Methods and system using a local proxy server to process media data for local area users

• US 7,668,901 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2002
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avid Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avid Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Henshall, William Russell, Jacobs, Aaron Sasha Cabral, Vandellos, Dimitri, Gamble, Johnathan Bailey, Moller, Matthew Donaldson, Franke, Michael Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/123,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,871 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-205, 709212-219, 709/249, 709/227, 709/238, 709/231, 709/223, 709/225, 713200-201, 714 25- 26, 707/1, 707/513, 707/500, 707/203, 707/204, 705/52
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5683 Storage of data provided by user terminals, i.e. reverse caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Methods and system are disclosed to minimize inefficiencies for local area users to share and access data. A local proxy server operates in conjunction with a central server. Local area users can post or store (“store”) data, e.g., media data, on the local proxy server in order for the data to be accessed locally. The local proxy server can also store the data from the local area users on a central server. Additionally, the local proxy server can copy data being stored on the central server for local access by the local area users. In this manner, local area users can utilize the benefits (e.g., higher bandwidth and faster download speed) of storing and accessing media data to and from a local area source (i.e., the local proxy server).

Claims

1. A method for implementing collaboration between a plurality of users operating a media application for editing media data, including users interconnected via a first network and connected to a second network, the second network including a central server and the first network including a selectively enabled local proxy server, the method comprising:

in response to an instruction from the media application operated by a user from the plurality of users to store media data;

determining if the local proxy server is enabled to permit storage of media data on the local proxy server from the user; and

transmitting the media data from the user to the local proxy server for storage on the local proxy server and transmitting the media data from the local proxy server to the central server for storage on the central server if the local proxy server is enabled.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first network includes a local area network (LAN) and the second network includes a wide area network (WAN).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the media data includes storing of at least one data file containing media data.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

generating a unique identifier for each data file; and

storing each data file on the local proxy server, and accessing each stored data file using the identifier for the data file.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising selectively enabling the local proxy server by a user.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a notification of the storing of the media data and transmitting the notification to the users.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising streaming the media data to a user requesting the media data based on the notification.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising generating a completion signal when the media data is stored on the local proxy server.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving the notification; and

downloading the media data from the local proxy server if the local proxy server has been enabled and the completion signal has been generated.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving the notification; and

if the local proxy server has been enabled, downloading the media data from the local proxy server only upon determination that the completion signal has been generated.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising retrieving the media data from the central server if the local proxy server is not enabled.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising retrieving the media data from the central server if the completion signal is not received within a predetermined period of time.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising generating a completion signal after the media data is stored on the local proxy server.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requesting media data from the local proxy server if enabled by at least one user; and

if the requested media data is not located on the local proxy server, copying the requested media data from the central server by the local proxy server and sending the requested media data to the user by the local proxy server.

15. A method for implementing collaboration between a plurality of users operating a media application for editing media data, each of the users having access to a central server and to at least one selectively enabled local proxy server, wherein each selectively enabled local proxy server is accessible to only a subset of the users, the method comprising:

in response to an instruction from the media application operated by a user from the plurality of users to store media data;

determining if the local proxy server is enabled to permit storage of media data on the local proxy server from the user; and

transmitting the media data from the user to the local proxy server for storage on the local proxy server and transmitting the media data from the local proxy server to the central server for storage on the central server if the local proxy server is enabled.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein storing the media data includes storing of at least one data file containing media data.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

generating a unique identifier for each data file; and

storing each data file on the local proxy server, and accessing each stored data file using the identifier for the data file.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising selectively enabling the local proxy server by a user.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising generating a notification of the storing of the media data and transmitting the notification to the users.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising streaming the media data to a user requesting the media data based on the notification.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising generating a completion signal when the media data is stored on the local proxy server.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

receiving the notification; and

downloading the media data from the local proxy server if the local proxy sewer has been enabled and the completion signal has been generated.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving the notification; and

if the local proxy server has been enabled, downloading the media data from the local proxy server only upon determination that the completion signal has been generated.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising retrieving the media data from the central server if the local proxy server is not enabled.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising retrieving the media data from the central server if the completion signal is not received within a predetermined period of time.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising generating a completion signal after the media data is stored on the local proxy server.

27. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

requesting media data from the local proxy server if enabled by at least one user; and

if the requested media data is not located on the local proxy server, copying the requested media data from the central server by the local proxy server and sending the requested media data to the user by the local proxy server.

28. A method for implementing collaboration between a plurality of users operating a media application for editing media data, each of the users having access to a central server and to at least one selectively enabled local proxy server, the method comprising:

in response to an instruction from the media application operated by a user from the plurality of users to store media data;

determining if the local proxy server is enabled to permit storage of media data on the local proxy server from the user;

if the local proxy server is enabled, transmitting media data from the user to the local proxy server for storage on the local proxy server, the media data including an identifier; and

transmitting the media data with the identifier from the local proxy server to the central server for storage on the central server.

29. A method for implementing collaboration between a plurality of users on a network operating a media application for editing media data, each of the users having access to a central sewer, the method comprising:

connecting a local proxy server to the network;

selectively enabling the local proxy server to permit storage of media data on the local proxy server from a user from the plurality of users;

configuring at least one of the users to recognize the enabled local proxy server and to transmit media data for the media application to the enabled local proxy server for storage on the enabled local proxy server, and to transmit media data for the media application to the central server for storage on the central server if the local proxy server is not enabled.

