Dynamic video messaging
A video messaging service is compatible with multiple transport technologies (such as 2G and 3G networks), and operable to render an integrated video message having voice and corresponding video in a matter consistent with the capabilities of the recipient device. The video messaging service receives a voice (audio) and identifies a video component, computes a video format compatible with an intended recipient device, and generates an integrated video message renderable on the recipient device. The video messaging service identifies the initiator and recipient as 2G or 3G network conversant, and identifies the rendering capabilities of the recipient device, such as memory and mailboxes. The system employs MMS (Multimedia Message Service) to encapsulate independent audio and video components as an integrated message including a voice message and a video source. Depending on the capabilities of the recipient device, a .gif ( ) video rendering or a so-called 3GP rendering is also provided.
1. A method of video messaging, comprising:
identifying a video source for a video component of an integrated multimedia message;
receiving a voice message to accompany the video source, the voice message independent of the video source;
integrating the video source to the voice message to generate the integrated multimedia message;
identifying a recipient device associated with an intended user for receiving the integrated multimedia message, the integrated multimedia message encoded to include renderings of the video source and the voice message and corresponding to capabilities of the recipient device; and
rendering the integrated multimedia message to the recipient device,
wherein the rendering of the integrated multimedia message includes:
determining a buffering capability at the recipient device for receiving the integrated multimedia message as a renderable message, and
wherein the integrating of the video source to the voice message includes:
computing, based at least on the buffering capability, a maximum video resolution and frame rate for which the buffering capability can accommodate the integrated multimedia message; and
encoding the integrated multimedia message at the computed maximum video resolution and frame rate.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving the voice message from an initiator device corresponding to an initiating user; and
receiving the identified video source from a video repository, the video source associated with the initiator device and corresponding to the initiating user.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the identifying of the video source includes receiving at least one of:
a stored avatar; and
a user generated video clip.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the integrating of the video source to the voice message further comprises:
identifying a transport technology employed by a network supporting the recipient device; and
selectively building a script file, based at least on the transport technology, referencing the video source and the voice message, or selectively generating, based at least on the ability of the transport technology to support multimedia encoded messages, an encoded multimedia message.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the integrating of the video source to the voice message further comprises:
identifying a video source file and type thereof corresponding to the video source;
identifying an audio source file and type thereof corresponding to the voice message;
enumerating the identified video source file and audio source file in a script file; and
coalescing the video source and voice message to synchronize renderable features in an animated video sequence.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the rendering of the integrated multimedia message further comprises:
selectively downloading the renderable message based at least on an acceptable transport size according to carrier and device limitations at the recipient device, or streaming the renderable message if insufficient buffer space is available at the recipient device.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the buffering capability at the recipient device includes a mailbox, wherein the mailbox is remote from the recipient device, and wherein the method further comprises:
storing the integrated multimedia message in the mailbox; and
delivering the integrated multimedia message responsive to a request from the recipient device.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the rendering of the integrated multimedia message includes selecting at least one of:
a user generated video clip;
a lip synced avatar; and
an emulated animation avatar.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the rendering of the integrated multimedia message further comprises swapping a predetermined number of fixed images such that an appearance of the emulated animation avatar is of the emulated animation avatar exhibiting facial movements corresponding to the audio source.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the integrated multimedia message further comprises an MMS message, and wherein the rendering of the integrated multimedia message includes:
downloading, based at least on a maximum acceptable size for MMS at the recipient device, or streaming the renderable message if a size of the MMS message exceeds the maximum acceptable size for MMS messages at the recipient device.
11. A video messaging subsystem, comprising:
a first interface operative to identify and receive a video source for a video component of an integrated multimedia message;
an application server operative to receive a voice message to accompany the video source, the voice message independent of the video source;
a content manager operative to integrate the video source to the voice message to generate the integrated multimedia message;
service logic operative to identify a recipient device associated with an intended user for receiving the integrated multimedia message, the integrated multimedia message encoded to include renderings of the video source and the voice message and corresponding to capabilities of the recipient device; and
a second interface to a recipient network, wherein the second interface is operative to render the integrated multimedia message to the recipient device, the recipient network independent from the first interface receiving the video source,
wherein the content manager is further operative:
to determine a buffering capability at the recipient device for receiving the integrated multimedia message as a renderable message;
to compute, based at least on the buffering capability, a maximum video resolution and frame rate for which the buffering capability can accommodate the integrated multimedia message; and
to encode the integrated multimedia message at the computed maximum video resolution and frame rate.
12. The subsystem of claim 11 wherein the second interface to the recipient network is responsive to an initiator device, and wherein the second interface is further operative:
to receive the voice message from the initiator device, the initiator device corresponding to an initiating user; and
to receive the identified video source, the video source associated with the initiator device and corresponding to the initiating user, and
wherein the identified video source includes at least one of:
a stored avatar; and
a user generated video clip.
13. The subsystem of claim 11 wherein the content manager is further operative:
to identify a transport technology employed by the recipient network; and
to selectively build a script file, based at least on the transport technology, referencing the video source and the voice message, the script file being a Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL)-script referencing a .gif video source file, or to selectively generate, based at least on the ability of the transport technology to support multimedia encoded messages, an encoded multimedia message.
14. The subsystem of claim 13 wherein the content manager is further operative to integrate the video source to the voice message by:
identifying a video source file and type thereof corresponding to the video source;
identifying an audio source file and type thereof corresponding to the voice message;
enumerating the identified video source file and audio source file in a script file; and
coalescing the video source and voice message to synchronize renderable features in an animated video sequence.
15. The subsystem of claim 14 wherein the content manager is further operative:
to selectively download, based at least on sufficient memory at the recipient device, the renderable message, or to stream the renderable message if insufficient buffer space is available at the recipient device.
16. The subsystem of claim 15 wherein the integrated multimedia message further comprises an MMS message, the content manager being further operable to download, based at least on a maximum acceptable size for MMS at the recipient device, or stream the renderable message if a size of the MMS message exceeds the maximum acceptable size for MMS messages at the recipient device.
17. The subsystem of claim 11 wherein the content manager is further operative to direct the second interface:
to store the integrated multimedia message in a mailbox; and
to deliver the integrated multimedia message responsive to a request from the recipient device.
18. The subsystem of claim 11 wherein the avatar engine is operative to render the video image by selecting at least one of:
a user generated video clip;
a lip synced avatar; and
an emulated animation avatar.
19. The subsystem of claim 18 wherein the avatar engine is further operative to generate emulated animation by swapping a predetermined number of fixed images such that an appearance of the emulated animation avatar is of the emulated animation avatar exhibiting facial movements corresponding to the audio source.
20. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer readable medium operable to store a set of encoded instructions which, when executed by a processor responsive to the instructions, cause a computer connected to the non-transitory computer readable medium to perform video messaging, comprising:
computer program code for identifying a video source for a video component of an integrated multimedia message;
computer program code for receiving a voice message to accompany the video source, the voice message independent of the video source;
computer program code for integrating the video source to the voice message to generate the integrated multimedia message, the integrating of the video source to the voice message further including:
identifying a video source file and type thereof corresponding to the video source;
identifying an audio source file and type thereof corresponding to the voice message;
enumerating the identified video source file and audio source file in a script file; and
coalescing the video source and voice message to synchronize renderable features in an animated video sequence;
computer program code for identifying a recipient device associated with an intended user for receiving the integrated multimedia message, the integrated multimedia message encoded to correspond to capabilities of the recipient device; and
computer program code for rendering the integrated multimedia message to the recipient device rendering the video image, the rendering of the integrated multimedia message further including:
selecting at least one of a user generated video clip, a lip synced avatar, and an emulated animation avatar;
swapping a predetermined number of fixed images such that an appearance of the emulated animation avatar is of the emulated animation avatar exhibiting facial movements corresponding to the audio source; and
determining a buffering capability at the recipient device for receiving the integrated multimedia message as a renderable message, and
wherein the integrating of the video source to the voice message further includes:
computing, based at least on the buffering capability, a maximum video resolution and frame rate for which the buffering capability can accommodate the integrated multimedia message; and
encoding the integrated multimedia message at the computed maximum video resolution and frame rate.