Application interface to a media server and a method of...

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer data routing – Least weight routing

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C709S203000, C709S219000, C709S217000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06516356

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an application interface, and more particularly to an application interface to a media server and a method of implementing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional multimedia data storage systems are often employed to retain large amounts of multimedia data which are made available for multimedia applications. These conventional multimedia data storage systems may also incorporate a digital library, such as that which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,185 to Antognini et al. A problem that arises with conventional multimedia data storage systems stems from the fact that they often employ multiple media servers which deliver specific types of data to a client media output station such as a client viewer including a display. However, because each media server supports only its own device-level commands, it is difficult for applications running within the conventional multimedia data storage system to interact with multiple media servers. Accordingly, each application communicating with a particular media server must take into account the unique characteristics of that media server. However, such a scheme can become burdensome when there are numerous media servers. Moreover, such a scheme requires that applications be continuously updated when new media servers are incorporated into the multimedia data storage system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a robust management scheme which provides a common interface to media servers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a common interface to media servers which conceals the media server specific device commands from applications which interact with the media servers included within the system.
To achieve the above-mentioned objectives of the present invention, a media manager is provided which incorporates an application program interface (API) for converting high-level generic commands into device level commands for output to a plurality of media devices. The inventive media manager includes a high-level command processor which decodes the high-level generic commands, and a plurality of device specific code mapping modules which convert the high-level generic commands decoded by the high-level command processor into device-level commands. Each of the device-level commands is output from one of the plurality of device specific code mapping modules to a corresponding one of the plurality of media devices.
The present invention also encompasses a method of implementing an application program interface (API) for a plurality of media devices. The method includes receiving a plurality of high-level generic commands from a computer application, converting the plurality of high-level generic commands into device-level commands, and outputting each of the device-level commands to one of the plurality of media devices.
The present invention also encompasses a computer program product including a computer-readable medium. The computer program product includes means for decoding a high-level generic command, means for converting the high-level generic command into one or more device level command, and means for outputting the converted device level commands to a corresponding one of the plurality of media devices.
The present invention further encompasses a common application program interface (API) which converts a high-level generic command received from a computer application into one or more device-level commands which are output to a plurality of media devices including media servers which store media objects. The common API includes a plurality of individual APIs which each perform a specific function.
According to one aspect of the invention, the plurality of individual APIs comprise first and second groups of individual APIs. The first group of the individual APIs corresponds to a first group of member functions associated with a class defining objects which represent media servers. The second group of the individual APIs corresponds to a second group of member functions associated with a class defining objects which represent a logical description of a physical format of media objects.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4124889 (1978-11-01), Kaufman et al.
patent: 4800523 (1989-01-01), Gerety et al.
patent: 5499343 (1996-03-01), Pettus
patent: 5544318 (1996-08-01), Schmitz et al.
patent: 5604843 (1997-02-01), Shaw et al.
patent: 5642171 (1997-06-01), Baumgartner et al.
patent: 5668948 (1997-09-01), Belknap et al.
patent: 5752159 (1998-05-01), Faust et al.
patent: 5790176 (1998-08-01), Craig
patent: 5805796 (1998-09-01), Finch et al.
patent: 5805821 (1998-09-01), Saxena et al.
patent: 5813014 (1998-09-01), Gustman et al.
patent: 5826085 (1998-10-01), Bennett et al.
patent: 5907704 (1999-05-01), Gudmundson et al.
patent: 5926649 (1999-07-01), Ma et al.
patent: 6023731 (2000-02-01), Chawla
patent: 6044408 (2000-03-01), Engstrom et al.
patent: 6064379 (2000-05-01), DeMoney
patent: 6078942 (2000-06-01), Eisler et al.
patent: 6108695 (2000-08-01), Chawla
patent: 6256678 (2001-07-01), Traughber et al.
patent: 6360368 (2002-03-01), Chawla
patent: 0259659 (1988-03-01), None
patent: 2 273 020 (1994-06-01), None
John Musser, “A multimedia class library for Windows”, Dr. Dobb's Journal on CD-ROM. Jul. 1993.*
Aldred et al., An architecture for multimedia communication and real-time collaboration, IBM Systems Journal, vol. 24, No. 3, 1995, pp(22).*
Henderson, Tom, “The Price of Pretty Pictures”, LAN Magazine, Interoperability, Nov. 1995, pp(9).*
Leah-Martin, Tom, “General Magic Integrates Magic Cap with Oracle Media Server”, Oracle Magazine, Spring 1994, pp(4).*
Gibbs et al., “Multimedia Servers”, Oracle Magazine, Fall, 1993, pp(5).

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Application interface to a media server and a method of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Application interface to a media server and a method of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Application interface to a media server and a method of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3176761

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.