Providing a presentation on a network

• US 7,133,896 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Johnson, Frank E., Ogdon, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US10/622,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/205, 709/227, 725/135, 725/143
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• 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 67/5651 Reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 : by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 : Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 : Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440227 : by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 : Conference systems

Abstract

A presentation system is disclosed for distributing a performance of a presentation synchronously to a plurality of client nodes on a network such as the Internet. The presentation system distributes presentation content data to a plurality of network server nodes, and during a performance of the presentation, the client nodes receiving the presentation determine a particular variation of data presentation to retrieve from the network server nodes. In particular, the retrieval of presentation data depends upon the transmission characteristics of the network such as data transmission rate. Thus, if a low transmission data rate is detected at a first client node, presentation elements of a reduced size can be retrieved. Alternatively, if a higher transmission rate is detected at a second client node, presentation elements of greater size (and corresponding enhanced quality of presentation) can be retrieved. Thus, within a single performance, client network nodes with varying available network bandwidths can be utilized for synchronously and simultaneously performing the presentation.

Claims

1. A network presentation distribution system for presenting a presentation, comprising:

one or more presentation content supplying nodes of a communications network, said content supplying nodes for providing access to a collection of data segments of said presentation using said communications network, wherein said collection includes first and second subcollections of one or more of said segments;

a presentation controlling node for transmitting to at least a first client node, via the communications network, presentation control information used for identifying a group of subcollections of said segments, said group including said first and second subcollections; and

a first segment selector, activated in response to said first client node receiving said presentation control information, for selecting one of said first and second subcollections for transmitting said selected subcollection from one of said presentation content supplying nodes to said first client node.

2. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said segment selector includes a network analyzer for analyzing transmission characteristics of communications network when determining which of said first and second subcollections to transmit to said first client node via said network communications network.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second subcollections are stored on different ones of said content supplying nodes.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first subcollection includes video with motion, and said second subcollection includes video with one of reduced motion and no motion.

5. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communications network includes a portion of a network using TCP/IP for communicating between at least one of:

(a) one of said content supplying nodes and said first client node;

(b) said presentation controlling node and said first client node;

(c) one of the content supplying nodes and said presentation controlling node.

6. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said presentation control information is transmitted to each of a plurality of client nodes so that a performance of said presentation occurs simultaneously at each of said plurality of client nodes.

7. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first client node includes a first presentation display component for displaying said segments of the presentation that are transmitted to said first client node, and wherein a second client node for receiving said presentation control information includes a second display component for displaying said segments of the presentation selected by a second segment selector activated in response to said second client node receiving said presentation information, wherein when said first subcollection is transmitted to said first client node and said second subcollection is transmitted to said second client node, said first subcollection is displayed on said first client node substantially simultaneously with said second subcollection being displayed on said second client node.

8. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first subcollection and said second subcollection have substantially different expected data transmission rates for being transmitted between said first client node, and one or more of said presentation content supplying nodes.

9. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an audio portion for said first subcollection is transmitted to said first client node separately from said first subcollection.

10. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second subcollections each have a common audio portion synchronously presented at said first client node, and a second client node for receiving said presentation.

11. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first segment selector is resident on said first client node and a second segment selector, activated in response to a second client node receiving said presentation control information, is resident on said second client node, wherein said first and second segment selectors each select one of said first and second subcollections for simultaneous presentation.

12. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, further including a network interface component, residing on said first client node, for receiving said presentation control information and transmitting a request for a subcollection of said group to one of said content supplying nodes.

13. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said network interface component includes a network browser.

14. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, further including a content manager for providing at least a video portion of said first and second subcollections of said presentation to said content supplying nodes prior to a performance of said presentation, wherein during said performance of said presentation, said first subcollection is presented at said first client node, and said second subcollection is simultaneously presented at a second client node receiving said presentation control information.

15. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are first and second versions of said presentation performed synchronously, respectively, at said first client node and a second client node for receiving said presentation control information, wherein there is a correspondence in content between at least a majority of segments in said first version with segments of said second version, and wherein said first and second versions have their corresponding audio portions in different natural languages.

16. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first segment selector includes a comparator for comparing (a) a value indicative of a length of time expected to receive one of said first and second subcollections, and (b) a value indicative of:

(i) a length of time related to one or more other client nodes receiving one or more subcollections of said collection, (ii) a predetermined default length of time, and (iii) a length of time determined by a leader of said presentation performance.

17. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of:

one of said content supplying nodes; and

said first client node communicates via a corporate intranet.

18. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said presentation controlling node accesses a predetermined script for said presentation control information, said script identifying a sequence of segments of said collection for the presentation.

19. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, further including a leader node for a leader of a performance of said presentation, wherein the leader directs a pace and content of the presentation performance provided to said client nodes.

20. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communications network uses TCP/IP as a network protocol.

21. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, further including a phone bridge controller for controlling one or more telephone bridges providing audio communication during a performance of the presentation, through a telephone at a client site having said first client node, wherein said telephone provides the audio communication to the client site different from said communications network.

22. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said content supplying network nodes is an Internet website.

23. A network presentation distribution system for presenting a presentation, comprising:

a first and second presentation content supplying nodes of a communications network, said first and second content supplying nodes for providing access to one or more collections of data segments of said presentation using said communications network;

a presentation controlling node for transmitting to at least a first client node, presentation control information used for identifying a first subcollection of said segments for presentation at said first client node; and

a content node selector, activated in response to said first client node receiving said presentation control information, for selecting one of said first and second content supplying nodes for transmitting one of;

(a) said first subcollection to said first client node using said communications network; and

(b) an alternative subcollection of one or more of said segments predetermined as a replacement for said first subcollection.

24. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said content node selector selects one of said first and second content supplying nodes and according to one of:

(a) a measurement related to a previous data transmission rate between said first client node and at least one of said first and second content supplying nodes, and (b) an expected data transmission rate between said first client node, and at least one of said first and second content supplying nodes.

25. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 23, wherein a presentation request from said first client node to one of said content supplying nodes includes at least one of:

(a) an identification of a version of said presentation, said version for a predetermined group of presentation audience members, (b) an identification of one of said first and second subcollections identified in a predetermined script for said presentation ; and

(c) information for identifying an alternative segment determined by a leader of a performance of said presentation, wherein said alternative segment is not identified in said script.

26. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 23, further including a phone bridge controller for routing presentation related audio communications to a client site having said first client node, via one or more phone bridges, wherein a telephone at said client site transforms the presentation related audio communications into an audible communication having natural language speech included therein.

27. A presentation system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said presentation controlling node includes a presentation script processing component for generating presentation performance commands from a script for said presentation, wherein for said first client node, said generated commands synchronize a display of a video content of said segments with a related audio content.

28. A presentation system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said presentation controlling node includes a phone bridge controller for directing a phone bridge to provide audio communications between a client site having said first client node and one of:

said presentation controlling node and a leader of a performance of said presentation, wherein said phone bridge routes presentation performance related audio information differently from network communications between said presentation controlling node and first client via said communications network.

29. A presentation system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said presentation controlling node transmits said presentation control information to at least a second client node for synchronizing a performance of said presentation at said first client node with a performance of said presentation at said second client node.

30. A network presentation distribution system for presenting a presentation, comprising:

one or more content supplying network nodes able to provide a plurality of segments to a first of one or more network client nodes, via a communications network, wherein each of said segments provides a portion of a particular presentation;

a presentation controlling network node for transmitting presentation control information providing identities of segments in a collection of said segments when the presentation is performed at said first client node;

a presentation network component at said first client node, wherein, after receiving said presentation control information, said presentation network component transmits segment selection information, obtained using said presentation control information, to a first of said content supplying nodes for obtaining the collection at said first client node;

a segment selector that uses one of;

(a) the presentation control information, and (b) the segment selection information for identifying the collection to transmit from the first content supplying node to the first client node.

31. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 30, wherein said selection information depends on a data transmission characteristic to the first client node from one of the content supplying nodes.

32. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 31, wherein said data transmission characteristic is one of a network data transmission rate and a measurement of network data transmission errors.

33. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 30, wherein said presentation controlling network node synchronizes a performance of said presentation on said first client node with a performance of said presentation on a second client node so that a particular one or more of said segments are presented on said first client node synchronously with an alternative one or more segments being output by one of said content supplying nodes to said second client node, wherein said alternative one or more segments correspond in content to said particular one or more segments.

34. A network presentation distribution system as claimed in claim 30, wherein said presentation controlling network node includes network communication receiving means for receiving communication from a site of said first client node, said communication related to a response to an inquiry of a presentation audience member at said first client node.

