(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. N0.: US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`Ramaley et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Sep. 26, 2002
`
`US 20020138619A1
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEIW FOR MANAGING
`AND DISTRIBUTING DIGITAL MEDIA
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Alan Ramaley, Seattle, WA (US);
`Andrew Sodt, Seattle, WA (US); Rahul
`Sonnad, Snohomish, WA (US); Ian
`Blaine, Seattle, WA (US); Andrew
`Olson, Kirkland, WA (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`CHRISTENSEN, O’CONNOR, JOHNSON,
`Egnggii :I/JIENUE
`SUITE 2800
`SEATTLE’ WA 98101-2347 (US)
`(73) Assignee:
`the-Platform for Media Inc.
`’
`
`(21) App]. No.:
`
`09/898,430
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 2, 2001
`
`Related US, Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/277,813, filed on Mar.
`21, 2001.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................... G06F 15/173
`
`(52) US. Cl.
`
`........................... 709/226; 709/217; 709/203
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system and method that integrates a plurality of media
`serv1ce systems oflermg drfierent multlmedla serv1ces such
`as media storage, syndication, delivery, and billing services.
`The system and method also provides automated file
`transcoding. In embodiment, a method of the present inven-
`tion includes receiving a plurality of physical media files,
`organizing the plurality of physical media files so that
`diiferent bit-rates and formats of a single source material are
`organized into a media database entity, receiving user speci—
`fied delivery settings for the distribution of the physical
`media file, generating a release database entity storing the
`delivery settings of the physical media file, generating an
`address indicating the storage location of the release, and
`transmitting the address to a remote computing device.
`
`START
`
`5!)!
`
`I
`
`REMOTE COMPUTER
`ESTABLISHES NETWORK
`CONNECTION WITH THE
`MANA GING SER VER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVE
`PARAMETERS T0
`CREA TEA RELEASE
`
`503
`
`CRE4 TE A DERIVA TIVF
`FILE FOR THE RELEASE
`
`505
`
`500
`
`STORE THE
`DER]VA TIVE FILE
`
`507
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(
`END/7
`I
`
`TRANSMIT URL T0 REMOTE
`COMPUTER FROM THE
`MANAGING SERVER
`
`509
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 1
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 1
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020-01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002 Sheet 1 of 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`
`
`
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`DISH Ex-1020, p. 2
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 2
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020-01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
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`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002 Sheet 2 of 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`230
`
`
`
`NETWORK
`
`200L
`
`
`INTERFA CE
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`WEB SER VER APPLICA TI0N
`
`255
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`MEDIA DA TABASE
`
`265
`
`Fig. 2.
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 3
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 3
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020-01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
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`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002 Sheet 3 of 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`Q N
`
`I20
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`MEDIASERVER
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 4
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 4
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020-01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002 Sheet 4 of 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`[300
`
`-IIE
`Flle Edit View Help
`
`305
`
`
`
`E:-
`
`Usage Reports
`
`307
`
`Added
`Category
`Copyright
`Title
`D E
`
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`!
`316
`U E News-fire1
`CNN2000
`4/2/01
`
`310
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`CNN 2001
`300K
`4/3/01
`
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`
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`
`4/2/01
`
`308
`
`309
`
`315
`
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`
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`3 new Media
`
`Fig. 4.
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 5
`DISH Ex-1020, p.5
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020-01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
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`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002 Sheet 5 of 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`[320
`
`321
`
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`
`
`
`Location:
`
`K http://a.general.web.site.com
`
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`
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`
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`——_——_
`
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`
`330
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`331
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`Fig. 5.
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 6
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 6
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020—01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`

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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002
`
`Sheet 6 of 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
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`DISH Ex-1020, p. 7
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 7
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020-01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`n.3,
`
`N3.
`
`M3.
`
`3%.
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002 Sheet 7 of 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`355"
`
`thePlatform: Release Details - Microsoft Internet Explorer
`
`E:
`
`Description:
`
`Mellow Frenchness
`
`Length:
`
`Settings:
`
`WM - Streaming - 64k - 1.2 MB
`
`(Use default - currently Activate)
`
`Added:
`
`4/17/01 7:44 PM (PDT)
`
`lg
`
`U
`
`D
`
`366
`
`365
`
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`
`Audio
`
`3 Available: Yes
`
`Owner:
`
`Alanra Records
`
`Title:
`
`Swimming Suit
`
`Author:
`
`Tahiti 80
`
`
`
`Copyright: © Alanra Records
`
`Fig. 6B.
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 8
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 8
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020—01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002 Sheet 8 of 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`355"
`
`Select the releases that you'd like to create:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`5
`thePlatform: Create Releases
`
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`
`Real - Streaming - 20k (0.5 MB)
`
`367
`
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`
`WM - Streaming — 7k (0.2 MB)
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`WM — Streaming — 20k (0.5 MB)
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`
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`Fig.6C.
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 9
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 9
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020—01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002 Sheet 9 of 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`[340
`
`301
`
`347
`
`Usage Reports
`
`BR
`
`Added
`
`348
`
`349
`
`350
`
`351
`
`4/2/01
`
`64K
`
`4/2/01
`
`128K
`
`4/2/01
`
`256K
`
`Fig. 7.
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 10
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 10
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020—01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002 Sheet 10 0f 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`MEDM
`
`TITLE
`
`COPYRIGHT
`
`INFORMATION
`
`CATAGORY
`
`/370
`
`3 72
`
`ADDRESS
`
`PHYSICAL MEDIA
`
`FDRAM T
`
`BITRA TE
`
`FILE LOCA TION
`
`FILE TYPE
`
`L OCA TI0N
`
`Fig. 8.
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 11
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 11
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020-01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002 Sheet 11 0f 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`[400
`
`403
`
`CREATED
`
`TITLE
`
`CATAGORY I
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2000
`
`1/20/01
`
`NEWS-CLIP2
`
`1 999, CNN
`
`A UT0 ACCIDENT
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 12
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 12
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020-01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002 Sheet 12 0f 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`/401
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FILE ID RELEASE MEDIA ID
`ID
`
`TRANSFER
`SETTING
`
`FILE TYPE
`
`2343
`
`123549
`
`2344
`
`123550
`
`2345
`
`123551
`
`2000
`
`2000
`
`2000
`
`128K
`
`256K
`
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`
`W
`
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`
`2344
`
`FILE LOCATION
`
`http //serv1ceprovtder com/32489 74 93455
`
`http://serviceprovider.com/clientfiles/343243
`
`411
`
`
`
`
`412
`
`
`413
`
`2000
`
`2345
`
`/usr/local/mediafiles/3490498
`
`
`
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`
`PHYSICALMEDIATABLE
`
`Fig. 9C.
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 13
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 13
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020-01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVE
`
`503
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002 Sheet 13 0f 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`501
`
`REMOTE COMPUTER
`
`ESTABLISHES NETWORK
`
`CONNECTION WITH THE
`M4NA GING SER VER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PARAMETERS TO
`
`
`
`CREA TE A RELEASE
`
`
`CREATEA DERIVATIVE
`
`FILE FOR THE RELEASE
`
`505
`
`500
`
`STORE THE
`
`DERIVA TIVE FILE
`
`507
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TRANSMIT URL T0 REMOTE
`COMPUTER FROM THE
`
`509
`
`AJANA GING SER VER
`
`Fig.10.
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 14
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 14
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020-01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 26, 2002 Sheet 14 0f 14
`
`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`
`
`
`CLIENT RECEIVES A
`MENU ITEM OF MEDIA
`
`FILES
`
`CLIENT TRANSMITS REQUEST
`
`FOR DIGITAL MEDIA
`
`531
`
`533
`
`
`
`FILE AVAILABLE
`?
`
`535
`
`537
`
`VALID MEDIA
`?
`
`
`
`TRANSMIT MEDIA
`DATA TO CLIENT
`
`
`
`542
`
`
`
`
`TRANSMIT
`
`ERROR CODE
`
`544
`
`END
`
`RE CORD MEDIA
`TRANSACTION
`
`Fig.1].
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 15
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 15
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020-01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`

`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`Sep. 26, 2002
`
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING AND
`DISTRIBUTING DIGITAL MEDIA
`
`CROSS —REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPI .ICATION
`
`[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
`§119(_e) of US. Provisional Application No. 60/277,813,
`filed on March 21, 2001, and titled “SYSTEM AND
`METHOD FOR MANAGING AND DISTRIBUTING
`STREAMING VIDEO,” the subject matter of which is
`expressly incorporated by reference herein.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002] The present invention relates to computer systems,
`and in particular, the present invention relates to a method
`and system for integrating a plurality of media service
`computer systems.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`there has been a tremendous
`In recent years,
`[0003]
`growth in the use of multimedia applications on the World
`Wide Web (“Web”). New developments in multimedia
`applications have greatly enhanced the quality of viewing
`experiences for users of the Web, as many now have access
`to multimedia applications that provide real—time video
`streams, audio streams, video-on-demand, video and audio
`downloads, and many other functions. To meet the demand
`for new multimedia applications, many Web-based multi-
`media services have been developed. Examples of some
`existing multimedia services include media storage, stream-
`ing, syndication, delivery, transcoding, tracking, and billing
`services. These multimedia services allow many publishers,
`content owners, and other content providers to store large
`banks of digital media, provide real—time video and audio
`streams to client computers, and carry out many functions to
`serve and manage multimedia systems.
`
`[0004] There are many known service providers that offer
`the above-described multimedia services. As can be appre-
`ciated by one skilled in the art, it is common for each service
`provider to specialize in a specific group of services. In
`certain instances, a service provider may be equipped to only
`provide one type of service because the various multimedia
`services require particular computing equipment to facilitate
`each service. For example, a first service provider may be
`limited to providing storage and video streaming services,
`while a second service provider may be limited to providing
`transcoding services.
`
`[0005] While existing systems are effective for providing
`their respective multimedia service, there are several disad—
`vantages. In partieular, it is difficult for content owners and
`multimedia publishers to readily combine and integrate the
`multimedia services provided by each service provider. In
`one illustrative example, if a multimedia publisher such as
`CNN Interactive desires to publish a video file on a Web site,
`several service providers must be utilized to implement all
`of the desired multimedia services that may be needed to
`publish the video file. For instance, in enabling a Web server
`to offer a streaming video feed to the public, the publisher
`may first need to select Anystream® to encode video content
`into digital media formats commonly used on the Internet
`such as RealMedia® and Windows Media Technologies®.
`CNN Interactive would then need to select StorageNet-
`
`worksTM to provide offsite storage for its digital media files,
`AkamaiTM for the streaming and download services, Zebus
`Group,
`Inc.
`for digital video advertising services and
`Generic Media® for transcoding services. This coordination
`between the plurality of service providers creates difficulty
`and expense, as multimedia publishers are required to select
`and coordinate compatible services. To date, no automated
`system exists for multimedia publishers to create, manage
`and distribute digital media files. In addition, since multi—
`media files are sizable, sometimes ranging 11p to 50 to 100
`MB, the management of the files between the computing
`systems associated with each service provider presents many
`logistical complications.
`
`In existing systems, the difficulty in coordinating
`[0006]
`and transferring multimedia files between each service pro-
`vider is exacerbated by the fact that multimedia publishers
`are generally required to generate and transfer several media
`files for each publication. As can be appreciated by one of
`ordinary skill
`in the art, most existing multimedia Web
`servers provide users with an option to view streaming video
`by the use of different media players, such as Real Player®
`and Windows Media Player®, while allowing the user to
`choose between a video stream at 300, 150, or 75 kilobits a
`second (also known as the bit—rate). The files to accommo—
`date these options are produced through a process known as
`encoding, in which a video signal is captured and converted
`to an uncompressed digital format and becomes the master
`media file. The master media file is then encoded to a
`
`such as RealMedia® or Windows
`compressed format
`Media®. Thus, to offer a single master media file in two
`formats and three bit-rates requires the encoding process to
`generate six individual digital media file. As between the
`multimedia publisher and the encoding service provider, the
`encoding process is manual. The multimedia publisher must
`provide the source material (eg. video tape) to the encoding
`service provider who then performs the encoding and returns
`the digital media files to the publisher. The management of
`all files related to one publication is a difficult task given that
`it is challenging to maintain the relationship between each
`derivative file and the corresponding master media file. This
`complex task creates an opportunity for inaccurate file
`management,
`thereby creating incorrect cross-references
`and lost files.
`
`[0007] Even if a multimedia publisher successfully creates
`and manages all of the files that must be generated from a
`master media file, additional challenges arise when the
`encoding formats change or are upgraded. For example, the
`current versions of the most popular formats are RealMedia
`8® and Windows Media 7®. These formats may be
`upgraded once or even twice a year, forcing a multimedia
`publisher to go through the process of manually encoding
`even more media files from the master media file. Encoding
`from an uncompressed master media file occurs in real-time
`and is therefore time consuming and expensive. Conse-
`quently, many multimedia publishers will generate digital
`media files in the latest formats through a process known as
`transcoding. Transcoding differs
`from first generation
`encoding in that
`the transcoder does not work from an
`uncompressed file, but instead generates the new digital
`media files from previously compressed files. Like encod-
`ing, transcoding is mainly a manual process.
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 16
`DISH Ex-1020, p.16
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020—01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`

`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`Sep. 26, 2002
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`invention provides a system and
`[0008] The present
`method for managing and distributing digital media between
`a plurality of service providers offering different multimedia
`services. More specifically, the system and method of the
`present
`invention manages and tracks the transfer of a
`voluminous quantity of sizable multimedia files between
`multimedia computing systems associated with different
`service providers. According to one aspect of the invention,
`the system and method integrates existing multimedia sys-
`tems providing services such as media storage, syndication,
`delivery, and billing services. The system and method of the
`present invention also provides other novel media services
`such as automated file transcoding.
`
`In one embodiment, the system comprises a net-
`[0009]
`worked computer environment having a plurality of client
`computers, a managing server, a media source server, and a
`plurality of media service computing systems. The manag-
`ing server comprises a media database for storing, tracking,
`converting and distributing a plurality of digital media files.
`The managing server is operable to electronically commu-
`nicate with the plurality of client computers, media service
`computing systems and the media source server for receiv-
`ing, transferring, transmitting, and tracking digital media
`between each of the computing devices of the networked
`computer environment.
`
`In one illustrative example, a method of the present
`[0010]
`invention includes: receiving a physical media file, organiz-
`ing physical media files so that different bit-rates and for-
`mats of the same source material are organized into a media
`database entity, receiving user specified delivery settings for
`the distribution of the physical media file, generating a
`Release database entity, thereby relating the delivery set—
`tings to the physical media file, generating an address
`indicating the location of the Release, and transmitting the
`address to a remote computing device.
`
`In another illustrative example, another method of
`[0011]
`the present invention includes: receiving a request for a
`Release, dynamically determining if any physical media file
`for the media satisfies the delivery settings for the Release,
`and determining the location of the physical media file by
`the use of a media database. The media database architecture
`includes a logical data model providing a formatted library
`of classifications of the media, physical media files, and
`Release objects for the received media files. The media
`database facilitates the integration of media services and the
`collection of data associated with the use of each media file.
`
`In another aspect of the invention, an automated
`[0012]
`transcoding method is provided, In one embodiment imple-
`mented on a computing device, the method includes receiv-
`ing a master physical media file having a first bit-rate,
`determining a number of physical media files that can be
`derived from the master media file, creating a derivative
`physical media file from an existing physical media file if
`existing physical files do not satisfy the delivery settings of
`a Release, storing the derivative file in a media database, and
`distributing the derivative file to at least one media service
`computing system.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0013] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant
`advantages of this invention will become more readily
`
`appreciated as the same become better understood by ref-
`erence to the following detailed description, when taken in
`conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
`
`[0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computing envi-
`ronment in which the present invention functions according
`to one embodiment of the present invention;
`
`[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one computing device
`of the computing environment of FIG. 1 for implementing
`the method of the present invention;
`
`[0016] FIG. 3 is a data flow diagram of a computing
`environment for receiving, storing and distributing digital
`media;
`
`[0017] FIG. 4 is an illustrative example of a graphical user
`interface for viewing media stored in the system of the
`present invention;
`
`[0018] FIG. Sis an illustrative example of a graphical user
`interface configured for communicating delivery parameters
`of media files;
`
`[0019] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are illustrative examples of
`graphical user interfaces configured for receiving service
`provider settings from a user;
`
`[0020] FIG. 7 is an illustrative example of a graphical user
`interface configured for receiving Release information of a
`media file from a user;
`
`[0021] FIG. 8 is an illustrative example of a data structure
`utilized to store media files in accordance with one aspect of
`the present invention;
`
`[0022] FIG. 9A is an illustrative example of a Media
`Table in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;
`FIG. 9B is an illustrative example of a Release Table in
`accordance with one aspect of the present invention; and
`
`[0023] FIG. 9C is an illustrative example of a physical
`Media Table in accordance with one aspect of the present
`invention;
`
`[0024] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
`receiving and storing digital media files from a remote
`computing device; and
`
`[0025] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for
`distributing digital media to a plurality of computing
`devices.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`invention provides a system and
`[0026] The present
`method for managing and distributing digital media between
`a plurality of service providers offering different multimedia
`services. According to one aspect of the invention,
`the
`system and method integrates existing multimedia systems
`providing services such as media storage, syndication, deliv-
`ery, and billing services. The system and method of the
`present invention also provides other novel media services
`such as automated file transcoding.
`
`[0027] According to one illustrative example, a publisher
`or media owner may publish one media file by uploading the
`media file to a managing server. Upon receipt of the media
`file, the managing server automatically stores the media file.
`In one method, the server may distribute the received media
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 17
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 17
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020—01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`

`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`Sep. 26, 2002
`
`file to a plurality of remote computing devices depending 011
`the multimedia service requested by the user. This auto—
`mated distribution process allows a user to utilize a number
`of service providers without the need to produce, distribute
`and track a plurality of media files for each media. The
`system is configured to allow the content provider to moni-
`tor and control the distribution of the media by the use of a
`single graphical user interface. In addition, the system of the
`present invention allows users of client computers to readily
`access, receive and view the published media via a central-
`ized server.
`
`[0028] The following summary of the present invention
`first provides an overview of one suitable computing envi-
`ronment in which the invention may be implemented. The
`summary then provides a general description of a graphical
`user interface used in the operation of the system and
`method of the present invention. Lastly, the following sum—
`mary provides an illustrative example of one implementa-
`tion of the database structures and methods of the present
`invention.
`
`[0029] Referring now to FIG. 1, the following discussion
`is intended to provide an exemplary overview of one suit-
`able computing environment 100 in which the invention
`may be implemented. Generally described, the computing
`environment 100 comprises a plurality of client computers
`130, a media source server 120, a managing server 110, and
`a plurality of media servers 140. Each computing device
`depicted in FIG. 1 is configured to electronically commu-
`nicate via a network, such as the Internet 101. In addition,
`the managing server 110 and the media servers 140 may be
`in a configuration that is controlled by one or more business
`entities and thus also configured to electronically commu-
`nicate via a Local Area Network (“LAN”). It should be
`appreciated that the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG.
`1 is one suitable computing environment for the present
`invention and that methods described below may be imple-
`mented in any computing environment. For instance, the
`computing environment 100 of FIG. 1 may be configured on
`an Intranet, thereby limiting the computing devices to a
`closed system. Each computing device 110-140 will be
`described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 2.
`
`[0030] As known to one of ordinary skill in the art, the
`term “Internet” refers to a collection of networks and routers
`
`that use the Internet protocol (“IP”) to communicate with
`one another. As known to one having ordinary skill in the art,
`the Internet 101 generally comprises a plurality of LANs and
`Wide Area Networks (“WANs”) that are interconnected by
`routers. Routers are special purpose computers used to
`interface one LAN or WAN to another. Communication
`links within the LANs may be twisted pair wire, or coaxial
`cable, while communications links between WANs may be
`optical links. Also known in the art, the “Web” has a vast
`collection of computing devices configured to distribute
`media and text documents via the Internet 101.
`
`embodiment for practicing the present invention. As shown
`in FIG. 2, the computing devices utilized in the implemen—
`tation of the present invention include a network interface
`230 for electronic communication with a network, such as
`the Internet 101.
`
`[0032] Each computing device depicted in FIG. 1 also
`includes a processing unit 210, a display unit 240, and
`memory 250. The memory 250 generally comprises a ran-
`dom access memory (“RAM”),
`a
`read-only memory
`(“ROM”), and a permanent mass storage device, such as a
`hard drive. The memory 250 stores the program code
`necessary for operating the hardware components of the
`computing device, such as an operating system 255.
`In
`addition, the memory 250 of the servers 110, 120 and 140
`each stores other applications such as a Web server 260
`application. The memory 250 of each client computer 130
`stores a Web browser application, such as NETSCAPE
`NAVIGATOR®
`or
`MICROSOFT
`INTERNET
`EXPLORER®, and a media player application, such as the
`MICROSOFT WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER®. The Web
`server application 260 and each web browser and media
`player application are configured for communication of
`hypertext documents, media streams, and file transfers.
`[0033]
`To facilitate one implementation of the present
`invention, the managing server 110 is also configured with
`a database 265 for storage of a plurality of digital media
`files. As described in more detail below, one aspect of the
`invention provides a database structure for storing and
`organizing a vast number of digital media files for improved
`communication and file coordination between the plurality
`of media servers 140 and the media source server 120. It will
`be appreciated that the software components 255-265 may
`be loaded from a computer-readable medium into the
`memory 250 using a drive mechanism associated with a
`computer-readable medium, such as a floppy, tape, CD-
`ROM drive, or by download, etc.
`[0034] Although each of the computing devices of FIG. 1
`have been described as conventional general purpose com-
`puting devices, those of ordinary skill in the art will appre-
`ciate that the computing devices may be constructed from a
`plurality of unconventional electronic devices, such as a
`server having a plurality of distributed hardware configura—
`tion. In addition, the client computer 130 may comprise of
`a two-way pager, a cellular phone, a personal data assistant
`(“PDA”), or the like.
`[0035] Referring now to FIG. 3, a general description of
`the operation of the present invention will be described. In
`one illustrative example of the present invention, the media
`source server 120 may be associated with a business entity
`such as a publisher or content provider offering hypertext
`documents and media files to users of the client computers
`130. The media source server 120 may be configured in one
`computing device or a plurality of networked computing
`devices to display hypertext documents having links to
`media files.
`
`[0031] Referring now to FIG. 2, an illustrative computing
`architecture 200 for implementing one of the computing
`devices 110-140 in accordance to one embodiment will be
`described. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
`that the computing devices of FIG. 1 may include many
`more components than those shown in FIG. 2. However, it
`is not necessary that all of these generally conventional
`components be shown in order to disclose an illustrative
`
`[0036] The media servers 140 may be associated with a
`media service provider such as Akamai or StorageNet—
`worksTM. Each media server 140 may be configured to
`provide a multimedia service such as media storage, stream—
`ing, syndication, or the like. As described below, the man-
`aging server 110 may be constructed of one or more com-
`puting devices, and may be associated with any independent
`business entity or any business entity described above.
`
`DISH Ex-1020, p. 18
`DISH Ex-1020, p.18
`DISH v. BBiTV
`DISH V. BBiTV
`IPR2020-01267
`IPR2020—01267
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`AT&T EXHIBIT 1020
`
`

`

`US 2002/0138619 A1
`
`Sep. 26, 2002
`
`In one aspect of the present invention, an upload
`[0037]
`process is provided for allowing a user to deliver a media file
`to the managing server 110 for storage With respect to yet
`another aspect of the present invention, a distribution pro—
`cess is provided for allowing users of a client computer 130
`to receive and view a multimedia file via a centralized
`server. Detailed descriptions of the upload and distribution
`processes are provided below.
`[0038] The data flow diagram of FIG. 3 generally
`describes the data transactions between each computing
`device 110—140 in one implementation of the present inven—
`tion. One method of the present invention allows a publisher
`or content provider to upload and release a media file for
`public viewing. In the following example, a media file is
`provided by a publisher utilizing a client computer 130.
`Although this example involves the use of a client computer
`130, any networked computing device can be used by the
`publisher to execute the upload process.
`[0039] The data flow process starts at data path 285 where
`the content provider uploads a media file from the media
`source server 120 to the managing server 110. Once the
`media file is received by the managing server 110,
`the
`managing server stores the media file in its database and
`associates a plurality of database attributes to the media. As
`described below, with respect to FIGS. 9A-9C one aspect of
`the present invention involves a media database architecture
`to efliciently organize and store the received media files.
`[0040] Once the media file is stored, the managing server
`110 generates a dataset that indicates the location of the
`stored media file. In accordance to different embodiments,
`the dataset may be in the form of a URL or any text message
`that indicates a directory, computer network address, or
`database ID that describes the location of the media file. As
`indicated by data path 287, the dataset is transmitted from
`the managing server 110 to the client computer 130. Once
`the dataset is received by the client computer 130, the user
`of the client computer may then readily use the dataset to
`construct a Web site that links to the uploaded media file.
`[0041] Referring again to the data flow diagram of FIG. 3,
`a general description of the distribution process is described.
`In the following example, a user of the client computer 130
`requests for the viewing of a desired media file by selecting
`a hypertext link that may be displayed on a Web page
`provided by the media source server 120. The user’s request
`to receive the desired media file may utilize the dataset that
`is generated in the above—described upload process, where
`the dataset is imbedded in a selected hypertext link of the
`Web page provided by the media source server 120.
`[0042] The user’s request originates from the client com-
`puter 130 and may be transmitted to the managing server 110
`by data path 285, or the user’s request may be transmitted to
`the managing server 110 via the media source server 120
`thereby utilizing data paths 281 and 282. Once the managing
`server 110 receives the user’s request, the managing server
`110 processes the user’s request by using the dataset to
`determine the proper location of the requested media file.
`Once the media file is located, the managing server 110
`transmits a metadata file t