Appeal No. 2003-1617 Page 2
Application No. 09/144,240
displayed. More recently, however, video sequences have been added to many webs
sites. Without an increase in bandwidth, the size of such sequences requires more
computational cycles and access time. (Id. at 1.)
Accordingly, the appellants' invention re-encodes video sequences at different
frame rates. (Appeal Br. at 4.) Specifically, the invention stores only the motion
information, i.e., motion vectors, for multiple frame rates. A sequence is first encoded
and stored at a preferred frame rate. It is then encoded, off-line, at one or more other
frame rates. Only the motion vectors are saved and stored (in "motion files") for the
other frame rates, thereby reducing storage requirements. When necessary to re-
encode the sequence to adapt to a different frame rate, the motion vectors are retrieved
from storage instead of being computed. (Spec. at 3.) According to the appellants, this
arrangement "provides an enormous time saving for the encoder." (Appeal Br. at 4.)
A further understanding of the invention can be achieved by reading the following
claim.
1. A method for dynamically controlling the frame rate of an image
sequence, said method comprising the steps of:
a) transferring the image sequence at a first frame rate;
b) receiving a request for a change from said first frame rate to a
second frame rate; and
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