METHOD FOR REAL-TIME TRANSMISSION OF A DATA STREAM

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for real-time transmission of a data stream, in particular an audio and/or video data stream, via a network of data processing devices, especially the Internet. In said method, a user interface via which the network is accessible is used for selecting the data stream from among a plurality of data streams made available for transmission. According to the invention, the user interface is used for determining at least one device for receiving the data stream to which the data stream is specifically transmitted and from which the data stream can be transmitted to at least one device in order for the data stream to be utilized, and determining the volume to be transmitted and automatically causing the determined volume of the data stream to be transmitted. The invention further relates to a computer program product and a network of devices for real-time transmission of the data stream.

Claims

1. A method real-time transmission of a data stream, in particular an audio and/or video data stream, via a network of data-processing devices, in particular the Internet, in which method, by means of a user interface via which the network can be accessed, the data stream can be selected from a plurality of data streams offered for transmission, characterized in that at least one device for receiving the data stream, to which device the data stream is transmitted in a targeted manner and from which the data stream can be transmitted to at least one device for using the data stream, as well as a scope of the transmission, is specified by means of the user interface, and the transmission of the data stream in the specified scope is prompted automatically.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data stream can be transmitted from the receiving device via a means for distributing the data stream, preferably the Internet, a cable network, by satellite transmission or by terrestrial transmission, to a plurality of the use devices.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, by means of the interface, information can be provided for retrieval which describes the scope and/or contents of the at least one offered data stream, rights for transmitting the data stream which can be obtained, prices at which the transmission is offered, and/or invoicing and/or payment options for the transmission.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the information provided for retrieval is processed such that it can be searched by means of the user interface by specifying search criteria which preferably relate to the scope and/or contents of the offered data streams, rights for transmitting the at least one data stream which can be obtained, prices at which the transmission is offered, and/or invoicing and/or payment options for the transmission.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, by means of the user interface, by selecting the at least one offered data stream, a contract regarding the transmission of the data stream is concluded between a provider and a purchaser of the data stream.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that an invoice is automatically generated and/or paid when a contract is concluded for transmission of the data stream.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the scope comprises a data format, a data rate (bit rate), a video and/or audio resolution, a frame rate, a number of audio channels, a transmission duration, a transmission region in which the data stream can be transmitted from the receiving device, a transmission medium via which the data stream can be transmitted from the receiving device, at least one type of use device authorized for the use, an audience authorized to use the data stream and/or an authorization for storage by means of the use device.

8. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one scope, preferably various scopes, in which the data stream can be offered for retrieval are specified by means of the user interface in order to provide the information relating to the scope, the user interface preferably providing a choice of the at least one scope in which the data stream can be offered for retrieval, in order to provide the information via the user interface.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the various scopes differ from a scope of an original signal, the content of which is transmitted as the data stream, in particular with respect to the data format, data rate (bit rate), the video and/or audio resolution, the frame rate and/or the number of audio channels.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, by means of the user interface, the data stream is requested for transmission in a specified scope, and it is preferably subsequently verified whether the data stream can be provided in the scope.

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data stream is transmitted from a device for sending the data stream to at least one device for modifying the data stream and/or to at least one device for forwarding the data stream, optionally to a plurality of the receiving devices.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the data stream is transmitted to the receiving device (6) via a plurality of the modification devices and/or via a plurality of the forwarding devices.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the data stream is encrypted and/or decrypted by means of the sending device, the modification device, the forwarding device and/or the receiving device.

14. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the data stream is preferably altered by means of the modification device (5) and/or the receiving device, preferably by the data stream being transcoded and/or the contents of the data stream being altered, in particular removed and/or replaced, at least in portions.

15. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the quality of the transmission is monitored, preferably by comparing the data stream upon sending and upon receipt.

16. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that an error occurring during transmission is detected and, in order to prevent the error, information regarding the error is communicated to the sending device, the modification device, the forwarding device and/or a device for automating the transmission.

17. A computer program product which can be directly loaded onto the internal memory of a digital computer and comprises software portions, and by means of which the method steps according to claim 1, can be carried out when the computer program product is running on a computer.

18. The computer program product according to claim 17, characterized in that the computer program product is a computer program stored on a data carrier, preferably RAM, ROM, CD or similar, or on an appliance, or is a signal sequence representing data, which sequence is suitable for sending via a network of data-processing devices, in particular the Internet.

19. A network of data-processing devices, comprising means for carrying out the method according to claim 1.

20. The network according to claim 19, characterized by a pilot computer for creating a portal, a device for automating a transmission of a data stream and/or a device for sending the data stream and preferably, in each case individually or in any desired combination, additionally a device for receiving and distributing the data stream, a device for modifying the data stream, a device for forwarding the data stream and/or a device for using the data stream.

Description

[0069] The invention is explained in more detail in the following on the basis of embodiments and the accompanying drawings relating to the embodiments, in which drawings:

[0070] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a network of data-processing devices according to the invention, and

[0071] FIGS. 2 to 4 is a schematic view of parts of the network according to the invention from FIG. 1.

[0072] A network of data-processing devices according to the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, which is formed in the Internet, comprises a pilot computer 1 by means of which a portal is created for transmitting data streams, which portal can be accessed via the Internet via a user interface 2, e.g. a web interface. The pilot computer 1 is designed to exchange data with an automation device 3 formed by a computer, and transmits information relating to the transmission of the data streams to the automation device 3. The pilot computer 1 further comprises an invoicing and payment means 24, which determines the prices of transmissions, generates invoices and prompts payments accordingly.

[0073] The automation device 3 is designed to control, via the Internet, activities of a device 4 for sending a data stream, of a device 5 for modifying the data stream and of a device 6 for receiving the data stream which transmits the data stream to a plurality of devices 7 for using the data stream.

[0074] The automation device 3 mentioned further comprises a monitoring means 23 which monitors activities of the sending device 4, of the modification device 5 and of the receiving device 6, and optionally also of the use devices 7.

[0075] The sending device 4 is an appliance which is equipped with hardware and software and which receives a standard real-time data stream, e.g. a data stream in MPEG transport stream format, via a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) of a unicast or multicast transmission, by means of a receiving device 9 shown in FIG. 2, and transmits said stream via the Internet by means of a sending unit 12 to the modification device 5. The sending device 4, which receives the standard real-time signal, e.g. from a television station 8, in an encrypted manner, decrypts the received data stream by means of a processor 10, changes the protocol in which the data stream is transmitted, before transmission to the modification device 5, and/or encrypts the data stream by means of a processor 11 in order to prevent unauthorised access by third parties.

[0076] The modification device 5 comprises a receiving appliance 13 which is provided with corresponding hardware and software and which can receive the data stream from the sending device 4 via the Internet, a processor 14 for decrypting the standard real-time signal, and also a modification computer 15 which is designed to alter contents of the data stream by replacement and/or to transcode the data stream, for example in order to change the data format, the data rate (bit rate), the video and/or audio resolution and/or the frame rate of said stream, and optionally to generate a plurality of different transcoded data streams 16a, 16b. The modification computer 15 also forwards the received data stream unaltered (data stream 16 in FIG. 2) if the data stream received thereby is required in the scope in which it was transmitted thereto. The modification device 5 further comprises a processor 17 for encrypting the data streams 16, 16a, 16b, and a sending appliance 18 which is likewise provided with corresponding hardware and software and transmits the encrypted data stream(s) via the Internet to the receiving device 6, optionally to a plurality of the receiving devices 6, 6a, 6b.

[0077] The receiving devices 6, 6a, 6b each have a receiving appliance 19, 19a, 19b which is equipped with corresponding hardware and software and is suitable for receiving the data stream from the modification device 5. The receiving devices 6, 6a, 6b also have processors 20, 20a, 20b for decrypting the data streams transmitted in each case by the modification device 5. By means of a processor 21, 21a, 21b, the receiving devices 6, 6a, 6b are designed to encrypt the respective data streams for transmission to the use devices 7, 7a, 7b. The receiving devices 6, 6a, 6b each further comprise a sending appliance 22, 22a, 22b which is equipped with corresponding hardware and software and by means of which the data stream can be transmitted to the use devices 7, 7a, 7b, it being possible for this transmission to take place for example via the Internet, via a cable network, terrestrial transmission, satellite transmission or similar.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 3, the modification device 5 can be designed to simultaneously receive and process a plurality of data streams from various sending devices 4-4c, and to send said streams to a plurality of receiving devices 6-6e. For this purpose, the modification device 5 can be formed by a network of a plurality of interconnected modification computers (cloud computing), which network dynamically adjusts to a processing power requirement in order to alter the data stream.

[0079] It goes without saying that a plurality of the modification devices 5 can also be provided, which devices can optionally be used to alter the data streams from the various sending devices 4-4c, which in turn transmit to various receiving devices 6-6e (cf. FIG. 4).

[0080] The user interface 2 is designed such that a provider of a data stream, for example a television station, wishing to broadcast one of its channels via the Internet, or a company which transmits live sports events, can provide a transmission offer for retrieval.

[0081] When the provider creates an offer, it provides information which characterises the offered data stream, such as a title, a description, key words or a preview.

[0082] In addition, it states the scope in which the data stream is intended to be provided for transmission to the receiving device and/or to the use device, for example by stating a duration of the transmission as well as a transmission region in which the data stream can be transmitted from the receiving device.

[0083] With respect to the details relating to a data format, a data rate, a video and/or audio resolution and/or a number of audio channels, the user interface gives the provider a choice of various data formats, data rates, video and/or audio resolutions and/or numbers of audio channels, which can be provided for transmission by means of the network according to the invention by altering the data stream by means of the modification device. The modification device is designed to convert the data stream into all common data formats, data rates and video and/or audio resolutions such that the provider can offer the data stream in a plurality of scopes and therefore has a large number of options; the data stream can also potentially be offered to the purchaser in many different scopes. Preferably, the user interface is designed such that the provider and/or the purchaser can select particular ranges from specified ranges of the data rates and the video and/or audio resolutions.

[0084] Further details could be a transmission medium, for example a cable network or the Internet, via which the data stream can be transmitted to the use device, or types of use devices, for example televisions, smartphones, personal or desktop computers, which are authorised to use the data stream.

[0085] In addition, information regarding rights which can be obtained for transmitting the data stream is made available via the user interface 2. The prices at which the transmission is offered result from the price set by the provider, and from the price set by an operator of the platform for the transmission.

[0086] The price set by the provider may for example depend on the number or the spatial arrangement of the use devices to which the data stream is transmitted, and on the data format of the data stream.

[0087] The operator's price can be determined automatically by the invoicing and payment means 24, taking into account the scope of the transmission, in particular the amount of data to be transmitted, the change to be made to the original signal or the data stream and/or the physical distance between the sending device and the receiving device.

[0088] Further details can include invoicing and payment options for the transmission.

[0089] The data which are input for generating the offer are processed by means of the pilot computer 1 so as to be retrievable on the Internet via the user interface 2, so that a purchaser of the data stream, for example a telecommunications provider intending to transmit the data stream to its end clients, can be informed. For this purpose, a search function is expediently provided which allows the purchaser to filter offers which are suitable for it from the offers which can be retrieved by means of the user interface 2, by pre-selecting the above-mentioned information relating to the data stream.

[0090] If the purchaser wishes to purchase a data stream offer, it selects said offer by providing the information mentioned relating to the scope, rights, invoicing and payment, as well as an IP address at which the receiving device 6 is located, and, via the user interface 2, concludes a contract with the provider regarding the transmission of the data stream.

[0091] The stated invoicing and payment means 24 of the pilot computer 1 automatically generates corresponding invoices and forwards these to the provider, the purchaser and the operator of the network, and prompts payment of the price, for example by charging a credit card of the purchaser to the benefit of the operator, and the operator paying the part of the payment to which the provider is entitled.

[0092] The pilot computer 1 communicates to the automation device 3 transmission information relating to the transmission of the data stream to the receiving device 6, the automation device automatically prompting the transmission in the agreed scope from the sending device 4, to which the provider sends its standard real-time data stream, via the modification device 5 such that the purchaser receives the data stream in the agreed scope on the receiving device 6, the modification device 5 in particular altering the data format, the data rate and the audio and/or video resolution of the data stream.

[0093] During transmission, the sending device 4, the modification device 5 and the receiving device 6 are monitored. It is thus possible to verify whether the data stream has been transmitted to the receiving device 6 in the contractually agreed scope. It can be provided for the automation device 3 to communicate monitoring information, which has been determined by the monitoring means 23, to the pilot computer 1, such that, when the transmission is as agreed, said computer automatically generates an invoice and prompts payment, as described above.

[0094] In addition, if an error is detected during transmission, the automation device 3 can alter the activities of the sending device 4 and the modification device 5a, 5b, 5c such that the error is prevented.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 2 by the double arrows between the sending device 4, the modification device 5 and the receiving device 6, the receiving appliances 13 and 19 can transmit information regarding errors occurring during transmission to the relevant sending unit 12 or sending appliance 18 from which said appliances receive the data stream in each case. The sending unit 12 and the sending appliance 18 are designed to modify the transmission on the basis of the information they receive regarding the errors, such that the errors are prevented or corrected.

[0096] As can be seen in FIG. 4, in addition, forwarding devices 25a-i and, alternatively, a plurality of the modification devices 5a, 5b, 5c, can be provided on a transmission route from the sending device 4, 4a, 4b to the receiving devices 6, 6a, 6b, via which the data stream is routed. In particular, if a plurality of the sending devices 4, 4a, 4b and the receiving devices 6, 6a, 6b are provided, and a plurality of data streams are to be transmitted, in order to improve a transmission quality it can be useful to direct each of the data streams by selecting the forwarding devices 25a-i via which the data stream is transmitted, it being possible to take into account the speed of a transmission based on round-trip times, or also utilisations of the modification devices 5a, 5b, 5c determined by the monitoring means 23.