US6363418B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
On-line image caching control for efficient image display
Assignee: Networks eBook LLC
•
Filing: 1998-10-16
•
Granted: 2002-03-26
•
Expires: 2018-10-16
Abstract
Abstract A method for on-line controlling caching of an image on a viewing device to efficiently display the image on the viewing device. The method comprises the following steps: (a) sending from a server to the viewing device an image tag included in a hypertext language code, the image tag having attributes, the attributes specifying the image; (b) parsing the hypertext language code including the image tag; (c) searching for a copy of the image in a cache memory of the viewing device using the image tag attributes; (d) displaying the copy of the image if the copy of the image is found in the cache memory and is current; (e) fetching the image from the server if the copy of the image is not found in the cache memory or if the copy of the image is not current; and (f) storing the fetched image and the image tag attributes in the cache memory.
Inventors
- 👤 Garth Conboy
- 👤 Brady Duga
- 👤 William S. Leshner
- 👤 Aleksey Novicov
- 👤 James Sachs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:54
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/957; G06F16/9574
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for on-line controlling caching of an image in a cache memory on a viewing device to efficiently display the image on the viewing device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sending from a server to the viewing device an image tag and one or more separate image tag attributes included in a hypertext language code, the image tag specifying the image on the server and the one or more separate image tag attributes specifying the image in the cache memory; (b) parsing the hypertext language code including the image tag and one or more separate image tag attributes; (c) searching for a copy of the image in a cache memory of the viewing device using the one or more separate image tag attributes; (d) displaying the copy of the image if the copy of the image is found in the cache memory and is current; (e) fetching the image from the server using the image tag if the copy of the image is not found in the cache memory or if the copy of the image is not current; and (f) storing the fetched image and the one or more separate image tag attributes in the cache memory.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for on-line controlling caching of an image in a cache memory on a viewing device to efficiently display the image on the viewing device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sending from a server to the viewing device an image tag and one or more separate image tag attributes included in a hypertext language code, the image tag specifying the image on the server and the one or more separate image tag attributes specifying the image in the cache memory; (b) parsing the hypertext language code including the image tag and one or more separate image tag attributes; (c) searching for a copy of the image in a cache memory of the viewing device using the one or more separate image tag attributes; (d) displaying the copy of the image if the copy of the image is found in the cache memory and is current; (e) fetching the image from the server using the image tag if the copy of the image is not found in the cache memory or if the copy of the image is not current; and (f) storing the fetched image and the one or more separate image tag attributes in the cache memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the image tag attributes include a local identification, the local identification facilitating the search for a copy of the image in the cache memory of the viewing device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the local identification has a numeric value or a string value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the image tag attributes include an image type, the image type having a value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the image type value includes one of the values PICT, GIF, and JPEG.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the image tag attributes include an image signature, the image signature having a first value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 6 wherein in step (d) the copy of the image found in the cache memory has a copy signature, and wherein the copy of the image is current if the copy signature has a second value equal to the first value of the image signature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the image signature first value is a modification date/time of the image or a version stamp of the image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the image tag attributes include a remote identification, the remote identification having a value facilitating fetching of the image from the server.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
233 words
A system for on-line controlling caching of an image in a cache memory on a viewing device to efficiently display the image on the viewing device, the system comprising: (a) a server in electrical communication with the viewing device, the server sending to the viewing device a hypertext language code including an image tag and one or more separate image tag attributes, the image tag specifying the image on the server and the one or more separate image tag attributes specifying the image in the cache memory; and (b) the viewing device for viewing the image, the viewing device including: a display screen for displaying the image; a cache memory; a processor coupled to the cache memory and the display screen, the processor parsing the hypertext language code including the image tag and the one or more separate image tag attributes, searching for a copy of the image in the cache memory using the one or more separate image tag attributes, displaying the copy of the image if the copy of the image is found in the cache memory and is current, fetching the image from the server using the image tag if the copy of the image is not found in the cache memory or if the copy of the image is not current, and storing the fetched image and the one or more separate image tag attributes in the cache memory.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
233 words
A system for on-line controlling caching of an image in a cache memory on a viewing device to efficiently display the image on the viewing device, the system comprising: (a) a server in electrical communication with the viewing device, the server sending to the viewing device a hypertext language code including an image tag and one or more separate image tag attributes, the image tag specifying the image on the server and the one or more separate image tag attributes specifying the image in the cache memory; and (b) the viewing device for viewing the image, the viewing device including: a display screen for displaying the image; a cache memory; a processor coupled to the cache memory and the display screen, the processor parsing the hypertext language code including the image tag and the one or more separate image tag attributes, searching for a copy of the image in the cache memory using the one or more separate image tag attributes, displaying the copy of the image if the copy of the image is found in the cache memory and is current, fetching the image from the server using the image tag if the copy of the image is not found in the cache memory or if the copy of the image is not current, and storing the fetched image and the one or more separate image tag attributes in the cache memory.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the server is a virtual bookstore.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the viewing device is a portable electronic book.
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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) | 2005-03-25 | 2005-09-24 | 2006-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-03-25 | 2009-09-24 | 2010-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-03-25 | 2013-09-24 | 2014-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |