Optimizing delivery of computer media

• US 6,728,760 B1
• Filed: 05/05/1999
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kent Ridge Digital Labs
• Original Assignee: Kent Ridge Digital Labs
• Inventors: Kuen, Foong Hock, Fairchild, Kim Michael, Miotto, Olivo, Kit, Looi Chee, Hsiang, Wong Lung
• Primary Examiner(s): BANANKHAH, MAJID A
• Application Number:
  US09/305,574
• Time in Patent Office: 1,819 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/202, 709/201, 725/46, 713/155, 713/201, 707/203
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

A method of optimizing delivery of computer media over a network of computers involves creating an annotation record for each item of computer media. Within the annotation record at least some of the following classes of information are included: (i) an identification of the computer on which the media item was created or introduced to the network; (ii) identifications of one or more computers on which a copy of the media item is presently located; (iii) an identification list of computers which have established a computer link to the media item; (iv) an identification list of computer users who have personal software assistants which have established a computer link to the media item; (v) an indication enabling version control of the media item; and (iv) one or more indications as to the subject matter of the media item. Whenever a media item is updated or deleted, the corresponding annotation record is also updated and a notification record is forwarded to each computer or a personal software assistant of each computer user on the network which has a computer link to the media item.

Claims

1. A method of optimizing delivery of computer media over a network of computers, including the steps of:

(a) creating an annotation record for each item of computer media;

(b) including within the annotation record one or more of the following classes of information;

(i) an identification of the computer on which the media item was created or introduced to the network

(ii) identifications of one or more computers on which a copy of the media item is presently located

(iii) an identification list of computers which have established a computer link to the media item

(iv) an identification list of computer users who have personal software assistants which have established a computer link to the media item

(v) an indication enabling version control of the media item

(vi) one or more indications as to the subject matter of the media item; and

(c) whenever a media item is updated or deleted, updating the corresponding annotation record and forwarding a notification record to each computer or a personal software assistant of each computer user on the network which has a computer link to the media item.

2. A method according to claim 1 including the further steps of:

(a) creating one or more preferences records for one or more computers or computer users on the network;

(b) including within the preferences records indications as to preferred subject matter of media items, based on one or more of the following;

(i) preferences expressly indicated by the computer user

(ii) preferences ascertained from the subject matter of media items to which the computer or computer user has previously established computer links

(iii) preferences ascertained from the subject matter of media searches conducted on the computer or by the computer user; and

(c) providing each computer or computer user with access to a new or modified media item whenever that media item relates to a subject matter which is included in the computer'"'"'s or computer user'"'"'s preferences record.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the step of providing access to a new or modified media item is done by means of a search for new or modified media of relevant subject matter which is conducted whenever the computer or computer user comes on-line or in some other periodical manner, followed by establishing a computer link to the media items located in the search.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the step of providing access to a new or modified media item is done whenever a media item is created or modified, by means of a search for preferences records which indicate a preference for subject matter corresponding to the subject matter of the new or modified media item, followed by the step of forwarding a notification record to the computer or computer user associated with each preferences record located in the search.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the network of computers includes one or more intermediate computers located in the network between other computers such that at least some of the media items travel from an originating computer through an intermediate computer to a requesting computer, wherein one or more media items are cached in one or more of the intermediate computers, and a request from a requesting computer for a media item is satisfied from a cached copy on an intermediate computer in preference to establishing a communications path all the way to the originating computer, thereby reducing the total amount of traffic necessary on the network, particularly when the media item is requested frequently.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein, when a particular request for a media item cannot be satisfied by a particular computer as a result of the computer being off-line or the media item having been deleted from that computer, the request is passed to another computer in the network having a copy of the media item.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein new or updated media items are downloaded to one or more computers which have links to those media items:

(a) during off-peak times for traffic on the network;

(b) when specifically requested by those computers;

or

(c) at times previously designated by those computers.

8. A method of selectively providing computer media to a computer user on a computer connected to a network, including the steps of:

(a) creating a preferences record for the computer user;

(b) including within the preferences records indications as to preferred subject matter of media items, based on one or more of the following;

(i) preferences expressly indicated by the computer user

(ii) preferences ascertained from the subject matter of media items to which the computer user has Previously established computer links

(iii) preferences ascertained from the subject matter of media searches conducted by the computer user;

(c) providing the computer user with access to a new or modified media item whenever that media item is created or modified; and

is related to a subject matter which is included in the computer user'"'"'s preferences record by means of a search for preferences records which indicate a preference for subject matter corresponding to the subject matter of the new or modified media item; and

(d) forwarding a notification record to the computer or computer user associated with each preferences record located in the search.

9. A method of selectively providing computer media to a computer user on a computer connected to a network, including the steps of:

(a) creating a preferences record for the computer user;

(b) including within the preferences records indications as to preferred subject matter of media items, based on one or more of the following;

(i) preferences expressly indicated by the computer user

(ii) preferences ascertained from the subject matter of media items to which the computer user has previously established computer links

(iii) preferences ascertained from the subject matter of media searches conducted by the computer user; and

(c) providing the computer user with access to a new or modified media item whenever that media item relates to a subject matter which is included in the computer user'"'"'s preferences record by means of a search for new or modified media of relevant subject matter which is conducted whenever the computer or computer user comes on-line or in some other periodical manner; and

(d) establishing a computer link to the media items located in the search.

10. A system for efficient delivery of computer media over a network of computers, including:

(a) a plurality of software agents, wherein at least one software agent is associated with a user'"'"'s computer on the network;

(b) one or more preferences records associated with each software agent, each preferences record including indications as to preferred subject matter of media items for a computer user, based on one or more of the following;

(i) preferences expressly indicated by the computer user

(ii) preferences ascertained from the subject matter of media items to which the computer user has previously established computer links

(iii) preferences ascertained from the subject matter of media searches conducted by the computer user;

(c) a plurality of computer media items located on computers on the network, each media item have associated with it one or more indications of subject matter;

wherein a software agent provides a computer user with access to a new or modified media item whenever that media item relates to a subject matter which is included in the computer user'"'"'s preferences record.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one software agent is associated with a server on the network.

11. A system for efficient delivery of computer media over a network of computers, including:

(a) a plurality of computer media items located on computers on the network;

(b) an annotation record for each media item on a computer, each annotation record including one or more of the following classes of information;

(i) an identification of the computer on which the media item was created or introduced to the network

(ii) identifications of one or more computers on which a copy of the media item is presently located

(iii) an identification list of computers which have established a computer link to the media item

(iv) an identification list of computer users who have personal software assistants which have established a computer link to the media item

(v) an indication enabling version control of the media item

(vi) one or more indications as to the subject matter of the media item; and

(c) a software agent associated with each computer which has annotation records;

wherein, whenever a media item is updated or deleted, the software agent associated with the corresponding annotation record updates the annotation record and forwards a notification record to each computer or a personal software assistant of each computer user on the network which has a computer link to the media item.

12. A system for efficient delivery of computer media over a network of computers operated by a plurality of computer users, including:

(a) a plurality of computer media items located on computers on the network;

(b) an annotation record for each media item on a computer, each annotation record including one or more of the following classes of information;

(i) an identification of the computer on which the media item was created or introduced to the network

(ii) identifications of one or more computers on which a copy of the media item is presently located

(iii) an identification list of computers which have established a computer link to the media item

(iv) an identification list of computer users who have personal software agents which have established a computer link to the media item

(v) an indication enabling version control of the media item

(vi) one or more indications as to the subject matter of the media item;

(c) a media software agent associated with each computer which has media items on it;

(d) a personal software agent associated with each computer user; and

(e) one or more preferences records associated with each personal software agent, each preferences record including indications as to preferred subject matter of media items for a computer user, based on one or more of the following;

(i) preferences expressly indicated by the computer user

(ii) preferences ascertained from the subject matter of media items to which the computer user has previously established computer links

(iii) preferences ascertained from the subject matter of media searches conducted by the computer user;

wherein a computer user'"'"'s personal software agent co-operates with the media software agents to provide the computer user with access to a new or modified media item whenever that media item relates to a subject matter which is included in the computer user'"'"'s preferences record and whenever the annotation record corresponding to the media item indicates that the computer user has a computer link to the media item.