Systems and method for virtual reality video conversion and streaming

Abstract

A video server is configured to convert frame data of a spherical image to frame data of a equirectangular image such that a first area corresponding to a field of view received from a client device is a middle area of the equirectangular image. The video server is further configured to scale the first area at a first resolution, scale a second area of the equirectangular image adjacent to the first area at a second resolution smaller than the first resolution, scale a third area of the equirectangular image that is adjacent to the first area and is not adjacent to the second area, at a third resolution smaller than the first resolution, and rearrange the scaled first area, second area and third area such that the scaled second area and the scaled third area are adjacent to each other, to generate reformatted equirectangular image frame data to be encoded.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a memory;   a video server implemented by a processor and configured to create a plurality of files corresponding to a plurality of view angles and store the plurality of files in the memory, each of the plurality of files including a plurality of groups of pictures (GOPs) forming a video stream with an identical field of view (FOV) from an identical view angle;   a communication server implemented by a processor and configured to receive, from a client device via a connection, first information relating to a first view angle; and   a streaming server implemented by a processor, wherein:   in response to the communication server receiving the first information, the streaming server is configured to read, among the plurality of files, a first file including a first video stream corresponding to a view angle closest to the received first view angle, and stream, from the first file, the first video stream to the client device via a connection,   the communication server is further configured to receive, from the client device, second information relating to a second view angle while the streaming server streams the first video stream, and   in response to the communication server receiving the second information, the streaming server is configured to switch from the first file to a second file including a second video stream corresponding to a view angle closest to the second view angle, read the second file, and stream, from the second file, the second video stream to the client device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in response to the communication server receiving the second information while the streaming server streams video frames of a first GOP of the first video stream,   the streaming server is configured to:
 determine whether a video frame currently being streamed is a last frame of the first GOP of the first video stream; 
 in response to determination that the video frame currently being streamed is not the last frame of the first GOP of the first video stream, continue to stream the video frames of the first GOP of the first video stream; and 
 in response to determination that the video frame currently being streamed is the last frame of the first GOP of the first video stream, switch from the first file to the second file, and stream, after completing streaming of the first GOP of the first video stream, a GOP of the second video stream to the client device.