Patent Description:
The first step to screenshot on television program was the "freeze" function. With the arrival of digital television, it was quiet simple to freeze the current image using the remote control to send the instruction to the television. The signal being processed by the internal processor of the television, it was then easy the loop on the internal memory to have a still image displayed on the screen.

The second step was the possibility to print the frozen image. Known solutions exist to link the television to a printer and then print the frozen image. It was also possible to save this image in a memory of the television for later use.

For example, conventional wireless display technology may project the contents on a display device connected with the wireless display host via a wireless display device. Examples of the wireless display host may comprise a computer, a tablet, a smart phone or other communication device. Examples of the display device may comprise a television, or other big screen monitor supporting the wireless display technology. However, it is usually difficult for people to use their personal devices, such as smart phones, tablets and/or others, to obtain a screenshot of interest from the contents, when they watch the contents projected on the display device. In this case, we have the personal device used in the same manner as a remote control to trig the production of the screenshot.

A method and system to facilitate the generation of snapshot from video transmission currently transmitted to a receiver device is discussed herein.

In particular, there is disclosed a method according to claim <NUM> and a receiver device according to claim <NUM>.

An image snapshot is understood to be an image of what is currently displayed on the screen at the time the snapshot was instructed or what was displayed on the screen shortly before the instruction to take the snapshot arrived. A snapshot can also be a video snapshot comprising a short video sequence of the images currently displayed on the screen at the time the snapshot was instructed or shortly before the instruction to take the snapshot. In some embodiments, the receiver may facilitate the snapshot operations without sending the complete video transmission to the mobile device, in particular in view of the limited bandwidth between the receiver and the mobile device.

The present disclosure will be better understood in view of the attached figures in which :.

The <FIG> illustrates the different elements taking part of the present invention. The receiver RD can receive the video transmission in various ways. As illustrated in <FIG>, the input NT1 for the case when the receiver is connected to a cable or an antenna. The receiver can receive the video transmission through Internet (NT2) via the network router RT (e.g. Over The Top (OTT) transmission). The content selected by the user is then decoded and transferred to the screen.

The video transmission can also be stored in the receiver RD or played from a local source such as a DVD player. As a consequence, the expression "receiving a video transmission" can be understood as receiving from an external source (e.g., network NT1 or NT2) or an internal source (e.g., DVD, Harddrive, etc.).

The receiver RD is connected through a network router RT and therefore has access to the other devices of the user and to Internet (NT2). One of the devices is a mobile device MD such as a tablet or a smartphone.

The receiver can be a set-top box (STB), or a module integrated into the television or a module such as USB dongle or PCMCIA card connected to the television. In these last two examples, the receiving module receives a compressed video transmission selected by the host (the television) and returns a compressed video transmission to the host. The decompression module DEC as well as the audio/video module AVM are located into the host. In case that the invention is implemented in such a receiving module, the snapshot is created from the compressed video transmission. It is to be noted that said receiving module comprises a network interface LCM to communication with the mobile device MD.

From the received video transmission, the receiver RD prepares a lower-bandwidth video transmission and sends it to the mobile device MD. This lower-bandwidth video transmission can be produced by converting the nominal bandwidth video transmission to a lower bandwidth by downsampling the nominal video transmission so as to reduce the bandwidth. The resolution of the lower-bandwidth video transmission can be reduced and maintain a compatible format with the screen of the mobile device MD. As an example, the nominal video transmission is HD quality, i.e. with a resolution of <NUM> x <NUM> pixels. With the downsampling module DSM of the receiver RD, the resolution of the lower-bandwidth video transmission is reduced to <NUM><NUM> × <NUM> pixels or <NUM> x <NUM> pixels. For example, downsampling algorithms may include:.

