Method and apparatus for distributing color corrected images across a network using distributed caching

• US 6,895,113 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2001
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syniverse ICX LLC
• Original Assignee: Lightsurf
• Inventors: Hilliard, William J., Baker, Tamara
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, THOMAS K
• Application Number:
  US09/827,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 382/162, 382/165, 382/167, 382/164, 358/500, 358/518, 345/589, 345/600, 345/604, 348/179
• US Class Current: 382/167
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/288 Distributed intermediate devices, i.e. intermediate devices for interaction with other intermediate devices on the same level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Color corrected images are stored at one or more caching servers on a computer network. A client computer requests a color corrected image from a caching server, which attempts to select an image in response to the image request. If no images are available at the caching server to fulfill the image request, the image request is forwarded to a color server where an image is selected and, optionally, corrected in response to the image request. The color corrected selected image is returned to the caching server to be stored and to further be provided to the client computer. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A computer network for distributing color corrected images to a client computer, comprising:

a cache of color corrected images, each image corrected according to one of a finite number of sets of image display characteristics;

a caching server to receive an image request from the client computer and connected to the cache to select a color corrected image from the cache in response to the request; and

a color server connected to the caching server to receive the image request and to select an image in response to the request when the caching server cannot select an image from the cache in response to the request.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the color server further comprises:

a color server to color correct the selected image.

3. The network of claim 1, wherein the color server further comprises:

a color server to color correct the selected image in response to the image request.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein:

the computer network is an internet; and

the image request comprises a URL address of the requested image.

5. The network of claim 1, wherein the color server comprises:

a color server to receive the image request from the caching server when the caching server cannot select an image from the cache in response to the request.

6. The network of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of caching servers connected to the color server.

7. The network of claim 4, wherein:

the URL address includes the address of the caching server.

8. The network of claim 4, wherein:

the image request includes color correction information related to image display characteristics of the client.

9. The network of claim 5, wherein the color server comprises:

a color server to color correct the selected image in response to the image request.

10. The network of claim 6, further comprising:

at least one cache of color corrected images connected to each of the plurality of caching servers.

11. The network of claim 7, wherein:

the URL address includes the address of the color server.

12. The network of claim 9, wherein the color server comprises:

a color server to provide the color corrected selected image to the caching server.

13. The network of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of color servers, each of the plurality of color servers connected to at least one of the plurality of caching servers.

14. The network of claim 12, wherein the caching server comprises:

a caching server to provide the color corrected selected image to the client and to the cache.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein the cache comprises:

a cache to store the color corrected selected image received from the caching server in association with one of the finite number of sets of image display characteristics.

16. A method for distributing color corrected images over a computer network to a client computer, comprising:

receiving an image request from the client computer;

selecting a color corrected image from a cache of color corrected images in response to the request, each image in the cache corrected according to one of a finite number of sets of image display characteristics; and

forwarding the image request to a color server to select an image in response to the request when an image cannot be selected from the cache in response to the request.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving the image request at the color server to select an image in response to the request when an image cannot be selected from the cache in response to the request.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the image request further comprises:

receiving the image request over an internet.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

selecting an image at the color server in response to the request when an image cannot be selected from the cache in response to the request.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving the image request further comprises:

receiving an image request comprising a URL address of the requested image.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

color correcting the selected image at the color server in response to the request.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein receiving the image request further comprises:

receiving an image request comprising the address of a caching server connected to the cache.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

forwarding the color corrected selected image from the color server to the cache.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving the image request further comprises:

receiving an image request comprising the address of the color server.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

forwarding the color corrected selected image from the cache to the client.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein receiving the image request further comprises:

receiving an image request comprising color correction information related to image display characteristics of the client.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

storing the color corrected selected image in the cache in association with one of the finite number of sets of image display characteristics.