Methods and apparatuses for transferring data

• US 7,191,242 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2000
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: LeCroy, Chris, Serenyi, Denis
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong; Thomas
• Application Number:
  US09/603,108
• Time in Patent Office: 2,455 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/231, 709/224, 709/225
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1108 Web based protocols, e.g. webRTC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• 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 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• 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 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6437 Real-time Transport Protocol [RTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection

Abstract

The present invention provides several methods and apparatuses for transmitting multimedia data using streaming media protocols such as real-time transfer protocols (RTP) and real-time streaming protocols (RTSP) in a computer network environment. In one exemplary embodiment, a request for RTP data and its associated extension is sent from the caching proxy server to the server. The request may be for one specific type of data or multiple unrelated types of data. The server responds to the request indicating its support for the requested RTP extension data. The caching proxy server determines whether to proceed or terminate the data transmission process based on the response provided by the server. If it is determined to proceed with the data transmission process, the caching proxy informs the server to send the requested and supported RTP data. The server sends the requested data in a variable and extendible header format.

Claims

1. A method of producing a representation of a streaming media data at a caching proxy server, said method comprising:

transmitting a request for streaming media data to be delivered to said caching proxy server;

transmitting a request for one or more Real-Time Protocol (“

RTP”

) header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions represents a type of related or unrelated data that is necessary for performing a particular transmission operation for a packet of said streaming media data;

receiving said streaming media data and storing said streaming media data on a storage device which is capable of being controlled by said caching proxy server; and

receiving said one or more RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions is a sub-extension in an extensible extended RTP header of the packet of said streaming media data, wherein the sub-extension has a sub-extension name code and data, wherein the sub-extension name code uniquely identifies and describes the type of the data in the sub-extension, and a sub-extension identification (ID) identifying the sub-extension within each RTP packet.

2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

storing said one or more RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data in said storage device.

3. A method for data transmission from a server data processing system, said method comprising:

receiving a request for streaming media data, said request including a request for one or more Real-Time Protocol (“

RTP”

) header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions represents a type of related or unrelated data that is necessary for performing a particular transmission operation for a packet of said streaming media data;

responding to the request with a response indicating a capability of the server to support the request; and

sending the requested one or more RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions is a sub-extension in an extensible extended RTP header of the packet of said streaming media data, wherein the sub-extension has a sub-extension name code and data, wherein the sub-extension name code uniquely identifies and describes the type of the data in the sub-extension, and a sub-extension identification (ID) identifying the sub-extension within each RTP packet.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein said sending uses a real-time transport protocol (RTP).

5. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein said request may be made by a caching proxy server or a client.

6. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the server responding with an echo only if it supports the request.

7. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the extensible extended header comprises an extension name and an extension identification (ID) associated with each separate RTP extension.

8. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the response by the server comprising response for each supported RTP extension data and no response for any unsupported RTP extension data.

9. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising receiving a request to send the streaming media data after sending a response for supported RTP header extensions, and sending only the requested and supported by said one or more RTP header extensions streaming media data.

10. A method for operating a caching proxy server comprising:

sending a request for streaming media data to a server, said request including a request for one or more Real-Time Protocol (“

RTP”

) header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions represents a type of data that is necessary for performing a particular transmission operation for a packet of said streaming media data;

receiving a response from the server indicating support for the requested said streaming media data and said one or more RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data;

informing the server to send the supported said streaming media data and said one or more RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data;

receiving the supported streaming media data and said one or more RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data from the server;

receiving a request from the client to send said streaming media data; and

sending the said streaming media data to the client, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions is a sub-extension in an extensible extended RTP header of the packet of said streaming media data, wherein the sub-extension has a sub-extension name code and data, wherein the sub-extension name code uniquely identifies and describes the type of data in the sub-extension, and a sub-extension identification (ID) identifying the sub-extension within each RTP packet.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said receiving and sending uses a real-time transport protocol (RTP).

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said sending a request may be for one or more various and unrelated types of RTP header extensions associated with streaming media data to be sent at a time.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said response from the server comprising response for each supported type of RTP header extensions associated with streaming media and no response for any unsupported types of RTP header extensions associated with streaming media data.

14. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said extensible extended header format is appended before sending to client.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein, appending comprising stripping of name and ID part of the extensible extended header.

16. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising determining if a requested type of RTP header extensions associated with streaming media data, which is required by a caching proxy server to be able to perform its processes, is missing in the response by the server.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 further comprising terminating the data transmission process if the requested type of RTP header extensions associated with streaming media data is missing in server'"'"'s response and is critical to the data transmission process.

