Method and device for access to a digital image stored on a server computer
First Claim
1. A method of access by a client computer to a digital image stored on a server computer via a communication network, said digital image being represented by a plurality of sets of digital data associated respectively with various blocks and various resolution levels of the image or with various blocks and various quality levels of the image, the method performed by the client computer comprising the steps of:
- obtaining from said server computer a predetermined threshold value indicating a total number of bits of a digital image for which the client computer is authorized to acquire, the authorization being for previewing the image;
acquiring from the server computer an initial set of digital data representing a portion of the digital image, the initial set of digital data being associated with at least one initial block and an initial resolution level or at least one initial block and an initial quality level;
displaying on the client computer the acquired initial set of digital data for the portion of the digital image;
displaying on the client computer a size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image;
receiving an instruction input by a user to navigate in the displayed portion of the digital image;
determining whether the instruction to navigate requires an acquisition of another set of data to be acquired from said server computer amongst said sets of digital data representing the digital image;
calculating a size in bits of said set of data to be acquired in a case where the determining step determines that acquisition of the another set of data is required;
comparing the number of previously acquired data bits incremented by said calculated size with the predetermined threshold value;
acquiring said another set of data if said number of acquired data bits incremented by said calculated size is less than said predetermined threshold value; and
updating the size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits by adding the size of said another set of data acquired in the acquiring step, and updating the displayed size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image,wherein said determining step determines that the instruction to navigate requires an acquisition of another set of data to be acquired in a case where the instruction is for a greater resolution level, a greater quality level or a translation outside of the previously acquired blocks, andwherein, when said determining step determines that the instruction to navigate does not require an acquisition of another set of data, the instruction to navigate is implemented and the displayed size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image is not updated.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of access by a client computer to a digital image stored on a server computer via a communication network, the digital image being represented by sets of digital data associated respectively with various blocks (Bi) and various resolution levels (Rj) of the image or with various blocks (Bi) and various quality levels (Qk) of the image, comprises a step (E47) of identifying a set of data to be acquired, a step (E48) of calculating the size in bits (b) of the set of data to be acquired, a step (E49) of comparing a number of acquired data bits (B) incremented by the calculated size (b) with a predetermined bit threshold value (S), and a step (E52) of acquiring the set of data identified if the number of data bits acquired incremented by the calculated size (B+b) is less than the predetermined bit threshold value (S).
Has particular use for limiting free access to a digital image.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method of access by a client computer to a digital image stored on a server computer via a communication network, said digital image being represented by a plurality of sets of digital data associated respectively with various blocks and various resolution levels of the image or with various blocks and various quality levels of the image, the method performed by the client computer comprising the steps of:
-
obtaining from said server computer a predetermined threshold value indicating a total number of bits of a digital image for which the client computer is authorized to acquire, the authorization being for previewing the image; acquiring from the server computer an initial set of digital data representing a portion of the digital image, the initial set of digital data being associated with at least one initial block and an initial resolution level or at least one initial block and an initial quality level; displaying on the client computer the acquired initial set of digital data for the portion of the digital image; displaying on the client computer a size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image; receiving an instruction input by a user to navigate in the displayed portion of the digital image; determining whether the instruction to navigate requires an acquisition of another set of data to be acquired from said server computer amongst said sets of digital data representing the digital image; calculating a size in bits of said set of data to be acquired in a case where the determining step determines that acquisition of the another set of data is required; comparing the number of previously acquired data bits incremented by said calculated size with the predetermined threshold value; acquiring said another set of data if said number of acquired data bits incremented by said calculated size is less than said predetermined threshold value; and updating the size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits by adding the size of said another set of data acquired in the acquiring step, and updating the displayed size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image, wherein said determining step determines that the instruction to navigate requires an acquisition of another set of data to be acquired in a case where the instruction is for a greater resolution level, a greater quality level or a translation outside of the previously acquired blocks, and wherein, when said determining step determines that the instruction to navigate does not require an acquisition of another set of data, the instruction to navigate is implemented and the displayed size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image is not updated. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
2. A method of access by a client computer to a digital image stored on a server computer via a communication network, said digital image being represented by a plurality of sets of digital data associated respectively with at least two various blocks and various resolution levels of the image and various quality levels of the image, said method comprising the steps of:
-
obtaining from said server computer a predetermined threshold value indicating a total number of bits of a digital image for which the client computer is authorized to acquire, the authorization being for previewing the image; acquiring from the server computer an initial set of digital data representing a portion of the digital image, the initial set of digital data being associated with at least one initial block and an initial resolution level or at least one initial block and an initial quality level; displaying on the client computer the acquired initial set of digital data for the portion of the digital image; displaying on the client computer a size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image receiving an instruction input by a user to navigate in the displayed portion of the digital image; determining whether the instruction to navigate requires an acquisition of another set of data to be acquired from said server computer amongst said sets of digital data representing the digital image; calculating a size in bits of said set of data to be acquired in a case where the determining step determines that acquisition of the another set of data is required; comparing the number of previously acquired data bits incremented by said calculated size with the predetermined threshold value; acquiring said another set of data if said number of acquired data bits incremented by said calculated size is less than said predetermined threshold value; and updating the size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits by adding the size of said another set of data acquired in the acquiring step, and updating the displayed size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image, wherein said determining step determines that the instruction to navigate requires an acquisition of another set of data to be acquired in a case where the instruction is for a greater resolution level, a greater quality level or a translation outside of the previously acquired blocks, and wherein, when said determining step determines that the instruction to navigate does not require an acquisition of another set of data, the instruction to navigate is implemented and the displayed size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image is not updated.