The downsampled video presentation can be a lighter version of the nominal video transmission in terms of bandwidth and represent a lower-bandwidth video transmission. The term "lower" means that the bandwidth for the lower-bandwidth video transmission is lower than the bandwidth used for the nominal video transmission (also called video transmission). The lower-bandwidth video transmission is sent to the mobile device MD in parallel to the transmission of the nominal video transmission to the main screen attached to the receiver.

According to a particular embodiment, the receiver RD can select among different target resolutions as lower-bandwidth video transmission, the selection being made during an initialization phase on the receiver. The mobile device can then test if the bandwidth available on the network accommodates the lower-bandwidth video transmission. In response to the available bandwidth being below a threshold, the mobile device can select another target resolution.

The lower-bandwidth video transmission is sent from the receiver RD to the router RT connected with the receiver and from the router RT, to the mobile device MD via the network LNT. The network LNT may be a local network through a Wifi router. The mobile device can display the lower-bandwidth video transmission on its screen. It is to be noted that the receiver RD can play the role of the router (a router/receiver device), thus the lower-bandwidth video transmission is sent from the receiver RD directly to the mobile device MD.

When the user triggers a snapshot, said user enters a command to the mobile device MD. The mobile device then send a message, via the home network LNT, to the receiver RD. The message may comprise a command to execute a snapshot, and optionally can further comprise the type of snapshot (image or video).

At the reception of the message, the receiver proceeds to produce a snapshot.

The image snapshot is understood as a still image representing one image that is or was sent to the screen attached to (or part of) the receiver.

According to an example useful for understanding the invention, the current image processed by the audio video module AVM from the video transmission is extracted and sent to the snapshot module SCM. This operation is transparent for the viewer watching the main screen. For that purpose, the snapshot module SCM may have access to the memory of the audio video module AVM.

This image represents the current frame in full resolution as it is sent to the screen at the time the snapshot message is received by the receiver. This image can be compressed into formats (e.g., JPEG, GIF, TIFF, etc.) to produce the snapshot image.

When the receiver RD receives a message from the mobile device to execute a snapshot, the receiver extracts the currently displayed image and prepares the snapshot image. Once compressed with into a suitable format, the snapshot image is sent to the mobile device MD.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the receiver comprises a video buffer BF that stores part of the video transmission already sent (or currently being sent) to the decompression module DEC of the receiver. The buffer BF will then contain a predefined time of the video transmission, constantly updated in a first in, first out function. The video buffer BF contains the last n seconds of the video transmission (e.g. n could vary from <NUM> to <NUM> seconds) corresponding to the n seconds preceding the current display of the video transmission. The snapshot module SCM can either receive the current image from the audio video module AVM or receive the current image from the video buffer BF. In the latter case, the content of the video buffer being in compressed form, the snapshot module decompresses the content extracted from the video buffer to create the snapshot image.

It is to be noted that once the receiver has received a snapshot message, the video buffer BF is frozen and no new data is added to the buffer. The video buffer BF will contain the last n seconds preceding the reception of the snapshot instruction. The frozen status is released when the snapshot operation is completed.

The video snapshot should be understood to be a short extract of the video transmission currently transmitted to the screen attached to the receiver. When the instruction is received to process with a video snapshot, the snapshot module SCM accesses the video buffer BF to obtain a video extract of a first length. The snapshot module prepares a downsampled video extract by down-sampling the video extract in order to reduce the bandwidth necessary to transmit the extract to the mobile device.

The receiver then sends to the mobile device MD the downsampled video extract. The mobile can present an interface to the user to select a starting point and an ending point of the video extract. Once selected, the mobile device sends the points to the receiver. The snapshot module prepares a video snapshot of a length as specified by the starting point and the ending point. This video snapshot is then sent to the mobile device.

According to an example useful for understading the invention, the snapshot module, in response to receiving the message to execute a snapshot, produces multiple of image snapshots from the video extract stored in the buffer. Each image is formed from the video that is extracted from the buffer by decompressing the video. The snapshot module forms multiple images representing the slow motion of the video extract at different times, such that each image is spaced according to a predefined setting (e.g. each image being spaced by <NUM>).

The plurality of images is downsampled and sent to the mobile device. The mobile device proposes to the user the plurality of downsampled images for selection. The mobile device can include an interface to select the images, for example, in the form of a contact sheet (as illustrated in the <FIG>) or a flip through interface (as illustrated in the <FIG>).

A selection is made by the user for one or a subset of the images and this selection is sent to the receiver. With the selection of the at least one image, the receiver can prepare the corresponding image snapshot at the initial resolution and sent it back to the mobile device. According to an example useful for understanding the invention, the snapshot module may employ the GOP structure of the compressed video extract. The GOP is a group of pictures starting with a I frame (Intra-coded picture), containing the full image, followed by a plurality of P frames (Predicted picture) and B frames (Bi-predictive picture). These frames can represent the differences versus the previous frame. The snapshot extracts the I-frames from the video extract and then prepares the downsampled version of these I frames.

When the selected snapshot is received by the mobile device, the mobile device MD can post the snapshot to a third party server TPS. The TPS can be a social network server (e.g. Facebook™, Instagram™) or a private server. While posting the snapshot to the third party server TPS, the mobile device receives from the server a link address representing a location where the server has stored the snapshot.

The mobile device can add credential to the snapshot (e.g., user name, password, etc.), for example, to allow the TPS to identify and authorize the posting of the snapshot.

The mobile device can then share a message containing the link address to a third party device TPD.

According to a preferred embodiment, before the mobile device shares the link with a third party device, the user of the mobile device can add comments (i.e. free text) in the message comprising the link. An editor is presented to the user to type some comments, i.e. the reason why this snapshot has some interest. The free text is added to the message, thus containing the link address and the free text.

The user can select one or more recipients from a contact list to share the message to third party devices TPD.

Once the third party device TPD has received the message from the mobile device, the mobile device can read the free text and retrieve the snapshot from the third party server TPS using the link address contained in the message.

According an embodiment, the message can further contain metadata related to the video transmission. The receiver extracts from the video transmission metadata describing the content of the video transmission. Metadata can be the title of the movie currently transmitted, for example, or a description of the content (e.g. "X factor Saison <NUM>"). The metadata can further contain the description of the channel from which the video presentation is obtained (e.g. "ITV2").

The receiver transmits the metadata to the mobile device with the snapshot. The mobile device adds the metadata to the message shares the message with third party devices. In an alternate embodiment, the metadata as well as the free text, is sent with the snapshot to the third party server. The third party device, in response to receiving the message containing the link address, can retrieve the snapshot as well as the metadata and the free text.

According to a particular embodiment of the present invention presented in the <FIG>, the receiver includes a synchronization buffer SB, located between the reception of the compressed signal and the transmission of the decompressed signal to a screen output. The synchronization buffer is used to synchronize the display of the lower-bandwidth video transmission received by the mobile device and the nominal video transmission displayed on the main screen. The preparation of the downsampled video transmission, the transmission through the network LNT as well as the processing by the mobile device takes time. Without the synchronization buffer, the image displayed on the mobile device may be delayed several <NUM>. Accordingly, the length of the synchronization buffer is adjusted so that both screens (the mobile device and the main screen) are synchronized. The mobile device can adjust the length in accordance with a particular condition, such as taking into account the available bandwidth of the network LNT and/or the time to process the lower-bandwidth video transmission by the mobile device.

In the <FIG>, the synchronization buffer is located prior to the decompression module DEC. Alternatively, the synchronization buffer can be located at the exit of the decompression module, thus storing decompressed frames.

According to one embodiment, during an initialization phase, the mobile device can display the lower-bandwidth video transmission and send commands to the receiver to adjust the length of the synchronization buffer. In an embodiment, the mobile device may present an interface with two arrows displayed on top of the lower-bandwidth video transmission to allow the user to adjust the delay created by the synchronization buffer. Each time that the user presses on one arrow, a command is sent to the receiver and the length of the synchronization buffer is adjusted, by step of <NUM> for example, either forward or backward.

The mobile device MD preferably comprises a dedicated application for the snapshot operation, thus being able to display the lower-bandwidth video transmission and transmits commands to the receiver. The dedicated application can also present to the user to set-up a default mode of operation. The user can then configure if he/she prefers to have an image or a video snapshot, configure the length of the video extract or the number of the downsampled images, etc.. The resolution of the lower-bandwidth video transmission can also be selected in accordance with the resolution of the mobile device's screen. Once the user has selected the default mode, the mobile device transmits these setting to the receiver.

According to one embodiment, when a snapshot is generated, a log record is created and transmitted to a remote server. The log record may contain an identification of the video transmission, preferably extracted from the metadata, and information about the particular segment of the video transmission used to create the snapshot. This information can be in the form of a time index or a frame index. In case of a video snapshot, the information is a start time and end time or start frame index and end frame index. Additional information can be added such as the current channel (for example in the form of the DVB Triplet) containing the video transmission, or identification of the receiver.

According to a first embodiment, the log record is created by the receiver and transmitted to the remote server by the receiver. For that purpose, the receiver is preferably connected to Internet and has access to the remote server.

According to a second embodiment, the log record is created in the dedicated application loaded into the mobile device, at the time of the posting of the snapshot. The mobile device can add its identification (user identification) to the log record and send the log record to the remote server.

The remote server can then analyze the user's reaction and which video transmission has generated the most snapshots by the users. This feature opens the possibility of rewarding the user for posting a particular content such as an advertisement. The remote server comprises a database and keeps track of the activity of a user. The remote server stores the activity of a user and accumulates the log records for said user. In case that a snapshot for a particular advertisement (e.g. for a new car) has been posted to the third party server n times, the user, via the mobile device can receive an invitation for a free ride with the new car.

The metadata of the video transmission can not only contain a description of the content but can also contain banner information. Banner information could be in the form of a text or an image. This banner information will be visually added on the snapshot at the time of the production of the snapshot by the receiver. The banner information is extracted from the video transmission and converted into an image added to the snapshot. In case of text information, the receiver generates the corresponding characters to be added into the snapshot. In case of an image, the image is added to the snapshot. The banner information can further comprise location indication, i.e. the location where the text or the image should be added into the snapshot. The operation of adding the banner can be an operation of overlaying the banner on the snapshot or replacing a section of the snapshot by the banner.

The metadata of the video transmission can not only contain a description of the content but can also contain instruction related to the snapshot operation. The metadata further comprise a snapshot status to enable or disable the snapshot (<NUM> = enabled, <NUM> = disabled). Before the snapshot module SCM starts the production of the snapshot, it read the snapshot status to check whether it is authorized to produce a snapshot. In case that the snapshot is disabled, the receiver returns a message to the mobile device to inform it that this function is not available yet.

For the purpose of executing the present disclosure, the receiver RD, and more generally a computing device <NUM> is illustrated in the <FIG>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computing device that may implement one or more techniques of this disclosure. Computing device <NUM> is an example of a computing device that may be configured to transmit data to and receive data from a communications network, allow a user to access multimedia content, and execute one or more applications. Computing device <NUM> may include or be part of a stationary computing device (e.g., a desktop computer, a television, a set-top box, a gaming console, a dedicated multimedia streaming device, a digital video recorder, etc.), a portable computing device (e.g., a mobile phone, a laptop, a personal data assistant (PDA), a tablet device, a portable gaming device, etc.) or another type of computing device. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, computing device <NUM> is configured to receive data via a television network, such as, for example, television network <NUM> or NT1 described above and send and receive data via a data network, such as, for example, a public or local network <NUM> or LNT. It should be noted that in other examples, computing device <NUM> may be configured to send and receive data through one of television network <NUM> or local network <NUM>. The techniques described herein may be utilized by devices configured to communicate using any and all combinations of communications networks.

As illustrated in <FIG>, computing device <NUM> includes central processing unit(s) <NUM>, system memory <NUM>, system interface <NUM>, modem <NUM>, transport module <NUM>, audio-video demultiplexer (AVdemux) <NUM>, network interface <NUM>, storage device(s) <NUM>, user interface(s) <NUM>, audio decoder <NUM>, audio processor <NUM>, video decoder <NUM>, graphics processing unit <NUM>, and display processor <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, system memory <NUM> includes operating system <NUM>, applications <NUM>, and content selection application <NUM>. Each of central processing units(s) <NUM>, system memory <NUM>, system interface <NUM>, modem <NUM>, transport module <NUM>, AV demux <NUM>, network interface <NUM>, storage device(s) <NUM>, user interface(s) <NUM>, audio decoder <NUM>, audio processor <NUM>, video decoder <NUM>, graphics processing unit <NUM>, and display processor <NUM> may be interconnected (physically, communicatively, and/or operatively) for inter-component communications and may be implemented as any of a variety of suitable circuitry, such as one or more microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), discrete logic, software, hardware, firmware or any combinations thereof. It should be noted that although example computing device <NUM> is illustrated as having distinct functional blocks, such an illustration is for descriptive purposes and does not limit computing device <NUM> to a particular hardware architecture. Functions of computing device <NUM> may be realized using any combination of hardware, firmware and/or software implementations. In some examples, functionality of computing device <NUM> may be implemented using one or more so-called systems on a chip (SOC). For example, computing device <NUM> may include a set-top box including a SOC. One example of a commercially available SOC that may be included in a set-top box is the Broadcom®BCM7252 Ultra HD SoC. Central processing unit(s) <NUM> may be configured to implement functionality and/or process instructions for execution in computing device <NUM>. Central processing unit(s) <NUM> may be capable of retrieving and processing instructions, code, and/or data structures for implementing one or more of the techniques described herein. Instructions may be stored on a computer readable medium, such as system memory <NUM> or storage device(s) <NUM>. Central processing unit(s) <NUM> may include multi-core central processing units. As described in detail below, the techniques described herein may be used to optimize CPU usage. For example, one or more background processing techniques may be used to reduce the delay (or lag) experienced by a user interacting with one of the graphical user interfaces described below.

System memory <NUM> may be described as a non-transitory or tangible computer-readable storage medium. In some examples, system memory <NUM> may provide temporary and/or long-term storage. In some examples, system memory <NUM> or portions thereof may be described as non-volatile memory and in other examples portions of system memory <NUM> may be described as volatile memory. Examples of volatile memories include random access memories (RAM), dynamic random access memories (DRAM), and static random access memories (SRAM). Examples of non-volatile memories include magnetic hard discs, optical discs, floppy discs, flash memories, or forms of electrically programmable memories (EPROM) or electrically erasable and programmable (EEPROM) memories.

System memory <NUM> may be configured to store information that may be used by computing device <NUM> during operation. System memory <NUM> may be used to store program instructions for execution by central processing unit(s) <NUM> and may be used by software or applications running on computing device <NUM> to temporarily store information during program execution. For example, system memory <NUM> may store instructions associated with operating system <NUM>, applications <NUM>, and content selection application <NUM>. System memory <NUM> may include one or more distinct memory devices, where each memory device may include a distinct type of memory interface. For example, system memory <NUM> may include an internal hard disk or solid state drive, a random access memory module, an embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC) memory device, and/or one or more caches (e.g., CPU caches and/or GPU caches). As described in detail below, images associated with a graphical user interface may be loaded from a portion of system memory <NUM> to another portion of system memory <NUM> in order to reduce the time required to render the images on a display based on received user inputs. For example, a subset of images associated with a graphical user interface may be loaded into a cache based on user behavior. It should be noted that the techniques described herein may be generally applicable to any memory architecture.