18. A machine-readable medium that provides executable instructions, which when executed by a set of processors, cause said set of processors to perform operations for producing a streaming media data at a caching proxy server comprising:

transmitting a request for streaming media data to be delivered to said caching proxy server;

transmitting a request for one or more Real-Time Protocol (“

RTP”

) header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions represents a type of related or unrelated data that is necessary for performing a particular transmission operation for a packet of said streaming media data;

receiving said streaming media data and storing said streaming media data on a storage device which is capable of being controlled by said caching proxy server; and

receiving said one or more RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions is a sub-extension in an extensible extended RTP header of the packet of said streaming media data, wherein the sub-extension has a sub-extension name code and data, wherein the sub-extension name code uniquely identifies and describes the type of data in the sub-extension, and a sub-extension identification (ID) identifying the sub-extension within each RTP packet.

19. A machine-readable medium as in claim 18 further comprising:

storing said streaming media data and one or more RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data in said storage device.

20. A machine-readable medium that provides executable instructions, which when executed by a set of processors, cause said set of processors to perform data transmission operations from a server data processing system comprising:

receiving a request for streaming media data, said request including a request for one or more Real-Time Protocol (“

RTP”

) header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions represents a type of related or unrelated data that is necessary for performing a particular transmission operation for a packet of said streaming media data;

responding to the request with a response indicating a capability of said server to support the request; and

sending the requested said streaming media data and said one or more RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions is a sub-extension in an extensible extended RTP header of the packet of said streaming media data, wherein the sub-extension has a sub-extension name code and data, wherein the sub-extension name code uniquely identifies and describes the type of data in the sub-extension, and a sub-extension identification (ID) identifying the sub-extension within each RTP packet.

21. A machine-readable medium as in claim 20, wherein said sending uses a real-time transport protocol (RTP).

22. A machine-readable medium as in claim 20, wherein said request may be made by a caching proxy server or a client.

23. A machine-readable medium as in claim 20, wherein said responding with a response occurring only if said server supports the request.

24. A machine-readable medium as in claim 20, wherein said extensible extended RTP header comprises an extension name and an extension identification (ID) associated with each separate RTP extension.

25. A machine-readable medium as in claim 20, wherein said request may be for one or more type of RTP header extensions associated with streaming media data at a time.

26. A machine-readable medium as in claim 20, wherein said response by the server comprising response for each supported RTP header extensions and no response for any unsupported RTP header extensions.

27. A machine-readable medium as in claim 20, further comprising receiving a request to send the streaming media data after sending a response for supported RTP header extensions, and sending only the requested streaming media data supported by RTP header extensions.

28. A machine-readable medium that provides executable instructions, which when executed by a set of processors, cause said set of processors to perform data transmission operations comprising:

sending a request for streaming media data to said server, said request including a request for one or more Real-Time Protocol (“

RTP”

) header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions represents a type of related or unrelated data that is necessary for performing a particular transmission operation for a packet of said streaming media data;

receiving a response from said server indicating support for the requested streaming media data;

informing said server to send the streaming media data supported by RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data;

receiving the supported streaming media data from said server;

receiving a request from a client to send streaming media data; and

sending the requested streaming media data to said client, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions is a sub-extension in an extensible extended RTP header of the packet of said streaming media data, wherein the sub-extension has a sub-extension name code and data, wherein the sub-extension name code uniquely identifies and describes the type of data in the sub-extension, and a sub-extension identification (ID) identifying the sub-extension within each RTP packet.

29. A machine-readable medium as in claim 28, wherein said receiving and sending uses a real-time transport protocol (RTP).

30. A machine-readable medium as in claim 28, wherein said receiving streaming media data from the server is in an extensible extended RTP header format.

31. A machine-readable medium as in claim 28, wherein said sending a request may be for one or more various and unrelated types of RTP header extensions associated with streaming media data to be sent at a time.

32. A machine-readable medium as in claim 28, wherein said response from the server comprising response for each supported type of streaming media data and no response for any unsupported types of streaming media data.

33. A machine-readable medium as in claim 30, wherein said extensible extended RTP header is appended before sending to client.

34. A machine-readable medium as in claim 28, wherein said sending the requested streaming media data to said client comprises stripping of name and ID part of the extensible extended header.

35. A machine-readable medium as in claim 28, further comprising determining if a requested type of RTP header extensions associated with streaming media data, which is required by a caching proxy server to be able to perform its processes, is missing in the response by the server.

36. A machine-readable medium as in claim 35, further comprising terminating the data transmission process if the requested type of RTP header extensions associated with streaming media data is missing in server'"'"'s response and is critical to the data transmission process.

37. A caching proxy server comprising:

means for transmitting a request for streaming media data to be delivered to said caching proxy server;

means for transmitting a request for one or more Real-Time Protocol (“

RTP”

) header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions represents a type of related or unrelated data that is necessary for performing a particular transmission operation for a packet of said streaming media data;

means for receiving said streaming media data and storing said streaming media data on a storage device which is capable of being controlled by said caching proxy server; and

means for receiving said one or more RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions is a sub-extension in an extensible extended RTP header of the packet of said streaming media data, wherein the sub-extension has a sub-extension name code and data, wherein the sub-extension name code uniquely identifies and describes the type of data in the sub-extension, and a sub-extension identification (ID) identifying the sub-extension within each RTP packet.

38. A server data processing system comprising:

means for receiving a request for streaming media data, said request including a request for one or more Real-Time Protocol (“

RTP”

) header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions represents a type of related or unrelated data that is necessary for performing a particular transmission operation for a packet of said streaming media data;

means for responding to the request with a response indicating a capability of the server to support the request; and

means for sending the requested one or more RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions is a sub-extension in an extensible extended RTP header of the packet of said streaming media data, wherein the sub-extension has a sub-extension name code and data, wherein the sub-extension name code uniquely identifies and describes the type of data in the sub-extension, and a sub-extension identification (ID) identifying the sub-extension within each RTP packet.

39. A caching proxy server comprising:

means for sending a message for streaming media data to a server, said request including a request for one or more Real-Time Protocol (“

RTP”

) header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions represents a type of related or unrelated data that is necessary for performing a particular transmission operation for a packet of said streaming media data;

means for receiving a response from the server indicating support for the requested streaming media data;

means for informing the server to send the said streaming media data having one or more RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data;

means for receiving said streaming media data having one or more RTP header extensions from the server;

means for receiving a request from the client to send streaming media data; and

means for sending the requested streaming media data to the client, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions is a sub-extension in an extensible extended RTP header of the packet of said streaming media data, wherein the sub-extension has a sub-extension name code and data, wherein the sub-extension name code uniquely identifies and describes the type of data in the sub-extension, and a sub-extension identification (ID) identifying the sub-extension within each RTP packet.

40. A server comprising:

means for receiving a request for streaming media data from a caching proxy server or a client, said request including a request for one or more Real-Time Protocol (“

RTP”

) header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of said one or more RTP header extensions represents a type of related or unrelated data that is necessary for performing a particular transmission operation for a packet of said streaming media data;

means for determining if requested types of RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data are supported by the server; and

means for responding to the request with a response indicating the capability of the server to support the request, wherein each of said one or more RTPextensions is a sub-extension in an extensible extended RTP header of the packet of said streaming media data, wherein the sub-extension has a sub-extension name code and data, wherein the sub-extension name code uniquely identifies and describes the type of data in the sub-extension, and a sub-extension identification (ID) identifying the sub-extension within each RTP packet.

41. A caching proxy server comprising:

means for sending a request for streaming media data to a server, said request including a request for one or more types of Real-Time Protocol (“

RTP”

) header extensions associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of the one or more types of RTP header extensions represents a type of related or unrelated data that is necessary for performing a particular transmission operation for a packet of said streaming media data;

means for receiving a response to each requested type of RTP header extensions associated with said streaming media data; and

means for deciding whether to proceed or terminate negotiation process associated with said streaming media data, wherein each of the one or more types of RTP header extensions is a sub-extension in an extensible extended RTP header of the packet of said streaming media data, wherein the sub-extension has a sub-extension name code and data, wherein the sub-extension name code uniquely identifies and describes the type of data in the sub-extension, and a sub-extension identification (ID) identifying the sub-extension within each RTP packet.

42. A caching proxy server comprising:

means for requesting transmit time Real-Time Protocol (“

RTP”

) header extensions for streaming media data from a server;

means for receiving said streaming media data and corresponding transmit time RTP header extensions from the server;

means for storing the received information; and

means for transmitting from said caching proxy server to a client said streaming media data at times specified by said transmit time RTP header extensions, wherein each of the transmit time RTP header extensions is a sub-extension in an extensible extended RTP header of the packet of said streaming media data, wherein the sub-extension has a sub-extension name code and data, wherein the sub-extension name code uniquely identifies and describes the type of data in the sub-extension, and a sub-extension identification (ID) identifying the sub-extension within each RTP packet.