Wire protocol for a media server system
First Claim
1. In a computer network having a client on a first computer and a media server for storing data on a second computer, a method comprising the steps of:
- providing a wire protocol that facilitates creation of connections between the media server and the client;
using the wire protocol to create a control connection between the media server and the client to facilitate exchange of control information between the media server and the client; and
using the wire protocol to create a data connection between the media server and the client to facilitate the exchange of data between the media server and the client at a rate substantially equal to a rate at which the client consumes the data.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wire protocol provides message formats for creating multiple network connections between a media server and a client. These multiple network connections may include a control link connection for passing control information and a data funnel connection for passing data of multiple media The data funnel connection may be a multipoint-to-point connection that connects multiple data servers with the client. The protocol facilitates multiple requests being concurrently outstanding and asynchronous processing of requests. The protocol is designed to exist on top of a transport protocol layer.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. In a computer network having a client on a first computer and a media server for storing data on a second computer, a method comprising the steps of:
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providing a wire protocol that facilitates creation of connections between the media server and the client;
using the wire protocol to create a control connection between the media server and the client to facilitate exchange of control information between the media server and the client; and
using the wire protocol to create a data connection between the media server and the client to facilitate the exchange of data between the media server and the client at a rate substantially equal to a rate at which the client consumes the data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a distributed system having a media server on a first computer for supplying media output and a client on a second computer for requesting the media output from the media server, a method of interconnecting the media server and the client, comprising the steps of:
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creating a control connection for enabling control information to pass between the media server and the client; and
creating a data funnel connection between the media server and the client for data to transferred between the media server and the client at a rate substantially equal to a rate at which the client consumes data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a distributed environment that includes a media server for providing multiple media output to a client wherein said client is connected to the media server via a network connection, a method comprising the steps of:
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sending a first request for service from the client to the media server wherein said first request includes a first identifier that uniquely identifies the first request;
sending a second request for service from the client to the media server wherein said second request includes a second identifier that uniquely identifies the second request and wherein the second identifier differs from the first identifier;
at the media server, asynchronously servicing the first request and returning an acknowledgment to the client that includes the first identifier; and
at the media server, asynchronously servicing the second request and returning an acknowledgment to the client that includes the second identifier.
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20. In a computer network where a media server is connected to a client via a network connection, a method of decreasing network traffic comprising the steps of:
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batching multiple messages into a single message;
sending the single message between the client and the media server; and
unbatching the multiple messages and processing each of the multiple messages. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. In a distributed system having a media server for storing files holding data of multiple media, a client for requesting service from the media server, a control connection between the media server and the client for passing control information and a data connection for passing data between the media server and the client, a method comprising the steps of:
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sending a read request message from the client to the media server over the control connection wherein said read request message requests that data in a file of multiple media data stored at the media server be read and input to the client;
sending a read request acknowledgment message from the media server to the client over the control connection to acknowledge the read request message; and
forwarding the requested data from the media server to the client over the data connection at a rate that is substantially equal to the rate at which the client consumes the data. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. In a distributed system having a media server for storing files holding data of multiple media, a client for requesting service from the media server, a control connection between the media server and the client for passing control information between the media server and the client and a data connection for passing data between the media server and the client, a method comprising the steps of:
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sending a write request message from the client to the media server over the control connection, said write request message requesting that data from the client be written into a file at the media server;
sending a write request acknowledgment message from the media server to the client over the control connection to acknowledge the write request message;
forwarding the data to be written from the client to the media server over the data connection; and
writing the forwarded data into the file at the media server.
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27. In a distributed system having a media server storing files holding data of multiple media, a computer system comprising:
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a control connection generator for creating a bidirectional control connection between the media server and the computer system to enable control information to be passed between the media server and the computer system; and
a data connection generator for creating a bidirectional data connection between the media server and the computer system to enable data to be passed between the media server and the computer system. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification