Wire protocol for a media server system

• US 6,466,987 B2
• Filed: 02/23/1999
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Dowell, Craig M, de Rie, Jan, Levi, Steven P, Bolosky, William J., Rashid, Richard F., Fitzgerald, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/256,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/220, 709/221, 709/224, 709/231, 709/232, 709/234, 709/246
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A wire protocol provides message formats for creating multiple network connections between a media server and a client. These multiple network connections may include a control link connection for passing control information and a data funnel connection for passing data of multiple media. The data funnel connection may be a multipoint-to-point connection that connects multiple data servers with the client. The protocol facilitates multiple requests being concurrently outstanding and asynchronous processing of requests. The protocol is designed to exist on top of a transport protocol layer.

Claims

1. In a computer network with a client and a media server operatively communicating via the network, a message communications method comprising:

packing a batch of messages into a single message unit, wherein;

the message unit comprises a batch header with one or more fields indicating a size of the single message unit;

each message in the unit has an associated header comprising one or more fields indicating

a size of the message associated with the header, and

a message-type indentification of the message associated with the header;

transmitting the single message unit to the client.

2. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions that are executable by a computer to perform steps as recited in claim 1.

3. In a computer network with a client and a media server operatively communicating via the network, a message communications method comprising:

receiving a single message unit from the media server, wherein single message unit is a packed batch of messages and wherein;

the message unit comprises a batch header with one or more fields indicating a size of the single message unit;

each message in the unit has an associated header comprising one or more fields indicating

a size of the message associated with the header, and

a message-type indentification of the message associated with the header;

unpacking the batch of messages from the single message unit based upon the header fields of each message.

4. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions that are executable by a computer to perform as recited in claim 3.

5. A message manager for use in a network having a client, the manager comprising:

a media server configured to pack a batch of messages into a single message unit, wherein;

the message unit comprises a batch header with one or more fields indicating a size of the single message unit;

each message in the unit has an associated header comprising one or more fields indicating

a size of the message associated with the header, and

a message-type indentification of the message associated with the header;

the media server being further configured to transmit the single message unit to the client.

6. A message receiver for use in a network having a media server, the receiver comprising:

a client configured to unpack a batch of messages from a single message unit based upon fields in associated headers of each message;

wherein;

the message unit comprises a batch header with one or more fields indicating a size of the single message unit;

each message in the unit has comprising an associated header comprising one or more fields indicating

a size of the message associated with the header, and

a message-type indentification of the message associated with the header.

7. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions that are executable by a computer, in a computer network with a client and a media server operatively communicating via the network, to perform steps comprising:

packing a batch of messages into a single message unit, wherein;

the message unit comprises a batch header with one or more fields indicating a size of the single message unit;

each message in the unit has an associated header comprising one or more fields indicating

a size of the message associated with the header, and

a message-type indentification of the message associated with the header;

transmitting the single message unit to the client.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions that are executable by a computer, in a computer network with a client and a media server operatively communicating via the network, to perform steps comprising:

receiving a single message unit from the media server, wherein single message unit is a packed batch of messages and wherein;

the message unit comprises a batch header with one or more fields indicating a size of the single message unit;

each message in the unit has an associated header comprising one or more fields indicating

a size of the message associated with the header, and

a message-type indentification of the message associated with the header;

unpacking the batch of messages from the single message unit based upon the header fields of each message.