Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide a PTZ tour to a camera is provided herein. During operation, a processor extracts historical incident data and generates an incident heat map of an area based on the historical incident data. A camera viewshed is determined and utilized along with the incident heat map to generate a PTZ tour for a camera.

Abstract: A method and apparatus distributes video packets over multiple bearers for providing unequal packet loss protection. The method includes a packet processing function receiving a plurality of packets collectively comprising a flow of sequential data included in a sequence of media frames. For each packet, the packet processing function: applies a bearer selection process to select one of a plurality of bearers for transporting the packet over an access network, wherein each bearer has a different quality of service level which influences the probability of the transported packets being intentionally discarded by the access network, wherein the bearer selection process causes distribution of the plurality of packets across the plurality of bearers such that each bearer carries non-consecutive packets both within any given media frame and across sequential media frames and provides unequal packet loss protection for the packets in the plurality; and provides an indication of the selected bearer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for granting wireless connection resources for a UE within a communication system is provided herein. During operation, an application requests allocation of wireless communication resources (a bearer reservation) to sustain transmission at a specified bit rate across the communication system via an admission control function. In response to the bearer reservation request, an admission control function calculates a wireless connection efficiency as a function of the requested bit rate and an amount of shared wireless connection resources required to sustain the requested bit rate given the current wireless connection quality associated with the UE. The wireless connection efficiency is then utilized to determine whether or not to admit the bearer reservation request.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a frame containing an object of interest and determining a current pixel density of the object of interest. The current pixel density is compared to a minimum pixel density to generate a comparison result and an indication is received of available throughput of a wireless network used to transmit the video. Based on the comparison result and the available throughput, a pixel density compensation method is selected from multiple methods, which include adjusting a zoom feature of a camera used to capture the video and adjusting encoded frame resolution. Using the selected pixel density compensation method, a pixel density compensation parameter is determined to adjust the current pixel density with respect to the minimum pixel density for the object of interest. The pixel density compensation parameter is provided to one or both of the camera or an encoder that sends the video over the wireless network.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to methods and apparatuses for enabling voice discussions about a same data content being independently and simultaneously accessed on at least two devices. A server detects when a first device of the at least two devices accesses the data content. The server identifies and reserves an available voice communication group resource. Responsive to detecting that the at least two devices are independently and simultaneously accessing the data content, the server identifies and reserves an available voice communication group resource, and sends a voice group identifier for a reserved voice communication group resource to the at least two devices to allow access to the reserved voice communication group resource.

Abstract: Embodiments include apparatus and methods to compensate for overshoot of a desired field of vision (FOV) by a remotely-controlled image capture device. The image capture device produces images associated with a plurality of FOVs, and transmits the images to a remote viewer terminal along with image identifiers (or FOV definitions for the images). The terminal receives and displays the images to a viewer. In response to viewer indications to pan or stop panning, the terminal sends pan and regress commands, respectively, to the image capture device. A regress command includes a reference to a selected FOV (e.g., an image identifier or an FOV definition). In response to receiving a regress command, the image capture device regresses to the selected FOV, and transmits additional images associated with the selected FOV to the terminal. The system also may include an intermediary device, which performs some of the functions associated with overshoot compensation.

Abstract: A digital image capture device streams captured images (e.g. low-resolution images) to a remote viewer terminal, along with image identifiers and/or device position information. The remote viewer terminal displays the images for viewing by a remote viewer. The remote viewer provides inputs to a user interface, which indicate a direction of desired movement of the image capture device, and/or that the remote viewer wants new images (e.g. high-resolution images) to be captured at a desired position. The user interface inputs are translated into requests, which are transmitted to the image capture device. The image capture device provides movement prompts that direct a device operator to move the device in a requested direction or toward a requested position. When a position of the device corresponds to a requested image capture position, the image capture device captures one or more new images, and transmits the new images to the remote viewer terminal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus distributes video packets over multiple bearers for providing unequal packet loss protection. The method includes receiving a plurality of packets that collectively includes video data from a group of pictures comprising a sequence of video frames, wherein the sequence includes one Intra frame at the beginning of the group of pictures followed by a plurality of Predictive frames. For each packet, the packet processing function: determines the corresponding frame that includes the video data; applies a bearer selection process to select one of multiple bearers for transporting the packet over an access network, wherein each bearer has a different quality of service level which influences the probability of the transported packets being dropped, wherein the bearer selection process is based on the position of the frame within the sequence of frames; and provides, to an access network entity, an indication of the selected bearer.

Abstract: A video decoder system receives a user request for non-linear decoding of at least one video frame from a video stream encoded using an Intra macroblock refresh process. The request includes a first frame offset corresponding to a user requested first decoding frame within the video stream for commencing the non-linear decoding. The decoder system: determines an Intra-refresh period corresponding to at least one encoded Predictive frame in the video stream during which all macroblocks in the user requested first decoding frame are Intra encoded at least once; determines a second frame offset as a function of the Intra-refresh period and the user requested first frame offset, the second frame offset corresponding to a second decoding frame within the video stream. Finally, the decoder system decodes the video stream starting at the second decoding frame and suppresses the display of the video stream until the first decoding frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus distributes video packets over multiple bearers for providing unequal packet loss protection. The method includes a packet processing function receiving a plurality of packets collectively comprising a flow of sequential data included in a sequence of media frames. For each packet, the packet processing function: applies a bearer selection process to select one of a plurality of bearers for transporting the packet over an access network, wherein each bearer has a different quality of service level which influences the probability of the transported packets being intentionally discarded by the access network, wherein the bearer selection process causes distribution of the plurality of packets across the plurality of bearers such that each bearer carries non-consecutive packets both within any given media frame and across sequential media frames and provides unequal packet loss protection for the packets in the plurality; and provides an indication of the selected bearer.

Abstract: A policy enforcement device performs a method for adjusting video compression parameters for encoding source video based on a viewer's environment. The method includes: receiving, from a video receiving device, a video stream identifier indicating a video stream and a source of the video stream, wherein the video receiving device is remote from the source of the video stream; receiving an indication of environmental conditions of a viewer of the video stream using the video receiving device; determining a set of video compression parameters based on the indication of environmental conditions of the viewer; sending the set of video compression parameters to the identified source of the video stream to enable encoding of the video stream to a different compression level.

Abstract: An intermediary function receives a reservation request for a desired throughput from the sourcing device, and determines a set of bearers whose aggregate throughput approximates the desired throughput. The intermediary function requests from at least one access network the set of bearers whose aggregate throughput approximates the desired throughput, and receives from the at least one access network an allocated set of bearers, wherein the allocated set of bearers comprises one or more bearers. The intermediary function informs the sourcing device of an aggregate throughput of the allocated set of bearers, receives user plane data from the sourcing device, and associates the user plane data with the allocated set of bearers in order to transport the user plane data to the receiving device. Subsequent modifications to the allocated set of bearers causes the intermediary function to inform the sourcing device of the modified aggregate throughput of the allocated set of bearers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus distributes video packets over multiple bearers for providing unequal packet loss protection. The method includes a packet processing function receiving a plurality of packets that collectively includes video data from a group of pictures comprising a sequence of video frames, wherein the sequence includes one Intra frame at the beginning of the group of pictures followed by a plurality of Predictive frames. For each packet, the packet processing function: determines the corresponding frame that includes the video data; applies a bearer selection process to select one of multiple bearers for transporting the packet over an access network, wherein each bearer has a different quality of service level which influences the probability of the transported packets being dropped, wherein the bearer selection process is based on the position of the frame within the sequence of frames; and provides, to an access network entity, an indication of the selected bearer.

Abstract: A method for bearer reservation, maintenance, and use in a communication system is performed by an intermediary function (IF) in the enterprise network. The IF processes a user plane reservation request for a flow of user plane data from a sourcing device, and determines a set of bearers to transport the flow of user plane data. The IF requests from at least one access network the determined set of bearers, and receives from the at least one access network an allocated set of bearers, wherein the allocated set of bearers comprises one or more bearers. The IF receives the flow of user plane data from the sourcing device. The IF receives an indication that at least one of the bearers in the allocated set of bearers is unavailable, and prevents at least a portion of the flow of user plane data from being transmitted over the default bearer.

Abstract: A video decoder receives compressed video and processes the video to generate decompressed video comprising a plurality of pixels in a sequence of frames. For at least some of the pixels, the video decoder further determines, on a pixel by pixel basis, motion vector and quantizer values used to perform compression of the pixels and determines a quality value for each corresponding pixel using the motion vector and quantizer values, wherein the quality value provide a measure of reproduction accuracy of the decompressed video with respect to corresponding uncompressed video.