35. A method for presenting a networked presentation, comprising:

storing a plurality of segments of a presentation for network access via one or more content supplying nodes of a communications network, wherein there are subcollections of one or more of the segments, each subcollection having a predetermined presentation order and there is a first and a second of the subcollections,, wherein said first subcollection is replaceable with said second subcollection when presenting the presentation;

identifying a plurality of network client nodes for presenting the presentation;

transmitting, via the communications network, presentation control information to a first and second of the client nodes;

first identifying said first subcollection for presenting at the first client node using said transmitted presentation control information;

second identifying said second subcollection for presenting at the second user node in place of the first subcollection, using said transmitted presentation control information;

first retrieving said first subcollection from said content supplying nodes for presenting at the first client node;

second retrieving said second subcollection from said content supplying nodes for presenting at the second client node substantially simultaneously with the presenting of the first subcollection at the first client node.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35, wherein said step of transmitting to the first and second client nodes is performed substantially simultaneously, using the Internet as at least a portion of the communications network.

37. A method as claimed in claim 35, further including a step of synchronizing presenting the presentation at the first client node with presenting the presentation at the second client node so that each of the subcollections presented at the first client node is presented substantially simultaneously with one of the subcollections, having the same order, at the second client node.

38. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein said step of synchronizing includes obtaining, by said first client node, a network performance measurement of a network transmission from a first of the content supplying network nodes to the first client node.

39. A method as claimed in claim 35, wherein said step of first retrieving includes retrieving the first subcollection by the first client node from a first of the content supplying nodes;

and

said step of second retrieving includes retrieving the second subcollection by the second client node from a second of the content supplying nodes different from the first content supplying node.

40. A method as claimed in claim 35, further including synchronizing the presenting of the first and second subcollections at the first and second client nodes with a corresponding audio portion of the presentation provided concurrently at the sites of the first and second client nodes, wherein the corresponding audio portion is provided to the sites using a different network protocol from a protocol used in said step of transmitting via the communications network.

41. A method for presenting a networked presentation, comprising:

storing a plurality of segments for a presentation, wherein said segments are network accessible from one or more content supplying network nodes for presenting the presentation, and wherein for a first subcollection of one or more of the segments, said first subcollection is capable of being accessed from a first of the content supplying nodes, and at least one of;

(a) said first subcollection has a corresponding different second subcollection of one or more of said segments that has been identified as a replacement for the first subcollection, and

(b) said first subcollection is capable of being accessed from a second of said content supplying nodes;

providing first and second client nodes for network transmission of the presentation to the client nodes wherein at least the first client node has network access to at least one of;

the first and second subcollections, and the first and second content supplying nodes;

determining, for the first client node, a measurement indicative of an expected network performance of a communications network for transmitting the first subcollection from the first content supplying node to the first client node;

selecting at least one of;

the second subcollection and the second content supplying node when said measurement is indicative of an undesirable performance of the performance of the presentation at the first client node.

42. A presentation system for presenting a multimedia presentation having video and audio portions that correspond in content, comprising:

one or more video supplying network nodes for communicating one or more video portions of the multimedia presentation to one or more networked client nodes;

a phone bridge controller for providing commands to one or more phone bridges for routing presentation related audio communication, to a corresponding telephony device at each site having one of the client nodes, wherein;

(a) each of one or more portions of the related audio communication corresponds in content with one of the video portions, and (b) the telephony devices at the sites transform the presentation related audio communications into an audible form having natural language speech included therein;

a presentation controller for synchronizing a presenting, at the client nodes, of predetermined ones of the video and audio portions that correspond in content, wherein for each of the client nodes, said presentation controller;

(a) communicates with the client node for providing information used for identifying a particular one of the video portions for transmission from one of the video supplying network nodes to the client node; and

(b) communicates with said phone bridge controller for routing, to the client node, the audio portion corresponding in content with the particular video portion.

43. A method of presenting a multimedia presentation:

storing a script of one or more presentation commands for performing multimedia segments of said presentation wherein a first of said one or more commands references one or more unresolved identifiers of one or more network content supplying nodes providing access to at least a video portion of a first subcollection of one or more of said segments via a communications network;

storing a communications network identifier for each of one or more of said content supplying nodes providing network access to said first subcollection;

identifying one or more client nodes for receiving a performance of said presentation;

resolving said unresolved identifiers of a first of said commands using said stored communications network identifiers for thereby obtaining a resolved command;

performing said resolved command at each of said client nodes during said performance by requesting said first subcollection from said first content supplying node;

requesting by a first of said client nodes, when said first subcollection is not received by said first client node within a predetermined time, one of;

an alternative subcollection of one or more of said segments, in place of said first subcollection, from one of said content supplying nodes, and said first subcollection from an alternate one of said content supplying nodes.

44. A method as claimed in claim 43, further including transmitting said resolved command from a presentation controlling node to each of said client nodes.

45. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein said steps of identifying, performing, and requesting use said communications network and said communications network includes at least a portion of the Internet.