Methods and apparatus for referencing and processing audio information

• US 6,643,621 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Danner, Ryan A., Dodrill, Lewis D., Martin, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ABEBE, DANIEL DEMELASH
• Application Number:
  US09/661,606
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 704/251, 704/275, 704/270, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/223, 379/88.03
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links

Abstract

Mechanisms and techniques are provided which allow a server computer system, such as a web server, to generate information, such as a web page, which includes an audio resource locator (ARL) configured in accordance with the invention. The ARL includes a reference to audio data, an audio command,and an audio server reference that identifies an audio server computer system that can process the reference to audio data within the ARL according to the audio command within the ARL to producing output, which may be audio or another type of output. The server computer system can serve the information including the ARL to an originator of a request for such information, such as a browser on a client computer system. A client computer system configured with a browser can obtain the information containing the ARL and can reference the ARL which causes the client computer system to send a request to process audio data to the audio server specified in the ARL. The request includes the audio command and optionally an audio output format and the references to audio data in the ARL. An audio server computer system can receive and process such requests by obtaining the audio data identified by the reference(s) to audio data in the request and by obtaining the audio command specified in the request. The audio server computer system then produces output, conforming to the audio output format specified in the request, by processing the referenced audio data in accordance with the specified audio command, thereby offloading audio processing from the browser and the client computer system onto the audio server computer system. Once processed, the audio server computer system can return the output to the client computer system in a format compatible with the client computer system. The ARL of the invention can include complex audio processing command such as merge, compare, convert, mix, sample, concatenate, resample, offset and the like which the audio server computer system is capable of processing when a client references an ARL.

Claims

1. A method for serving information, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for information;

generating the information, wherein the information includes an audio resource locator that includes;

i) a reference to audio data;

ii) an audio command; and

iii) an audio server reference that identifies an audio server that can process the reference to audio data within the audio resource locator according to the audio command within the audio resource locator to produce an output; and

serving the information including the audio resource locator to the originator of the request for the information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating includes the steps of:

determining that the audio resource locator is to be included in the information; and

dynamically generating the information to include the audio resource locator reference.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of dynamically generating the information includes the steps of:

determining a type of audio data that is compatible with the originator of the request for the information; and

selecting the audio command to be included in the audio resource locator such that the audio server reference in the audio resource locator can perform the audio command on the reference to audio data in the audio resource locator to produce the output in a format that is compatible with the originator of the request for the information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the audio command to be included in the audio resource locator specifies a conversion operation to convert the reference to audio data in the audio resource locator to audio output that is compatible with the originator the request for the information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the conversion operation specifies an audio output format that is compatible with the type of audio data that is compatible with the originator of the request for information.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of dynamically generating the information includes the steps of:

determining a type of audio data that is compatible with the originator of the request for the information;

selecting the reference to audio data to be included in the audio resource locator such that the audio server reference in the audio resource locator can perform the audio command on the reference to audio data in the audio resource locator to the output; and

wherein the output is audio output that is compatible with the originator of the request for the information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the information is a web page and wherein the audio resource locator is embedded within the web page and wherein the step of generating obtains the information containing the audio resource locator from web page storage.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the reference to audio data in the audio resource locator specifies a plurality of audio files; and

wherein the audio command in the audio resource locator specifies a processing operation that the audio server reference is to perform on the plurality of audio files to produce the output, which is audio output, when the originator of request for the information invokes a reference the audio resource locator.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio command is at least one of a merge command, a convert command, a concatenate command, a separate command, a sample command and an offset command.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference to audio data is a uniform resource locator reference to at least one file of audio data located on a server computer system on a computer network.

11. A method for obtaining audio server output comprising the steps of:

receiving an audio resource locator that specifies;

i) a reference to audio data;

ii) an audio command; and

iii) an audio server reference that identifies an audio server that can process the reference to audio data within the audio resource locator according to the audio command within the audio resource locator to produce an output;

invoking a reference to the audio resource locator to have the audio server produce the output by processing the reference to audio data according to the audio command specified in the audio resource locator; and

receiving, from the audio server, the output produced in response to invoking the reference to the audio resource locator.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the audio resource locator is a uniform resource locator in a web page within a browser on a client computer system, and wherein the step of invoking includes the steps of:

detecting the presence of the audio resource locator within the web page in the browser; and

initiating a request to the audio server reference in the audio resource locator according to a data communications protocol, the request including a reference to the audio resource locator that includes the reference to audio data and the audio command that the audio server is to perform on the audio data.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the output is audio output and the method further includes the steps of:

providing the output as audio output received from the audio server in an audible format to a user of the computer system.

