Hybrid local/remote streaming

• US 20060168294A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Streamtheory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Streamtheory Incorporated
• Inventors: de Vries, Jeff, Zavertnik, Greg, Hubbell, Ann
• Application Number:
  US11/274,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20060168294A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/207 for accessing game resources from local storage, e.g. streaming content from DVD
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6009 for importing or creating game content, e.g. authoring tools during game development, adapting content to different platforms, use of a scripting language to create content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/631 Multimode Transmission, e.g. transmitting basic layers and enhancement layers of the content over different transmission paths or transmitting with different error corrections, different keys or with different transmission protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A technique for streaming from a local device and a remote device involves providing a subset of data associated with a streaming application to a local device. An example of a method according to the technique includes running a streaming software player, accessing data from a local storage device necessary to stream a software application, and accessing data from a remote location necessary to stream the software application using the streaming software player. An example of a system according to the technique may include, by way of example but not limitation, a means for streaming a first subset of content associated with a streaming application from a streaming server, a means for streaming a second subset of content associated with the streaming application from a local source, and a means for periodically querying the streaming server, wherein the periodic querying informs the streaming server that the streaming application is running.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

running a streaming software player;

accessing data from a local storage device necessary to stream a software application using the streaming software player;

accessing data from a local cache necessary to stream the software application using the streaming software player; and

accessing data from a remote location necessary to stream the software application using the streaming software player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a request to stream the software application.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving in response to a request to stream the software application a token file.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving in response to a request to stream the software application an address of a streaming server at the remote location.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving in response to a request to stream the software application instructions to access first content from the remote location and to access second content from the local storage device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically querying a streaming server at the remote location, wherein the periodic querying informs the streaming server that the streaming application is running.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the local storage device is a removable storage device.

8. A method, comprising:

maintaining, at a streaming server, first content associated with a streaming application;

receiving a request to stream the streaming application; and

providing a token file in response to the request, said token file including;

an address associated with the streaming server;

instructions to receive the first content from the streaming server; and

instructions to receive second content from a local streaming source, wherein said first content and said second content are necessary for properly streaming the streaming application.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising dividing content associated with a streaming application into the first content and the second content.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising maintaining the first content on a networked server.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a file necessary to stream the streaming application to a consumer, wherein the file includes a local address associated with the second content and a remote address associated with the second content.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising placing the second content on a removable media.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising making available to a consumer removable media having the second content stored thereon.

14. A system, comprising:

a means for streaming a first subset of content associated with a streaming application from a streaming server;

a means for streaming a second subset of content associated with the streaming application from a local source; and

a means for periodically querying the streaming server, wherein the periodic querying informs the streaming server that the streaming application is running.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a means for running a streaming software player.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a means for sending a request to stream the software application to the streaming server.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a means for accessing data from a local storage device necessary to stream a software application.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising a means for accessing data from a local cache necessary to stream the software application.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a means for accessing data from a remote location necessary to stream the software application using the streaming software player.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the local source is a removable storage device.