Method and system for using live time shift technology to control a multimedia file

• US 6,990,512 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micro Focus Software, Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Novell Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Major, Robert D., Yang, Yuemin, Keene, Richard M., Lowry, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US09/860,249
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709217- 19, 709 23- 24, 709 27- 29, 709/31, 709/219, 711/133, 711/159, 711/118
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation

Abstract

A method and system is disclosed for controlling real time presentation session through a communication network using control features embedded in a predetermined presentation software such as QuickTime Player. An original media server is first located for streaming a media file therefrom to present a real time presentation session. An Internet Cache System is situated between the original media server and the presentation tool having the presentation software. During a handshake communication process among the original media server, the Internet Cache System and the presentation software, a session description information sent by the original media server for the forthcoming presentation session is modified so as to make the presentation software deem the presentation session as a non-live presentation session.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a live time presentation session through a communication network using control features embedded in a presentation software, the method comprising:

providing an original media server for streaming media data to present a live time presentation session through a network cache system (NCS); and

before storing the streaming media data in the NCS, modifying, by the NCS, a timing tag portion of session description information sent by the original media server for the presentation session so as to make the presentation software deem the presentation session as a non-live presentation session and perform the live time presentation.

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

establishing a first communication process between the original media server and the presentation software through the NCS for exchanging session description information for a live presentation session; and

establishing a second communication process between the presentation software and the original media server through the NCS for initiating the live presentation session.

3. The method of claim 2 the step of establishing a first communication session further includes:

determining whether the media data is cached in and accessible from the NCS; and

if the media data is not accessible from the NCS, identifying the original media server on which the media data is located.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of establishing the second communication process further includes inserting, by the NCS, a time stamp and sequence number to at least one data packet received from the original media server before it is sent out to the presentation software.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the NCS has a cache object storage module for storing the media data streamed from the original media server.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the first communication process uses a session description protocol.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising changing a time stamp and a sequence number of a selected segment of the media data cached in the NCS when a user uses the control feature of the presentation software to restart the live time presentation session from a presentation point corresponding to the selected segment.

21. The method of claim 2 wherein establishing a first communication session further includes:

determining whether the media data is cached in and accessible from the NCS; and

if the media data is accessible from the NCS, sending the media data to the presentation software.

22. The method of claim 2 wherein the second communication process is established after at least a portion of the media data is sent to the original media server.

8. A method for controlling a live time presentation session through a communication network using control features embedded in a presentation software, the method comprising:

providing an original media server for streaming media data to present a live time presentation session through a network cache system (NCS), the step of providing comprising;

establishing a first communication process between the original media server and the presentation software through the NCS for exchanging session description information for a live presentation session and

establishing a second communication process between the presentation software and the original media server through the NCS for initiating the live presentation session;

modifying a portion of session description information sent by the original media server for the presentation session so as to make the presentation software deem the presentation session as a non-live presentation session and perform the live time presentation; and

establishing a third communication process, after establishing the first communication process, between original media server and the presentation software through the NCS for determining a first data transport mechanism between the presentation software and the NCS, and a second data transport mechanism between the NCS and the original media server.

9. A network cache system for controlling a live time presentation session using control features embedded in a predetermined presentation software, the system comprising:

a real time streaming protocol (RTSP) server and at least one of its clients for intelligently assisting communication between the presentation software and an original media server for streaming media data therefrom to present the live time presentation session;

a session description protocol (SDP) module for analyzing and modifying a session description information in one or more messages (SDP messages) sent by the original media server for the presentation session so as to make the presentation software deem the presentation session as a non-live presentation session, the session description protocol module comprising;

means for parsing the SDP messages;

means for modifying a timing tag of the SDP messages to indicate that the presentation session is a non-live presentation session; and

means for storing the parsed and modified SDP message to a memory storage module; and

a real time transport protocol (RTP) server and at least one of its clients for delivering the media data to the presentation software for the live presentation session, wherein the SDP message, the analyzed and modified session description information, and the media data is stored temporarily in a memory storage module accessible by the SDP module, the RTSP server and its clients, and the RTP server and its clients.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the RTSP server and its clients assist the presentation software and the original media server for implementing a first communication process to determine whether the media data is for a live time presentation session and a second communication process for determining a preferred data transport mechanism.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the memory storage module is a cache object storage.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the media data stored in the memory storage module is assigned with one or more time stamps and sequence numbers when the media data is retrieved by the RTP server for feeding the presentation software.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the RTP server changes the assigned sequence numbers and the time stamps when one of the control features of the presentation software is invoked for implementing a live time shifting feature.

14. A method for controlling a live time presentation played by a presentation software through a communication network, the method comprising:

controlling the live time presentation by using control features of the presentation software for shifting the live time presentation forward or backward in time;

manipulating a timing tag portion of a session description information, before media data for the live time presentation is sent to the presentation software, to indicate that the presentation is a not a live time session;

storing the manipulated session description information in a memory storage module; and

dynamically adjusting a time stamp and sequence number of at least one packet of the media data when the live time presentation is shifted backward or forward, wherein the step of dynamically adjusting preconditions the media data to be presented in the live time presentation and makes the presentation software unable to detect the adjustment.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of manipulating is done by a message processing module receiving and analyzing session description information from an original media server, the processing module using a predetermined session description protocol.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the message processing module further stores the analyzed session description information in the memory storage module.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of adjusting is implemented by a data processing module using a real time streaming protocol.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein shifting the live time presentation backward is limited by the media data cached in a memory storage module.

19. A method for controlling a live time presentation session through a communication network using control features embedded in a presentation software, the method comprising:

locating an original media server for streaming media data to present a live time presentation session through a network cache system (NCS);

establishing a first communication process between an original media server and the presentation software through the NCS for exchanging session description information for the live presentation session;

establishing a second communication process between the presentation software and the original media server through the NCS for initiating the live presentation session;

modifying a timing tag portion of the session description information sent by the original media server for the presentation session so as to make the presentation software deem the presentation session as a non-live presentation session and perform the live time presentation; and

changing a time stamp and a sequence number of a selected segment of the media data cached in the NCS when a user uses the control feature of the presentation software to restart the live time presentation session from a presentation point corresponding to the selected segment.

20. A method for controlling a live time presentation session through a communication network using control features embedded in a presentation software, the method comprising:

locating an original media server for streaming media data to present a live time presentation session through a network cache system (NCS);

establishing a first communication process between an original media server and the presentation software through the NCS for exchanging session description information for the live presentation session, wherein if the media data is cached in and accessible from the NCS, the media data is sent to the presentation software;

establishing a second communication process between the presentation software and the original media server through the NCS for initiating the live presentation session;

modifying a timing tag portion of the session description information sent by the original media server for the presentation session so as to make the presentation software deem the presentation session as a non-live presentation session and perform the live time presentation; and

changing a time stamp and a sequence number of a selected segment of the media data cached in the NCS when a user uses the control feature of the presentation software to restart the live time presentation session from a presentation point corresponding to the selected segment.