-
-
12. A client device for accessing a digital image stored on a server computer via a communication network, said digital image being represented by a plurality of sets of digital data associated respectively with various blocks and various resolution levels of the image or with various blocks and various quality levels of the image, comprising:
-
at least one processor and memory; obtaining means for obtaining from said server computer a predetermined threshold value indicating a total number of bits of a digital image for which the client device is authorized to acquire, the authorization being for previewing the image; first acquiring means for acquiring from the server computer an initial set of digital data representing a portion of the digital image, the initial set of digital data being associated with at least one initial block and an initial resolution level or at least one initial block and an initial quality level; first displaying means for displaying on the client device the acquired initial set of digital data for the portion of the digital image; second displaying means for displaying on the client device a size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image; receiving means for receiving an instruction input by a user to navigate in the displayed portion of the digital image; determining means for determining whether the instruction to navigate requires an acquisition of another set of data to be acquired from said server computer amongst said sets of digital data representing the digital image; calculating means for calculating a size in bits of said set of data to be acquired in a case where the determining means determines that acquisition of the another set of data is required; comparing means for comparing the number of previously acquired data bits incremented by said calculated size with the predetermined threshold value; second acquiring means for acquiring said another set of data if said number of acquired data bits incremented by said calculated size is less than said predetermined threshold value; and updating means for updating the size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits by adding the size of said another set of data acquired by the second acquiring means, wherein said determining means determines that the instruction to navigate requires an acquisition of another set of data to be acquired in a case where the instruction is for a greater resolution level, a greater quality level or a translation outside of the previously acquired blocks, and wherein, when said determining means determines that the instruction to navigate does not require an acquisition of another set of data, the instruction to navigate is implemented and the displayed size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image is not updated. - View Dependent Claims (14)
-
-
13. A client device for accessing a digital image stored on a server computer via a communication network, said digital image being represented by a plurality of sets of digital data associated respectively with at least two various blocks and various resolution levels of the image and various quality levels of the image, comprising:
-
at least one processor and memory; obtaining means for obtaining from said server computer a predetermined threshold value indicating a total number of bits of a digital image for which the client device is authorized to acquire, the authorization being for previewing the image; first acquiring means for acquiring from the server computer an initial set of digital data representing a portion of the digital image, the initial set of digital data being associated with at least one initial block and an initial resolution level or at least one initial block and an initial quality level; first displaying means for displaying on the client device the acquired initial set of digital data for the portion of the digital image; second displaying means for displaying on the client device a size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image; receiving means for receiving an instruction input by a user to navigate in the displayed portion of the digital image; determining means for determining whether the instruction to navigate requires an acquisition of another set of data to be acquired from said server computer amongst said sets of digital data representing the digital image; calculating means for calculating a size in bits of said set of data to be acquired in a case where said determining means determines that acquisition of the another set of data is required; comparing means for comparing a number of previously acquired data bits incremented by said calculated size with the predetermined threshold value; second acquiring means for acquiring said another set of data if said number of acquired data bits incremented by said calculated size is less than said predetermined threshold value; and updating means for updating the size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits by adding the size of said another set of data acquired by the second acquiring means, wherein said determining means determines that the instruction to navigate requires an acquisition of another set of data to be acquired in a case where the instruction is for a greater resolution level, a greater quality level or a translation outside of the previously acquired blocks, and wherein, when said determining means determines that the instruction to navigate does not require an acquisition of another set of data, the instruction to navigate is implemented and the displayed size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image is not updated.
-
-
15. A method of access by a client computer to a digital image stored on a server computer via a communication network, said digital image being represented by a plurality of sets of digital data associated respectively with various blocks and various resolution levels of the image or with various blocks and various quality levels of the image, comprising the steps of:
-
obtaining from said server computer a predetermined threshold value indicating a total number of bits of a digital image for which the client computer is authorized to acquire, the authorization being for previewing the image; acquiring from the server computer an initial set of digital data representing a portion of the digital image, the initial set of digital data being associated with at least one initial block and an initial resolution level or at least one initial block and an initial quality level; displaying on the client computer the acquired initial set of digital data for the portion of the digital image; displaying a size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image; receiving an instruction input by a user to navigate in the displayed portion of the digital image; determining whether the instruction to navigate requires an acquisition of another set of data to be acquired from said server computer amongst said sets of digital data representing the digital image; calculating a size in bits of said set of data to be acquired in a case where the determining step determines that acquisition of the another set of data is required; comparing the number of previously acquired data bits incremented by said calculated size with the predetermined threshold value; acquiring said another set of data if said number of acquired data bits incremented by said calculated size is less than said predetermined threshold value; and updating the size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits by adding the size of said set of data acquired in the acquiring step, and updating the displayed size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image; and displaying a warning message on the client computer when the number of acquired data bit incremented by the calculated size is greater than the predetermined threshold value of bits, wherein said determining step determines that the instruction to navigate requires an acquisition of another set of data to be acquired in a case where the instruction is for a greater resolution level, a greater quality level or a translation outside of the previously acquired blocks, and wherein, when said determining step determines that the instruction to navigate does not require an acquisition of another set of data, the instruction to navigate is implemented and the displayed size in bits representative of the total number of acquired data bits for said digital image is not updated. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
Specification