
   
       66 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 , further comprising a battery with a limited battery life,
 wherein the processor is less powerful than the processors typically found in non-handheld devices,   wherein the processor and decompressor cooperate to decompress each of the video frames in a single pass,   whereby the processor speed requirements are reduced and the battery life is extended while maintaining high quality video with optimal effective compression ratios.   
   
   
       67 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 51 ,
 wherein the wireless network is connected to the Internet, and   wherein the computer programs further comprise programs for receiving and displaying still graphic images and text downloaded from the network.   
   
   
       68 . A method of exchanging digital video files between a media exchange and a handheld wireless video receiver, comprising the steps of:
 a) capturing real-time, full-frame, full-color video from a video input device,   b) digitizing the captured video,   c) compressing the digital video with a compressor configured to preserve the level of spatial quality and motion quality of the compressed video that the handheld video receiver is capable of displaying,   d) storing the compressed video in a data memory in a device in communication with a wireless network,   e) transferring the compressed video to the media exchange via the network,   f) downloading the compressed video from the media exchange via the network to the handheld wireless video receiver after a user of the handheld wireless video receiver agrees to pay a fee for use of the downloaded video,   g) storing the downloaded video in a data memory of handheld wireless video receiver,   h) decompressing the downloaded video to a format that is optimal for display on a touch screen display on the handheld wireless video receiver,   i) displaying at least a portion of the decompressed video on the display,   j) playing an audio portion of the decompressed video on an audio output of the handheld wireless video receiver,
 whereby the user downloads and plays back video from the media exchange. 
   
   
   
       69 . A handheld wireless video receiver, comprising:
 a) a computer-based circuit including a processor, a memory for storing computer programs and data, and a decompressor for decompressing compressed video frames,   b) a color display coupled to the circuit,   c) a user interface coupled to the circuit and configured to provide user interaction with computer programs operating in the processor thereby providing user control to one or more programmed functions, and   d) a wireless network interface coupled to the circuit for connecting to a wireless network via a communications channel, for receiving a stream of compressed video frames from the network,
 wherein the compressed video frames are stored into memory, and the user interface controls playback by having the circuit retrieve the compressed video frames from memory, send them to the decompressor to thereby decompress the video frames, and display the decompressed video frames on the color display. 
   
   
   
       70 . The handheld wireless video receiver of  claim 69 , further comprising:
 a) a video camera coupled to the circuit for capturing video frames in real-time, and   b) a compressor included with the circuit for compressing the captured video frames,
 wherein the compressed video frames are stored into memory, and the user interface controls playback by having the circuit retrieve the compressed video frames from memory, send them to the decompressor to thereby decompress the video frames, and display the decompressed video frames on the color display.