Streaming a single media track to multiple clients
First Claim
1. A method of streaming media to multiple clients, comprising:
- receiving a request to stream media from a media track to a first client;
extracting a set of metadata from the media track, wherein said metadata facilitates identification and retrieval of the media from the media track;
storing said extracted set of metadata in a memory;
streaming the media to the first client in a first stream while referring to said stored metadata; and
streaming the media to a second client in a second stream while referring to said stored metadata.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for streaming a media track to multiple clients using a single copy of the track'"'"'s metadata, rather than making separate copies of the metadata for each stream. A media track'"'"'s metadata includes information that is used to identify and locate media corresponding to different time positions in the track or media program. Sharing one copy of the metadata among multiple client streams promotes more efficient use of a media streaming server'"'"'s resources. When a media track is first requested, a track object is generated to store and allow access to the metadata. For each client stream, a separate track handle object is created to manage access to the metadata for the stream'"'"'s specific context. The streamed media track may be part of a live media event or may be part of a pre-recorded media program.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of streaming media to multiple clients, comprising:
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receiving a request to stream media from a media track to a first client; extracting a set of metadata from the media track, wherein said metadata facilitates identification and retrieval of the media from the media track; storing said extracted set of metadata in a memory; streaming the media to the first client in a first stream while referring to said stored metadata; and streaming the media to a second client in a second stream while referring to said stored metadata. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of using a single set of media metadata to facilitate streaming the media to multiple clients, comprising:
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receiving a request to stream media from a first media track to a first client, wherein the first media track also includes metadata corresponding to the media; invoking a track module configured to maintain one copy of said metadata in a memory; operating a first track handler to stream the media to the first client, wherein said first track handler accesses said metadata to facilitate said streaming; receiving a request to stream the media to a second client before said streaming of the media to the first client is terminated; and operating a second track handler to stream the media to the second client, wherein said second track handler accesses said metadata to facilitate said streaming; wherein said metadata is configured to facilitate retrieval of the media from the first media track. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of streaming media to multiple clients, the method comprising:
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receiving a request to stream media from a media track to a first client; extracting a set of metadata from the media track, wherein said metadata facilitates identification and retrieval of the media from the media track; storing said extracted set of metadata in a memory; streaming the media to the first client in a first stream while referring to said stored metadata; and streaming the media to a second client in a second stream while referring to said stored metadata.
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12. A computer readable storage medium containing a data structure configured for facilitating the simultaneous streaming of media from a media track to multiple clients, the data structure comprising:
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a set of metadata configured to associate time indices of the media track with corresponding portions of the media, and to locate said corresponding portions within the media track; wherein said set of metadata is simultaneous accessed by each of multiple client stream handlers, wherein each stream handler is associated with a different client, to facilitate retrieval of different portions of the media for streaming to their respective clients.
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13. An apparatus for streaming media to clients, comprising:
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a first track of a media program stored on a first storage device, the first media track comprising; media; and metadata configured to facilitate access to the media; a first memory; a set of track handle modules, wherein each of said track handle modules is configured to facilitate streaming the media to a different client; and a track module configured to store said metadata in said first memory for shared access by said track handle modules; wherein said track handle modules access said metadata to identify portions of the media and locate said portions on the first storage device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification