WO2010112105A1

WO2010112105A1 - Device for transmitting live events via a computer network

Info

Publication number: WO2010112105A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/000833
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Gross; Christoph Meinel
Original assignee: Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Softwaresystemtechnik GmbH
Priority date: 2009-04-01
Filing date: 2010-02-11
Publication date: 2010-10-07
Also published as: CN102379117A; EP2415248A1; DE202009005458U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for transmitting live events via a computer network, comprising the device (1): a processing unit (4) having inputs for various input units, comprising at least one video camera (9), at least one microphone, and at least one computer of presenters as part of the live event, a transport container (2) having a cover (3), wherein the processing unit (4) is disposed in the transport container (2) and the inputs of the processing unit (4) are fed to an outer side (2a) of the transport container (2) and are accessible from outside the container, and a user interface (6; 6a, 6b) disposed in the cover (3) of the transport container (2) for operating the processing unit (4), wherein the processing unit (4) is fully operational after opening the cover (3) and connecting a power supply and the input units (9), without previously removing and connecting the processing unit (4) and/or the user interface (6; 6a, 6b) from the transport container (2).

Description

Title: Device for transmission of live

Events over a computer network

description

The present invention relates to a device for transmitting live events over a computer network.

Such devices have recently been widely used to broadcast current events over the Internet. They are used, for example, for the transmission of lectures, in-house and external third-party training, educational events, seminars, courses at schools or colleges, workshops, lectures, shareholder meetings, annual general meetings, product presentations, software training, or online events. The devices are used everywhere where there is no stationary system for the transmission of live events over the Internet and a temporary transmission of live events is desired. The known devices consist of a plurality of individual components (video camera, microphone, processing unit, user interface, connection cables, software, etc.), which must be individually transported to the site, built on site and connected and finally put into operation. Commissioning inevitably involves trial operation to clarify whether the individual components have been correctly set up and connected. Overall, the known devices are extremely expensive to transport and complicated and time-consuming in construction and commissioning. This leads to always knowledgeable Qualified personnel for construction and commissioning of the known device on site is necessary.

Object of the present invention is to simplify and speed up the construction and commissioning without restrictions in the scope of functions.

To solve this problem, it is proposed on the basis of the device of the type mentioned above that the device comprises: a processing unit with inputs for various input units comprising at least one video camera, at least one microphone and at least one computer of lecturers during the live event, a transport container with lid, wherein the processing unit is arranged in the transport container and the inputs of the processing unit are guided to an outside of the transport container and are accessible from outside the transport container, and a user interface arranged in the lid of the transport container for operating the processing unit, wherein the processing unit after opening the cover, the connection of a power supply and the input units without prior removal and connection of the processing unit and / or the user interface from the transport container full betr is ready.

According to the invention, it has been recognized that the effort and the time required for the construction and commissioning of the device can be reduced by constructing, connecting and configuring as many as possible of the individual components in advance. In order to facilitate the transport of the finished configured components, they are arranged according to the invention in a transport container. In this, the individual components can also during operation of the device remain as all inputs and outputs of the processing unit to the outside of the transport container out and connected to the corresponding external components (video camera, webcam, USB camera, microphone, computer of the speaker, etc.) can be connected. The user interface integrated in the lid of the transport container also makes it possible to operate and operate the processing unit without removing it from the transport container.

The inventive device can in the

Transport containers are particularly easy to be transported. It is conceivable that in the transport container next to the processing unit and the user interface still room for external components (eg video camera, webcam, USB camera, tripod, microphone, etc.), so that all individual components no longer individually, but all can be transported together in a single transport container. It does not make sense to integrate certain external components (eg video camera, webcam, USB camera, microphone, etc.) firmly into the transport container, as is done with the processing unit and the user interface, as it then positions it on site ( eg microphone directly at the lecturer, cameras on the lecturer, the audience, the panel oa directed) and their position can be varied during the transmission (eg camera follows the movements of the lecturer from the podium to the blackboard, to the overhead projector, to the computer, to the Audience etc.). The transport container is preferably designed as a mobile transport case made of aluminum (so-called fightcase). It can have side handles and ventilation openings. Inside, it can be padded with foam or similar material to protect its components during transport. For the construction, connection and commissioning of the device according to the invention no trained specialist personnel is required. For the knowledgeable layman, it is easily possible to build the device in no time. The device can be rented by the organizer of a live device, for example, and put into operation on site. In this way, the organizer can cost-effectively and easily make his live event to a wide audience on the computer network, for example. The Internet, available.

The device according to the invention does not simply transmit the signals of a video recorder over the Internet, but transmits input signals of different input media together via the computer network to a client. At the client, the output of the various audio and video signals received by the device in the output layout can be arbitrarily configured. It is conceivable, for example, a three-part representation of the live event on the screen of the client. It uses one quarter of the display area for a video stream from the presenter, another quarter for supplemental hints and navigation, and the remaining half for displaying the recorded computer screen of the presenter. The display on the client allows the scaling in size, quality and a prioritization of individual presentation components.

In order to enable a meaningful transmission of the input signals from different input media, it is proposed according to an advantageous development of the invention that the processing unit synchronizes input signals from the at least one video camera, the at least one microphone and the at least one computer. This will ensure that the client really sees the contents of the presenter's computer screen, which is related to the computer corresponding image of the lecturer or the corresponding lecture (the audio signals) heard.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the processing unit convert the synchronized input signals into at least one of the formats RealMedia, Flash or MP4.

RealMedia is the collective name for the file formats and associated client and server products of the software manufacturer RealNetworks. In particular, RealMedia means the audio format RealAudio and the video format RealVideo. RealMedia is mainly used as a so-called browse quality format. Examples include Web radios that send in RealAudio format, as well as video and audio samples on the Internet called. Of particular importance is the RealMedia formats in streaming offers on the Internet. They can be streamed over the protocols RTSP, RTP, PNM, HTTP and UDP and can contain by means of the so-called SureStream method several qualitatively different versions (with different bandwidth) of the same content, so that users with different network connection (LAN, DSL or ISDN) receive the optimum quality for their connection. RealMedia files have the file extensions *. ra for audio, * .rv, *. rm and *. rmvb for video and *. ram and *. rpm as meta-file formats, i. Files that point to the actual multimedia file. Alternatives to RealMedia include Quicktime from Apple and Windows Media from Microsoft.

Flash (formerly Macromedia Flash, now Adobe Flash) is a proprietary integrated development environment for creating multimedia content, the Flash movies. The resulting files are in SWF (Shockwave Flash) format, a vector graphics based graphics and animation format. Flash is used on many websites today, be it as a banner, as part of a website eg as a control menu or in the form of complete Flash pages. The source files created with Adobe Flash (FLA files) are compiled (translated) into SWF files for use on a web server and compressed as desired. The FLA files are used only by the authors during development and are modifiable. The compiled SWF files are intended for viewing in the web browser and can not be easily changed in this form. In order to view Flash files, the proprietary player Flash Player is required, which can be integrated as a web browser plugin. The alternative free play programs Gnash (from the GNU project) and Swfdec currently do not support all possibilities of the Flash format. Because of its multimedia capabilities, Flash often uses video or sound files. Since these formats usually take up more data, Flash often uses so-called preloaders, which buffer part or all of the movie. However, because Flash is a streaming format, it is possible to build pages that start immediately at low bandwidths with no significant latency. To stream the videos or sound files over the Internet, RTMP (Real Time Messaging Protocol) is used. Flash is becoming increasingly popular for multimedia tutorials that let you record screen activity. This can be used to display new functions or specific methods. These flash files are often smaller than the usual video formats and require no other multimedia players besides the plugin. For use comes z. For example, a program package such as vnc2swf, which picks up the image data from a VNC server and stores it in a Flash file. With additional programs it is then possible to invert these animations.

MP4 is a short form for the MPEG MPEG4 content container provided by MPEG and has been published in ISO / IEC 14496-12 and -14 (MPEG-4 parts 12 and 14) standardized. The MP4 file format is based on the Apple QuickTime file format. It organizes the media data as well as this in hierarchical and sequential data units. These units are called "atoms", and their type identifiers (mov, trak, mdia, minf, stdl, etc.) are identical, so you can record a variety of different media types and store them with structural information and their dependencies.MP4 files can be multimedial Content can be stored in the form of multiple audio and video tracks, as well as subtitles, 2D and 3D graphics, which can then be played locally or streamed over a network using appropriate software Alternative container formats include QuickTime, AVI, Matroska and Ogg Media. MP4 is the format in which so-called podcasts are currently being created.Podcasts are media files created by any vendor and then made available on the Internet for retrieval on servers.

To enable transmission of the converted input signals over the computer network in a particular transmission format, it is proposed that the processing unit format the converted signals for transmission over the computer network to the desired transmission format. Preferably, the processing unit formats the converted signals for transmission over the Internet into the Internet Protocol (IP) format.

The device according to the invention can be used for live transmission and recording of almost any events. In particular, the transfer of a lecture, a training, an educational event, a seminar, a course at school or college, a workshop, a lecture, a shareholders' meeting, an annual general meeting, a product presentation, a software training, an online event or a Part of one Teleconference thought. Particular advantages of the present invention for the transmission of events for (disabled) people, since the device can be quickly and easily built at almost any event, put into operation and dismantled again. The device of the invention will certainly be used by much more organizers of live events than before. Thus, (disabled) people can follow much more events via the Internet than before. The invention makes an important contribution to the integration of (disabled) people.

The device according to the invention serves to transmit the live event via any computer network. Due to its wide distribution and its almost unlimited accessibility, however, it is particularly advantageous to broadcast the live event via the Internet.

According to another advantageous development of the invention, it is proposed that the device has means for storing the live event recorded by the external components (eg video camera, microphone, computer of the presenter, etc.) simultaneously with or after the live event on a storage medium , With the device so a subsequent directly to the recording production of data carriers with the video and audio content is possible. Preferably, the video and audio contents are stored on a CD-ROM, a DVD, an HD DVD, a VMD, a Blu-ray Disc or similar optical storage medium for storing audio and video data. The data carriers containing the recorded video and audio contents can then be forwarded or sold to interested third parties.

The audio and video data can also be stored on a storage medium (RAM, ROM, hard disk of the processing unit or another server of the Internet) and then used to create a podcast. In this regard, it is proposed that the processing unit comprise means for creating a portable learning unit in the form of video and / or audio podcasts.

Finally, it is also proposed that the integrated in the lid of the transport container

User interface includes a screen and a keyboard or a touch-sensitive screen. The keyboard or the touch screen may be removable from the lid to improve ergonomics. The connection to the processing unit (via cable or wireless, for example via radio or infrared) is maintained.

Two preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention according to a first preferred embodiment; FIG. 2 shows a section of a side of a transport container of the device from FIG. 1; FIG. Fig. 3 is a top view into the interior of a

Transport container of an inventive

Device according to a second preferred

embodiment; and FIG. 4 is a view into the interior of a lid of the

Transport container of the device of FIG. 3rd

1 shows a device according to the invention for transmitting a live event via a computer network according to a first preferred embodiment in its entirety by the reference numeral 1 designated. The device 1 comprises a transport container 2 in the form of a transport case made of aluminum with a lid 3. Of course, the transport case also made of a suitable material other than aluminum. The transport container 2 can be closed by means of the cover 3 for transport and storage. Inside the transport container 2, a processing unit 4 in the form of a computer with suitable hardware and software is arranged. The processing unit 4 is mounted inside the transport container 2 so that it can not move during transport. Inputs and outputs of the processing unit 4 are guided to a side 2a of the transport container 2, so that on the side 2a accessible from the outside input and output terminals 5 of the processing unit 4 are present.

In the lid 3 of the transport container 2, a user interface 6 in the form of a touch-sensitive screen for operating the processing unit 4 is arranged by a user. The processing unit 4 can be reconfigured via the user interface 6 and the current transmission can be monitored. The user interface 6 stands as about one

Data exchange connection (via cable or wireless) with the processing unit 4 in combination (not visible in Figure 1).

The transport container 2 and the lid 3 are lined in the interior at least partially with foam material 7 or a similar material suitable for mechanical damping and thermal insulation. In the interior of the transport container 2, in addition to the processing unit 4, there is still space 8 for external components which are required for the transmission of the live event. Such components are, for example, a video camera 9, a collapsible tripod 10, a webcam, a USB camera, a microphone or similar.

For transportation, all the individual components needed for the live transmission are contained in the closed transport container 2 and can be easily transported and handled.

