Proxy apparatus and method for streaming media information
US6484212B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 20, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 20, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/6581
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A proxy apparatus and method for streaming media information via at least one network. When a user device communicates with the proxy apparatus using a particular bandwidth and requests that media information be provided from a media server, the proxy apparatus first determines if a version of the media information encoded for the user device's connection bandwidth has been stored in the proxy apparatus. If a version of the media information encoded for the user device's bandwidth is not available from the proxy apparatus, the proxy apparatus sends a request to a media server for the media information. Once the media server receives the request, the media server begins to stream a copy of the media information encoded for the user device's bandwidth to the user device via the network and proxy device. If a version of the media information for the bandwidth is not available from the media server, the version for the largest bandwidth that does not exceed the bandwidth of the user device connection, is streamed to the user device. After the user device receives the media information, the proxy apparatus sends requests to the media server for versions of the same media information but…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.