Applications <NUM> and content selection application <NUM> may include applications implemented within or executed by computing device <NUM> and may be implemented or contained within, operable by, executed by, and/or be operatively/communicatively coupled to components of computing device <NUM>.

Applications <NUM> and content selection application <NUM> may include instructions that may cause central processing unit(s) <NUM> of computing device <NUM> to perform particular functions. Applications <NUM> and content selection application <NUM> may include algorithms which are expressed in computer programming statements, such as, for-loops, while-loops, if-statements, do-loops, etc. Applications <NUM> and content selection application <NUM> may be distributed to computing device <NUM> through an application distribution site, for example, application distribution site <NUM>. In one example, applications <NUM> and content selection application <NUM> may cause computing device <NUM> to perform functions associated with the example techniques described herein that enable a user to access items of content. Applications <NUM> and content selection application <NUM> may cause one or more graphical user interfaces to be presented that enable a user to provide data for use by an application. In one example, applications <NUM> may include one or more dedicated applications enabling a user to access a digital media service. It should be noted that as used herein a dedicated application enabling a user to access a digital media service may be high integrated with an application or operating system of a computing device.

For example, a set-top box supported by a cable television provider may enable a user to access items of content from a television service, an on demand media service maintained by the cable television service provider, and/or a third party media streaming service. In some cases, each distinct graphical user interface enabling a user to select items of content to access may be referred to as a dedicated application, a source, and/or a portal. In one example, content selection application <NUM> may be provided to a computing device and cause a computing device to enable a user to select items of content according to one or more of the techniques described herein.

As described in detail below content selection application <NUM> may operate in conjunction with an application running on a companion device, such as a mobile device.

As further illustrated in <FIG>, applications <NUM> and content selection application <NUM> may execute in conjunction with operating system <NUM>. That is, operating system <NUM> may be configured to facilitate the interaction of applications <NUM> and content selection application <NUM> with central processing unit(s) <NUM>, and other hardware components of computing device <NUM>. It should be noted that in some examples, components of operating system <NUM> and components acting in conjunction with operating system <NUM> may be referred to as middleware. Further, in some examples, content selection application <NUM> may include an application programming interface (API). The techniques described herein may be utilized by devices configured to operate using any and all combinations of software architectures. Operating system <NUM> may be an operating system designed to be installed on laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets, set-top boxes, digital video recorders, televisions and/or gaming devices. In one example, operating system <NUM> may include one or more of operating systems or middleware components developed by OpenTV®, Windows® operating systems, Linux operation systems, Mac OS®, Android® operating systems, and any and all combinations thereof.

System interface <NUM> may be configured to enable communications between components of computing device <NUM>. In one example, system interface <NUM> comprises structures that enable data to be transferred from one peer device to another peer device or to a storage medium. For example, system interface <NUM> may include a chipset supporting Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) based protocols, Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus based protocols, such as, for example, the PCI Express (PCle) bus specification, which is maintained by the Peripheral Component Interconnect Special Interest Group, or any other form of structure that may be used to interconnect peer devices.

Storage device(s) <NUM> represent memory of computing device <NUM> that may be configured to store relatively larger amounts of information for relatively longer periods of time than system memory <NUM>. For example, in the example where computing device <NUM> is included as part of a digital video recorder, storage device(s) <NUM> may include a hard disk drive configured to store numerous video files. Similar to system memory <NUM>, storage device(s) <NUM> may also include one or more non-transitory or tangible computer-readable storage media. Storage device(s) <NUM> may include internal and/or external memory devices and in some examples may include volatile and non-volatile storage elements.

