Methods and systems for delivering media to client device
First Claim
1. A method of delivering time-based media to a wireless client device in a wireless communications network, said method comprising the steps of:
- A) receiving at a proxy server via said wireless communications network a request for a media file using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) from a wireless client device that supports progressive streaming;
B) obtaining by said proxy server headers for at least two media files using HTTP provided by one or more media servers different to said proxy server;
C) transmitting from said proxy server to said wireless client device via said wireless communications network using HTTP a header of a virtual media file derived from said headers of said at least two media files;
D) receiving by said proxy server from said wireless client device using HTTP a request for said virtual media file in response to said header of said virtual media file; and
E) transmitting from said proxy server to said wireless client device using HTTP said virtual media file comprising said obtained media files.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods (300), proxy servers (110, 410), systems, apparatus and computer program products for delivering time-based media to a client device in a communications network (150) are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a proxy server (110, 410) receives (300) a request for a media file using transfer protocol such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) from a wireless client device (120, 420). The proxy server (110, 410) obtains (312) headers for at least two media files using HTTP provided by one or more media servers (140, 170, 440, 442). The proxy server (110, 410) transmits (314) to the wireless client device (120, 420) using HTTP a header of a virtual media file derived from the headers of the at least two media files. The proxy server (110, 410) receives (316) from the wireless client device (120, 420) using HTTP a request for the virtual media file in response to the header of the virtual media file. The proxy server (110, 410) transmits (318) to the wireless client device (120, 420) using HTTP the virtual media file comprising the obtained media files.
80 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of delivering time-based media to a wireless client device in a wireless communications network, said method comprising the steps of:
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A) receiving at a proxy server via said wireless communications network a request for a media file using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) from a wireless client device that supports progressive streaming; B) obtaining by said proxy server headers for at least two media files using HTTP provided by one or more media servers different to said proxy server; C) transmitting from said proxy server to said wireless client device via said wireless communications network using HTTP a header of a virtual media file derived from said headers of said at least two media files; D) receiving by said proxy server from said wireless client device using HTTP a request for said virtual media file in response to said header of said virtual media file; and E) transmitting from said proxy server to said wireless client device using HTTP said virtual media file comprising said obtained media files. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 21, 30, 31, 32)
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12. A method of media file delivery to a client device in a communications network, said method comprising the steps of:
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sourcing by a proxy server using Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) at least two separate media files from one or more media servers in response to a client device request to said proxy server for a virtual media file, modifying duration information associated with said sourced media files at said proxy server; and transmitting from said proxy server using RTSP said media files as said virtual media file to said client device via said communications network without transcoding or creating a new combined file, said virtual media file comprising said media files. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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23. A proxy server for delivering media to a wireless client device in a wireless communications network, said server comprising:
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means for receiving at a proxy server via said wireless communications network a request for a media file using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) from a wireless client device that supports progressive streaming; means for obtaining by said proxy server headers for at least two media files using HTTP provided by one or more media servers different to said proxy server; means for transmitting from said proxy server to said wireless client device via said wireless communications network using HTTP a header of a virtual media file derived from said headers of said at least two media files; means for receiving by said proxy server from said wireless client device using HTTP a request for said virtual media file in response to said header of said virtual media file; and means for transmitting from said proxy server to said wireless client device using HTTP said virtual media file comprising said obtained media files.
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24. A proxy server for delivering time-based media to a client device in a communications network, said server comprising:
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means for sourcing by a proxy server using Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) at least two separate media files from one or more media servers different to said proxy server in response to a client device request to said proxy server using RTSP for a virtual media file, duration information associated with said sourced media files being removed by said proxy server; and means for delivering from said proxy server using RTSP said media files as said virtual media file to said client device via said communications network without transcoding or creating a new combined file, said virtual media file comprising said media files.
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25. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program for delivering time-based media to a client device in a communications network, said computer program comprising:
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computer program code means for receiving at a proxy server via said communications network a request for a media file using a transfer protocol from a client device; computer program code means for obtaining by said proxy server headers for at least two media files using a transfer protocol provided by one or more media servers different to said proxy server; computer program code means for transmitting from said proxy server to said client device via said communications network using a transfer protocol a header of a virtual media file derived from said headers of said at least two media files; computer program code means for receiving by said proxy server from said client device using a transfer protocol a request for said virtual media file in response to said header of said virtual media file; and computer program code means for transmitting from said proxy server to said client device using a transfer protocol said virtual media file comprising said obtained media files.
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26. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program for delivering media to a client device in a communications network, said computer program comprising:
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computer program code means for sourcing by a proxy server using Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) at least two separate media files from one or more media servers different to said proxy server in response to a client device request to said proxy server using RTSP for a virtual media file, duration information associated with said sourced media files being removed by said proxy server; and computer program code means for streaming from said proxy server using RTSP said media files as said virtual media file to said client device via said communications network without transcoding or creating a new combined file, said virtual media file comprising said media files.
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27. A system for delivering media to a wireless client device in a wireless communications network, said system comprising:
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a wireless client device for communication using a wireless communications network, said wireless client device adapted for Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) progressive streaming; a plurality of media servers adapted for communications using at least one other communications network different to said wireless communications network, each media server storing at least one media file; and a proxy server comprising; an interface adapted for communication using said wireless communications network; at least one other interface for communication with said media servers using said different communications network; a memory for storing data and a computer program for a processor; a processor coupled to said wireless network interface, said at least one other interface, and said memory for executing said computer program, said computer program comprising; a computer program code module for receiving at said proxy server via said wireless communications network a request for a media file using HTTP from said wireless client device that supports progressive streaming; a computer program code module for obtaining by said proxy server headers for at least two media files using HTTP provided by at least on of said media servers different to said proxy server; a computer program code module for transmitting from said proxy server to said wireless client device via said wireless communications network using HTTP a header of a virtual media file derived from said headers of said at least two media files; a computer program code module for receiving by said proxy server from said wireless client device using HTTP a request for said virtual media file in response to said header of said virtual media file; and a computer program code module for transmitting from said proxy server to said wireless client device using HTTP said virtual media file comprising said obtained media files.
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28. A system for streaming media to a wireless client device in a wireless communications network, said system comprising:
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a client device for communication using a first communications network; a plurality of media servers adapted for communications using at least one other communications network different to said first communications network, each media server storing at least one media file; and a proxy server comprising; an interface adapted for communication using said first communications network; at least one other interface for communication with said media servers using said different communications network; a memory for storing data and a computer program for a processor; a processor coupled to said first network interface, said at least one other interface, and said memory for executing said computer program, said computer program comprising; a computer program code module for sourcing by a proxy server using Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) at least two separate media files from one or more media servers different to said proxy server in response to a client device request to said proxy server using RTSP for a virtual media file, duration information associated with said sourced media files being removed by said proxy server; and a computer program code module for streaming from said proxy server using RTSP said media files as said virtual media file to said client device via said communications network without transcoding or creating a new combined file, said virtual media file comprising said media files.
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29. An apparatus for delivering media to a wireless client comprising:
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a proxy server configured to transmit a virtual media file obtained from two or more media files to the wireless device, wherein the proxy server delivers 100 times as many requests as compared with conventional methods using substantially similar processing power and memory; wherein the delay between the media files is not perceivable by a user; and wherein the virtual media file is available to be transmitted to the wireless device in less time than would be required to create a new media file from the two or more media files.
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Specification