File splitting, scalable coding, and asynchronous transmission in streamed data transfer
First Claim
1. In a client connected to a network and including a local storage device, a computer-implemented method of receiving and playing a media file comprising at least a first part and a second part, comprising:
- receiving over the network and from a remote server in a first session the second part of the media file;
storing the second part at the local storage device;
receiving over the network and from a remote server in a second session subsequent to the first session the first part of the media file and not the second part of the media file;
combining the first part received in the second session with the stored second part after the start of the second session; and
playing a representation of the media file at the local client after combining at least part of the first and second parts after the start of the second session.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Files are divided into parts and at least some of the parts are transmitted to a client using a communication channel. At least some of the transmitted parts are cached locally. This allows subsequent streaming playback of the file while using less bandwidth by transmitting the part of the file that hasn'"'"'t been cached, and combining the cached parts with the transmitted parts. In some embodiments, files may be represented at a low quality level by a first data set, and at higher quality levels with additional data sets. Data sets are cached locally, so that during subsequent streaming playback of the file, the quality level of the playback may be improved by sending additional data sets using bandwidth that would otherwise be dedicated to transmitting the cached data sets.
69 Citations
26 Claims
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1. In a client connected to a network and including a local storage device, a computer-implemented method of receiving and playing a media file comprising at least a first part and a second part, comprising:
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receiving over the network and from a remote server in a first session the second part of the media file;
storing the second part at the local storage device;
receiving over the network and from a remote server in a second session subsequent to the first session the first part of the media file and not the second part of the media file;
combining the first part received in the second session with the stored second part after the start of the second session; and
playing a representation of the media file at the local client after combining at least part of the first and second parts after the start of the second session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. In a client connected to a network and including a local storage device, a computer-implemented method of receiving and playing a media file comprising at least a first part and a second part, comprising:
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receiving over the network and from a remote server in a first session the first part of the media file, the first part of the media file a representation of the media file at a first quality level;
receiving over the network and from a remote server the second part of the media file, wherein the first and second parts are combinable to form a representation of the media file at a second quality level higher than the first quality level;
storing the second part at the local storage device;
receiving over the network and from a remote server in a second session subsequent to the first session the first part of the media file and not the second part of the media file;
combining the received first part with the stored second part; and
playing a representation of the media file at the local client. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification