Equil EX2006
`Akamai Techs. v. Equil IP Holdings
`IPR2023-00332
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 1 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`100
`
`
`
`SYSTEM
`
`110
`
`Web Server
`
`Client Browser
`
`Client Browser
`
`
`
`
`Client Browser
`
`Client Browser
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 2 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`
`
`200
`
`Original Media
`
`
`
`
`
`MEDIA POST|Media is manipulated
`210 PRODUCTION|by hand and prepared
`
`SYSTEMS
`for the Web.
`
`220
`
`Generated Web media
`
`
`
`HTML referring to
`media tags
`
`110
`
`Web Server
`
`160
`
`FIG, 2
`
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 3 of 23
`
`US6,964,009 B2
`
`200
`
`Original Media
`
`100
`
`SYSTEM
`
`220
`
`Generated
`
`Webmedia
`
`KY
`
`300
`
`LS
`
`|
`
`HTML with
`proprietary
`media tags
`
`230
`
`ns
`
`|
`
`Modified HTML
`referring to
`generated media
`
`ffN
`WebServer
`
`160
`
`FIG. 3
`
`120
`
`LJ Web Browser
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 4 of 23
`
`US6,964,009 B2
`
`o
`
`ORIGINAL IMAGES
`ASSETS
`
`POTSTEMS
`
`
`110
`
`Disk
`Management
`
`Manipulation
`Conversion
`
`Upload
`
`Management
`
`
`
`
`
`120
`
`
`
`BROWSER
`
`FIG. 4
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 5 of 23
`
`US6,964,009 B2
`
`460
`
`500,
`
` WEB SERVER
`
`ASSET MANAGEMENT
`AUTOMATIC MANIPULATION
`AUTOMATIC CONVERSION
`AUTOMATIC UPLOAD
`
`AUTOMATIC DISK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
`
`BROWSER
`
`FIG. 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 6 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`
`
`abew)jeulsug
`
`
`
`
`
`VICI
`
`LdlW9S
`
`0&9
`
`VIdSW
`
`AYOLISOd3u
`
`099
`
`S99
`
`VIdIW
`
`NOILVIY9
`
`WALSAS
`
`VIGIW
`
`ONIHOVO
`
`W3LSAS
`
`IWLH
`
`YASUVd
`
`
`
`LATAYASVAVE
`
`ANISNA
`
`WALSAS
`
`0&9
`
`0z9
`
`
`
`oof==]WeeNH
`
`she}
`
`Arejaudod
`
`009
`
`JHOVOVIdIW
`
`asvavivd
`
`0v9
`
`SP9
`
`
`
`sebewy]payejauay
`
`YSAd3aSGM
`
`YASMOUS
`
`Orr
`
`O¢T
`
`0&2
`
`ULMTALENpaljIpoyy
`
`Wwa}sas
`
`payeaio
`
`safe!
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 7 of 23
`
`US6,964,009 B2
`
`Original
`media is
`created.
`
`200
`
`Proprietary
`
`SYSTEM
`100
`
`Media is
`
`
`
`placed
`620
`mediatag is \
`inHien
`converted to
`standard HTML >
`G
`ted
`that refers to
`enerale
`media in cache.
`MEDIA
`660
`CACHE
`edin
`
`
`and the ag Me
`media cache.
`Media tag
`
`
`
`
`equivalent|\conyerTeR/ 7
`
`
`
`
`Parser
`are stored in
`220
`
`parses Aa
`530
`media tags
`
`Parser looks
`ooxKing 10r
`database.
`
`Generated
`media tags./
`up media tags
`
`
`
`If
`Web media
`}
`CF in database.
`
` MEDIA
`HTML
`media tag is
`CREATION
`
`found then
`PARSER
`610
`SYSTEM
`
`Media tag is used
`to generate
`Web mecia
`
`
`
`|
`
`640
`
`modified HTML.
`
`aS
`
`
`
`produce
`Media tags
`are replaced
`Web Server
`by standard
`passes
`ye .
`requested
`equivalen
`im
`
`inHTmL/Moaited web page
`document.
`to foparserfo
`Modified HTML HTMLis=/HIMLiscreated
`
`
`documentis
`with media tags
`delivered to
`and placed on
`Web Server.
`Web Server.
`delivers modified B 110
`HTML to Browser. PSN
`Web Server
`
`Web Server
`
`\ Original
`HTML
`
`
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Webpage.
`
`[serviews} (| [userrequest)
`
`___
`ralLU
`
`a Webpage.
`
`120
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 8 of 23
`
`US6,964,009 B2
`
`AUTHORING FLOWCHART
`
`800
`
`
`Com
`
`
`
`
`
`USER ADDS ORIGINAL
`GRAPHIC TO
`SYSTEM
`
`810
`
`820
`
`830
`
`
`
`
`
`USER CREATES
`HTML THAT CONTAINS
`
`PROPRIETARY
`MEDIA TAGS
`
`
`
`
`
`USER PLACES HTML
`ON WEB SERVER
`
`
`
`840
`
`FIG. 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 9 of 23
`
`US6,964,009 B2
`
`HTML PARSING FLOWCHART
`
`START
`
`900
`
`USER REQUESTS
`WEB PAGE
`
`
`
`WEB PAGE
`
`WEB SERVER HANDS
`REQUEST OF WEB
`PAGE TO SYSTEM
`
`SYSTEM PARSES
`
`910
`
`920
`
`930
`
`980
`
`DELIVER MODIFIED
`WEB PAGE TO WEB
`SERVER
`
`RETRIEVE HTML
`EQUIVALENT OF
`MEDIA TAG
`
`950
`
`990
`
`
`
`
`
`
`REPLACE MEDIA TAG|960
`WITH HTML
`EQUIVALENT
`
`
`
`
`
`CONTINUE PARSING
`WEB PAGE
`
`
`970
`
`FIG. 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 8, 2005
`
`Sheet 10 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`MEDIA CREATION FLOWCHART
`
`START
`
`1000
`
`1010
`
`SYSTEM REQUESTS
`HTML EQUIVALENT
`TO A MEDIA TAG
`
`1020 COMBINED
`
`
`MEDIA TAG IS
`CREATE
`WITH BANDWIDTH
`WSING
`
`MEDIA TAG
`INFORMATION
`
`
`1090
`
`
`
`DOES
`
`MEDIA TAG EXIST
`
`
`IN MEDIA TAG
`
`DATABASE?
`
`
`
`MEDIA
` MEDIA TAG
`DATABASE
`
`
`
`
`REMOVE
`HAVE
`ANY OF THE ORIGINAL
`MEDIA TAG
`
`
`
`ASSETS USED TO CREATE
`ENTRYFROM
`
`
`
`THE MEDIA
`
`
`
`CHANGED?
`DATABASE
`
`
`
`
`NO
`
`1100
`
`GENERATE
`HTML
`REFERRING TO
`
`GENERATED
`
`RETRIEVE HTML
`EQUIVALENT FROM
`DATABASE
`
`1050
`
`1110
`
`RETURNHTML
`EQUIVALENT TO
`REQUESTOR
`
`PLACE MEDIA
`|-~960 TAG AND HTML
`EQUIVALENT IN
`
`
`
`1120
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 11 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`sainuapuadeg
`
`
`
`2D729008010,7009
`
`OO,ETEESVWD7
`
`TTUSOGISD?
`
`18a9eMILLE
`
`BereUyee
`
`bL9L7BCG.EY
`
`
`
`asquieqspuoalyo4}Teay)
`
`JOIHS3HSAHLNIATLNIYYNDVICI
`
`IT
`Ola
`
`NeHOLSDL!
`
`BIMOLOG
`
`PECTUTTE,
`
`
`
`
`
`TROT,OFCaBOTUCL
`
`vOHeTsTUrMpyeplee.ywmnpquinby©rae
`
`.ASG3H3MOd
`
` ASVEVIVG
`EIDTTCYTEtyObsAUPE,WHEeGeTeh’QOSUTOVSEMTREWOOPWEMWhie
`
`etdeeAGIBLEbeOeyFeTE,YORieUeSeIeMp,JFyt(pOOCTEBQWUOLBVTI,POEOeip
`
`
`LATOETOSbeHbTGOB“BeSLPLONEB.DkheWIGAWWL,&BCEIGMETE,NGAE.8.'=1.Br
`MERSSheabaFGThBeALOUERE,TEQEOENY,7hDPITONGTUL.FONTSOVOETL
`
`
`
`--BSAA.POMEpHO,
`(s)al14poyesouayuypimpuegJduoseipay
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`UONRASIUIWpYaplaadywNagiInbs
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 12 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`DATABASE DESCRIPTION
`
`SCRIPT TABLE
`
`1200
`
`
`
`
`
`=,
`
`
`
`Cated
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 12
`
`DEPENDENCY TABLE
`
`FILE NAME
`
`MODIFICATION DATE
`
`1260
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 8, 2005
`
`Sheet 13 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`ORIGINAL IMAGES
`
` CO thumbnail_mask.tga@100%.(RGB)O 0
`
`
`
`—l
`
`ogo3.tga @ 100%(RGB)
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 14 of 23
`
`US6,964,009 B2
`
`HTML DOCUMENT WITH PROPRIETARY TAG
`
`1400
`
`image.html
`
`
`
`<him!>
`<1.¢al>
`<utle>
`Title Fiance
`</titia>s
`>he au>
`< ody
`<imasro= <freondeimagqe>var) = New Mediag), insanene © ges .tge);
`LSuaktys @ €5, contetrein @ tree, ag © “amacth'); | Crapaase 64,5269,
`pausclor @ Cxhithy var '2 = new MeciaQ; 2.ocd\imame ©
`humMeNail_mMesh,tya), LCompasiteiso.ee @ 12); Laceleixs, © 69, s@v,cig
`@ "soats."), WPecuceg: ave(ves @ "g), <freandenege>
`heia.t=C0 “victh 60 Laiders)><or
`<ouvs
`<mtnl>
`
`FIG.14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 15 of 23
`
`US6,964,009 B2
`
`1500
`
`HTML DOCUMENTVIEWED IN BROWSER
`
`Title Frame
`<4 l>
`
`1510
`
`HTML DOCUMENT SOURCE
`
`image.html
`
`<rtm!>
`<necd>
`stito>
`Tihe Frame
`<actles
`<reat>
`<imysic=
`“reancesTeTeServer Vache Qe7US474 13S Qu"
`heith. 60 witt.=69 boraar=V>~"O1.-
`<OU>
`
`FIG.15
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 8, 2005
`
`Sheet 16 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`GENERATEDGIF IMAGE
`
`O
`
`927064674139.gif @ 100%
`
`FIG.16
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 17 of 23
`
`US6,964,009 B2
`
`200
`
`210
`
`
`
`Media Post
`Production
`Systems
`
`
`
`Original Media
`
`
`HTML Page
`referring to
`Media URLs
`
`220
`
`
`
`
`
`Generated
`Web Media
`
`
`110 CI
`
`
`
`~ Web “Server |
`
`
`
` foo
`i
`Fait
`C} jont
`Cl ient
`Browser
`Browser
`
`FIG. 17
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 8, 2005
`
`Sheet 18 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`HTML Page
`
`With Tag-
`
`embedded URLs
`
`501
`N
`
`|
`
`200
`
`Original
`
`Media
`
`130
`
`120d
`
`
`
`
`
`Client
`Browser
`
`Cc ljjent
`Browser
`
`
`
`Cl ‘ont
`Browser
`
`120c
`
`L_]
`Client
`Browser
`
`FIG. 18
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 8, 2005
`
`Sheet 19 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`Automatic Conversion Automaice Upload
`
`
`507
`
`aA
`
`sset Management
`Automatic Manipulation
`
`Automatic Customization
`Automatic Disk Management
`Proxy-cache control
`Delivery
`
`460
`
`110
`
`Web
`Server
`
`120
`
`Browser
`
`FIG. 19
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 20 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`00}
`
`UO!}D18US5)ODNDIDeNSsfp}WN
`
`PUBUO)Aupye!idoig
`
`
`S8.ANped04qwe}SAggoisis
`
`
`
`uo!}De4UIUODJ8A18
`
`
`
`
`
`DIpaW|OUI5|419
`
`0g“OTH
`
`Asojisoday
`
`DIpaW
`
`sefpw]pe}D18UE4
`
`
`
` 0506
`(7We
`
`gem
`
`JBAIBS
`
`Obl
`
`01020008UREN
`
`
`
`seBDq“WH
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 21 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`200
`
`Original
`Media is
`Created
`
`100
`
`2180
`
`2170
`
`2160
`
`2040
`
`Primary
`Cached Media]
`
`Secondary
`|Cached Media
`
`User Profile
`Procedure
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Dynamic Media
`Procedures
`
`
` Primary
`Key
` Generation
`
` Secondary
`
`Key
`Generation
`
`
`Media
`Repository
`
`2190
`
`Cache
`Control
`
`2120
`
`Media
`Cache
`
`2140
`
`Content
`Generation
`Procedures
`
`2100
`
`URL Tag
`Parser
`
`301 Oo
`
`HTML Page with
`Proprietary
`URL Tags
`
`Jsever
`
`110
`
`120
`
`Web Server
`
`Browser
`
`FIG. 21
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov.8, 2005
`
`Sheet 22 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`URL
`
`2200
`
`Parse Proprietaty URL Tags
`
`Final Lookup Key Generation
`
`2210
`
`£e20
`
`2230
`Image Cached?
`
`N
`
`2240
`
`Separate Dynamic Tags
`
`Y
`
`
`
`Intermediate Image Lookup Key Generation
`
`2290
`
`
`
`Content
`>
`Image Cached?
`Generation
`
`Intermediate
`
`Image Caching
`ore
`2
`
`Valid
`Dynamic
`N
`Content Generation
`For Zoon/Pan/
`-
`Prokessing?
`image Type}
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2260
`
`N
`
`Image
`Format
`
`
`
`2280
`
`-
`-
`User Profile Procassing
`
`Proxy-cache Control
`
`2290
`
`FIG. 22
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 8, 2005
`
`Sheet 23 of 23
`
`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`| User adds original
`|
`graphic to system
`
`
`
`
`
`
`User creates content
`generation procedures
`
`
`on system to
`manipulate originals
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`User creates HIML
`pages on Web Server
`with Proprietary
`URL Tags
`
`
`
`FIG. 23
`
`

`

`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`1
`AUTOMATED MEDIA DELIVERY SYSTEM
`
`This APPLICATIONis a Continuation-in-part (CIP) of
`prior application No. 09/425,326 filed Oct. 21, 1999 andis
`hereby incorporated by reference.
`This application claims benefit of Provisional 60/226,043
`filed Aug. 16, 2000.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Technical Field
`
`The invention relates to software systems. More
`particularly, the invention relates to an Internet server-based
`software system that provides delivery of automated graph-
`ics and other media to Web sites for access by an end user
`or consumer.
`
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Most Web sites today are primarily handmade. From the
`guy publishing a simple online technology newsletter from
`his home, to the Fortune 1000 company’s multi-tiered site
`with hundreds of pages of text, images, and animations, the
`Web developer and each of his HTML-coding and graphics-
`producing coworkerstoil page by page and image by image.
`Thousands of established online companies employ hun-
`dreds of highly-skilled workers just to produce and maintain
`their Web sites. After all, the Web is now a major selling
`vehicle and marketing medium for many of these compa-
`nies. ‘The Web has even sprouted service industries such as,
`for example, public companies with multi-billion dollar
`valuations created just to consult and produce Websites for
`others.
`
`Most Web developers who use established WYSIWYG
`tools in the industry still must produce each page on their
`Website one by one. The samerate applies to preparing and
`placing images, animations, and other visual assets. Each
`page represents its own set of issues ranging from whether
`to use GIF, JPEG, or PNG file formats,
`to finding the
`optimum bit depth for each image to ensure the fastest
`downloading through the different browsers of the con-
`sumer. The bottleneckedstate of the customer’s workflow to
`produce graphics for Web pages can be described as follows:
`Current Workflow for Creating Web Graphics
`Original Artwork/Asset Creation
`Use third-party point products
`Asset Editing
`Scale/reduce/slice
`Asset Format Conversion
`JPEG/GIF/PNG
`Asset Staging
`Place in Web file system
`Edit TTML
`
`Create/Modify HTMLfor particular page
`Store HTML on Web server
`
`Viewfinal pages
`Repeat process for each version of each graphic on each
`page
`Estimated time
`Two hours per page times the number of pages
`Also, from a user’s perspective, the current state of the art
`is to offer the consumer zooming and panning capabilities so
`that by clicking on an image the consumer can view more
`closely or from a different angle. On the horizon are pages
`with three-dimensional imagery that enable a user to move
`around a page that can look more like a room than a
`brochure. While interesting, these features are merely incre-
`mental improvements to a consumer’s surfing experience.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`D. C. A. Bulterman, Models, Media, and Motion: Using
`the Web to Support Multimedia Documents, Proceedings of
`1997 International Conference on Multimedia Modeling,
`Singapore, Nov. 17-20, 1997 discloses “an effort underway
`by membersofindustry, research centers and user groups to
`define a standard document format
`that can be used in
`conjunction with time-based transport protocols over the
`Internet and intranets to support rich multimedia presenta-
`tions. The paper outlines the goals of the W3C’s Synchro-
`nized Multimedia working group and presents an initial
`description of the first version of the proposed multimedia
`document model and format.”
`Text and Graphics on UMI’s ProQuest Direct: The Best
`(vet) of both Worids, Online, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 73-7,
`March=14 April 1997 discloses an information system that
`offers “periodical and newspaper content covering a wide
`range of business, news, and professional topics .
`.
`. letting
`the user search both text and graphics and build the product
`to suit. Articles can be retrieved in varying levels of detail:
`citation, abstracts, full text, and text with graphics. Images
`come in two flavors: Page Image, a virtual photocopy, and
`Text+Graphics, in which graphicsare stored separately from
`the text and are manipulable as discrete items ... . [The
`system] comes in two versions: Windows and Web.”
`John Mills Dudley, Network-Based Classified Informa-
`tion Systems, AU-A-53031/98 (Aug. 27, 1998) discloses a
`“system for automatically creating databases containing
`industry, service, product and subject classification data,
`contact data, geographic location data (CCG-data) and links
`to web pages from HTML, XML, or SGML encoded web
`pages posted on computer networks such as Internets or
`Intranets .... The .. . databases may be searched for
`references (URLs) to web pages by use of enquiries which
`reference one or more of the items of the CCG-data.
`
`Alternatively, enquiries referencing the CCG-data in the
`databases may supply contact data without web page refer-
`ences. Data duplication and coordination is reduced by
`including in the web page CCG-data display controls which
`are used by web browsersto format for display the same data
`that is used to automatically update the databases.”
`Cordell et al, Automatic Data Display Formatting with A
`Networking Application, U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,084 (Dec. 1,
`1998) discloses a placeholder image mechanism. “Whena
`data request is made, the data transfer rate is monitored.
`When the receive data transfer rate is slow, and the data
`contains an embedded graphical
`image of unknown
`dimensions, a small placcholdcr image is automatically
`displayed for the user instead of the actual data. The small
`placeholder image holds a place on a display device for the
`data or the embedded graphical image until the data or
`embedded graphical image is received. When embedded
`graphical
`image is reccived,
`the placcholder
`image is
`removed, and the display device is reformatted to display the
`embedded graphical image.”
`Jonathon R. T. Lewis, System For Substituting Tags For
`Non-Editable Data Sets in Hypertext Documents And
`Updating Web Files Containing Links Between Data Sets
`Corresponding To Changes Made To The Tags, U.S. Pat. No.
`5,355,472 (Oct. 11, 1994) discloses a “hypertext data pro-
`cessing system wherein data sets participating in the hyper-
`text document may be edited, the data processing system
`inserting tags into the data sets at locations correspondingto
`the hypertext links to create a file which is editable by an
`editor and the dala processing system removing the tags,
`generating, a revised data set and updating the link informa-
`tion after the editing process. Its main purposeis to preserve
`the linking hierarchy that may get lost when the individual
`data sets get modified.”
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`3
`Wistendahlet al, System for Mapping Hot Spots in Media
`Content Interactive Digital Media Program, U.S. Pat. No.
`5,708,845 (Jan. 13, 1998) discloses a “system for allowing
`media content to be used in an interactive digital media
`(IDM) program [that] has Frame Data for the media content
`and object mapping data (N Data) representing the frame
`addresses and display location coordinates for objects
`appearing in the media content. Ihe N Data are maintained
`separately from the Frame Data for the media content, so
`that the media content can be kept intact without embedded
`codes and can be played back on any system. The IDM
`program has established linkages connecting the objects
`mapped by the N Data to other functions to be performed in
`conjunction with display of the media content. Selection of
`an object appearing in the media content with a pointer
`results in initiation of the interactive function. A broad base
`of existing non-interactive media content, such as movies,
`videos, advertising, and television programming can be
`converted to interactive digital media use. An authoring
`system for creating IDM programs has an object outlining
`tool and an object motion tracking tool for facilitating the
`generation of N Data. In a data storage disk, the Frame Data
`and the N Data are stored on separate sectors. In a network
`system,
`the object mapping data and IDM program are
`downloadedto a subscriber terminal and used in conjunction
`with presentation of the media content.”
`Rogers et al, Method for Fulfilling Requests of A Web
`Browser, U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,451 (Dec. 23, 1997) and
`Lagarde et al, Method for Distributed Task Fulfillment of
`Web Browser Requests, U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,918 (Jan. 20,
`1998) disclose essentially “improvements which achieve a
`means for accepting Web client requests for information,
`obtaining data from one or more databases which may be
`located on multiple platformsat different physical locations
`on an Internet or on the Internet, processing that data into
`meaningful information, and presenting that information to
`the Web client in a text or graphics display at a location
`specified by the request.”
`‘Tyan et al, HI'ML Generator, European Patent Applica-
`tion No. EP 0843276 (May 20, 1998) discloses “generating
`an IITML file based on an input bitmap image, and is
`particularly directed to automatic generation of an HTML
`file, based on a scanned-in document image, with the HTMT.
`file in turn being used to generate a Web pagethat accurately
`reproduces the layout of the original input bitmap image.”
`TrucSpectra has a patent pending for the technology
`employed inits two products, IrisAccelerate and IrisTrans-
`active. These products are designed for zooming and pan-
`ning and simple image transformations and conversions,
`respectively. They support 10 file formats and allow devel-
`opers to add newfile formats via their SDK. They do not
`require the use of Flashpix for images. However,
`their
`documentation points out that performance is dependent on
`the Flashpix format. The system would be very slow if a
`non-Flashpix format was used.
`TrueSpecira allows the image quality and compression to
`be set for JPEGs only. The compressionsetting is set on the
`server and all images are delivered at the samesetting.
`TrueSpectra has a simple caching mechanism. Images in
`the cache can be cleared out automatically at certain times
`and it does not have any dependency features for image
`propagation. The Web server needs to be brought down in
`order to update any original assets.
`TrueSpectra does not require plug-ins to operate features
`such as zooming/panning or compositing. ‘he alternative to
`plug-ins is using their Javascript or active server page
`technology. These technologies are used by many Websites
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`to provide interactivity, but not all Web browsers work
`correctly with these technologies.
`TrueSpectra relies on Flashpix as its native file format and
`does not support media types such as multi-GIFs and sound
`formats. Flashpix files are typically larger than most file
`formats. Access to files is faster for zooming and panning,
`but appears to be quite slow.
`The key to IrisTransactive is the compositing subsystem.
`It requires three things to build a shopping solution using
`image composition.
`1) The original images must be created. It is suggested
`that
`the image be converted to Flashpix for better
`performance.
`2) All of the individual images must be described in KML
`using the image composer program. The program
`allows the editor
`to specify anchor points,
`layer
`attributes, and layer names. The resulting file is
`between 5 k and 50 k.
`
`3) The Web designer must place HTMLreferring to the
`XMLin the Website. By specifying parameters to the
`XML,the Web designer can turn on or off layers.
`The herein above process for compositing images enables
`Web designers to create shopping sites. However, a lot of
`overheadis the result. The XML documents add 5 k—50 k to
`a Web site. The compositing commandsthat are embedded
`in the ITTML are difficult to understand. And, because the
`compositing feature requires several steps to implement,it is
`not suitable for every image on a Website. The process
`seems to be designed for the specific purpose of shopping.
`MediaBin(TM)is limited to activities behind the firewall
`automating only the “post-creative busywork.” In addition,
`MediaBin requires the use of an application server to
`function through a web interface. Thus images maynot be
`directly added to any existing web page.
`Macromedia’s Generator operates by embedding vari-
`ables in their proprietary Flash format. Therefore the actual
`imaging operations are somewhat limited and cannot be
`controlled directly from a web page request.
`MGISoftware sells point solutions that require end-users
`to download a viewerto process a proprietary image format.
`PicturelQ offers a server-side image-processing appliance
`that provides a limited set of Photoshop functionalities. This
`appliance runs on the web-page server, processes informa-
`tion embedded in the web page, and rewrites the web page
`with image data.