30. A system for implementing collaboration for editing media data, comprising:

a plurality of users, each operating a media application for editing media data and interconnected via a first network and connected to a second network, the second network including a central server and the first network including a selectively enabled local proxy server,

wherein each user comprises a memory storing instructions for implementing the media application to process media data and a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform;

in response to an instruction from the media application operated by the user to store media data, determining if the local proxy server is enabled to permit storage of media data on the local proxy server from the user; and

transmitting the media data from the user to the local proxy server for storage on the local proxy server if the local proxy server is enabled otherwise transmitting the media data to the central server for storage on the central server if the local proxy server is not enabled.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the first network includes a local area network (LAN) and the second network includes a wide area network (WAN).

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform storing of at least one data file containing media data.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform:

generating a unique identifier for each data file; and

storing each data file on the local proxy server, and accessing each stored data file using the identifier for the data file.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform selectively enabling the local proxy server by a user.

35. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to receive a notification of the storing of the media data on at least one of the central server and local proxy server.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to receive streaming of the media data based on the notification.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform receiving a completion signal when the media data is stored on the local proxy server.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform:

receiving the notification; and

downloading the media data from the local proxy server if the local proxy server has been enabled and the completion signal has been generated.

39. The system of claim 37 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform:

receiving the notification; and

if the local proxy server has been enabled, downloading the media data from the local proxy server only upon determination that the completion signal has been generated.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform retrieving the media data from the central server if the local proxy server is not enabled.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform retrieving the media data from the central server if the completion signal is not received within a predetermined period of time.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform receiving a completion signal after the media data is stored on the local proxy server.

43. A system for implementing collaboration for editing media data, comprising:

a plurality if users, each operating a media application for editing media data, each of the users having access to a central server and to at least one selectively enabled local proxy server, each of the local proxy server being accessible to only a subset of the users,

each user comprising a memory storing instructions for implementing the media application to process media data and a processor configured to execute the program instructions to perform;

in response to an instruction from the media application operated by the user to store media data, determining if the local proxy server is enabled to permit storage of media data on the local proxy server from the user; and

transmitting the media data from the user to the local proxy server for storage on the local proxy server and transmitting the media data from the local proxy server to the central server for storage on the central server if the local proxy server is enabled.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform storing of at least one data file containing media data on the central server and local proxy server.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform:

generating a unique identifier for the data file;

storing the data file on the local proxy server; and

accessing the data file using the identifier.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform selectively enabling the local proxy server by a user.

47. The system of claim 43 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform generating a notification of the storing of the media data on the central server and local proxy server and transmitting the notification to the users.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to receive streaming of the media data based on the notification.

49. The system of claim 47 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform generating a completion signal when the media data is stored on the local proxy sewer.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform:

receiving the notification; and

downloading the media data from the local proxy server if the local proxy server has been enabled and the completion signal has been generated.

51. The system of claim 49 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform:

receiving the notification; and

if the local proxy server has been enabled, downloading the media data from the local proxy server only upon determination that the completion signal been generated.

52. The system of method of claim 51 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform retrieving the media data from the central server if the local proxy server is not enabled.

53. The system of claim 51 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform retrieving the media data from the central server if the completion signal is not received within a predetermined period of time.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to perform generating a completion signal after the media data is stored on the local proxy server.

55. A method for implementing collaboration between a plurality of users operating an application for editing project data, including users interconnected via a first network and connected to a second network, the second network including a central server and the first network including a selectively enabled local proxy server, the method comprising:

in response to an instruction from the application operated by a user from the plurality of users to store project data;

determining if the local proxy server is enabled to permit storage of project data on the local proxy server from the user; and

transmitting the project data from the user to the local proxy server for storage on the local proxy server and transmitting the project data from the local proxy server to the central server for storage on the central server if the local proxy server is enabled.

56. A method for implementing collaboration between a plurality of users operating an application for editing project data, each of the users having access to a central server and to at least one selectively enabled local proxy server, wherein each selectively enabled local proxy server is accessible to only a subset of the users, the method comprising:

in response to an instruction from the application operated by a user from the plurality of users to store project data;

determining if the local proxy server is enabled to permit storage of project data on the local proxy server from the user; and

transmitting the project data from the user to the local proxy server for storage on the local proxy server and transmitting the project data from the local proxy server to the central server for storage on the central server if the local proxy server is enabled.

57. A method for implementing collaboration between a plurality of users operating an application for editing project data, each of the users having access to a central server and to at least one selectively enabled local proxy server, the method comprising:

in response to an instruction from the application operated by a user from the plurality of users to store project data;

determining if the local proxy server is enabled to permit storage of project data on the local proxy server from the user;

if the local proxy server is enabled, transmitting project data from the user to the local proxy server for storage on the local proxy server, the project data including an identifier, and transmitting the project data from the local proxy server to the central server for storage on the central server.

58. A method for implementing collaboration between a plurality of users on a network operating an application for editing project data, each of the users having access to a central server, the method comprising:

connecting a local proxy server to the network;

selectively enabling the local proxy server to permit storage of media data on the local proxy server from a user from the plurality of users;

configuring at least one of the users to recognize the enabled local proxy server and to transmit project data for the application to the enabled local proxy server for storage on the enabled local proxy server, and to transmit project data for the application to the central server for storage on the central server if the local proxy server is not enabled.

59. A computer-readable medium containing instructions, which if executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a method for implementing collaboration between a plurality of users on a network operating a media application for editing media data, each of the users having access to a central server, the method comprising:

connecting a local proxy server to the network;

selectively enabling the local proxy server to permit storage of media data on the local proxy server from a user from the plurality of users; and

configuring at least one of the users to recognize the enabled local proxy server and to transmit media data for the media application to the enabled local proxy server for storage on the enabled local proxy server, and to transmit media data for the media application to the central server for storage on the central server if the local proxy server is not enabled.