WO2005125152A1

WO2005125152A1 - Data transmission system comprising data transport adaptation means

Info

Publication number: WO2005125152A1
Application number: PCT/NL2004/000441
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven Jan Willen Van Lerberghe
Original assignee: Sveltec B.V.
Priority date: 2004-06-19
Filing date: 2004-06-19
Publication date: 2005-12-29

Abstract

Data transmission system (30) and method for data transport over a data transmission channel (38-42), in particular a wireless data transmission channel, between a data source device (31) and at least one user receiving device (32-36). The data source device (31) comprises data transport adaptation means (43), arranged for adaptively transporting the data based on at least one of data content, user perception, user preference, transmission channel and environmental properties. The data transport adaptation means (43) may be arranged for the direct transport of sensorial data including sound and image data.

Description

Title

Data transmission system comprising data transport adaptation means Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to data transmission and, more particularly, to data transmission over a wireless data transmission channel between a data source device and at least one user receiving device.

Background of the Invention

In traditional data transmission systems, both the data source device and the user receiving device or devices are provided with processing means and data storage means for storing and executing application software. In the case of a wireless cellular or cordless telephone for example, speech and image data are transmitted from a radio base station or radio access unit to a radio telephone device in accordance with a predetermined image data transport protocol. This protocol may comprise a compression scheme, for example, for reducing the amount of data to be transported to the radio telephone device. The maximum amount of data which can be transported is determined, among others, by the data transport capacity of the wireless data transmission channel between the radio base station or radio access unit and the radio telephone device. In the case of several applications, such as image and speech applications, the user may select, for example, one or more of these applications to be executed simultaneously, dependent on the amount of data transport required for each of the applications separately and the data transport capacity of the data transmission channel. In practice, the data transmission channel capacity may be (temporarily) reduced due to varying propagation conditions on the radio interface between the data source device and the user receiving device. The number of data applications to be executed simultaneously may then have to be decreased because of the limited data transport capacity of the transmission channel. In the case of a single application, for example, such as in the case of image data transport, an image to be displayed may be severely distorted. Further, in a portable user receiving device, battery power is scarce and should be used in an intelligent manner in order to prolong the operating time of the user receiving device. In the case of a fixed data transport rate, for example, the user receiving device always has to process the amount of data received using the full battery power required for executing a respective application. Summary of the Invention

In view of the foregoing background it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a data transmission system and method providing a more versatile data transport over a data transmission channel between a data source device and a user receiving device. It is in particular an object of the present invention to provide a data transmission system and method by which the number of applications that can be executed by a user receiving device may be increased, without effectively impairing the use or perception thereof by the user. It is another object of the present invention to improve the operating time of a user receiving device by providing an intelligent data transport over the data transmission channel between the data source device and the user receiving device. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, are achieved by a data transmission system and method for data transport over a data transmission channel, in particular a wireless data transmission channel, between a data source device and at least one user receiving device, characterized in that the data source device comprises data transport adaptation means, arranged for adaptively transporting data based on at least one of data content, user perception, user preference, transmission channel and environmental properties. The invention is based on the insight that the amount of data transport for executing an application on a user receiving device may be varied during execution, without impairing or restricting the actual use of the application by a user. By providing adaptation means, in the data source device, according to the present invention, the data transport between the data source device and the data receiving device can be adapted based on: data content, such as image data versus speech or sound data; user perception, for example making use of the fact that image data has a higher redundancy than text or speech data; user preference, that is users may for example prefer a better sound quality at the expense of a lesser image quality; transmission channel properties, such that if the transmission channel degrades preference is given, for example, to text data instead of image data; and environmental properties, such as providing a brighter image quality during daylight than during the evening or night. This may result not only in the possibility of performing more tasks or applications simultaneously on the user receiving device, but also enables a more efficient use of available resources in the data receiving device, such as the amount of battery power. In accordance with a further embodiment of the data transmission system of the invention, the data transport can be adapted on the fly. That is, adaptation may take place during the execution of an application or applications such that the user, for example, will perceive an optimum experience of the application or applications, also during varying transmission properties or an increase in the number of applications that have to be executed simultaneously, for example. In an embodiment of the invention, the user receiving device comprises user data selection means, operatively, remotely connected to the data transport adaptation means, for selecting by the user data to be transported from the data source device to the user receiving device. Parameters or criteria for selecting data to be transported may include at least one of sorting, prioritising, predicting and selecting particular data to be transported. The sorting criteria may apply to application data which necessarily have to be transported for a proper execution of a particular application or applications, whereby the prioritising criteria may set a priority scheme for transport of particular types of data. The predicting criteria may include data prediction schemes to be executed such that future data can be predicted from previously received data which, in particular, is applicable to image data wherein background information may not vary between subsequent images, for example. The selection criteria provide the user a possibility of selecting a particular application or applications, for example in the case of a very severely degraded transmission channel. It will be appreciated that the respective parameters or criteria are not limited to the examples provided. In a preferred embodiment of the data transmission system and method of the present invention, the data transport adaptation means are arranged for the direct transport of sensorial data. The term "sensorial data" or "sensorial information" refers to the manner in which information is perceived by a human user, using his or hers perception organs, such as the eyes, the ears, the nose and so on. Sensorial information in the context of a data transmission system according to the present invention refers to sound and image data. However, tactile and olfactory data are not excluded by the present invention. In the context of the present invention, direct transport of sensorial data has to be construed in that data which are transported are directly processed by the respective receiving device, for example a display device or a loudspeaker device. That is, no intermediate data manipulation by application software is required for presenting the sensorial data to the user, others than conversion of electrical signals into the respective sensorial signals. This, different from speech or image data transport in a cellular radio telephone system, for example, wherein the speech and image data are to be processed in accordance with the requirements of an applicable data transmission protocol and using application software loaded into the radio communication device. In a yet further embodiment of the present invention, the data transport adaptation means may be arranged for the transport of data in a proprietary data format. Use of a data reduction scheme in the data transport adaptation means according to the present invention is, of course, not excluded. In the case of, for example, image data, such a data reduction scheme may comprise, in accordance with the present invention, the transport of update information between subsequent images. To this end, the data transport adaptation means can be arranged, in accordance with the present invention, for transmitting update information on a pixel update basis, which update information comprises pixel address and pixel content data. The content data may comprise, among others, information as to the intensity, colour information (hue), etc. In another embodiment of the data transmission system according the invention, the data transport adaptation means are arranged for transmitting