Read only linear stream based cache system

• US 6,061,731 A
• Filed: 03/05/1997
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thunderwave, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Thunderwave, Inc.
• Inventors: Blakeslee, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/810,785
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/212, 709/213, 709/215, 709/234, 709/231, 710/52, 345/508, 711/138
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0875 with dedicated cache, e.g. instruction or stack
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 5/06 for changing the speed of data flow, i.e. speed regularising or timing, e.g. delay lines, FIFO buffers; over- or underrun control therefor G06F7/78 takes precedence

Abstract

A read only linear stream based cache for a linear stream based cache system receives data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from a data source and transmits the video data to an application controlling a display for displaying the video data. The cache system includes an application memory storing first data, a cache memory, operatively connected to the application memory, and storing second data, and a data processor, operatively connected to the application and cache memories. The data processor controls the transmission of third data from the data source to the application via at least one of the application and cache memories responsive to an application file request. When the data processor determines that a sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second data is stored in at least one of the application and cache memories, respectively, the application accesses the first data in the application memory, and the data processor controls the transmission of the second data from the cache memory to the application memory, and the third data from the data source to the cache memory. In addition, when the data processor determines that the sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second data is not stored in at least one of the application and cache memories, respectively, the application accesses the first data in said application memory, and the data processor controls the transmission of the second data from the cache memory to the application memory, and the third data from the data source to the application memory.

Claims

1. A linear stream based cache system receiving data from a data source and transmitting the data to an application controlling a display for displaying the data, comprising:

an application memory storing first data;

a cache memory, operatively connected to said application memory, and storing second data; and

a data processor, operatively connected to said application and cache memories, controlling the transmission of third data from the data source to the application via at least one of said application and cache memories responsive to an application file request,

wherein when said data processor determines that a sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second data is stored in at least one of the application and cache memories, respectively, the application accesses the first data in said application memory and said data processor controls the transmission of the second data from the cache memory to the application memory, and controls the third data from the data source to the cache memory, and

wherein when said data processor determines that the sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second data is not stored in at least one of the application and cache memories, respectively, the application accesses the first data in said application memory and said data processor controls the transmission of the second data from the cache memory to the application memory, and controls the third data from the data source to the application memory.

2. A linear stream based cache system according to claim 1, wherein said application and cache memories comprise a random access memory.

3. A linear stream based cache system according to claim 1, wherein the data source comprises a network.

4. A linear stream based cache system according to claim 1, further comprising a decoder operatively connected to the application, decoding at least one of the first, second and third data received from the application, and generating decoded data for display on the display.

5. A linear stream based cache system receiving data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from a data source and transmitting the data to an application controlling a display for displaying the data, comprising:

an application memory storing first data;

a cache memory, operatively connected to said application memory, and storing second data; and

a data processor, operatively connected to said application and cache memories, controlling the transmission of third data from the data source to the application via at least one of said application and cache memories responsive to an application file request including one of open, close and read requests, said data processor receiving the application file request from the application, and requesting the third data from the data source without waiting for a data source response when a sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second data is stored in at least one of the application and cache memories, respectively.

6. A linear stream based cache system according to claim 5, wherein said application and cache memories comprise a random access memory.

7. A linear stream based cache system according to claim 5, wherein the data source comprises a network.

8. A linear stream based cache system according to claim 5, wherein said data processor further comprises means for requesting the third data from the data source and waiting for the data source response when the sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second data is not stored in at least one of the application and cache memories.

9. A linear stream based cache system

receiving data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from a data source and transmitting the data to an application controlling a display for displaying the data, comprising:

an application memory storing first data;

a cache memory, operatively connected to said application memory, and storing second data; and

a data processor, operatively connected to said application and cache memories, controlling the transmission of third data from the data source to the application via at least one of said application and cache memories responsive to an application file request including one of open, close and read requests, said data processor receiving the application file request from the application, determining whether a sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second data is stored in at least one of the application and cache memories, respectively, posting a request for the third data from the data source without waiting for a data source response when said means for determining determines that the sufficient amount of data is stored, processing a data source response including the third data in response to the request posted by said means for posting and controlling the transmission of the third data from the data source to the cache memory, and from the cache memory to the application memory after the data source response is processed by said means for processing.

10. A linear stream based cache system according to claim 9, wherein the application receives data from the application memory during at least one of the posting of the request by said means for posting and the processing of the data source response by said means for processing.

11. A linear stream based cache system, according to claim 9,

wherein the application file request further includes a seek request,

wherein said data processor determines whether the application file request is first the read request, second the seek request and third one of the open and close requests.

12. A linear stream based cache system according to claim 9, wherein said application and cache memories comprise a random access memory.

