IP Library Granted Patent US 6,864,860
Granted Patent B1
US 6,864,860 · App. 09/233,603 · Granted Mar 8, 2005

System for downloading data using video

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,864,860
App. No.
09/233,603
Granted
Mar 8, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system for synchronizing data between two devices. A first device displays a data stream as a sequence of one or more two-dimensional frames on a video screen attached thereto, wherein each of the two-dimensional frames is comprised of at least one two-dimensional shape of varying color that represents at least one data element within the data stream. A second device having an image sensing device coupled thereto captures images from the displayed sequence of two-dimensional frames and for decodes the data elements from the captured images.

Claims (40)

1. A system for synchronizing data between two devices, comprising:

(a) a first device for displaying a data stream as a sequence of one or more two-dimensional frames on a video screen attached thereto, wherein each of the two-dimensional frames is comprised of at least one two-dimensional shape that represents at least one data element within the data stream; and

(b) a second device having an image sensing device coupled thereto for capturing two-dimensional images from the displayed data stream using the image sensing device and for decoding the data elements from the captured two-dimensional images.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sequence of two-dimensional frames is displayed by a web browser.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sequence of two-dimensional frames is displayed by a standalone program.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the two-dimensional frames is comprised of start-of-frame and end-of-frame sequences.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first device displays the sequence of two-dimensional frames one at a time on the video screen.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data elements are encoded for error correction prior to being displayed.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data elements are encrypted for security prior to being displayed.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the colors are extremes in value.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first device is connected to a network and the data stream is generated from data stored on the network.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second device identifies a pattern of data elements within the captured two-dimensional image by searching for a border of the frame.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second device determines a scaling factor for the captured two-dimensional image from the identified pattern of data elements.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second device computes an alignment correction for the captured two-dimensional image by searching for expected color sequences in the frame, and then rotating and shifting the captured two-dimensional image so that it is properly aligned.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second device computes a size for the data elements based upon a width and height of the frame identified in the captured two-dimensional image.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second device corrects for a curvature of the video screen based upon the frame identified in the captured two-dimensional image.

15. A portable digital device, comprising:

(a) a processor having an image sensing device coupled thereto; and

(b) means, performed by the processor, for capturing at least one two-dimensional image from a sequence of one or more two-dimensional frames displayed on a video screen using the image sensing device, wherein each of the two-dimensional frames is comprised of at least one two-dimensional shape that represents at least one data element within a data stream, and for decoding the data elements from the captured two-dimensional image.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein each of the two-dimensional frames is comprised of start-of-frame and end-of-frame sequences.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the sequence of two-dimensional frames are displayed one at a time on the video screen.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the data elements are encoded for error correction prior to being displayed.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the data elements are encrypted for security prior to being displayed.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the colors are extremes in value.

21. The system of claim 15 , wherein the data stream is generated from data stored on a network.

22. The system of claim 15 , further comprising means for identifying a pattern of data elements within the captured two-dimensional image by searching for a border of the frame.

23. The system of claim 15 , further comprising means for determining a scaling factor for the captured two-dimensional image from the identified pattern of data elements.

24. The system of claim 15 , further comprising means for computing an alignment correction for the captured two-dimensional image by searching for expected color sequences in the frame, and then rotating and shifting the captured two-dimensional image so that it is properly aligned.

25. The system of claim 15 , further comprising means for computing a size for the data elements based upon a width and height of the frame identified in the captured two-dimensional image.

26. The system of claim 15 , further comprising means for correcting for a curvature of a video screen based upon a frame identified in the captured two-dimensional image.

27. A digital display system, comprising:

(a) a processor having a video screen coupled thereto; and

(b) means, performed by the processor, for displaying a data stream as a sequence of one or more two-dimensional frames on the video screen, wherein each of the two-dimensional frames is comprised of at least one two-dimensional shape that represents at least one data element within the data stream, at least one two-dimensional image is captured from the displayed data stream by an image sensing device coupled to a second device, and the data elements are decoded from the at least one captured two-dimensional image by the second device.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the sequence of two-dimensional frames is displayed by a web browser.

29. The system of claim 27 , wherein each of the two-dimensional frames is comprised of start-of-frame and end-of-frame sequences.

30. The system of claim 27 , wherein the sequence of two-dimensional frames are displayed one at a time on the video screen.

31. The system of claim 27 , wherein the data elements are encoded for error correction prior to being displayed.

32. The system of claim 27 , wherein the data elements are encrypted for security prior to being displayed.

33. The system of claim 27 , wherein the colors are extremes in value.

34. The system of claim 27 , wherein the processor is connected to a network and the data stream is generated from data stored on the network.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2016
From: NAGRAVISION S.A.
To: OPENTV, INC.
Reel/Frame 040744/0679 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2016
From: RPX CORPORATION
To: NAGRAVISION S.A.
Reel/Frame 041127/0438 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2009
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: RPX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022951/0408 →