Patent ID: 9155962
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: A63F,H04L,H04N,H04W

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for hosting online applications or video games, performing video compression, and streaming video comprising: receiving a request from a user for playing a low latency video game or executing an application; generating control signals from a client in response to an input device of the client being actuated by the user as the user is playing the low latency video game or using the application; receiving the control signals, the control signals transmitted over a network, at least a portion of which comprises a public network, as the user is playing the low latency video game or using the application; routing the control signals to a server on which the requested video game or application is being executed; responsively executing the low latency video game or application on the server to generate video output comprising a sequence of images of the low latency video game or application; compressing the sequence of images of the low latency video game or application to generate a compressed video stream, wherein compressing the sequence of images comprises the operations of: transmitting the compressed video stream to the client over the network, decompressing the compressed video stream on the client; rendering the sequence of video images on a display of the client; wherein the operations of generating the control signals, receiving the control signals transmitted over the network, routing the control signals to a server, executing the low latency video game or application on the server to generate the sequence of images, compressing the sequence of images, transmitting the compressed video stream, decompressing the compressed video stream on the client, and rendering the sequence of video images on the display are performed with a latency such that the user has the perception that the selected video game or application is responding instantly to the control signals; receiving feedback information from the client over the network, the feedback information usable to determine at least one characteristic of a communication channel between the server and the client; and in response to determining the at least one characteristic of the communication channel, then adjusting the compression of the video images while maintaining the latency such that the user has the perception that the selected video game or application is responding instantly to the control signals, wherein adjusting the compression comprises: adjusting the frequency with which an image portion is allocated to the first set based on the at least one characteristic of the communication channel; and adjusting the number of bits selected to encode each image portion based on the at least one characteristic of the communication channel.