13. A linear stream based cache system according to claim 9, wherein the data source comprises a network.

14. A method of receiving data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from a data source and transmitting the data to an application controlling a display for displaying the data, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an application file request from the application;

(b) determining whether a sufficient amount of at least one of first and second data is stored in at least one of application and cache memories, respectively;

(c) posting a request for third data from the data source without waiting for a data source response when said determining step (b) determines that the sufficient amount of data is stored;

(d) processing the data source response including the third data in response to the request posted by said posting step (c); and

(e) controlling transmission of the third data from the data source to the cache memory, and from the cache memory to the application memory responsive to the data source response.

15. A method of seeking in a data file data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, received from a data source and transmitted to an application controlling a display for displaying the data file, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a seek file request from the application;

(b) determining whether the seek file request is one of relative to beginning of file, relative to end of file and relative to current position in the video data file;

(c) normalizing the seek file request with respect to a reference point in the video data file;

(d) determining whether a sufficient amount of data is stored in at least one of application and cache memories;

(e) seeking to a new position in the data file responsive to the seek request when said determining step (d) determines that the sufficient amount of data is stored; and

(f) requesting additional data from the data source for seeking to the new position in the data file when said determining step (d) determines that the sufficient amount of data is not stored.

16. A linear stream based cache system receiving data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from a data source and transmitting the data to an application controlling a display for displaying the data, comprising:

first memory means for storing first data;

second memory means for storing second data; and

processor means for controlling the transmission of third data from the data source to the application via at least one of said first and second memory means responsive to an application file request including one of open, close and read requests, said processor means comprising;

means for receiving the application file request from the application; and

means for requesting the third data from the data source without waiting for a data source response when a sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second data is stored in at least one of said first and second memory means, respectively.

17. A linear stream based cache system according to claim 16, wherein said first and second memory means comprise a random access memory.

18. A linear stream based cache system according to claim 16, wherein the data source comprises a network.

19. A linear stream based cache system according to claim 16, wherein said processor means further comprises means for requesting the third data from the data source and waiting for the data source response when the sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second data is not stored in at least one of the first and second memory means.

20. A linear stream based cache system receiving data from a data source and transmitting the data to an application controlling a display for displaying the data, comprising:

a network storing network data;

first means, operatively connected to said network, for storing first data;

second means, operatively connected to said first means and to said network, for storing second data; and

processor means, operatively connected to said first and second means, controlling the transmission of network data from the network to the application via at least one of said first and second means responsive to an application file request,

wherein when said processor means determines that a sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second data is stored in at least one of the first and second means respectively, the application accesses the first data in said first means and said processor means controls the transmission of the second data from the second means to the first means, and the network data from the network to the second means, and

wherein when said processor means determines that the sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second data is not stored in at least one of the first and second means respectively, the application accesses the first data in said first means and said processor means controls the transmission of the second data from the second means to the first means, and the network data from the network to the first means.

21. A linear stream based cache system according to claim 20, wherein said application and cache memories comprise a random access memory.

22. A computer-implemented method of receiving data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from a data source and transmitting the data to an application controlling a display for displaying the data, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first data message representing an application file request from the application;

(b) determining whether a sufficient amount of at least one of first and second data is stored in at least one of an application memory and a cache memory, respectively and generating a second data message in response thereto;

(c) transmitting a third data message representing a request for third data from the data source without waiting for a data source response when said determining step (b) generates the second data message indicating that the sufficient amount of data is stored;

(d) processing a fourth data message representing the data source response including the third data in response to the third data message transmitted by said transmitting step (c); and

(e) controlling transmission of the fourth data message including the third data from the data source to the cache memory, and from the cache memory to the application memory responsive to the fourth data message representing the data source response being processed by said processing step (d).

23. A linear stream based cache system receiving streaming data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from a remotely located data server and transmitting the streaming data to an application on a client system controlling a display for displaying the data, including an application memory storing first streaming data;

a cache memory, operatively connected to said application memory, and storing second streaming data; and

a data processor, operatively connected to said application and cache memories, controlling the transmission of third streaming data from the remotely located data server to the application via at least one of said application and cache memories responsive to an application file request including one of open, close and read requests, said data processor receiving the application file request from the application, and requesting the third streaming data from the remotely located data server without waiting for a data server response when a sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second streaming data is stored in at least one of the application and cache memories, respectively.

24. A linear stream based cache system receiving continual data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from an external file server and transmitting the continual data to an application on a client system controlling a display for displaying the data, having an application memory storing first continual data;

a cache memory, operatively connected to said application memory, and storing second continual data; and

a data processor, operatively connected to said application and cache memories, controlling the transmission of third continual data from the external file server to the application via at least one of said application and cache memories responsive to an application file request including one of open, close and read requests, said data processor receiving the application file request from the application, and requesting the third continual data from the external file server without waiting for a server response when a sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second continual data is stored in at least one of the application and cache memories, respectively.

25. A method of receiving streaming data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from a data source and transmitting the streaming data to an application controlling a display for displaying the streaming data, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an application file request from the application;

(b) determining whether a sufficient amount of at least one of first and second streaming data is stored in at least one of application and cache memories, respectively;

(c) posting a request for third streaming data from the data source without waiting for a data source response when said determining step (b) determines that the sufficient amount of streaming data is stored;

(d) processing the data source response including the third streaming data in response to the request posted by said posting step (c); and

(e) controlling transmission of the third streaming data from the data source to the cache memory, and from the cache memory to the application memory after the data source response is processed by said processing step (d).

26. A linear stream based cache system receiving streaming data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from a remotely located data server via a data server network and transmitting the streaming data to an application on a client system controlling a display for displaying the data, including an application memory storing first streaming data;

a cache memory, operatively connected to said application memory, and storing second streaming data; and

a data processor, operatively connected to said application and cache memories, controlling the transmission of third streaming data from the remotely located data server to the application via at least one of said application and cache memories responsive to an application file request including one of open, close and read requests, said data processor receiving the application file request from the application, and requesting the third streaming data from the remotely located data server without waiting for a data server response when a sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second streaming data is stored in at least one of the application and cache memories, respectively.

27. A linear stream based cache system receiving continual data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from an external file server via an external file server network and transmitting the continual data to an application on a client system controlling a display for displaying the data, having an application memory storing first continual data;

a cache memory, operatively connected to said application memory, and storing second continual data; and

a data processor, operatively connected to said application and cache memories, controlling the transmission of third continual data from the external file server to the application via at least one of said application and cache memories responsive to an application file request including one of open, close and read requests, said data processor receiving the application file request from the application, and requesting the third continual data from the external file server without waiting for a server response when a sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second continual data is stored in at least one of the application and cache memories, respectively.

28. A method of receiving streaming data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from a data source via a data source network and transmitting the streaming data to an application controlling a display for displaying the streaming data, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an application file request from the application;

(b) determining whether a sufficient amount of at least one of first and second streaming data is stored in at least one of application and cache memories, respectively;

(c) posting a request for third streaming data from the data source without waiting for a data source response when said determining step (b) determines that the sufficient amount of streaming data is stored;

(d) processing the data source response including the third streaming data in response to the request posted by said posting step (c); and

(e) controlling transmission of the third streaming data from the data source to the cache memory, and from the cache memory to the application memory after the data source response is processed by said processing step (d).

29. A linear stream based cache system receiving continual data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from an external file server via a request from another external file server and transmitting the continual data to an application on a client system controlling a display for displaying the data, having an application memory storing first continual data;

a cache memory, operatively connected to said application memory, and storing second continual data; and

a data processor, operatively connected to said application and cache memories, controlling the transmission of third continual data from the external file server to the application via at least one of said application and cache memories responsive to an application file request including one of open, close and read requests, said data processor receiving the application file request from the application, and requesting the third continual data from the external file server without waiting for a server response when a sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second continual data is stored in at least one of the application and cache memories, respectively.

30. A method of receiving streaming data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from a data source via a request from another data source and an associated another data source network and transmitting the streaming data to an application controlling a display for displaying the streaming data, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an application file request from the application;

(b) determining whether a sufficient amount of at least one of first and second streaming data is stored in at least one of application and cache memories, respectively;

(c) posting a request for third streaming data from the data source without waiting for a data source response when said determining step (b) determines that the sufficient amount of streaming data is stored;

(d) processing the data source response including the third streaming data in response to the request posted by said posting step (c); and

(e) controlling transmission of the third streaming data from the data source to the cache memory, and from the cache memory to the application memory after the data source response is processed by said processing step (d).

31. A linear stream based cache system receiving time encoded data from an external file server and transmitting the time encoded data to an application on a client system controlling a display for displaying the data, having an application memory storing first data;

a cache memory, operatively connected to said application memory, and storing second data; and

a data processor, operatively connected to said application and cache memories, controlling the transmission of third data from the external file server to the application via at least one of said application and cache memories responsive to an application file request including one of open, close and read requests, said data processor receiving the application file request from the application, and requesting the third data from the external file server without waiting for a server response when a sufficient amount of at least one of the first and second data is stored in at least one of the application and cache memories, respectively.

32. A method of receiving data including at least one of voice data, video data, image data and digital data, from a data source and transmitting the data to an application controlling a display for displaying the data, comprising the steps of:

(a) a step for receiving an application file request from the application;

(b) a step for determining whether a sufficient amount of at least one of first and second data is stored in at least one of application and cache memories, respectively;

(c) a step for posting a request for third data from the data source without waiting for a data source response when said determining step (b) determines that the sufficient amount of data is stored;

(d) a step for processing the data source response including the third data in response to the request posted by said posting step (c); and

(e) a step for controlling transmission of the third data from the data source to the cache memory, and from the cache memory to the application memory responsive to the data source response.