SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING MEDIA CONTENT USING TRANSFER FILE THAT ELIMINATES NEGOTIATI0N BETWEEN SERVER AND CLIENT IN POINT-TO-MULTIPOINT DISTRIBUTION
First Claim
1. A server computer system for distributing media content to clients over a computer network, the server adapted for connection to an asset metadata database containing metadata describing the media content, and a file system containing the media content, the server comprising:
- an extractor module that assembles a transfer file containing the media content and metadata; and
a network connection adapted for transmitting the transfer file to at least one client over the computer network.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Transfer file format, system, signal, and method for performing distribution of media content across computer networks. Transfer file and signal includes signature identifying format of file, header containing information about various parts of transfer file, asset metadata describing technical details about media content, media content that is capable of being displayed to user by client computer system using media player program, and user metadata that is capable of being displayed to user. Server is capable of connection to asset metadata database, file system, and user metadata database, and includes extractor module for retrieving asset metadata from media asset database, media content from file system, and user metadata from user metadata database, and assembling them into transfer file. Extractor module places header and signature in transfer file, and transfer file is sent across computer network to clients that parse and install parts of transfer file into local systems.
101 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A server computer system for distributing media content to clients over a computer network, the server adapted for connection to an asset metadata database containing metadata describing the media content, and a file system containing the media content, the server comprising:
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an extractor module that assembles a transfer file containing the media content and metadata; and a network connection adapted for transmitting the transfer file to at least one client over the computer network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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3. (canceled)
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6. (canceled)
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14-16. -16. (canceled)
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17. A client computer system for displaying media content to a user, the client
computer comprising: -
a media player program for decoding and displaying media content received over a computer network to a user; a parser module for processing a transfer file received from a server computer, the transfer file including media content and related metadata, the parser module allocating resources on the client computer system in response to processing the received transfer file; an installer module for storing various portions of the received transfer file on the client computer system; and a network connection for receiving the transfer file over a computer network. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. (canceled)
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26. A method of performing content distribution between a server computer and a client computer communicating with each other across a computer network, wherein the client computer is adapted for connection to a file system for storing media content and an asset metadata database for storing asset metadata describing the media content, the method comprising:
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receiving a transfer file including a header that describes portions of the transfer file, media content and metadata describing the media content; reading the header to determining sizes of portions of the transfer file; allocating resources for the portions of the transfer file; installing the metadata in the metadata database; and installing the media content in the file system.
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Specification