Method and system for preloading interactive multimedia applications

• US 5,832,231 A
• Filed: 08/20/1997
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast MO Group Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: U S West Inc.
• Inventors: Raman, Prabhu, Welter, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/915,188
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.01, 395/200.05, 395/200.06, 395/200.09, 395/200.17, 395/464, 395/467, 395/200.3, 395/200.48, 395/200.64, 395/200.61 , 395/200.49, 395/200.38, 395/200.55, 395/200.59, 395/200.66, 345/327, 711/137, 711/140, 711/204
• US Class Current: 709/234
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

A method is disclosed for preloading prefetch data of a multimedia application at a client station in an interactive network. The method begins with the step of transmitting a first signal from a server to the client station representing a composite description. The method next includes the step of storing the composite description in the client memory. The client station the identifies prefetch data based on the composite description. The client station then transmits a signal to the server requesting the identified prefetch data. Finally, the server transmits the prefetch data to the client station where it is stored. A system is also disclosed for implementing the steps of the method.

Claims

1. In an interactive network including a server and a client station, the server including a server memory for storing a composite description, a plurality of composites, and a plurality of multimedia application assets, the client station including a client memory, a method for preloading prefetch data of a multimedia application at the client station to reduce network latency, the method comprising:

transmitting a first signal from the server to the client station representing a composite description, wherein the composite description describes prefetch data of a composite;

storing the composite description in the client memory;

identifying at the client station the prefetch data based on the composite description when the composite is running on the multimedia application at the client station, wherein the prefetch data includes at least one of the plurality of composites and multimedia application assets;

transmitting a second signal from the client station to the server representing a request for the identified prefetch data;

transmitting a third signal from the server to the client station representing the identified prefetch data before the multimedia application needs the identified prefetch data to run a composite following the composite currently running; and

storing the prefetch data in the client memory before the multimedia application needs the identified prefetch data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the plurality of multimedia application assets is a non-streamed multimedia application asset.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying is based on one level of look-ahead.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying includes identifying prefetch data loaded by the multimedia application, wherein transmitting a second signal representing a request for the identified prefetch data excludes a request for the prefetch data loaded by the multimedia application.

5. In an interactive network including a server and a client station, the server including a server memory for storing a composite description, a plurality of composites, and a plurality of multimedia application assets, the client station including a client memory, a system for preloading prefetch data of a multimedia application at the client station to reduce network latency, the system comprising:

means for transmitting a first signal from the server to the client station representing a composite description, wherein the composite description describes prefetch data of a composite;

means for storing the composite description in the client memory;

means for identifying at the client station the prefetch data based on the composite description when the composite is running on the multimedia application at the client station, wherein the prefetch data includes at least one of the plurality of composites and multimedia application assets;

means for transmitting a second signal from the client station to the server representing a request for the identified prefetch data;

means for transmitting a third signal from the server to the client station representing the identified prefetch data before the multimedia application needs the identified prefetch data to run a composite following the composite currently running; and

means for storing the prefetch data in the client memory before the multimedia application needs identified the prefetch data.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the at least one of the plurality of multimedia application assets is a non-streamed multimedia application asset.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the means for identifying is based on one level of look-ahead.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the means for identifying includes means for identifying prefetch data loaded by the multimedia application, wherein means for transmitting a second signal representing a request for the identified prefetch data excludes a request for the prefetch data loaded by the multimedia application.