the data update information based on at least one of image content priority, image content prediction, image content rate, user image perception, user image preference, transmission channel and environmental properties. Environmental properties include, for example, the amount of ambient light while a user watches an image on a display. In the case of bright ambient light it will be appreciated that a more bright display is required compared to an environment with less ambient light. Adapting the image display to the particular environment will result in a more efficient data transport, because only such an amount of data has to be transported which is required for displaying an image with a required quality or degree of perception compared to the environmental properties. In the case of a degraded transmission channel, for example, the data transport adaptation means can be arranged for transporting just as less as data such that the user can perceive the information. Instead of an image in colour, a grey scale image can be displayed. The speed by which an image is updated can also be varied, like the actual content of the image which has to be displayed. That is, the image content rate and the image content priority, can be adapted in an intelligent manner in order to adapt the data transport. It will be appreciated that image content prediction may be used as a measure for adapting the data transport by the data transport adaptation means, such that background scenes and others, which do not or very little change between subsequent images, do not require the transmission of update information. In such a case, update information can be, for example, made threshold dependent. That is, update data will be transported only if the content has changed to a degree exceeding a set threshold. In the case of fast moving or changing images, for example, it is less critical to display all the changing elements of an image, such that not all of the data referring to the such changes have to be transported. That is, with a fast varying image content rate, the perception of the user will not be impaired if only selected parts of an image are updated with the required rate of change and others will not be updated or only updated with a lesser rate. Of course, it should be possible to adapt the data transport based on varying or changing consumer tastes and preferences, for example during start up or during the execution of an application. To this end, the data transport adaptation means are arranged for transmitting the update information based on user preferences. Although the transmission of sensorial data provides itself already an inherent protection against unwanted interception and use of information by third parties, in accordance with the present invention, the data transport adaptation means may be arranged for coded data transport, for example in an encrypted manner. Coded data transport may also be used for further enhancing the data transport efficiency and data storage efficiency at the user receiving device. In this respect, in accordance with a further embodiment of the data transmission system of the invention, the data transport adaptation means may also be arranged for adapting the range of a wireless data transmission channel. With a relatively short transmission range, the risk of misuse of information by third parties can be effectively reduced, while also scarce battery power can be reduced, for example. However, a very particular advantage of the transport of sensorial data is the fact that it suffices to provide the user receiving device with limited data processing means and data storage means, for example just sufficient for processing the sensorial data and, of course, control user data. Then, the user receiving device can be of a very simple design, not requiring particular application software for executing a particular application. Accordingly, new applications need not to be stored or installed on the user receiving device for execution thereof. In such an embodiment of the data transmission system according to the invention, the data source device comprises data processing means and data storage means arranged for providing full processing power for processing and adaptively transporting the data. In practice, the function of the data source device can be provided by a user's personal computer or a radio base station or radio access unit in case of a cellular or cordless radio telephone system, for example. That is, devices which are or can well be equipped for processing data and storing data and application software and which are not impaired or hampered by the availability of battery power. The concept of the present invention is, of course not limited to data transport between a fixed data source device and a wireless, mobile or portable user receiving device. Both the data source device and the user receiving device may be fixed and connected by a wireline transmission channel instead of a wireless transmission channel. Use of the present invention is particular advantageous in cases wherein the wired dated transmission channel is of a poor quality, such as data transport via the mains power network, for example The concept of the data transmission system according to the present invention can also be applied between two or more wireless devices, such as a radio telephone and input/output devices operatively connected to the radio telephone, for example a handheld display, an earphone, a wireless microphone device, a video camera or an other image capturing device and pointing and control devices such as a keypad, a mouse, a trackball, etc. In general, the concept of the present invention can be used between a gateway device and a peripheral device, either over a wireless and/or a wired transmission channel. The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the invention are illustrated in the following description, with reference to the enclosed drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows, in a schematic and illustrative manner, a prior art user receiving device, taking the form of a mobile or cordless radio telephone. Figure 2 shows, in a schematic and illustrative manner, a prior art cellular mobile radio communication system. Figure 3 shows, in a schematic and illustrative manner, a cellular radio communication system in accordance with the present invention. Figure 4 shows, in a schematic and illustrative manner, a data source device and a plurality of user receiving devices in accordance with the present invention, making up a mobile or cordless radio telephone device. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

