Predicting required image tiles transmitted using spare capacity on a communications link

摘要

A method of transmitting images from a server to a client along a communications link, comprises the steps of: dividing a relatively high resolution image into a plurality of lower resolution tiles 6; transmitting a first image tile to a client terminal for editing; predicting at least one further image tile to be required; and transmitting the at least one predicted tile to the client terminal using unused capacity on the communications link. The required tiles may be predicted as being adjacent tiles, tiles in the same location in another frame or on the basis of movement of a point of interest in the image for example. Several tiles may be predicted and given a priority order with which they are transmitted. By transmitting tiles that may be required over unused capacity on the communications link a delay in displaying required tiles in reduced.