Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer protocol implementing – Computer-to-computer data streaming
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-23
2001-01-09
Geckil, Mehmet B. (Department: 2756)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer protocol implementing
Computer-to-computer data streaming
C709S203000, C709S217000, C709S219000, C709S231000, C709S232000, C709S223000, C348S086000, C348S086000, C348S014160, C348S716000, C348S715000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173328
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for transferring multimedia information. Multimedia information is a generic term for several kinds of digital information coexisting in one information media, those digital information including digital moving pictures, digital still pictures, digital text data, and digital audio data. More particularly, the present invention relates to the multimedia information transfer system which is suitable to transferring data from a multimedia server for generating large amounts of multimedia information having streams with high bit rates to a server and a client coupled in a client server system (termed CSS) through a multimedia information network represented as a CATV network or an internet.
In general, the CSS used for business is arranged so that part of work to be processed by a server of the CSS is given to a multimedia server such as an outsourcing center and the processed result is given back to the CSS through a network.
The multimedia server, to which part or all of the functions about a project are entrusted, a setup including, and a promotion of an information processing system used for business in an enterprise is required to process a large amount of data streams with high bit rates in order to make good use of the multimedia information for backing up the processing of the CSS. Hence, the multimedia server is generally arranged by the leased hardware, a supercomputer (super parallel machine), a mainframe, a general-purpose server machine, a configuration of standard computers interconnected with one another (distributed architecture), or the like.
This kind of technology is described in “Technical Trend Toward Video Server Served as Core of VOD” of “Business Communication” November 1994, issued by Business Communication, Ltd., for example.
When transferring data between different kinds of information processing systems coupled through a communication network, an extended waiting time for access to the communication network is a significant problem. In particular, when transferring a large amount of data such as multimedia information, the waiting time for access and the transfer time are bottlenecks with regards to efficiency of the transfer system.
The technology described in the aforementioned publication has difficulty in overcoming the bottleneck in connection with the network and in quickly and efficiently transferring data between the multimedia server and a plurality of CSS servers and between the CSS server and a plurality of clients. These difficulties makes it impossible for a client for using the data transferred thereto to sufficiently meet the requirements of receiving a large amount of data streams with high bit rates in real time and performing reproducing processes of the multimedia information represented as image data, those reproducing processes including a fast feed, a stop, and a reverse like reproduction of a video disk, for example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for transferring multimedia information in a system including a multimedia server, CSS servers, and clients, the system being arranged to simplify transmitting processes between the multimedia server and the CSS server and receiving processes between the CSS server and to the client and solve a bottleneck in connection with a network between the CSS server and a plurality of clients for the purpose of keeping the data transfer quick and efficient.
According to the present invention, a multimedia information transfer system includes a multimedia server and a client server system coupled with the multimedia server through a network so that the multimedia server transfers data to a server and clients of the client server system, the multimedia server having means for storing and reproducing data streams of the multimedia information, the client having means for requesting the multimedia server to output data and storing the transferred data and means for displaying the data concurrently when storing the data.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the multimedia server operates to divide the multimedia information into N data blocks (N is an integer of 2 or more), each of which contains n data units (n is an integer of 1 or more), and sequentially transfer the data units to the server of the client server system on the data blocks. Then, the client server system operates to transmit the data block containing n data units to the client for requesting the server to output the data.
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, each network node of the multimedia server and the server and the clients of the client server system has network addresses dedicated the receipt and transmission of data. The multimedia server and the server of the client server system, which transmit the multimedia information, have their own matrix tables each for managing a receiving status and a process request status on the receiving side and operate to set the request from the receiving side to a field of the matrix and transfer the data based on the status.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the client requesting the process receives data at the address defined on the receiving side the multimedia information, which is processed by the multimedia server, the data being divided into N data blocks and transferred in groups of n data units in each data block, and a group of n data units being sent to the defined address. Further, the client provides a function of displaying the streams of the multimedia information concurrently while storing the streams of data. The client enables concurrent storage and display of the data streams so that the client, by itself, can control a fast feed, a stop, a reverse, and a play in real time.
The multimedia server has a matrix table for managing a process requesting status from the side for requesting the process and a receive status for the processed result data for each service. When the side for requesting the process operates to set the process requesting status and the receive status to the matrix table of the multimedia server, the matrix table reads these statuses in sequence and sets the statuses to the proper fields for the matrix table. Hence, the multimedia server for providing the service is capable of transmitting the processed result data for the services of the CSS server and the clients as viewing the status of the matrix table independently of the update of the matrix table.
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, as mentioned above, the data transfer is executed between the CSS server and the client. Further, the status management of the matrix table and the transmission of the processed result data are allowed to be executed by the device for providing the multimedia server and the CSS server with the services. Hence, the multimedia server, the CSS server, and the client are capable of doing their performing processes independently of one another and the two former servers can meet the request from the client and transfer the processed result data.
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Antonelli Terry Stout & Kraus LLP
Geckil Mehmet B.
Hitachi , Ltd.
Vaughn, Jr. William C.
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