WhatsApp's Exhibit No. 1107
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`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEDIA STREAM ADAPTATION
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates to media server output, more specifically to
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`adjusting the parameters (e.g., bandwidth) of such output dynamically and
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`intelligently depending on the needs and capabilities of system components.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`In data streaming, data streams are typically sent from a server to a client
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`endpoint. Streaming data may include, for example, any data transmittable from a
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`server to a client in a continuous stream. Data which is commonly streamed
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`includes data such as voice and video data, although other data may be streamed.
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`There are many types of endpoints or clients accepting streamed data, for example
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`cellular telephones and video players on personal computers (PCs). Typically,
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`streaming data is transmitted by a network or series of networks. Components such
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`as software components or hardware components such as routers may be involved in
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`the delivery of streaming data. Each component may have different throughput or
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`other capabilities. For example, a component such as a network segment may be
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`able to handle only a certain bandwidth. Such capabilities may change over time -
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`for example, the bandwidth that is available on a network segment may change with
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`time.
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`Current streaming methods may require multiple streams, each having different
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`parameters, to be sent from a server, according to the different types of network
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`components and clients. For example, a server streaming a video presentation may
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`have to send one stream for a device or set of devices having certain video
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`decompression and display capabilities, and another stream for a device or set of
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`devices having a different set of capabilities. If different or changing capabilities
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`require the server to produce more than one stream or to respond to changes in
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`capabilities, the load on the server (e.g., its CPU load) may be increased. Increasing
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`this load on the server, which is a single point serving multiple clients, increases the
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`overall load on the network.
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`Therefore, a need exists for a system and method which allows data stream to be
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`manipulated, processed and distributed remotely from the server, to allow for
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`different client and network capabilities, and to allow for a response to changing
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`system capabilities without increasing the load on that server.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`Embodiments of a system and method of the present invention accept a set of
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`configuration parameters relating to components involved in data streaming (e.g.,
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`clients or network equipment) and transform a data stream in response to such
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`configuration parameters, transmitting the transformed data stream onward to a
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`client. In further embodiments, dynamic changes in the configuration parameters
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`may affect the transformations.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the
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`following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
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`Fig. 1 is a diagram of a network including an embodiment of the present
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`invention.
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`Fig. 2 depicts a streaming adapter according to an exemplary embodiment of the
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`present invention.
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`Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing steps for modifying a data stream according an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a portion of the steps for modifying a data stream
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`according an embodiment of the present invention.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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`In the following description, various aspects of the present invention will be
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`described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set
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`forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.
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`However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention
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`may be practiced without the specific details presented herein. Furthermore,
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`well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the present
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`invention.
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`Fig. 1 is a diagram of a network including an embodiment of the present
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`invention. Referring to Fig. 1, server 10 transmits streaming data to clients 20.
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`Server 10 may be any known server streaming data. For example, server 10 may be
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`a streaming server provided by Optibase, Inc., transmitting video data, but may be
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`other types of servers transmitting other types of streaming data. Clients 20 may be,
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`for example, a cellular telephone accepting streamed audio or video data, a PC
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`accepting video data and playing the video data on a video player, or other devices
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`such as video phones, a large screen display, or devices in moving vehicles. In
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`alternate embodiments, clients may but may be other types of clients and may accept
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`other types of streaming data. In an alternate embodiment, a server may be a device
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`both sending and receiving streaming data, such as a videophone or PC with
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`videoconference capabilities. In such a case, both the server and client (e.g., another
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`party in the videoconference) may send and receive streaming data.
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`Various networks may transmit the data. For example, the server 10 may be
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`included in a server enterprise network 30. The streamed data may be transmitted
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`first by enterprise network 30 and then over the Internet 40. A cellular enterprise
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`network 50 may accept streamed data for transmission to certain clients. A client
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`enterprise network 60 may accept data including streamed data for local distribution
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`to clients 20. A point-of-presence (POP) 70 may provide an access point to the
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`Internet 40 for various clients 20, accessing the POP 70 via, for example, telephone
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`lines or other methods. The various networks 30, 40, 50 and 60 may include various
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`components, such as routers, bridges, caches, fiber optic cables, wireless links, and
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`other known network components. The network configuration provided in the
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`Figures is merely exemplary; embodiments of the system and method of the present
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`invention may operate with other network configurations or series of networks.
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`In an exemplary embodiment, each of networks 30, 50 and 60, and POP 70,
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`include network controllers, respectively network controllers 32, 52, 62 and 72, of
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`known construction, which may help manage and control networks, and may
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`centralize data collection and command distribution. For example, network
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`controllers 32, 52, 62 and 72 may be, for example, a Serving GPRS Support Node
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`(SGSN) supplied by Lucent Technologies or Nokia, or an SIP Proxy server supplied
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`by Cisco. The function of network controllers 32, 52, 62 and 72 may be spread
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`among multiple remotely situated devices. The construction and operation of
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`network controllers is known, and network controllers may exist in varying forms.
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`For example, a workstation or PC may be used to control a network, or various
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`components in one or more locations may be used.
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`In alternate embodiments,
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`network controllers need not be used.
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`Streaming adapters 100 may be located at various points between the server
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`10 and clients 20.
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`In Fig. 1, streaming adapters 1 00 are shown within server
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`enterprise network 30, client enterprise network 60 and POP 70. Preferably, a
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`streaming adapter 100 is located at or near the edge of a network, where that network
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`interfaces with another network. Preferably, a streaming adapter 100 is located at a
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`network bottleneck, so that data (possibly all data) entering the network may flow
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`through the streaming adapter 100. Thus the streaming adapter 100 within the server
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`enterprise network 30 is located near that network's interface with the Internet 40,
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`and the streaming adapter 1 00 within the client enterprise network 60 is also located
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`near that network's interface with the Internet 40.
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`In alternate embodiments, a streaming adapter may be located at any other
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`position. For example, a streaming adapter may be co-located or included within a
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`server, may be located at a position in a network not near the network's edge, may
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`be included within or co-located with network equipment such as routers or bridges,
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`or may be located in other networks, such as the Internet.
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`In an exemplary embodiment, a streaming adapter IS a component or
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`processor including one or more DSPs which is programmed to include streaming
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`adapter functionality. Such DSPs may be provided by, for example, Motorola or
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`Texas Instruments.
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`Such devices may have functionality added by known
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`programming methods. In alternate embodiments, a streaming adapter may be any
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`device including streaming adapter functionality. Components which may accept or
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`be modified for such novel functionality are known. For example, a set of DSPs
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`controlled by an external controller, such as a PC or including a microcontroller may
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`be used. A router, proxy server, or other network component, a streaming media
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`server, or other component may include streaming adapter functionality via the
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`inclusion of components or software providing such functionality. For example, a
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`card including a set of DSPs and/or compression software and the appropriate
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`control software may be included in a network component. In further embodiments,
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`a streaming adapter may be formed from the combination of multiple separate
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`components, such as a controller sending remote commands to a DSP or other
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`device.
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`Fig. 2 depicts a streaming adapter according to an exemplary embodiment of
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`the present invention.
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`In an exemplary embodiment, a streaming adapter 100
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`includes a controller 110, a memory 120, a data converting unit 130, a data I/0 unit
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`140, and a controller interface 150 providing a connection to a network or networks,
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`or to other devices. Memory 120 may be, for example, a RAM, and may include
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`various combinations of components. The data converting unit 130 may be the
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`combination of the controller 110 and software stored in, for example, the memory
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`120 in a streaming adapter, or may be another unit, for example a digital signal
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`processor (DSP) unit.
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`In alternate embodiments, a streaming adapter may be of
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`different configurations and include different components.
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`A streaming adapter may communicate with and gather information from
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`various components, such as a server 10, clients 20, and network components,
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`through various methods. Preferably, a streaming adapter communicates with
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`components via the networks connecting them, but other methods may be used. In
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`an exemplary embodiment,
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`the streaming adapter 1 00 communicates with
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`components and gathers and requests data using real time control protocol (RTCP),
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`Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), and/or possibly other protocols.
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`A streaming adapter may gather information by receiving information sent
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`from components either regularly or m response to changing conditions. For
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`example, a network component may periodically transmit information regarding load
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`and capabilities. A change in client status (e.g., a mobile client changing speed, a
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`client no longer requiring a data stream, etc.) may be transmitted to the streaming
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`adapter by a client 20. A network controller, client 20, server 10, or other
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`component may notify the streaming adapter of the addition or deletion of a client
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`20.
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`Furthermore, a streaming adapter may gather i;nformation by polling or
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`otherwise requesting information from components. Information may be received in
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`other mmmers, for example through other components gathering network or other
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`information.
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`For certain components, additional functionality may be added,
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`through known methods, allowing the component to transmit configuration
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`information to the streaming adapter or to allow the streaming adapter to poll the
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`component.
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`In an exemplary embodiment, configuration data or information may include
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`information on the components themselves, such as the bandwidth or current load of
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`individual components or networks, network topologies, the capabilities of servers,
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`the data format or decompression capabilities of clients, or other information.
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`Configuration infom1ation may include quality requirements; for example, a certain
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`client or set of clients may have a minimum quality requirement, where too much
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`data compression may cause unacceptable quality degradation or information loss.
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`Furthermore, configuration information may include data on load and usage, for
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`example, which clients are receiving which data streams, which servers are sending
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`data streams, how those data streams are being modified, and the paths that those
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`data streams are being sent. Configuration information may include information
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`sent in a client streaming media request.
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`In a streaming adapter 100 shown in Fig. 2, configuration information may,
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`for example, be stored in a streaming adapter memory 120.
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`In alternate
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`embodiments, the configuration information may be stored in other manners; for
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`example in a device other than or separate from the streaming adapter.
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`Configuration information may be accepted at different times. For example,
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`configuration information may be accepted on the initialization or startup of a
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`streaming adapter. Furthermore, configuration information may be accepted when a
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`component is added or dropped. For example, when a client requests a data stream,
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`the client, a network controller, or another component, may send configuration
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`information, including information regarding the nature of the data stream request
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`and the identity of the client (possibly including location or address information), to
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`a streaming adapter. Configuration information may be accepted when a component
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`changes; for example, when the load on a network or network component changes.
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`Configuration information may be pre-programmed into the streaming
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`adapter, downloaded or sent from an external device, such as the server, or may be
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`talcen from network components themselves. For example, the streaming adapter
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`may poll a client or server, requesting information on what type(s) of compression or
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`decompression algorithm(s) the component uses.
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`In an exemplary embodiment, a streaming adapter 1 00 accepts a data stream
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`from the server 10 and resends the data stream to one or more clients 20, usually but
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`not always in modified form. The streaming adapter 100 accepts configuration data
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`from components such as network components, clients 20, or servers, and may
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`modify the data to suit network, client 20 or other needs.
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`In an exemplary embodiment, in operation, a client 20 makes a request to a
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`streaming data server 10. The network controller for the network or system in which
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`the client 20 is located or through which the client is served preferably intercepts
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`such streaming data requests.
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`If the streaming data server 10 is not yet streaming the requested data to a
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`client 20 in the relevant network, the network controller forwards the streaming data
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`request to the server 1 0 and preferably notifies the relevant streaming adapter 100 of
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`the request. The network controller may send configuration information, including
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`information describing the data stream and the client 20 and server 10 identity,
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`location or address, to a streaming adapter 100, and the information may be stored
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`in, for example, the streaming adapter's memory. The server 10 provides the data
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`via known methods. For example, a client 20 requests a video clip from the server
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`1 0, and the server 1 0 streams the data to the address of client 20 using known video
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`streaming methods. The streaming adapter 100 receives packets entering the
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`network, forwards packets not including streaming data onward, and processes
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`packets containing streaming data, as discussed below. The processed packets are
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`sent to the client 20 which displays the data on a video player on the client 20
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`If the streaming data server 1 0 is already streaming the requested data to a
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`client 20 in the relevant network other than the requesting client 20, the network
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`controller forwards the streaming data request to the streaming adapter 1 00 which
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`provides the data stream to the requesting client 20. The streaming adapter 100 may
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`stream a data stream it is receiving to multiple clients 20 at the same time, reducing
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`the load on both the server 1 0 and the network connections between the server 1 0
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`and the streaming adapter 100.
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`In an exemplary embodiment, a streaming adapter 100 may accept multiple
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`data streams, each having different data, from multiple data servers, and distribute
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`each of those streams to multiple clients 20. A streaming adapter 100 may output
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`multiple data streams each having different content (each based on a different input
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`stream) and may output multiple sets of data streams, where each set has the same
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`content, but within each set each data stream may be sent to a different client or may
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`have different transcoding, compression, error correction, or other formatting
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`differences.
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`In alternate embodiments, the system and method of the present invention
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`may act in different manners. For example, it is not required that a network
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`controller forward streaming data requests to a streaming adapter.
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`In other
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`embodiments, other entities, such as a client or a server, may forward such request to
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`a streaming adapter, or the streaming adapter may detect such requests. A streaming
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`adapter may serve an area other than an enterprise network; for example, a streaming
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`adapter may be located near a server. A streaming adapter need not intercept all
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`packets flowing through the network on which it is located.
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`Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing steps for modifying a data stream according an
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`embodiment of the present invention.
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`Referring to Fig. 3, in step 200, the streaming adapter accepts configuration
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`information.
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`In step 210, a client makes a streaming data request to a data server.
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`In step 220, the streaming adapter is notified of the streaming data request.
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`In an exemplary embodiment, the streaming adapter accepts the data request from a
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`network controller; in alternate embodiments, the streaming adapter may accept a
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`data request in other manners; for example directly from a client. The client and
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`client configuration data may be known to the streaming adapter from step 200,
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`above, or may be provided in this step. As discussed above, information regarding
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`the request may be provided to the streaming adapter by, for example, the client
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`and/or a network controller.
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`In step 230, the streaming adapter accepts a data stream from a data server.
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`h1 step 240, the streaming adapter determines whether and how to modify the
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`data stream.
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`In various embodiments, various considerations may be used to
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`determine whether a data stream is to be modified. Preferably, the data stream is
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`compressed, or has its compression altered, setting the data stream bandwidth so that
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`it is below a limit or allocation, while allowing the data stream to maintain a
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`minimum quality requirement. The limit or allocation may be based on network
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`requirements or capabilities, network load, client parameters, or other information.
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`In an exemplary embodiment, the streaming adapter considers the current
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`capabilities of the relevant network and the client requesting the data in determining
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`whether and how to modify the data stream.
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`In alternate embodiments, other
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`considerations may be used.
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`The strean1ing adapter considers the bandwidth requirements and possibly
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`other characteristics of the data stream, the current load and topologies of the
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`network or networks which are able to transmit data between the server and client,
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`and the bandwidth of these networks, and determines whether the networks are able
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`to transmit the data without compression. If not, the data stream is to be modified.
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`In alternate embodiments, other considerations or parameters based on networks
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`maybe used.
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`The streaming adapter considers the various characteristics of the data stream
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`and the capabilities of the client to determine whether the client is able to receive the
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`data stream un-modified. If not, the data stream is to be modified. Such capabilities
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`may include, for example, whether or not the client can accept the data stream in the
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`format (e.g., the compression format, the data format, etc.) as provided to the
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`streaming adapter by the server, and how many data streams a client may accept.
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`For example, the server may transmit in MPEG-2 format, while the client may only
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`be able to receive in MPEG-4 format.
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`In alternate embodiments, other
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`considerations or parameters based on clients may be used.
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`In step 250, if the data stream is to be modified, the streaming adapter
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`modifies or transforms the data stream. In an exemplary embodiment, the streaming
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`adapter determines how much the streaming data should be compressed, based on
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`the network bandwidth and load for the network components which are to deliver
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`the data to the client, and the bandwidth requirements of the streaming data.
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`In one
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`embodiment, an upper bandwidth limit or allocation may be assigned to the data
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`stream being sent to a particular client. Parameters which may be used to modify the
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`amount of compression may include, for example, quantifiers or the use of motion
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`vectors. Further considerations may include any minimum quality requirement or
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`compression limitations or capabilities of the client. In an exemplary embodiment,
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`the streaming adapter may accept a data stream and modify the data stream in
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`different ways for different clients.
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`The data stream is modified based on the chosen method. In an exemplary
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`embodiment, the data stream is transcoded. When used herein, transcoding includes
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`transforming one compression format to another. Other functions than transcoding
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`may be used- for example, altering data formats or error check capabilities. For
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`example, a video data stream sent by a server and accepted by a streaming adapter
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`may be altered from MPEG-2 format and sent to the client in MPEG-4 format. The
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`streaming adapter inputs the data stream from the server and outputs the modified
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`data stream.
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`In alternate embodiments, modifications or transformations other than
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`transcoding may be performed. For example, a streaming adapter may simply
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`compress the data, or may modify the data format of a stream to be compatible with
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`one or more clients, may time delay or cache a data stream, or may perform other
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`functions, such as adding error correction capabilities.
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`In step 260, the streaming adapter sends the output data stream to a client,
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`through known methods. The client accepts the modified data stream and, for
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`example, displays or otherwise outputs the data to the user. For example, an audio
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`program or a video program may be output.
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`In an exemplary embodiment, the
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`streaming adapter may convert a data streams from a server and transmit the data
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`stream to multiple clients; the data stream may be modified in different ways for
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`different clients, or different clients may receive the identical output. Multiple
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`network paths may be used.
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`In an exemplary embodiment, when deciding if and how to modify data
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`streams, the streaming adapter takes into account the overall needs of all current
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`clients, and the overall limitations of the network components used to transmit data
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`to those clients. Furthermore, the modification of data streams to current clients may
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`be modified based on changing conditions and different clients competing for
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`resources.
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`For example, when a new client makes a streaming data request which will
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`impact network components by increasing the load on those components, the
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`streaming adapter may calculate the added load that the network is capable of
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`absorbing, and use this as a limitation when deciding how to modify the data stream
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`for the new client. Furthermore, the additional load placed on the network by the
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`new client may cause the streaming adapter to modify the conversion methods for
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`existing clients. A new client may lower the bandwidth one or more networks may
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`handle, causing higher data compression to be used for a set of clients. An exiting
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`client may cause the reverse, a lowering in the amount of data compression used.
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`The minimum requirements for each client, if existing, may be factored in.
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`In an alternate embodiment, a streaming adapter may pass streaming data
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`from two endpoints or clients which are each streaming data from and receiving data
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`from each other. For example, a streaming adapter (or set of streaming adapters)
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`may pass data between two clients engaged in a videoconference. Such data may be
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`streamed data or other data.
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`In such a case, each endpoint acts as both a server
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`transmitting streamed data and a client receiving streamed data. More than one
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`streaming adapter may be used; for example, one streaming adapter for each data
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`direction.
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`By transferring the need to respond to client requests, the need to create
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`multiple data streams tailored to individual clients, and other processing from a
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`server to a streaming adapter, the load on the server is reduced. Furthermore, the
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`load on the network may be reduced, as a single stream may be transmitted to a
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`streaming adapter, which then splits the stream. Additional functionality, not
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`available with current data streaming devices, may be provided by a streaming
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`adapter.
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`In an exemplary embodiment, the method of converting data, or the
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`parameters for the data conversion, may be changed dynamically. For example, the
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`load or capabilities of a network may change, allowing the streaming adapter to send
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`more data via a network, or forcing the streaming adapter to lower the amount of
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`data it sends via a network. The capabilities of a client may change. For example, a
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`client may be operating in a mobile vehicle. When the vehicle stops, the rate at
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`which the client may accept data may increase, and thus the streaming adapter may
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`increase the bandwidth send to the client by, for example, lowering the amount of
`
`data compression that takes place. When the vehicle resumes motion, the reverse
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`1 o
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`may take place. Any other dynamic parameter change may take place.
`
`Such dynamic change may occur while the streaming adapter is converting
`
`one or more data streams, and may cause the streaming adapter to change the
`
`methods it uses to convert those data streams. Such dynamic change may also occur
`
`in a manner not causing the streaming adapter to change the methods it uses to
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`15
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`convert those data streams.
`
`For example, a network component currently
`
`uninvolved in a data streaming operation may transmit information regarding a
`
`change in load; such information might not cause a change in the current data
`
`streaming operations of the streaming adapter, but may affect future streaming
`
`operations.
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`20
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`Dynamic configuration data may arrive at the initiation of a client. For
`
`example, the load on a client which had previously required a certain data
`
`compression regime may change, allowing for a different data compression regime
`
`to be used; the client notifies the streaming adapter of this change. The client may
`
`require additional functionality or programming in order to detect and notify the
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`25
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`streaming adapter of the change.
`
`Dynamic configuration data may arrive at the initiation of a network
`
`component, in such case the relevant network component notifies the streaming
`
`adapter of this change. Such a network component may require additional
`
`functionality or programming in order to detect and notify the streaming adapter of
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`30
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`the change. For example, the load on a component such as a network component
`
`may change, allowing for a different data compression regime to be used, or
`
`allowing for a different routing scheme to be used.
`
`In response to a change in
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`network capabilities, the streaming adapter may modify the methods for converting
`
`more than one data stream currently being converted. For example, all data streams
`
`using a certain network may require more or less compression in response to a
`
`change in load on that network.
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`5
`
`Dynamic configuration data may arrive at the initiation of the streaming
`
`adapter. The streaming adapter may query or poll various network components.
`
`Such polling may be regular (e.g., periodic) or, for example, may be in response to a
`
`change in conditions requiring up-to-date information. In alternate embodiments,
`
`other components may be polled, or may send information regarding, configuration
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`1 o
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`information.
`
`Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a portion of the steps for modifying a data
`
`stream according an embodiment of the present invention.
`
`Referring to Fig. 4, in step 300, the streaming adapter accepts dynamic
`
`configuration information. Such dynamic configuration information may be as a
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`15
`
`result of a poll of a component, as a result of a component initiating an information
`
`exchange, or may be as a result of other actions.
`
`In step 310, the streaming adapter determines whether and how to modify the
`
`data stream. The streaming adapter considers the factors described in step 240,
`
`above. In some cases, updated configuration data may not require a change to any or
`
`20
`
`all of the one or more data streams being converted.
`
`In step 320, the streaming adapter alters the way that it modifies the data
`
`stream or data streams. The streaming adapter considers the factors described in
`
`step 250, above. For each modified data stream, the streaming adapter continues to
`
`send the data stream to a client or clients, but uses the updated methods.
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`25
`
`In alternate embodiments, a streaming adapter can operate in different
`
`manners. For example, a server may cooperate directly with a streaming adapter to
`
`service requests, without the cooperation of a network controller. Client requests
`
`received by a server may be forwarded to a streaming adapter. A server, a client, or
`
`a network controller need not have knowledge of the streaming adapter. The
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`30
`
`streaming adapter can effect its functionality without the active participation of such
`
`components.
`
`It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is
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`not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove.
`
`Altemate embodiments are contemplated which fall within the scope of the
`
`invention.
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`CLAIMS
`
`1.
`
`A method comprising:
`
`accepting a set of configuration parameters;
`
`5
`
`accepting a data stream from a server;
`
`transforming the data stream in response to the configuration parameters;
`
`and transmitting the transformed data stream to a data stream client.
`
`2.
`
`The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration parameters reflect the
`
`10
`
`capabilities of a network that transmits information between the server and the
`
`data stream client.
`
`3.
`
`The method of claim 2 wherein the capabilities of the network include
`
`bandwidth informati