For the operation of the device 1, only the lid 3 of the container 2 is opened, the external components (camera 9, microphone, lecturer's computer, etc.) are externally connected to the correspondingly marked ^" input terminals 5 in the side wall 2a, the Power supply also from the outside to the corresponding input terminal 5 and a connection to a computer network (eg the Internet) over which the live event is to be transmitted, made externally via the corresponding marked output terminal 5 in the side wall 2a 1. The components contained and connected in the transport container 2 are already configured and ready for operation, it is not necessary to remove them from the transport container 2, to set up and connect all the individual components because a big one part of the components of the device 1 is already installed installed inside the container 2 and the few still to be connected external components to exactly marked input or output terminals 5, which preclude a misconnection due to their design, are connected. The inventive device 1 allows a particularly simple and fast commissioning of the device 1. The recording and transmission of live events will be used much more often in the future than currently. In Figure 2, the input and output terminals 5 of the processing unit 4 are shown enlarged on the outside of a side wall 2a of the transport container 2. For cooling the processing unit 4 during operation in the container 2, at least some of the side walls may be provided with ventilation openings 2b.

Figure 3 shows a view into the interior of a transport container 2 of a device 1 according to another preferred embodiment. The lid 3 of the container 2 is not shown in FIG. The space 8 for the external components of the device, such as, for example, the components 9, 10, is not formed next to the processing unit 4, as in the first exemplary embodiment, but above it. The lining of at least part of the interior of the container 2 with foam 7 o.a. is easy to recognize. Furthermore, connection lines 11 can be seen leading from the inputs and outputs of the processing unit 4 to the input and output terminals 5 in the side wall 2a. The lines may be hidden under a layer of foam 7 or another type of interior trim, so that the area above the lines 11 for receiving external components o.a. can be used. The course of the lines 11 is shown only symbolically in FIG. They may also extend from the processing unit 4 along the inner walls of the container 2 to the input and output terminals 5.

FIG. 4 shows the interior of a cover 3 of the device 1 from FIG. 3. The interior of the cover 3 is completely lined with foam 7. In a recess of the foam 7, a part of a user interface in the form of a screen 6 a is arranged and fixed to the lid 3. The user interface also includes a keyboard 6b. This is in a further recess 7a arranged the foam 7 and releasably or removably attached to the cover 3. By the removable keyboard 6b, the ergonomics in the operation of the built-in the container 2 processing unit 4 can be improved. Both when inserted into the recess 7a as well as removed therefrom keyboard 6b this is connected to the processing unit 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the keyboard 6b is connected via a cable 6c. Of course, it can also be connected wirelessly (eg via radio or infrared) to the processing unit 4.

Claims

protection claims

A device (1) for transmitting live events over a computer network; characterized in that the device (1) comprises: a processing unit (4) having inputs for various input units comprising at least one video camera (9), at least one microphone and at least one computer of speakers in the context of the live event, a transport container (2) with cover (3), wherein the processing unit (4) in the transport container

(2) is arranged and the inputs of the processing unit (4) to an outside (2a) of the transport container (2) are guided and accessible from outside the transport container (2), and one in the lid (3) of the transport container (2) arranged User interface (6); 6a, 6b) for operating the processing unit (4), wherein the processing unit (4) after opening the lid

(3), the connection of a power supply and the input units (9) without prior removal and connection of the processing unit (4) and / or the user interface (6; 6a, 6b) from the transport container (2) is fully operational.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing unit (4) synchronizes input signals from the at least one video camera (9), the at least one microphone and the at least one computer.

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the processing unit (4) converts the synchronized input signals into at least one of the formats RealMedia, Flash or MP4.

4. Device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the processing unit (4) formats the converted signals for transmission over the computer network.

5. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the processing unit (4) formats the converted signals for transmission over the Internet in the Internet protocol format.

6. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the live event a lecture, a training, an educational event, a seminar, a course at school or college, a workshop, a lecture, a shareholders' meeting, an annual general meeting, a product presentation, a software training course, an event for (disabled) people, an online event, or part of a teleconference.

7. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the corapnut network is the Internet.

8. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the device (1) has means for storing the recorded live event at the same time with or after the live event on a storage medium.

9. Device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the storage medium is a CD-ROM, a DVD, an HD DVD, a VMD, a Blu-ray disc or a similar optical storage medium for storing audio and video data formed is.

10. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the processing unit (4) Means for creating a portable learning unit in the form of video and / or audio podcasts.

11. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the user interface (6; 6a, 6b) comprises a screen (6a) and a keyboard (6b) or a touch-sensitive screen (6).