Dynamic index file creation for media streaming
First Claim
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1. A server for generating index files for use in communicating, with a network, a media file having a plurality of segments, the server comprising:
- a memory;
an interface for communicating with the network;
a processor communicatively coupled with the interface and the memory, the processor configured to execute computer code for;
receiving, with the interface, a request for a first index file;
determining, in response to the request for the first index file, a first segment of media for streaming, the first segment of media comprising one of a plurality of separately-addressable segments of the media file, wherein;
the determination includes determining whether to include media, other than the media file, in the first segment of media for streaming; and
the determination further includes determining a starting point and an ending point of the first segment of media for streaming;
generating the requested first index file based, at least in part, on the determination of the first segment of media for streaming;
providing, with the interface, the requested first index file;
receiving, with the interface, a request for a second index file for use in streaming the media file;
determining, in response to the request for the second index file, a second segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media comprising one of the plurality of separately-addressable segments of the media file, wherein;
the determination includes determining whether to include media, other than the media file, in the second segment of media for streaming;
the determination further includes determining a starting point and an ending point of the second segment of media for streaming;
generating the requested second index file based, at least in part, on the determination of the second segment of media for streaming; and
providing, with the interface, the requested second index file;
wherein receiving the requests for the first and second index files and providing the requested first and second index files occur during playback of the media file by a device communicatively linked to the network.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for providing index files for streaming media over a network are disclosed. These systems and methods provide for receiving requests for a media file and responding to these requests by generating corresponding index files used in streaming the media file. The index file can then be provided to the requesting entity. These systems and methods, which can be utilized together with a dynamic chunk generator, enable the insertion of advertisements at any point during playback of the media file.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A server for generating index files for use in communicating, with a network, a media file having a plurality of segments, the server comprising:
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a memory; an interface for communicating with the network; a processor communicatively coupled with the interface and the memory, the processor configured to execute computer code for; receiving, with the interface, a request for a first index file; determining, in response to the request for the first index file, a first segment of media for streaming, the first segment of media comprising one of a plurality of separately-addressable segments of the media file, wherein; the determination includes determining whether to include media, other than the media file, in the first segment of media for streaming; and the determination further includes determining a starting point and an ending point of the first segment of media for streaming; generating the requested first index file based, at least in part, on the determination of the first segment of media for streaming; providing, with the interface, the requested first index file; receiving, with the interface, a request for a second index file for use in streaming the media file; determining, in response to the request for the second index file, a second segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media comprising one of the plurality of separately-addressable segments of the media file, wherein; the determination includes determining whether to include media, other than the media file, in the second segment of media for streaming; the determination further includes determining a starting point and an ending point of the second segment of media for streaming; generating the requested second index file based, at least in part, on the determination of the second segment of media for streaming; and providing, with the interface, the requested second index file; wherein receiving the requests for the first and second index files and providing the requested first and second index files occur during playback of the media file by a device communicatively linked to the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for generating index files for streaming a media file via a network, the method comprising:
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receiving, with the network, a request for a first index file; determining a first segment of media for streaming, the first segment of media comprising one of a plurality of separately-addressable segments of the media file, wherein; the determination includes determining whether to include media, other than the media file, in the first segment of media for streaming; the determination further includes determining a starting point and an ending point of the first segment of media for streaming; generating the requested first index file based, at least in part, on the determination of the first segment of media for streaming; providing, with the network, the requested first index file; receiving, with the network, a request for a second index file for use in streaming the media file; determining a second segment of media for streaming, the second segment of media comprising one of the plurality of separately-addressable segments of the media file wherein; the determination includes determining whether to include media, other than the media file, in the second segment of media for streaming; the determination further includes determining a starting point and an ending point of the second segment of media for streaming; generating the requested second index file based, at least in part, on the determination of the second segment of media for streaming; and providing, with the network, the requested second index file; wherein receiving the requests for the first and second index files and providing the requested first and second index files occur during playback of the media file by a device communicatively linked to the network. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing index files and Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) to indicate chunks of a media file for streaming, the method comprising:
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receiving, from a media streaming application, a request for an index file; determining a chunk of media for streaming, the chunk of media comprising one of a plurality a plurality of separately-addressable chunks of the media file wherein; the determining includes determining whether to include media other than the media file in the chunk of media for streaming; the determining further includes determining a starting point and an ending point of the chunk of media for streaming; generating the requested index file based, at least in part, on the determining of the chunk of media for streaming; providing the requested index file to the media streaming application; receiving a request, generated by the media streaming application, for the chunk of media for streaming, wherein receiving the request for the chunk of media for streaming is based, at least in part, on the index file; determining a URI for the chunk of media, wherein the URI is based, at least in part, on the request for the chunk of media for streaming; and providing the URI to the media streaming application; wherein the requested index file and the URI occur during playback of the media file by the media streaming application. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification