Systems and methods for the distribution of multimedia information
First Claim
1. A method of transferring multimedia information in a system including a primary site and at least one satellite site selectively coupled to the primary site by a transmission medium having a bandwidth, the method comprising the steps of:
- compressing information defining each of a plurality of objects of a multimedia presentation at the primary site using a compression/decompression protocol corresponding to a type of each of the objects;
intelligently allocating the transmission bandwidth to the compressed information for each of the plurality of objects and to scene information describing a multimedia presentation to be made at the satellite site from selected ones of the objects;
concurrently transferring, over the allocated bandwidth, the compressed information for each of the plurality of objects and the scene information to the satellite site from the primary site via the medium;
decompressing the compressed information defining each of the objects at the satellite site using the corresponding compression/decompression protocol; and
generating the multimedia presentation composed of the selected objects at the satellite site from the decompressed information as directed by the received scene information, at least two of the selected objects being presented concurrently.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for transferring multimedia information in a system including a primary site 101 and at least one satellite site 102 coupled to the primary site 101 by a transmission medium 103. Information defining each of a selected plurality of objects composing a multimedia presentation is compressed at primary site 101 using a compression/decompression protocol corresponding to a type of each of the objects. The compressed information is transferred to satellite site 102 from primary site 101 via medium 103. Scene information describing the multimedia presentation to be made from the objects is also transferred from primary site 101. The compressed information defining each of the objects is decompressed at satellite 102 using the corresponding compression/decompression protocol. The multimedia presentation composed of the selected objects is generated at satellite site 102 from the decompressed information as directed by the received scene information.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of transferring multimedia information in a system including a primary site and at least one satellite site selectively coupled to the primary site by a transmission medium having a bandwidth, the method comprising the steps of:
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compressing information defining each of a plurality of objects of a multimedia presentation at the primary site using a compression/decompression protocol corresponding to a type of each of the objects; intelligently allocating the transmission bandwidth to the compressed information for each of the plurality of objects and to scene information describing a multimedia presentation to be made at the satellite site from selected ones of the objects; concurrently transferring, over the allocated bandwidth, the compressed information for each of the plurality of objects and the scene information to the satellite site from the primary site via the medium; decompressing the compressed information defining each of the objects at the satellite site using the corresponding compression/decompression protocol; and generating the multimedia presentation composed of the selected objects at the satellite site from the decompressed information as directed by the received scene information, at least two of the selected objects being presented concurrently. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of presenting a multimedia presentation at a satellite computer coupled to a central computer by a transmission medium comprising the steps of:
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sending a request from the central computer to the satellite computer requesting the satellite computer execute a scene file to generate a selected scene from at least two multimedia objects selected from the group consisting of image, voice, and music; determining if the scene file is stored local to the satellite computer; delivering the required scene file to the satellite computer if such scene file is not already stored local thereto; determining if object information required by the scene file to generate the multimedia objects for the selected scene is stored local to the satellite computer; delivering any required object information not already stored local to the satellite computer to the satellite computer; and executing the scene file in the satellite computer to generate the selected scene, the scene file controlling the generation of the multimedia objects of the scene from the object information. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A multimedia communications system comprising:
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a transmission medium having a bandwidth; a central data processing system selectively coupled to said medium, said central data processing system operable to; compress information defining each of a plurality of multimedia objects of a multimedia presentation using a selected corresponding compression/decompression protocol to produce compressed information; intelligently allocate said transmission bandwidth to said compressed information for each of said plurality of multimedia objects and to scene information defining generation of said multimedia presentation from said objects; and concurrently transfer, over the allocated bandwidth, said compressed information for each of said plurality of objects and said scene information; and a satellite processing system selectively coupled to said transmission medium operable to; decompress said compressed information received from said transmission medium using said corresponding compression/decompression protocol to produce decompressed information; and generate said multimedia presentation composed of said multimedia objects from said decompressed information in a format directed by said scene information. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for distributing multimedia information comprising:
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a transmission medium; a server operable to; compress information defining a plurality of objects composing a presentation using compression/decompression protocols corresponding to each type of object; transmit said compressed information on said transmission medium; transmit on said transmission medium a scene file defining an assembly of said objects into said presentation; and transmit commands on said transmission medium controlling execution of said scene file; and a slave processing system operable to; receive said scene file from said transmission medium; receive and decompress said compressed information; determine if said scene film has already been received and stored locally; determine if information defining ones of said objects required by said scene file to generate said presentation have already been received and stored locally; request and receive from said server via said transmission medium any information defining a required object not already stored locally; and process said information in accordance with said script to generate said selected scene composed of said required ones of said objects. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A multimedia system comprising:
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means for compressing information defining each of a plurality of objects comprising a multimedia presentation and scene information describing the multimedia presentation to be generated from said objects using a selected corresponding compression protocol; means for transporting said compressed information to a satellite site; said transporting means comprising transmission means for transmitting information, said transmission means having a bandwidth; means for intelligently allocating said bandwidth to said compressed information; and means for concurrently transferring said compressed information over said allocated bandwidth; means at said satellite site for receiving and decompressing said information using the corresponding decompression protocol; and means at said satellite site for generating said multimedia presentation composed of said objects from said decompressed information in a format defined by the received scene information. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of transferring multimedia information in a system including a primary site and at least one satellite site selectively coupled to the primary site by a transmission medium having a bandwidth, the method comprising the steps of:
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compressing information defining each of a plurality of objects of a multimedia presentation at the primary site using a compression/decompression protocol corresponding to a type of each of the objects; intelligently allocating the transmission bandwidth to the compressed information for each of the plurality of objects and to scene information describing a multimedia presentation to be made at the satellite site from selected ones of the objects; said step of intelligently allocating the transmission bandwidth comprising allocating the minimum amount of bandwidth necessary to allow continuous play of the selected synchronous objects to the selected synchronous objects and allocating the remaining amount of bandwidth to the selected non-synchronous objects; concurrently transferring the compressed information for each of the plurality of objects and the scene information to the satellite site from the primary site via the medium over the bandwidth allocated for each of the selected objects; decompressing the compressed information defining each of the objects at the satellite site using the corresponding compression/decompression protocol; and generating the multimedia presentation composed of the selected objects at the satellite site from the decompressed information as directed by the received scene information, at least two of the selected objects being presented concurrently.
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Specification