`The disclosed prior art fail to provide systems and meth-
`odologies that result in a quantum Icap in the speed with
`which they can modify and add images, video, and sound to
`sites, in the volume of data they can publish internally and
`externally, and in the quality of the output. The development
`of such an automated media delivery system would consti-
`tute a major technological advance.
`It would be advantageous to empower an end user with
`flexibility and control by providing interactive page capa-
`bilities.
`
`It would be advantageous from an end user’s perspective
`to generate Web pages that contain active graphics. For
`example, clicking on a Corvette image will cause a simple
`menu to pop up suggesting alternative colors and sizes in
`whichto see the car. Clicking on portions of the image, such
`as a fender, can call up a close-in viewof the fender.
`It would be advantageous to provide an automated graph-
`ics delivery system that becomes part of the Web site
`infrastructure and operates as part of the Web page transac-
`tion and that thereby provides a less expensive and less
`time-consuming process.
`It would be advantageous to provide a system for auto-
`mated processing and delivery of media (images, video, and
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`US 6,964,009 B2
`
`5
`sound) to a Web server wherebyit eliminates the laborious
`post-production and conversion work that must be done
`before a media asset can be delivered on a Web server.
`It would be advantageous to create a dynamic Website,
`wherein images are generated on demand from original
`assets, wherein only the original assets need to be updated,
`and wherein updated changes propagate throughoutthe site.
`It would be advantageous to provide a system that gen-
`crates media based on current Web servertraffic thereby
`optimizing throughput of the media through the Web server.
`It would be advantageous to provide a system that gen-
`erates media that is optimized for the Web client, wherein
`client connection speed determines optimum qualityandfile
`size.
`
`It would be advantageous to provide a system that gen-
`erates media, whereby the media is automatically uploaded.
`It would be advantageous to provide a system that auto-
`matically caches generated media so identical requests can
`be handled without regeneration of images.
`It would be advantageousto provide a system that resides
`behind the Web server, thereby eliminating security issues.
`It would be advantageousto provide a system wherein the
`client browser does not require a plug-in.
`It would be advantageousto provide a system wherein the
`system does not require any changes to a Webserver.
`It would be advantageousto provide a system wherein the
`system manages the Web server media cache.
`It would be advantageous to provide a system wherein the
`Web media is generated only if requested by a client
`browser.
`It would be advantageous for a system to reduce the need
`for a Web author to create different versions of a Website,
`the system automatically handling image content.
`It would be advantageous to provide dynamic imaging
`capabilities, have a more complete set of image processing
`functionality, and be controlled directly through an image
`URL.
`It would be advantageous to provide an end-to-end solu-
`tion requiring only a standard browser that is completely
`controllable using the proprietary tags contained within a
`simple image link in the web page.
`It would be advantageous to run an imageapplication as
`a separate server controlled directly by single image requests
`to that server, such that any web server, even onethat is only
`sending static HTML can access imaging features.
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`An automatic graphics delivery system that operates in
`parallel with an existing Website infrastructure is provided.
`The system streamlines the post-production process by
`automating the production of media through content gen-
`eration procedures controlled by proprietary tags placed
`within URLs embedded within Web documents. The author
`
`simply places the original media in the system, and adds
`proprietary tags to the URLs for accessing that media. The
`system automatically processes the URL encoded tags and
`automatically produces derivative media for the web site
`from the original media.
`The system takes as input the client connection, server
`traffic, content generation procedures, and proprietary tags
`placed within the URL to generate optimized media for the
`chent. The need for the Web author to create different
`
`versions of a Website is reduced because the image content
`of the site is automatically handled by the system. In
`addition, generated media is cached such that further
`requests for the same media require little overhead.
`Because the invention takes the original media, content
`generation procedures, and proprietary URL tags as inputs
`
`6
`for generating the Web media, it is possible to modify any
`of these inputs and have the system automatically update the
`media on the associated Web pages.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the placement of
`the system within a current Web infrastructure according to
`the invention;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing how a typical Web
`site delivers an HTML documentand its graphics to a Web
`browser according to the prior art;
`FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing delivery of an
`HTML documentand media to a Web browseraccording to
`the invention;
`FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the components
`involved in Web site administration according to the prior
`art;
`FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the components of
`the system involved in Web site administration according to
`the invention;
`FIG. 6 is a simple overview showing the components of
`the system according to the invention;
`FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the process flow
`of a proprietary enabled page delivered to a Web browser
`according to the invention;
`FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an authoring process
`according to the invention;
`FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an HTMLparsing process
`according to the invention;
`FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a media creation process
`according to the invention;
`FIG. 11 is a screen shot showing an administration tool
`according to the invention;
`TIG. 12 displays a structure of a database record used for
`the system according to the invention;
`FIG. 13 showsoriginal media to be processed according,
`to the invention;
`FIG. 14 showsa portion on an HTML document with a
`proprietary tag according to the invention;
`FIG. 15 shows an HTML document and an HTML
`
`document source according to the invention;
`FIG. 16 shows a generated GIF image according to the
`invention;
`FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of an image system within
`a typical Webinfrastructure according to the invention;
`FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing delivery of an
`HTMLdocumentand original media according to the inven-
`tion;
`FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing components of
`Web site administration according to a preferred embodi-
`mentof the invention;
`TIG. 20 is a simple overview showing components of the
`image system according to a preferred embodiment of the
`invention;
`FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing process flow of
`a proprietary enabled page delivered to a Web browser
`according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 22 shows a flowchart of a content generation pro-
`cedure according to a preferred embodimentof the inven-
`tion; and
`FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing an authoring process
`according to a preferred embodimentof the invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`An automatic graphics delivery system that operates in
`parallel with an existing Website infrastructure is provided.
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`US 6,964,009 B2
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`7
`The system streamlines the post-production process by
`automating the production of media through content gen-
`eration procedures controlled by proprietary tags placed
`within URLs embedded within Web documents. The author
`simply places the original media in the system, and adds
`proprietary tags to the URLs for accessing that media. The
`system automatically processes the URL encoded tags and
`automatically produces derivative media for the web site
`from the original media.
`The system takes as input the client connection, server
`traffic, content generation procedures, and proprietary tags
`placed within the URT. to generate optimized media for the
`client. The need for the Web author to create different
`versions of a Web site is reduced because the image content
`of the site is automatically handled by the system. In
`addition,
`the generated media is cached so that further
`requests for the same media require little overhead.
`Because the invention takes the original media, content
`generation procedures, and proprietary URL tags as inputs
`for generating the Web media, it is possible to modify any
`of these inputs and have the system automatically update the
`media on the associated Web pages.
`A detailed description of such automatic media delivery
`system operating in parallel with existing Web site infra-
`structure is found below in the section under the heading as
`such.
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the placement of
`the system within a current Web infrastructure according to
`a preferred embodimentof the invention. The system 100 is
`allached to a Web server 110, which is connected to multiple
`client browsers 120(a—d) via the Internet 130.
`FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing how a typical Web
`site delivers an IITML document and its graphics to a Web
`browser according to the prior art. An original media 200 is
`passed to post-production systems 210, wherein the media
`200 is manipulated by hand and prepared for the Web. The
`result is a Web media 220. The Web media 220 and an
`associated HTML document 230 referring to the media 220
`by media tags are input to a Web server 110 for a Web
`browser 120 to view via the Internet 130.
`
`FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing delivery of an
`HTMLdocument and media to a Web browser according to
`a preferred embodimentof the invention. An original media
`200 and an HTML document embedded with proprietary
`media tags 300 are input into the system 100. The system
`100 generates a Web-safe media 220 and a modified HTML
`document 230 that refers to the Web media, and automati-
`cally loads them onto the Web server 110 for view by a Web
`browser 120 via the Internet 160.
`
`FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing components
`involved in Web sitc administration according to the prior
`art. Original media assets 400 are original images, video, or
`sound that have not been prepared for the Web. Websites
`usually need to manage the placement of media on the
`network for easy retrieval by Web designers. Post-
`production systems 410 vary from Web site to Website.
`Post-production systems 410 are usually custom procedures
`that Web designers use to convert an original media, such as
`an image, to one that can be displayed on the Web. Post-
`production systems 410 also uploadfinished images to Web
`image systems. Web images 420 are Web versions of the
`original images. Web images 420 are ready for retrieval by
`the Web server 110 to be delivered to a Web browser 120.
`Any image to be modified or updated must pass through the
`herein above three components before it can be delivered to
`the Web browser 120. HTML pages 460 havereferences to
`Web images 420.
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`FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the components
`involved in Web site administration according to a preferred
`embodiment of the invention. Web site administration is
`simplified using the c