Abstract: A method, system and related devices are provided for identifying, for a user, a virtual child object of a virtual parent object of virtual parent objects based on a determined distance between a gazed virtual child object of a virtual parent object of said virtual parent objects and a gaze distance origin, based on captured gaze information. The captured gaze information comprising gaze coordinates representing a position on a display at which said user is looking. The display being configured to display a virtual scene representation of a virtual scene. The virtual scene representation comprising virtual object representations of virtual parent objects. Each virtual parent object of said virtual parent objects comprising at least one virtual child object. The method comprises identifying, for said user, said virtual child object of said virtual parent object of said virtual parent objects based on said determined distance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, system and related devices for identifying, for a user, a virtual child object of a virtual parent object of virtual parent objects based on a determined distance between a gazed virtual child object of a virtual parent object of said virtual parent objects and a gaze distance origin, based on captured gaze information, where the captured gaze information comprising gaze coordinates representing a position on a display at which said user is looking, said display being configured to display a virtual scene representation of a virtual scene, said virtual scene representation comprising virtual object representations of virtual parent objects; each virtual parent object of said virtual parent objects comprising at least one virtual child object, wherein said method comprises the step of identifying, for said user, said virtual child object of said virtual parent object of said virtual parent objects based on said determined distance and additionally identifying said vir

Abstract: A method for mixing a first video signal and a second video signal, the method comprising at a mixing device receiving the first video signal; receiving the second video signal; receiving a transformation information signal dividing the first video signal into a transparent region and a non-transparent region and representing a spatial relationship between the first video signal and the second video signal; transforming the second video signal in accordance with the transformation information signal; and combining the non-transparent region of the first video signal with a portion of the transformed second video signal, the portion of the transformed second video signal being rendered in the transparent region of the first video signal.

Abstract: A method for displaying on an orientable display device an oriented image from a content server; said method comprising: —receiving from said content server a composite image comprising information representing a plurality of oriented images, each oriented image representing a differently oriented region of said composite image; —determining at least one display device parameter of said orientable display device; —extracting from said composite image an oriented image based on said at least one determined display device parameter; and —displaying said extracted oriented image on said orientable display device.

Abstract: A method to create a coarse-grained real physical object (RO) from a fine-grained 3D virtual object (VO). The method comprises the steps of selecting (RTVO) the virtual object, e.g. a character, or at least elements thereof (head, chest, arms, legs) in a virtual environment (VE), creating (CRBB) a bounding box for each element wherein the element fits, creating (CRTC) a texture cloud for each bounding box by taking a 360 degree snapshot of the element as delimited by its bounding box, applying (APIS) image stitching technology on the texture cloud for obtaining a distinct texture for each bounding box, printing (PRBB) the bounding boxes with their associated texture, and stitching the bounding boxes together. The printing step may occur on a paper printer whereby a cut-and-glue real physical object (RO) can be obtained, or directly on a 3D printer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a server, method and computer program product for adaptive streaming to a client. The media content is encoded as at least two streams having a different quality level, each stream comprising consecutive segments. The server comprises:—a receiver configured to receive a request from the client for a selected segment of a first stream of the at least two streams; and—a transmitter configured to, in response to the request for the selected segment of the first stream:—send the selected segment of the first stream to the client; and—push a corresponding segment of a second stream of the at least two streams to the client, wherein the second stream has a lower quality level than the first stream.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a server for streaming media content to a client and a corresponding method and computer program product. The media content is encoded as at least one stream, wherein the stream is divided into consecutive segments. The server comprises: a receiver configured to receive a request from the client for a manifest file comprising metadata of the at least one stream; and a transmitter configured to, in response to the request for the manifest file: send the requested manifest file to the client; and push a selected segment of the consecutive segments of at the least one stream to the client.

Abstract: Method for encoding a video stream having a transparency information channel in view of a predetermined target bit rate for said transparency information channel, comprising: tentatively applying a first encoding (130) to said transparency information channel, said first encoding (130) comprising lossless vector graphics encoding; if said first encoding results in an encoded bitrate within said predetermined target bitrate (140), selecting said first encoding (150) to produce an encoded version of said transparency information channel; otherwise, tentatively applying a second encoding (160) to said transparency information channel, said second encoding (160) comprising a mathematical representation encoding scheme; if said second encoding results in an encoded bitrate within said predetermined target bitrate (170), selecting said second encoding (180) to produce an encoded version of said transparency information channel; otherwise, selecting a third encoding (190) to produce an encoded version of said transp

Abstract: A method for providing a service by a server to a reader device is disclosed, the provision being based on the readout information of a readout operation by the reader device of a tag, the tag comprising information relating to the unique tag-ID of the tag, comprising reading out the unique tag-ID during the readout operation; communicating the unique tag-ID to the server; providing the service to the reader device, the service being determined at least partially based on the value of the unique tag-ID. Corresponding tags and tag reader devices have further also been disclosed.

Abstract: A method for conducting a video conference, said method comprising: visualizing representations of a plurality of conference participants on a display of a terminal; detecting a gazing direction of a user of said terminal; determining a first observation relationship between said user and a first one of said conference participants (U1), said first one of said conference participants (U1) being identified by correlating said detected gazing direction with a presently observed one of said visualized representations; and visually differentiating said representation of said first one of said conference participants (U1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for providing information to one or more users sharing a nomadic experience. The system comprises client terminals (1071-1075) and a server platform (101). The server platform (101) consists of one or more first servers (103) for maintaining groups of users and one or more second servers (102) for interactively sharing information within a group of users. The system further comprises communication channels providing connectivity between client terminals (1071-1075) and the server platform (101).

Abstract: A method for mixing a first video signal and a second video signal, the method comprising at a mixing device receiving the first video signal; receiving the second video signal; receiving a transformation information signal dividing the first video signal into a transparent region and a non-transparent region and representing a spatial relationship between the first video signal and the second video signal; transforming the second video signal in accordance with the transformation information signal; and combining the non-transparent region of the first video signal with a portion of the transformed second video signal, the portion of the transformed second video signal being rendered in the transparent region of the first video signal.

Abstract: Method for encoding a video stream having a transparency information channel in view of a predetermined target bit rate for said transparency information channel, comprising: tentatively applying a first encoding (130) to said transparency information channel, said first encoding (130) comprising lossless vector graphics encoding; if said first encoding results in an encoded bitrate within said predetermined target bitrate (140), selecting said first encoding (150) to produce an encoded version of said transparency information channel; otherwise, tentatively applying a second encoding (160) to said transparency information channel, said second encoding (160) comprising a mathematical representation encoding scheme; if said second encoding results in an encoded bitrate within said predetermined target bitrate (170), selecting said second encoding (180) to produce an encoded version of said transparency information channel; otherwise, selecting a third encoding (190) to produce an encoded version of said transp

Abstract: A method for encoding a video stream divided in macroblocks using an encoding scheme, the video stream comprising a transparency level channel, said method comprising: —classifying said macroblocks into inner macroblocks, for which a transparency value provided by said transparency information channel is substantially uniform, and transition macroblocks, for which a transparency value provided by said transparency level channel is not substantially uniform; —determining a statistic of said transparency value for each one of said inner macroblocks; and —configuring a respective parameter of said encoding scheme for each one of said inner macroblocks in function of its respective statistic.

Abstract: A method for conducting a video conference, said method comprising: visualizing representations of a plurality of conference participants on a display of a terminal; detecting a gazing direction of a user of said terminal; determining a first observation relationship between said user and a first one of said conference participants (U1), said first one of said conference participants (U1) being identified by correlating said detected gazing direction with a presently observed one of said visualized representations; and visually differentiating said representation of said first one of said conference participants (U1).

Abstract: A method for encoding a multiview video stream representing a plurality of viewpoints of a 3D scenery comprising objects, the method comprising for each of said viewpoints rendering and encoding a plurality of 2D video streams, respective ones of said plurality of 2D video streams including color information, depth information, and transparency information pertaining to objects in respective object layers serializing said plurality of 2D video streams into a combined 2D video stream; including said combined 2D video stream into said multiview video stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, a related system and a related processing device for visualizing a user of a virtual environment in the virtual environment. The method of the present invention includes the step of generating a 3-dimensional user depth representation of the user to be visualized, based on at least one generated video stream of the user. In addition a texture of the user is determined based on the at least one generated video stream of the user. A subsequent step is generating a 3-dimensional user visualization by applying said texture onto said user depth representation and parenting said 3-dimensional user visualization onto a 3-dimensional host visualization.

Abstract: Methods for transferring messages (30) comprising extensible markup language information from sources (104) via intermediates (105) to destinations (106) are provided with hop-by-hop encryption/decryption processes instead of end-to-end encryption/decryption processes to reduce a complexity and to make non-encrypted messages (30) available inside the intermediates (105). The encryption/decryption processes are different per hop. An encryption/decryption of the message (30) comprises an encryption/decryption of one or more fields of the message (30) and may comprise an addition/detection of a signature. The message (30) may comprise a start envelope field (32), a header field (33-35), a body field (36-38) and a stop envelope field (39). The message (30) may comprise a simple object access protocol message or SOAP message.

Abstract: A multimedia distribution system or interactive digital television broadcast system (iDTV) comprising several content providers (CP: CP1, CP2) broadcasting channels of video signals to a user (TV, STB) via a content selector (CS). The broadcast system comprises a user behavior analyzer (UBA) with quantitative behavior classifier (E(w)) able to analyze and to classify the quantitative consumption behavior of the user, and with a qualitative behavior classifier (F(x)) having as output classified user behaviors and prediction on future behaviors of the user. The classifiers are coupled to an opportunities selector (G(y)) that also receives information from additional content providers (ACP: ACP1, ACP2, ACP3). Under control of the opportunities selector G(y), additional content, e.g. advertisements, meta-information, iTV applications, trailers, . . . is send to a multimedia data combiner (H(z)) whereby the additional content is published, e.g. by mixing or by an overlay operation on/ over the selected channel.

Abstract: A method to create a coarse-grained real physical object (RO) from a fine-grained 3D virtual object (VO). The method comprises the steps of selecting (RTVO) the virtual object, e.g. a character, or at least elements thereof (head, chest, arms, legs) in a virtual environment (VE), creating (CRBB) a bounding box for each element wherein the element fits, creating (CRTC) a texture cloud for each bounding box by taking a 360 degree snapshot of the element as delimited by its bounding box, applying (APIS) image stitching technology on the texture cloud for obtaining a distinct texture for each bounding box, printing (PRBB) the bounding boxes with their associated texture, and stitching the bounding boxes together. The printing step may occur on a paper printer whereby a cut-and-glue real physical object (RO) can be obtained, or directly on a 3D printer.