14. A method for producing output from an audio server, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at an audio server, a request to process audio data, the request including;

i) a reference to audio data;

ii) an audio command; and

iii) an audio server reference that identifies the audio server;

processing the reference to audio data within the request according to the audio command within the request to produce an output; and

serving the output to an originator of the request.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of processing includes the steps of:

parsing the request to process the audio resource locator to obtain an identity of the audio data and the audio command;

obtaining the audio data specified by the reference to audio data; and

performing the audio command upon the audio data to produce the output.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of obtaining includes the step of:

determining if the audio data is stored locally, and if so, obtaining the audio data from local storage, and if not, obtaining the audio data via a remote reference to the audio data.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the audio command includes a specification of an audio output format and wherein the step of processing performs the audio command on the audio data specified by the reference to audio data to produce audio output in a format compatible with the audio output format.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the request is receive at the audio server in response to a client computer system invoking a reference to an audio resource locator that specifies the audio server, the audio command and the reference to audio data.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the audio command is at least one of a merge command, a convert command, a concatenate command, a separate command, a sample command and an offset command.

20. A server computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

an input output mechanism; and

an interconnection mechanism coupling the processor, the memory and the input output mechanism;

wherein the memory is encoded with logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the server computer system to serve information by performing the operations of;

receiving a request for the information from the input output mechanism;

generating the information, wherein the information includes an audio resource locator that includes;

i) a reference to audio data;

ii) an audio command; and

iii) an audio server reference that identifies an audio server that can process the reference to audio data within the audio resource locator according to the audio command within the audio resource locator to produce an output; and

serving the information including the audio resource locator to the originator of the request for the information, via the input output mechanism.

21. The server computer system of claim 20 wherein the logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the server computer system to perform the operation of generating further include logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the server computer system to perform the operations of:

determining that the audio resource locator is to be included in the information; and

dynamically generating the information to include the audio resource locator reference.

22. The server computer system of claim 21 wherein the logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the server computer system to perform the operation of dynamically generating the information further include logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the server computer system to perform the operations of:

determining a type of audio data that is compatible with the originator of the request for the information; and

selecting the audio command to be included in the audio resource locator such that the audio server reference in the audio resource locator can perform the audio command on the reference to audio data in the audio resource locator to produce the output in a format that is compatible with the originator of the request for the information.

23. The server computer system of claim 22 wherein the audio command to be included in the audio resource locator specifies a conversion operation to convert the reference to audio data in the audio resource locator to audio output that is compatible with the originator the request for the information.

24. The server computer system of claim 23 wherein the conversion operation specifies an audio output format that is compatible with the type of audio data that is compatible with the originator of the request for information.

25. The server computer system of claim 21 wherein the logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the server computer system to perform the operation of dynamically generating the information further include logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the server computer system to perform the operations of:

determining a type of audio data that is compatible with the originator of the request for the information;

selecting the reference to audio data to be included in the audio resource locator such that the audio server reference in the audio resource locator can perform the audio command on the reference to audio data in the audio resource locator to the output; and

wherein the output is audio output that is compatible with the originator of the request for the information.

26. The server computer system of claim 20 wherein the information is a web page and wherein the audio resource locator is embedded within the web page and wherein the logic instructions that caused the processor to perform the operation of generating, further include logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the processor to obtain the information containing the audio resource locator from web page storage.

27. The server computer system of claim 20 wherein:

the reference to audio data in the audio resource locator specifies a plurality of audio files; and

wherein the audio command in the audio resource locator specifies a processing operation that the audio server reference is to perform on the plurality of audio files to produce the output, which is audio output, when the originator of request for the information invokes a reference the audio resource locator.

28. The server computer system of claim 20 wherein the audio command is at least one of a merge command, a convert command, a concatenate command, a separate command, a sample command and an offset command.

29. The server computer system to of claim 20 wherein the reference to audio data is a uniform resource locator reference to at least one file of audio data located on a server computer system on a computer network.

30. A client computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

an input output mechanism; and

an interconnection mechanism coupling the processor, the memory and the input output mechanism;

wherein the memory is encoded with logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the client computer system to obtain audio server output by performing the operations of;

receiving, via the input output mechanism, an audio resource locator that specifies;

i) a reference to audio data;

ii) an audio command; and

iii) an audio server reference that identifies an audio server that can process the reference to audio data within the audio resource locator according to the audio command within the audio resource locator to produce an output;

invoking a reference to the audio resource locator to have the audio server produce the output by processing the reference to audio data according to the audio command specified in the audio resource locator; and

receiving, from the audio server, the output produced in response to invoking the reference to the audio resource locator.

31. The client computer system of claim 30 wherein the audio resource locator is a uniform resource locator in a web page within a browser in the memory on a client computer system, and wherein the logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the client computer system to perform the operation of invoking further include logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the client computer system to perform the operations of:

detecting the presence of the audio resource locator within the web page in the browser in the memory; and

initiating a request to the audio server reference in the audio resource locator according to a data communications protocol, the request including a reference to the audio resource locator that includes the reference to audio data and the audio command that the audio server is to perform on the audio data.

32. The client computer system of claim 30 wherein the output is audio output and wherein the logic instructions further include additional logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the client computer system to perform the operations of:

providing the output as audio output received from the audio server in an audible format to a user of the computer system.

33. An audio server computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

an input output mechanism; and

an interconnection mechanism coupling the processor, the memory and the input output mechanism;

wherein the memory is encoded with logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the audio server computer system to produce output by performing the operations of;

receiving, via the input output mechanism, a request to process audio data, the request including;

i) a reference to audio data;

ii) an audio command;

p and

iii) an audio server reference that identifies the audio server;

processing the reference to audio data within the request according to the audio command within the request to produce an output; and

serving the output to an originator of the request via the input output mechanism.

34. The audio server computer system of claim 33 wherein the logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the audio server computer system to perform the operation of processing further include logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the client computer system to perform the operations of:

parsing the request to process the audio resource locator to obtain an identity of the audio data and the audio command;

obtaining the audio data specified by the reference to audio data; and

performing the audio command upon the audio data to produce the output.

35. The audio server computer system of claim 33 wherein the logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the audio server computer system to perform the operation of obtaining further include logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the client computer system to perform the operations of:

determining if the audio data is stored locally, and if so, obtaining the audio data from local storage, and if not, obtaining the audio data via a remote reference to the audio data.

36. The audio server computer system of claim 33 wherein the audio command includes a specification of an audio output format and wherein the logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the audio server computer system to perform the operation of processing further include logic instructions that, when performed on the processor, cause the client computer system to perform the audio command on the audio data specified by the reference to audio data to produce audio output in a format compatible with the audio output format.

37. The audio server computer system of claim 33 wherein the request is received by the input output mechanism in the audio server in response to a client computer system invoking a reference to an audio resource locator that specifies the audio server, the audio command and the reference to audio data.

38. The audio server computer system of claim 33 wherein the audio command is at least one of a merge command, a convert command, a concatenate command, a separate command, a sample command and an offset command.

39. A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon for serving information, such that the computer program logic, when performed on at least one processor within a computer system, causes the at least one processor to perform the operations of:

receiving a request for information;

generating the information, wherein the information includes an audio resource locator that includes;

i) a reference to audio data;

ii) an audio command; and

iii) an audio server reference that identifies an audio server that can process the reference to audio data within the audio resource locator according to the audio command within the audio resource locator to produce an output; and

serving the information including the audio resource locator to the originator of the request for the information.

40. The computer program product of claim 39 wherein the computer program logic that, when performed on the processor, causes the processor to perform the operation of generating, further includes computer program logic that, when performed on the processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

determining that the audio resource locator is to be included in the information; and

dynamically generating the information to include the audio resource locator reference.

41. The computer program product of claim 40 wherein the computer program logic that, when performed on the processor, causes the processor to perform the operation of dynamically generating the information, further includes computer program logic that, when performed on the processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

determining a type of audio data that is compatible with the originator of the request for the information; and

selecting the audio command to be included in the audio resource locator such that the audio server reference in the audio resource locator can perform the audio command on the reference to audio data in the audio resource locator to produce the output in a format that is compatible with the originator of the request for the information.

42. The computer program product of claim 40 wherein the computer program logic that, when performed on the processor, causes the processor to perform the operation of dynamically generating the information, further includes computer program logic that, when performed on the processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

determining a type of audio data that is compatible with the originator of the request for the information;

selecting the reference to audio data to be included in the audio resource locator such that the audio server reference in the audio resource locator can perform the audio command on the reference to audio data in the audio resource locator to the output; and

wherein the output is audio output that is compatible with the originator of the request for the information.

43. computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon for obtaining audio server output, such that the computer program logic, when performed on at least one processor within a client computer system, causes the at least one processor to perform the operations of:

receiving an audio resource locator that specifies;

i) a reference to audio data;

ii) an audio command; and

iii) an audio server reference that identifies an audio server that can process the reference to audio data within the audio resource locator according to the audio command within the audio resource locator to produce an output;

invoking a reference to the audio resource locator to have the audio server produce the output by processing the reference to audio data according to the audio command specified in the audio resource locator; and

receiving, from the audio server, the output produced in response to invoking the reference to the audio resource locator.

44. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the audio resource locator is a uniform resource locator in a web page within a browser on a client computer system, and wherein the computer program logic that, when performed on the processor, causes the processor to perform the operation of invoking, further includes computer program logic that, when performed on the processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

detecting the presence of the audio resource locator within the web page in the browser; and

initiating a request to the audio server reference in the audio resource locator according to a data communications protocol, the request including a reference to the audio resource locator that includes the reference to audio data and the audio command that the audio server is to perform on the audio data.

45. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the output is audio output and wherein the computer program logic that further includes computer program logic that, when performed on the processor, causes the processor to perform the operation of:

providing the output as audio output received from the audio server in an audible format to a user of the computer system.

46. A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon for producing output from an audio server, such that the computer program logic, when performed on at least one processor within a computer system, causes the at least one processor to perform the operations of:

receiving, at an audio server, a request to process audio data, the request including;

i) a reference to audio data;

ii) an audio command; and

iii) an audio server reference that identifies the audio server;

processing the reference to audio data within the request according to the audio command within the request to produce an output; and

serving the output to an originator of the request.

47. The computer program product of claim 46 wherein the computer program logic that, when performed on the processor, causes the processor to perform the operation of processing, further includes computer program logic that, when performed on the processor, causes the processor to perform the operations of:

parsing the request to process the audio resource locator to obtain an identity of the audio data and the audio command;

obtaining the audio data specified by the reference to audio data; and

performing the audio command upon the audio data to produce the output.

48. A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including data representations encoded thereon, the data representations including:

an audio resource locator that includes;

i) a reference to audio data;

ii) an audio command; and

iii) an audio server reference that identifies an audio server that can process the reference to audio data within the audio resource locator according to the audio command within the audio resource locator to produce audio output.

49. A server computer system for serving information, the server computer system comprising:

means for receiving a request for the information;

means for generating the information, wherein the information includes an audio resource locator that includes;

i) a reference to audio data;

ii) an audio command; and

iii) an audio server reference that identifies an audio server that can process the reference to audio data within the audio resource locator according to the audio command within the audio resource locator to produce an output; and

means for serving the information including the audio resource locator to the originator of the request for the information.

50. A client computer system capable of obtaining audio server output, the client computer system comprising:

means for receiving an audio resource locator that specifies;

i) a reference to audio data;

ii) an audio command; and

iii) an audio server reference that identifies an audio server that can process the reference to audio data within the audio resource locator according to the audio command within the audio resource locator to produce an output;

means for invoking a reference to the audio resource locator to have the audio server produce the output by processing the reference to audio data according to the audio command specified in the audio resource locator; and

means for receiving, from the audio server, the output produced in response to invoking the reference to the audio resource locator.

51. An audio server computer system capable of producing output, the audio server computer system comprising:

means for receiving a request to process audio data, the request including;

i) a reference to audio data;

ii) an audio command; and

iii) an audio server reference that identifies the audio server;

means for processing the reference to audio data within the request according to the audio command within the request to produce an output; and

means for serving the output to an originator of the request via the input output mechanism.