Network image view server using efficient client-server, tiling and caching architecture

Claim 1

A method of identifying and delivering a graphical image from a computer network file server, the network file server adapted to store at least one digital document image file and adapted to receive a request for a view from a computer in Uniform Resource Locator (URL) code, the method comprising: identifying an image file and format selection from a requested view, the format comprising an operation code for selecting an updated view and view template for determining the presentation of the view; in response to receiving the view request and identifying the image file and format selection, retrieving the digital document image file and composing the requested view into a grid of view tiles corresponding to the requested view of the image; and computing and transmitting HTML code for the grid of view tiles to the requesting computer.

Claim 2

A method of identifying and delivering a graphical image from a computer network file server, the network file server adapted to store at least one digital document image file and adapted to receive a request for a view from a computer in Uniform Resource Locator (URL) code, the method comprising: identifying an image file and format selection from a requested view, the format comprising an operation code for selecting an updated view and view template for determining the presentation of the view; in response to receiving the view request and identifying the image file and format selection, retrieving the digital document image file and composing the requested view into a grid of view tiles corresponding to the requested view of the image; and computing and transmitting HTML code for the grid of view tiles to the requesting computer.

Claim 29

A method of identifying and delivering a graphical image from a computer network file server, the network file server storing digital document image files, the method comprising: receiving requests from a Web browser in Uniform Resource Locator (URL) code; identifying the image file and format selections being requested; composing the requested view into an array of view tiles; and transmitting HTML code for view tiles to the requesting Web browser; wherein view tiles adjacent to the array of view tiles transmitted to the Web browser to fulfill the request described by the URL are computed by the server during a time period subsequent to the transmission of the array of view tiles, and the adjacent view tiles are stored in cache form on the server in anticipation of future requests from the Web browser; and wherein the view tiles adjacent to the array of view tiles transmitted to the Web browser are computed by the server in a clockwise or counterclockwise spiral sequence outward from the array of view tiles transmitted.

Claim 30

A method of identifying and delivering a graphical image from a computer network file server, the network file server storing digital document image files, the method comprising: receiving requests from a Web browser in Uniform Resource Locator (URL) code; identifying the image file and format selections being requested; composing the requested view into an array of view tiles; and transmitting HTML code for view tiles to the requesting Web browser; wherein view tiles adjacent to the array of view tiles transmitted to the Web browser to fulfill the request described by the URL are computed by the server during a time period subsequent to the transmission of the array of view tiles, and the adjacent view tiles are stored in cache form on the server in anticipation of future requests from the Web browser; and wherein the view tiles adjacent to the array of view tiles transmitted to the Web browser are computed by the server in a clockwise or counterclockwise spiral sequence outward from the array of view tiles transmitted.

Claim 31

A method of identifying and delivering a graphical image from a computer network file server comprising providing a network file server on which are stored digital document image files, said server adapted to receive requests from a Web browser in Uniform Resource Locator (URL) code, to identify the image file and format selections being requested, to compose the requested view into a grid of view tiles, and to transmit HTML code for view tiles to the requesting Web browser; wherein the URL view request identifies the image file, tile number within the image file, formats comprising one or more of position, scale, rotation angle, x mirror, y mirror, inversion, region, opcode to select an updated view, and view template to determine the presentation of the view, and wherein the transmitted HTML code for the view tiles causes the requesting Web browser-to display the requested view of the requested graphical image in the requested format; wherein each view tile is identified by the server with a unique URL which includes storage location and view tile naming data; wherein the URL includes identification data for each scale of view through the file name for each view tile; and wherein view tiles are named in the format V<SCALE><TILE_NUMBER>.<IFF> wherein <SCALE> value is a 2 character string formed from the base 36 encoding of the view scale number as expressed parts per 256.

Claim 32

A method of identifying and delivering a graphical image from a computer network file server comprising providing a network file server on which are stored digital document image files, said server adapted to receive requests from a Web browser in Uniform Resource Locator (URL) code, to identify the image file and format selections being requested, to compose the requested view into a grid of view tiles, and to transmit HTML code for view tiles to the requesting Web browser; wherein the URL view request identifies the image file, tile number within the image file, formats comprising one or more of position, scale, rotation angle, x mirror, y mirror, inversion, region, opcode to select an updated view, and view template to determine the presentation of the view, and wherein the transmitted HTML code for the view tiles causes the requesting Web browser-to display the requested view of the requested graphical image in the requested format; wherein each view tile is identified by the server with a unique URL which includes storage location and view tile naming data; wherein the URL includes identification data for each scale of view through the file name for each view tile; and wherein view tiles are named in the format V<SCALE><TILE_NUMBER>.<IFF> wherein <SCALE> value is a 2 character string formed from the base 36 encoding of the view scale number as expressed parts per 256.

Claim 33

A method of identifying and delivering a graphical image from a computer network file server comprising providing a network file server on which are stored digital document image files, said server adapted to receive requests from a Web browser in Uniform Resource Locator (URL) code, to identify the image file and format selections being requested, to compose the requested view into a grid of view tiles, and to transmit HTML code for view tiles to the requesting Web browser; wherein the URL view request identifies the image file, tile number within the image file, formats comprising one or more of position, scale, rotation angle, x mirror, y mirror, inversion, region, opcode to select an updated view, and view template to determine the presentation of the view, and wherein the transmitted HTML code for the view tiles causes the requesting Web browser to display the requested view of the requested graphical image in the requested format; wherein each view tile is identified by the server with a unique URL which includes storage location and view tile naming data; wherein the URL includes identification data for each scale of view in the file name for each view tile; wherein the tile number is encoded in the file name for each view tile; wherein the image file format is specified in the file name for each view tile; and wherein view rotation angle, view x-mirror, view y-mirror and invert view information is encoded in the URL naming format in the form V<SCALE><TILE_NUMBER><VIEW_ANGLE><X_MIRROR><Y_MIRROR><INVERT>.<IFF>wherein VIEW_ANGLE is of the form A<ANGLE>; and X_MIRROR, Y_MIRROR, and INVERT are encoded by the single characters X, Y, and I, respectively.

Claim 34

A method of identifying and delivering a graphical image from a computer network file server comprising providing a network file server on which are stored digital document image files, said server adapted to receive requests from a Web browser in Uniform Resource Locator (URL) code, to identify the image file and format selections being requested, to compose the requested view into a grid of view tiles, and to transmit HTML code for view tiles to the requesting Web browser; wherein the URL view request identifies the image file, tile number within the image file, formats comprising one or more of position, scale, rotation angle, x mirror, y mirror, inversion, region, opcode to select an updated view, and view template to determine the presentation of the view, and wherein the transmitted HTML code for the view tiles causes the requesting Web browser to display the requested view of the requested graphical image in the requested format; wherein each view tile is identified by the server with a unique URL which includes storage location and view tile naming data; wherein the URL includes identification data for each scale of view in the file name for each view tile; wherein the tile number is encoded in the file name for each view tile; wherein the image file format is specified in the file name for each view tile; and wherein view rotation angle, view x-mirror, view y-mirror and invert view information is encoded in the URL naming format in the form V<SCALE><TILE_NUMBER><VIEW_ANGLE><X_MIRROR><Y_MIRROR><INVERT>.<IFF>wherein VIEW_ANGLE is of the form A<ANGLE>; and X_MIRROR, Y_MIRROR, and INVERT are encoded by the single characters X, Y, and I, respectively.

Claim 39

An apparatus comprising: a network computer for issuing view requests in URL code and displaying received HTML code in response to the view request issuance, wherein the URL specifies a view identifying an image file and format and the HTML code specifies an array of view tiles.

Claim 40

An apparatus comprising: a network computer for issuing view requests in URL code and displaying received HTML code in response to the view request issuance, wherein the URL specifies a view identifying an image file and format and the HTML code specifies an array of view tiles.

Claim 43

An apparatus comprising: a computer network server for storing digital document image files, programmed (a) to receive a request from a computer in URL code, the URL specifying a view identifying an image file and format, (b) to compose the requested view, and (c) to transmit HTML code for the composed view to the requesting computer; and wherein the surrounding view tiles are computed by a background view composer in a clock-wise or counter-clockwise spiral out from the most recent composed view.

Claim 44

An apparatus comprising: a computer network server for storing digital document image files, programmed (a) to receive a request from a computer in URL code, the URL specifying a view identifying an image file and format, (b) to compose the requested view, and (c) to transmit HTML code for the composed view to the requesting computer; and wherein the surrounding view tiles are computed by a background view composer in a clock-wise or counter-clockwise spiral out from the most recent composed view.