Method and system for distributing images to client systems

• US 20050086357A1
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OL Security LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eqapez Foundation LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Brownlow, Paul, Lipsky, Scott E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,779,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]

Abstract

A method and system for distributing images for display by client systems. A distribution system includes an image server system that is connected to image client systems via a communications link, such as the Internet. The image server system is responsible for providing image packages to the image client systems and for collecting information from the image client systems. Each image client system periodically sends a heartbeat communication to the image server system. Upon receiving a heartbeat communication, the image server system determines the state of the image client system that sent the heartbeat communication and responds appropriately. The response may include instructions for the image client system to retrieve new images, to retrieve software updates, to send usage data, and so on.

Claims

1. A method for communicating between a server system and client systems for image distribution, the method comprising:

for each client system, receiving heartbeat communications on a periodic basis from that client system; and

upon receiving a heartbeat communication from a client system,

identifying a response for the client system, the response being one of no action, send information, retrieve information, and execute a command;

setting a state of the client system in accordance with the identified response;

sending the identified response to the client system; and

upon receiving subsequent heartbeat communications from the client system, ensuring that the heartbeat communications is in accordance with the state of the client system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the send information response identifies that image display information is to be sent.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the send information response identifies that usage information of the client system is to be sent.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the send information response identifies an address to which the information is to be sent.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the retrieve information response identifies a package of images to be retrieved.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the retrieve information response identifies a software update to be retrieved.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the response identifies a command.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the retrieve information response identifies an address from which the information is to be retrieved.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the response identifies a frequency for sending heartbeat communications.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein including dynamically controlling rate of transfer of information between the server system and the client systems.

11. The method of claim 1 including upon receiving a communication from a client system to retrieve images, sending images to the client system.

12. The method of claim 11 including when the sending of images is interrupted and when the sending starts up again, continuing the sending at the point of interruption.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein each client system discovers the server system by checking a name-based address and, if unsuccessful, checking an IP-based address.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein a heartbeat communication includes an IP address and unique identifier of the client system.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein a heartbeat communication includes an identifier last supplied by the server system.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein a subsequent heartbeat communication includes an acknowledgement of the response, a request to resend the response, or a busy indication.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein a subsequent heartbeat communication includes a unique operation identifier and an operation status.

18. A method for communicating between a server system and client systems for image distribution, the method comprising:

preparing packages of images to be distributed to client systems; and

upon receiving a heartbeat communication from a client system,

determining whether a prepared package of images is ready to be distributed to the client system;

when it is determined that a prepared package of images is ready to, be distributed to the client system, sending a response to the received heartbeat communication with an indication that a package of images is to be distributed; and

when it is determined that a prepared package of images is not ready to be distributed to the client system, sending a response to the received heartbeat communication with an indication other than that a package of images is ready to be distributed.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the response with an indication that a package of images is to be distributed includes the package of images.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the response with an indication that a package of images is to be distributed includes instructions for the client system to retrieve the package of images.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the instructions specify a location from where the package of images is to be retrieved.

22. The method of claim 18 including when it is determined that a prepared package of images is not ready to be distributed to the client system, sending a response to the received heartbeat communication with an indication to retrieve a software update for the client system.

23. The method of claim 18 including when it is determined that a prepared package of images is not ready to be distributed to the client system, sending a response to the received heartbeat communication with an indication to send usage information to the server system.

24. The method of claim 18 including controlling the rate of sending responses with an indication that a prepared package of images is ready to be distributed so that the rate at which client systems retrieve packages of images can be controlled.

25. The method of claim 18 including controlling the rate at which client system retrieve packages of images.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein when it is determined that a prepared package of images is not ready to be distributed to the client system, sending a response to the received heartbeat communication with an indication of when heartbeat communications are to be sent.

27. A method in a client system for communicating with an image distribution system, the method comprising:

periodically sending to the image distribution system a heartbeat communication;

receiving from the image distribution system a response to a heartbeat communication, the response indicating whether a package of images is ready to be distributed to the client system;

when the response indicates that a package of images is ready to be distributed to the client system, retrieving the package of images from the image distribution system; and

when the response does not indicate that a package of images is ready to be distributed to the client system, performing an action specified by the response.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the response that indicates that a package of images is ready to be distributed includes the package of images.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the response that indicates that a package of images is ready to be distributed includes instructions for the client system to retrieve the package of images.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the instructions specify a location from where the package of images is to be retrieved.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the action indicates to retrieve a software update for the client system.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein the action indicates to send usage information to the image distribution system.

33. The method of claim 27 wherein the action indicates when heartbeat communications are to be sent.

34. The method of claim 27 including displaying the images of the retrieved package of images.

35. An image distribution system comprising:

means for preparing packages of images to be distributed to client systems;

means for receiving heartbeat communications from client systems;

means for sending a response to a received heartbeat communication with an indication of whether a prepared package of images is ready to be distributed to the client system that sent the received heartbeat communication; and

means for sending a response to a received heartbeat communication with an indication of an action to be performed by the client system.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the response with an indication of whether a package of images is ready to be distributed includes the package of images.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein the response with an indication of whether a package of images is ready to be distributed includes instructions for the client system to retrieve the package of images.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the instructions specify a location from where the package of images is to be retrieved.

39. The system of claim 35 whereiri the action includes an indication to retrieve a software update for the client system.

40. The system of claim 35 wherein the action includes an indication for the client system to send usage information.

41. The system of claim 35 including means for throttling the rate at which packages of images are sent to client systems.