Transmission and reception of audio and/or video material
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A terminal for playing audio or video material which is stored on a remote server as a set of files representing successive temporal positions of said material, the terminal comprising:
- A telecommunications interface for communication with the server;
A buffer for receiving the files from the telecommunications interface;
Means for playing the contents of the buffer;
Control means to determine addresses of further files to be requested and in response to the state of the buffer to generate request messages, containing such addresses, fur further files for replenishment of the buffer; and
Means for identifying a starting file for decoding by an iterative process of trial requests comprising generating a trial request for a first file, receiving a rely indicating whether the requested file exists, if the requested file exists generating a trial request for a later file, or if it does not exist, generating a trial request for an earlier file.
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Abstract
Delivery of recorded audio or video material over a telecommunications link from a server is accomplished by dividing the material into a sequence of sub-files each of which is independently requested by the terminal, which thereby has control of the rate of delivery. Provision may be made for switching between alternative sub-file sets representing alternative delivery modes or data rates.
54 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A terminal for playing audio or video material which is stored on a remote server as a set of files representing successive temporal positions of said material, the terminal comprising:
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A telecommunications interface for communication with the server; A buffer for receiving the files from the telecommunications interface; Means for playing the contents of the buffer; Control means to determine addresses of further files to be requested and in response to the state of the buffer to generate request messages, containing such addresses, fur further files for replenishment of the buffer; and Means for identifying a starting file for decoding by an iterative process of trial requests comprising generating a trial request for a first file, receiving a rely indicating whether the requested file exists, if the requested file exists generating a trial request for a later file, or if it does not exist, generating a trial request for an earlier file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of transmitting digitally coded audio or video material, said method comprising:
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partitioning the material into a plurality of discrete files each representing successive temporal portions of the said material; storing the files at a first station; and at a second station a) transmitting to the first station requests for successive respective ones of the files; b) receiving the files; c) decoding the files for replay of the material; d) generating a trial request for a first file, e) receiving from the first station a reply including data representing the original time of the first file and the time of said reply, and f) estimating from these data an estimated identity of a most recent file at the first station. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method, of transmitting digitally coded audio or video material, said method comprising:
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partitioning the material into a plurality of discrete files each representing successive temporal portions of the said material; storing the files at a first station; and at a second station a) transmitting to the first station requests for successive respective ones of the files; b) receiving the files; and c) decoding the files for replay of the material; d) wherein the second station identifies a starting file for decoding by an iterative process of trial requests comprising generating a trial request for a first file, receiving from the first station a reply indicating whether the requested file exists, if the requested file exists, generating a trial request for a later file or, if it does not exist, generating a trial request for an earlier file. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A terminal for playing audio or video material which is stored on a remote server as a set of files representing successive temporal positions of the said material, the terminal comprising:
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A telecommunications interface for communication with the server; a buffer for receiving the files from the telecommunications interface; means for playing the contents of the buffer; and control means to determine the addresses of further files to be requested and to determine the addresses of further files to be requested and in response to the state of the buffer to generate request messages, containing such addresses, for further files for replenishment of the buffer, wherein said control means further generating a trial request for a first file, receiving a reply including data representing the original time of the first file and the time of said reply; and estimating from these data an estimated identity of the most recent file. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification