Partitioning of MP3 content file for emulating streaming
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of, at a client device, forming a media presentation from multiple related files, including a control information file, stored on one or more server computers within a computer network, the method comprising acts of:
- downloading the control information file to the client device;
the client device parsing the control information file; and
based on parsing of the control information file, the client device;
identifying multiple alternative flies corresponding to a given segment of the media presentation,determining which files of the multiple alternative files to retrieve based on system restraints;
retrieving the determined file of the multiple alternative files to begin a media presentation, wherein if the determined file is one of a plurality of files required for the media presentation, the method further comprises acts of;
concurrent with the media presentation, retrieving a next file; and
using content of the next file to continue the media presentation.
3 Assignments
Litigations
2 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic file, e.g., an MP3 file, is partitioned into a sequence of segments at the server side. The first segment is played out upon downloading. While the first segment is being played out, the second is being downloaded and buffered so that it is available when the play out of the first segment is completed. While playing out a current one of the segments, next one(s) of the segments are being downloaded and buffered. This partitioning and sequential play out enables to emulate streaming of a file and to minimize latency while downloading an electronic file.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of, at a client device, forming a media presentation from multiple related files, including a control information file, stored on one or more server computers within a computer network, the method comprising acts of:
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downloading the control information file to the client device; the client device parsing the control information file; and based on parsing of the control information file, the client device; identifying multiple alternative flies corresponding to a given segment of the media presentation, determining which files of the multiple alternative files to retrieve based on system restraints; retrieving the determined file of the multiple alternative files to begin a media presentation, wherein if the determined file is one of a plurality of files required for the media presentation, the method further comprises acts of; concurrent with the media presentation, retrieving a next file; and using content of the next file to continue the media presentation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of storing media presentation information within a computer network including multiple server computers, the method comprising acts of:
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storing on a server computer a control information file of a format to be parsed by a client device; and storing on one or more server computers multiple alternative files corresponding to a given segment of a media presentation accessible by the client device to, based on parsing of the control information file, determine which file of the multiple alternative files to retrieve based on system constraints to form a media presentation from the multiple alternative files. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A client device for forming a media presentation from multiple related files stored on server computers within a computer network, comprising:
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means for downloading files to the client device; means for parsing a control information file; and means for parsing, based on parsing of the control information file; identifying multiple alternative files corresponding to a give segment of the media presentation; determining which file of the multiple alternative files to retrieve based on system constraints; retrieving the determined file of the multiple alternative files to begin a media presentation, wherein if the determined file is one of a plurality of files required for the media presentation, the means for parsing comprises means for; concurrent with the media presentation, retrieving a next file; and using content of the next file to continue the media presentation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification