US6151632A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for distributed transmission of real-time multimedia information
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1997-05-30
•
Granted: 2000-11-21
•
Expires: 2017-05-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for delivering real-time multimedia information to clients via a distributed network is provided. The method and apparatus includes a LiveStation for encoding the real-time multimedia information into a number of different bandwidth points, and associated indexes, each bandwidth point for transmission over data channels of a particular bandwidth. The bandwidth points and indexes are provided to a recaster server to push the bandwidth points and indexes in parallel to secondary servers. The secondary servers then provide clients with compressed multimedia information according to the type of data channel used for connection. Parallel transmission of multiple bandwidth points and indexes allows the secondary servers to dynamically switch bandwidth points if data channels to clients change during transmission. Protocol between the LiveStation and a Recaster server, and between Recaster servers and secondary servers, is provided to allow configuration and transmission of real-time multimedia information to be controlled over a computer network from a single point.
Inventors
- 👤 Navin Chaddha
- 👤 David del Val
- 👤 Srinivas Prasad Vellanki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:13
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L65/00; H04L65/10; H04L65/102; H04L65/1043; H04L65/60; H04L65/61; H04L65/612; H04L65/75; H04L65/752; H04L65/762; H04L65/765; H04L65/80; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/21; H04N21/218; H04N21/2187; H04N21/222; H04N21/23; H04N21/234; H04N21/23424; H04N21/2343; H04N21/23439; H04N21/24; H04N21/2402; H04N21/25; H04N21/266; H04N21/2662; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/845; H04N21/8455
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A computer network for distributing video data, the network comprising: an encoding server, coupled to a video source that provides the video data, for encoding the video data into a video file for distribution over the computer network, said video file comprising: a plurality of bandwidth points, each of said bandwidth points corresponding to the video data, encoded for distribution over a particular data channel; and a plurality of indexes, corresponding to said plurality of bandwidth points; a recaster server, coupled to said encoding server, for receiving said video file from said encoding server, and for transferring said video file to a secondary server, said secondary server for transmitting to a client over a first data channel, one of said plurality of bandwidth points; wherein selection of said one of said plurality of bandwidth points transmitted to said client depends on the bandwidth of said first data channel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A computer network for distributing video data, the network comprising: an encoding server, coupled to a video source that provides the video data, for encoding the video data into a video file for distribution over the computer network, said video file comprising: a plurality of bandwidth points, each of said bandwidth points corresponding to the video data, encoded for distribution over a particular data channel; and a plurality of indexes, corresponding to said plurality of bandwidth points; a recaster server, coupled to said encoding server, for receiving said video file from said encoding server, and for transferring said video file to a secondary server, said secondary server for transmitting to a client over a first data channel, one of said plurality of bandwidth points; wherein selection of said one of said plurality of bandwidth points transmitted to said client depends on the bandwidth of said first data channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said encoding server further provides audio data associated with the video data, encoded for distribution over the computer network, to said recaster server.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 2, wherein said audio data is encoded into an audio file, said audio file comprising a plurality of audio bandwidth points and associated audio indexes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 3, wherein said audio file is received by said recaster server, in parallel with said video file.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 4, wherein said recaster server provides said audio file and said video file in parallel to said secondary server.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said particular data channel comprises: a plain old telephone service (POTS) telephone line; a high speed integrated digital service network (ISDN) telephone line; or a local area network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 6, wherein a first one of said plurality of bandwidth points corresponds to the video data encoded for distribution over said POTS telephone line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 7, wherein a second one of said plurality of bandwidth points corresponds to the video data encoded for distribution over said ISDN telephone line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said encoding server further provides an organization header to said recaster server, specifying a plurality of secondary servers to receive said video file.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 9, wherein said recaster server provides said video file to said plurality of secondary servers, according to said organization header.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 9, wherein said organization header further specifies whether said video file is to be saved on said recaster or ones of said plurality of secondary servers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of bandwidth points and said plurality of indexes within said video file are received by said recaster server, in parallel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 12, wherein said parallel reception of said plurality of bandwidth points and said plurality of indexes is performed by a plurality of TCP/IP sessions between said recaster server and said encoding server.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said client connects to said secondary server over said first data channel having a particular bandwidth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 14, wherein said secondary server provides to said client said one of said plurality of bandwidth points, corresponding to the bandwidth of said first data channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein the video data comprises audio and video information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 16, wherein said audio and video information is encoded by said encoding server for efficient transmission of the video data to said client.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein the video data comprises real-time audio/video data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said video source comprises a video capture card.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said encoding server further comprises a permanent storage medium for storing said video file.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said encoding server comprises a personal computer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of indexes comprise time and offset references for video frames within said plurality of bandwidth points.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of bandwidth points further comprises: a first bandwidth point encoded for transmission over a slow data channel; and a second bandwidth point encoded for transmission over a faster data channel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said video file is pushed by said encoding server to said recaster server.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said recaster server comprises a personal computer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said recaster server is coupled to said encoding server via a local area network.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said recaster server receives instruction from said encoding server directing said recaster to push said video file to said secondary server.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The computer network for distributing video data, as recited in claim 1, wherein said recaster server further transfers said video file to a second recaster server.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
138 words
A client/server computing system for distributing real-time and on demand multimedia data from an encoding server to a plurality of clients, the clients receiving the multimedia data over a plurality of data channels, the computing system comprising: a recaster server, for receiving a video file from the encoding server; a secondary server, coupled to said recaster server, for receiving said video file from said recaster; and a plurality of clients, coupled to said secondary server over the plurality of data channels; said video file further comprising: a plurality of bandwidth points, each of which are encoded for transmission over different ones of the plurality of data channels; and a plurality of indexes, associated with said plurality of bandwidth points; wherein said plurality of bandwidth points and said plurality of indexes are received by said secondary server in parallel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
138 words
A client/server computing system for distributing real-time and on demand multimedia data from an encoding server to a plurality of clients, the clients receiving the multimedia data over a plurality of data channels, the computing system comprising: a recaster server, for receiving a video file from the encoding server; a secondary server, coupled to said recaster server, for receiving said video file from said recaster; and a plurality of clients, coupled to said secondary server over the plurality of data channels; said video file further comprising: a plurality of bandwidth points, each of which are encoded for transmission over different ones of the plurality of data channels; and a plurality of indexes, associated with said plurality of bandwidth points; wherein said plurality of bandwidth points and said plurality of indexes are received by said secondary server in parallel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 29, wherein said secondary server provides a first bandwidth point from said plurality of bandwidth points, to a first client from said plurality of clients, over a first data channel from said plurality of data channels.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
45 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 30, wherein said secondary server also provides a second bandwidth point from said plurality of bandwidth points, to a second client from said plurality of clients, over a second data channel from said plurality of data channels.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 29, wherein the encoding server instructs said recaster server as to which secondary server is to receive said video file.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 32 wherein the encoding server also instructs said recaster server as to whether said secondary server is to save the video file.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 29, wherein the encoding server encodes the multimedia data and produces said video file for distribution among said plurality of clients.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 29, wherein said recaster server is coupled to the encoding server via a local area network.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 29, wherein said video file contains all video information necessary to transmit the multimedia data over any of the plurality of data channels.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
30 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 29, wherein the plurality of data channels comprises: a POTS telephone line; an ISDN telephone line; and a local area network (LAN).
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
52 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 29, wherein since said plurality of bandwidth points and said plurality of indexes are received by said secondary server in parallel, said secondary server can dynamically select which of said plurality of bandwidth points will be transmitted to ones of said plurality of clients.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 29, wherein said recaster also receives an audio file from the encoding server for distribution with said video file.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 29, wherein said recaster server transfers said video file to said secondary server upon instruction from the encoding server.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 29, wherein the encoding server initiates transfer of said video file with said recaster server.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 29, wherein said recaster server initiates transfer of said video file with said secondary server.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
The client/server computing system, as recited in claim 29, wherein if said secondary server is unable to complete reception of said video file, the encoding server is notified.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for distributing real-time multimedia data to clients over dissimilar data channels, the method comprising the steps of: providing a recaster server for transferring a video file of encoded multimedia data to a secondary server, the video file having a plurality of bandwidth points, and an associated plurality of indexes; initiating transfer of the video file to the secondary server; transferring the video file to the secondary server, said step of transferring causing the plurality of bandwidth points, and the associated plurality of indexes, to be transferred to the secondary server in parallel; providing a first one of the plurality of bandwidth points to a first client over a first data channel; and providing a second one of the plurality of bandwidth points to a second client over a second data channel; wherein the first and second data channels have a different bandwidth; and wherein the first and second clients can receive and view the multimedia data at essentially the same time.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for distributing real-time multimedia data to clients over dissimilar data channels, the method comprising the steps of: providing a recaster server for transferring a video file of encoded multimedia data to a secondary server, the video file having a plurality of bandwidth points, and an associated plurality of indexes; initiating transfer of the video file to the secondary server; transferring the video file to the secondary server, said step of transferring causing the plurality of bandwidth points, and the associated plurality of indexes, to be transferred to the secondary server in parallel; providing a first one of the plurality of bandwidth points to a first client over a first data channel; and providing a second one of the plurality of bandwidth points to a second client over a second data channel; wherein the first and second data channels have a different bandwidth; and wherein the first and second clients can receive and view the multimedia data at essentially the same time.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method for distributing real-time multimedia data, as recited in claim 44, wherein said step of initiating transfer of the video file to the secondary server further comprises the steps of: sending an upload command from the recaster server to the secondary server, indicating that a video file is to be transferred to the secondary server; and sending an upload acknowledge response from the secondary server to the recaster server indicating whether the secondary server can receive the video file.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method for distributing real-time multimedia data, as recited in claim 45, wherein if the secondary server cannot receive the video file: indicating to the recaster server that the secondary server cannot receive the video file.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method for distributing real-time multimedia data, as recited in claim 44, wherein the first one of the plurality of bandwidth points comprises video data encoded for transmission at approximately 28.8 kilobits per second.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method for distributing real-time multimedia data, as recited in claim 47, wherein the first data channel has a bandwidth of approximately 28.8 kilobits per second.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method for distributing real-time multimedia data, as recited in claim 44, wherein the second one of the plurality of bandwidth points comprises video data encoded for transmission at approximately 56 kilobits per second.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method for distributing real-time multimedia data, as recited in claim 49, wherein the second data channel has a bandwidth of approximately 56 kilobits per second.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method for distributing real-time multimedia data, as recited in claim 44, wherein the real-time multimedia data comprises live captured video and audio data.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method for distributing real-time multimedia data, as recited in claim 44, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: encoding live video data into a plurality of bandwidth points, having associated indexes; and combining the plurality of bandwidth points and associated indexes into a video file.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method for distributing real-time multimedia data, as recited in claim 44, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: initiating a recast session with the recaster server for distributing the video file to secondary servers; awaiting an acknowledgment from the recaster server before transferring the video file to the recaster server; and transferring the video file to the recaster server.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method for distributing real-time multimedia data, as recited in claim 44, wherein said step of transferring the video file to the secondary server utilizes a plurality of TCP/IP sessions for transferring the plurality of bandwidth points, and the associated indexes, to the secondary server in parallel.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method for distributing real-time multimedia data, as recited in claim 44, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: decoding the first one of the plurality of bandwidth points for viewing by the first client; and decoding the second one of the plurality of bandwidth points for viewing by the second client.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method for distributing real-time multimedia data, as recited in claim 44, wherein either of the first client or the second client can rewind the viewed multimedia data by transmitting a rewind command to the secondary server.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method for distributing real-time multimedia data, as recited in claim 44, wherein the method further comprises the step of: indicating to the secondary server whether the transferred video file is to be saved, for later on-demand retrieval by a client.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-21 | 2004-05-22 | 2004-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-21 | 2008-05-22 | 2008-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-21 | 2012-05-22 | 2012-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |