Patent ID: 8356114

Claim:
A method for transmitting image data of an image from a first computer to a second computer over a network, wherein the method comprises: encoding the image data, wherein the encoded image data has a lower quality portion and a higher quality portion; identifying a region of interest in the image by the first computer, wherein the first computer identifies the region of interest by calculations using the image data; transmitting coordinates for the region of interest from the first computer to the second computer; transmitting the lower quality portion of the encoded image data for the region of interest to the second computer for decoding and display by the second computer at a position corresponding to the transmitted coordinates for the region of interest; identifying a region surrounding the region of interest by the first computer; transmitting coordinates for the region surrounding the region of interest to the second computer; after transmission of the lower quality portion of the encoded image data for the region of interest, transmitting the lower quality portion of the encoded image data for the region surrounding the region of interest to the second computer for decoding and display by the second computer at a position corresponding to the transmitted coordinates for the region surrounding the region of interest; and after transmission of the lower quality portion of the encoded image data for the region surrounding the region of interest, transmitting the higher quality portion of the encoded image data for the region of interest for decoding and display by the second computer at a position corresponding to the transmitted coordinates for the region of interest.