User interface(s) <NUM> may include devices configured to receive input from a user during operation of computing device <NUM>. For example, user interface(s) <NUM> may include buttons and switches, motion sensors (e.g., accelerometers), touch-sensitive sensors, a track pad, a mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, a video camera, or any other type of device configured to receive user input. User interface(s) <NUM> may be integrated into computing device <NUM>. For example, in the case where computing device <NUM> includes a television, user interface(s) <NUM> may include push buttons located on the television. Further, user interface(s) <NUM> may be integrated into devices external to computing device <NUM>. For example, user interface(s) <NUM> may be integrated into a companion device, such as, for example, companion device <NUM> and companion device <NUM> described in detail below. In some examples, an external device including user interfaces(s) <NUM> may be operatively coupled to computing device <NUM> using a standardized communication protocol, such as for example, Universal Serial Bus protocol (USB), Bluetooth, ZigBee or a proprietary communications protocol, such as, for example, a proprietary infrared communications protocol. It should be noted that techniques described herein may be generally applicable regardless of the type of device including a user interface and regardless of the manner in which the device communicates with computing device <NUM>. As described in detail below, user interface(s) <NUM> may include a display configured to display the graphical users interfaces described herein. For example, in the case where computing device <NUM> includes a television, a companion device (e.g., a smart phone or a dedicated remote controller) in communication with a television may include a user interface including a touch-sensitive display presenting a graphical user interface described herein. Further, as described in detail below, a user may provide commands to computing device <NUM> by activating portions of a touch-sensitive display.

Referring again to <FIG>, computing device <NUM> is configured to send and receive data via a local network, such as, for example, television network <NUM> described above and send and receive data via a public network, such as, for example, public network <NUM>. This network is used also to transmit and receive data from the mobile device. A communications network may be described based on a model including layers that define communication properties, such as, for example, physical signaling, addressing, channel access control, packet properties, and data processing in a communications system. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, modem <NUM>, transport module <NUM>, and AV demux <NUM> may be configured to perform lower layer processing associated with television network <NUM> and network interface <NUM> may be configured to perform lower layer processing associated with public network <NUM>.

One example useful for understanding the invention, as illustrated in the <FIG>, is the use of the video buffer to select the snapshot at a time before the reception of the snapshot instruction by the receiver. In this example, there is no lower-bandwidth resolution of the video transmission sent to the mobile device. The mobile device may not display in real time the video transmission. The mobile device can include an application to carry out all other operations, i.e. sending the snapshot instruction and selecting the proper snapshot (either still image or video) extracted from the video buffer.

In another example useful for understanding the invention, the concurrent transmission to the mobile device is done with the same video transmission, without reducing the bandwidth. In case that the available bandwidth of the network accommodates the necessary bandwidth for the nominal video transmission, the nominal video transmission is sent by the receiver to the mobile device. Accordingly, the receiver of the present disclosure may perform without the conversion module DSM. In this case, the mobile device receives the nominal video transmission. The receiver sends a snapshot according to the initial resolution (image or video snapshot) and the snapshot selection is made on the initial resolution on the mobile device.

Claim 1:
Method to create a video snapshot from a video transmission received by a receiver (RD), said receiver (RD) being connected with a mobile device (MD) and having a screen output, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a video transmission by the receiver (RD) to send to the screen output,
- converting, by the receiver, the video transmission into a lower-bandwidth video transmission,
- sending, by the receiver (RD), the lower-bandwidth video transmission to the mobile device (MD),
- buffering by the receiver (RD) the video transmission in a video buffer (BF), said buffer (BF) containing the video transmission already sent to the screen output during a predefined time,
- receiving, by the receiver (RD), from the mobile device, a command to execute a video snapshot,
- when the command is received by the receiver (RD), producing, from the video transmission stored in the buffer (BF), a downsampled video extract,
- sending by the receiver (RD) the downsampled video extract to the mobile device (MD),
- selecting, by the mobile device (MD), a starting and an ending point of the downsampled video extract,
- producing the video snapshot by the receiver (RD) from the buffer (BF) using the starting and ending point received from the mobile device (MD), and
- sending the video snapshot to the mobile device (MD).