Without the intention of a limitation, the invention will now be explained by its application in a mobile or cordless radio telephone device and system. Figure 1 illustrates a typical mobile or cordless radio telephone 1, comprising a speaker device 2, a microphone device 3, a display device 4, a key pad device 5 and an antenna 6. All such devices are integrated into a housing 7, making up the mobile or cordless telephone 1. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, besides the above explicitly indicated devices, the telephone 1 further comprises transceiver means, data processing means, data storage means and further input/output means for connecting peripheral devices or accessories such as a head piece, for example. Figure 2 shows a typical mobile cellular radio communication system 10 such as, for example, operating in accordance with the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM). The system 10 comprises a plurality of radio base stations or radio access units 11, 12, 13 each providing services to a limited geographical area, called a cell 14, 15, 16, respectively. The radio base stations or radio access units 11, 12, 13 connect to a radio exchange or Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO) 9. For transmission purposes, the radio base stations or radio access units 11, 12, 13 comprise radio transceiver means and processing and control circuitry (not shown). Data transport between the radio telephone device 1 and a radio base station or radio access unit 11, 12, 13 occurs via a radio transmission channel 18 at the radio air interface of the radio base stations or radio access units 11, 12, 13. The data transport capacity of the radio transmission channel 18 is, in practise, fixed and limited, although a user of the radio telephone device 1 and/or the operator of a radio base station or radio access unit 11, 12, 13 may select a sub-rate of the maximum available data transport capacity. However, once selected, such a sub- rate is fixed for the particular transmission channel. As disclosed in the preamble, the data transport capacity of the data transmission channel 18 may vary due to changing propagation conditions, for example. This may result in a distortion of the data received at the radio telephone 1, which eventually will be perceived by the user of the radio telephone as a degradation of the speech quality and, for example, the image quality of images displayed at the display device 3 of the radio telephone 1. To improve the data transport in such a case, either the radio telephone 1 or the radio base station or radio access unit 11 may change the radio transmission channel 18, known as intra-cell handover, or the data transport to the radio telephone 1 may be taken over by another radio base station or radio access unit 12, 13, which is known as intra-cell handover. These known solutions, however, are not applicable if a user of the radio telephone device 1 would like to, for example, increase the number of concurrent applications executed on the radio telephone 1 exceeding the data transport capacity of the radio transmission channel 18. Then, the user has to upgrade his subscription with a mobile telephone operator allowing a larger data transport capacity between the radio base stations or the radio access units 11, 12, 13 and the radio telephone 1, or the user even may have to buy a more powerful radio telephone device 1. However, in both cases, the data transport capacity is limited by the maximum set by the operating protocol and hardware of the radio telephone system 10 as such. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a radio communication system 20 in accordance with the present invention, wherein the radio base stations or radio access units 11, 12, 13 are provided with data transport adaptation means 21. The data transport adaptation means 21 are arranged for adapting the data transport via the data transmission channel 18 between a radio base station or radio access unit and the radio telephone. In the context of the present invention, the radio base stations or radio access units 11, 12, 13 operate as a data source device and the radio telephone 1 operates as user receiving device. The data transport between, for example, the radio base station or radio access unit 11 and the radio telephone 1 is now controlled by the data transport adaptation means 21 connected to the radio base station or radio access unit 11. In accordance with the invention, the data transport adaptation means 21 are arranged for transporting the data over the radio transmission channel 18 based on at least one of data content, user perception, user preference, transmission channel and environmental properties. With the data transport adaptation means 21, a more versatile data transport between the radio telephone 1 and the radio base station and radio access unit 11 can be provided. Thus, the amount of data transport for a particular application to be executed on the radio telephone 1 or the amount of data to be transported between the radio base station or radio access unit 11 and the radio telephone 1 can be adapted in order to execute several applications on the radio telephone 1, controlled on the basis of one or more of the above-mentioned properties. The amount of data to be transported can also be adapted in order not to impair the performance of an application under degrading transmission capacity of the transmission channel 18, for example, and/or to avoid transport of data which are not necessarily required for providing a desired performance at the user receiving device, i.e. the radio telephone 1. The present invention is essentially based on the insight that the size of the experience of an application by a user is not necessarily related to the size of the amount of data or information to be exchanged. Further, some applications require less time critical data transport than others, for example image transfer versus audio or sound transfer. Contrary to intuition, a relatively low data rate suffices mostly for rendering a picture. In a further embodiment of the transmission system 20 according to the present invention, the user receiving device or radio telephone 1 comprises user data selection means 22, for selecting by a user data to be transported from the source device to the user receiving device. The user data selection means 22 are operatively connected to the data transport adaptation means 21 via the radio transmission channel 18. By means of the user data selection means 22, a user can set preferences or priorities etc. for adapting the data transport by the data transport adaptation means 21. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the data transport adaptation means 21 and the user data selection means 22 may be implemented using suitable hardware and/or software program means. In the preferred embodiment of the data transmission system

20 according to the present invention, the data transport adaptation means 21 are arranged for adapting data transport on the fly. That is, the data transport adaptation means 21 may adapt the transport of data during the execution of an application or applications and/or on the basis of amended user data selection criteria, set by the user data selection means 22. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the data transport adaptation means 21 may be arranged for adapting the data transport in one of several manners, including sorting algorithms, prioritising algorithms, prediction algorithms and selection algorithms. For the purpose of the present invention, algorithms known in practise or algorithms especially developed for use with the present invention may be used. It will be appreciated that the use of data transport adaptation means in accordance with the present invention, is not limited to data transmission systems for wireless or mobile radio communication. The invention can be used with any type of data transmission system between a data source device and a user receiving device. The data transmission system according to the present invention is, in particular, advantageous in an embodiment thereof wherein the data transport adaptation means are arranged for the transport of sensorial data. That is, the data transport adaptation means are arranged for the transport of sound, image and/or other data to be perceived by a user using his sensorial organs. A typical example of such a data transmission system is illustrated in figure 4. Figure 4 shows a data transmission system 30, comprising a data source device 31 in communication with a plurality of user receiving devices 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. In the embodiment shown, the data source device 31 provides data transport to the user receiving devices 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 via a wireless interface 37 comprising one or a plurality of transmission channels 38, 39, 40, 41, 42. In accordance with the present invention, the data source device 31, comprises data transport adaptation means 43 for adapting the data transport between the data source device 31 and the user receiving devices 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. The user receiving device 32 takes the form of display means for displaying image information. Accordingly, the data transport between the data source device 31 and the user receiving device 32 comprises image data. By directly transporting pixel data from the data source device 31 to the user receiving device 32, the user receiving device 32 or display can be of a very simple embodiment, in fact only requiring receiver means for receiving data and conversion means for displaying the pixel data. By transporting address data and content data of the pixels to be displayed, a very simple user receiving device 32 suffices. This enables to adapt the size and performance of the display to its use, for example in the form of a handheld display, such that a user can easily manipulate the keyboard or control input means 44 of the data source device with one hand while keeping the display in the other hand. Instead of or in addition to the transmission of pixel data content and pixel address information also the bit word length of the pixel data may be transmitted. Allowing an even further reduction of the amount of data to be transported, because pixel data words of varying length may be used. The user receiving device 33 takes the form of a speaker device and the sensorial data to be transported between the data source device 31 and the user receiving device 33 comprise audio or sound data. The user receiving device 35 takes the form of image- capturing means, such as a video camera. In accordance with the present invention, the sensorial data to be transported between the data source device 30 and the user receiving device 35 comprise sound and image pixel data. The user receiving device 34 takes the form of a microphone, such that the sensorial data to be exchanged between the data source 31 and the user receiving device 34 comprise audio or sound data. User receiving device 36 represents any further device for data transport between the data source device 31 and the user receiving device 36, such as a printer or the like. It will be appreciated that the user receiving devices 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 comprise receiving means for receiving the data transported by the data source device 31. On the other hand, where applicable, the user receiving devices 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 may also comprise transmitter means, for transmitting data from a user receiving device to the data source device 31. For example to acknowledge data receipt at a user receiving device or for other control purposes by the data adaptation means and/or the data source device. Although the user receiving devices 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 are operatively connected to the data source device 31 by a wireless transmission channel 38, 39, 40 41, 42, those skilled in the art will appreciate that instead of wireless transmission interfaces wired data transport may be used. For the purpose of the present invention, the data transport between the data source device 31 and the user receiving devices 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 may be provided using a proprietary data format and/or a data format arranged for encrypted data transport, for example for safety purposes. Further, coded data transport may be used, for enhancing data transport efficiency and data storage efficiency at a user receiving device. Note that adaptation of the data transport in accordance with the present invention, in particular data adaptation on the fly, provides already an inherent safety or protection against unauthorized use of the data, because the manner in which subsequent data transport is adapted may vary such that correspondence between subsequent data transport is less predictable. With the present invention, the processing power for adaptively transporting and processing data can be accommodated in the data source means 31, while the user receiving devices 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 may be provided with none or very little or even minimal processing power, in fact sufficient for providing the data to the user in accordance with the function to be performed by the respective user receiving device. That is, with the data transmission system according to the present invention, an asymmetrical data processing is provided, which contributes to reduce the costs and dimensions of the user receiving devices 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. Although not explicitly shown, it will be appreciated that less processing power also implies less battery power consumption of a user receiving device, which eventually prolongs the operating time thereof. In fact, user receiving devices making use of solar energy are feasible. With the present invention, in particular in the case of image transport, the concept of sensorial data transport provides a plurality of efficiency improvements, based on the manner in which image data are perceived by users. For example, in the case of fast moving pictures, it is not required to transport all the image data. Dependent on the content of the data, such as background data, subsequent pixel data of the image can be calculated or predicted from previous data pixels. Further, the data source device 31 and/or the user receiving devices 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 may be provided with sensor means 45, for sensing environmental properties. The sensor means 45 may include, for example, light detection means, noise detection means, etc.

Dependent on the sensed environmental conditions, the data transport between a user receiving device and the data source device may be adapted. For example transporting more or less image data for providing a more or less bright image under varying ambient light conditions. To this end, it will be appreciated that the sensor means 45 are operatively connected to the data transport adaptation means 43. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be modified and enhanced on the basis of the inventive teachings provided above, however all such modifications and enhancements are envisaged and included by the attached claims.

Claims

1. Data transmission system for data transport over a data transmission channel, in particular a wireless data transmission channel, between a data source device and at least one user receiving device, characterized in that said data source device comprises data transport adaptation means, arranged for adaptively transporting said data based on at least one of data content, user perception, user preference, transmission channel and environmental properties.

2. Data transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the or each user receiving device comprises user data selection means, operatively connected to said data transport adaptation means, for selecting by a user data to be transported from said data source device to said user receiving device.

3. Data transmission system according to any of the previous claims, wherein said data transport adaptation means are arranged for adapting said data transport on the fly.

4. Data transmission system according to any of the previous claims, wherein said data transport adaptation means are arranged for adapting said data transport by at least one of sorting, prioritising, predicting and selecting data to be transported.

5. Data transmission system according to any of the previous claims, wherein said data transport adaptation means are arranged for the direct transport of sensorial data including sound and image data.

6. Data transmission system according to claim 5, wherein said data transport adaptation means are arranged for transporting said image data in accordance with a data reduction scheme.

7. Data transmission system according to claim 6, wherein said data reduction scheme comprises the transport of update information between subsequent images.

8. Data transmission system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said data transport adaptation means are arranged for transmitting said data update information on at least one of image content priority, image content prediction, image content rate, user image perception, user image preference, transmission channel and environmental properties.

9. Data transmission system according to claim 8, wherein said data transport adaptation means are arranged for transmitting update information on a pixel update basis, comprising pixel address and pixel content data.

10. Data transmission system according to any of the previous claims, wherein said data transport adaptation means are arranged for the transport of data in a proprietary data format.

11. Data transmission system according to claim 10, wherein said data format is arranged for encrypted data transport.

12. Data transmission system according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said data transport adaptation means are arranged for coded data transport, for enhancing data transport efficiency and data storage efficiency at said user receiving device.

13. Data transmission system according to any of the previous claims, wherein said data transport adaptation means are arranged for adapting the range of a wireless data transmission channel.

14. Data transmission system according to any of the previous claims, wherein the or each data source device comprises data processing means and data storage means, arranged for providing full processing power for adaptively transporting said data.

15. Data transmission system according to claim 14, wherein the or each user receiving device comprises data processing means and data storage means having limited processing power for processing sensorial user data and control user data.

16. Data transmission system according any of the previous claims, wherein said data source device is a wireless data communication device, and wherein the or each user receiving device is an input/output device including at least one of a display device, a speaker device, a microphone device, an image capturing device, a key pad device and a directional control device such as a mouse device.

17. Data transmission system according to claim 16, wherein said wireless data communication device is arranged as a user receiving device and wherein said data source device is any of a computer server and a personal computer.

18. Data transmission system according to any of the previous claims, wherein the or each user receiving device comprises means for measuring environmental properties, such as ambient light and ambient noise.

19. A method for data transport over a data transmission channel, in particular a wireless data transmission channel, between a data source device and at least one user receiving device, characterized in that said data are adaptively transported based on at least one of data content, user perception, user preference, transmission channel and environmental properties.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said data transport comprises the direct transport of sensorial data including sound and image data.