Method and device for streaming a media file over a distributed information system

• US 20040078470A1
• Filed: 07/22/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Noblewood IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schmid, Bernhard, Baumeister, Sascha
• Granted Patent: US 7,941,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A method, device, and program product are provided for streaming a media file over a distributed information system to a client computer running a browser application. First, a server receives a request for a particular media file from the client computer. Then, the server dynamically generates a metafile, whereby said metafile contains information about the identification, location and format of the media file, and returns it back to the client computer. Advantageously, the server intercepts a download request for the actual media file and reinterprets the download request in a request for receiving a corresponding metafile. Thus, instead of returning the requested media file, a metafile is returned that allows immediate streaming of the requested media file without the need of waiting for the download to be finished.

Claims

1. A method for streaming a media file over a distributed information system to a client computer running a browser application, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a particular media file from a client computer,

providing a metafile, whereby said metafile contains information about the identification, location and format of the media file,

returning said metafile back to said client computer,

characterized in that

the step of receiving a request for a particular media file from a client computer further comprises the steps of;

intercepting a download request for the actual media file and

reinterpreting said download request in a request for receiving a corresponding metafile.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of reinterpreting said download request includes the step of deriving information about said corresponding metafile from a portion of the URL.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said portion of the URL is the file extension of the requested media file.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing a metafile comprises the steps of:

dynamically generating a metafile, and

statically querying a metafile.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of reinterpreting said download request includes the step of:

checking predefined filter criteria determining of whether or not a metafile is to be returned instead of the requested media file.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing a metafile further includes the step of retrieving information about the configuration of at least one item chosen from the group comprising:

version of the streaming product, type of the streaming product, location of the media file, load of the servers, load of the network, location of the client, quality of service.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing a metafile further includes the step of reading information about the client'"'"'s preferred streaming format and forming a metafile in accordance with the client'"'"'s preference.

8. A device for streaming a media file over a network, the device comprising:

a network interface for communicating to a web client,

an HTTP protocol handler for handling HTTP requests and

means for providing metadata for initiating the streaming of a media file,

wherein said metadata is returned to said web client in response to a request for said media file.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the means for providing metadata is formed by a metadata generator.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the means for providing metadata is formed by a metadata query component.

11. A computer-readable program stored on a computer-readable medium, said computer readable program being configured to perform the steps of:

receiving a request for a particular media file from a client computer,

providing a metafile, whereby said metafile contains information about the identification, location and format of the media file,

returning said metafile back to said client computer,

characterized in that

the step of receiving a request for a particular media file from a client computer further comprises the steps of;

intercepting a download request for the actual media file and reinterpreting said download request in a request for receiving a corresponding metafile.

12. The computer-readable program of claim 11, wherein the step of reinterpreting said download request includes the step of deriving information about said corresponding metafile from any portion of the URL.

13. The computer-readable program of claim 12, wherein said portion of the URL is the file extension of the requested media file.

14. The computer-readable program of claim 11, wherein the step of providing a metafile comprises the steps of:

dynamically generating a metafile, and

statically querying a metafile.

15. The computer-readable program of claim 11, wherein the step of reinterpreting said download request includes the step of:

checking predefined filter criteria determining of whether or not a metafile is to be returned instead of the requested media file.

16. The computer readable program of claim 11, wherein the step of providing a metafile further includes the step of retrieving information about the configuration of at least one item chosen from the group comprising:

version of the streaming product, type of the streaming product, location of the media file, load of the servers, load of the network, location of the client, quality of service.

17. The computer readable program of claim 11, wherein the step of providing a metafile further includes the step of reading information about the client'"'"'s preferred streaming format and forming a metafile in accordance with the client'"'"'s preference.