Interleaved multiple multimedia stream for synchronized transmission over a computer network

Patent 6449653 Issued on September 10, 2002. Estimated Expiration Date:

March 25, 2017. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventors

Assignee

Microsoft Corporation

Application

No. 826345 filed on 03/25/1997

US Classes:

709/231, Computer-to-computer data streaming348/423.1, Arrangements for multiplexing one video signal, one or more audio signals, and a synchronizing signal370/470, Frame length370/493, Combined voice and data transmission370/503, Synchronizing709/217, REMOTE DATA ACCESSING709/219, Accessing a remote server709/232, Computer-to-computer data transfer regulating709/236, Computer-to-computer data framing709/242, Routing data updating715/512, Annotation control725/87Video-on-demand

Examiners

Primary: Rinehart, Mark H.
Assistant: Vaughn, William C. Jr.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Lee & Hayes, PLLC

International Class

G06F 015/16

Abstract

The production of an interleaved multimedia stream for servers and client computers coupled to each other by a diverse computer network which includes local area networks (LANs) and/or wide area networks (WANs) such as the internet. Interleaved multimedia streams can include compressed video frames for display in a video window, accompanying compressed audio frames and annotation frames. In one embodiment, a producer captures separate video/audio frames and generates an interleaved multimedia file. In another embodiment, the interleaved file include annotation frames which provide either pointer(s) to the event(s) of interest or include displayable data embedded within the annotation stream. The interleaved file is then stored in the web server for subsequent retrieval by client computer(s) in a coordinated manner, so that the client computer(s) is able to synchronously display the video frames and displayable event(s) in a video window and event window(s), respectively. In some embodiments, the interleaved file includes packets with variable length fields, each of which are at least one numerical unit in length.