Method and system for media object streaming

Abstract

A method, system, and computer readable medium for delivering media object to a user over a computer network. Media object is divided into first portions and remaining portions, and the first portions are stored on edge server computers in communication with client computers. Upon receiving a request for delivery from a user, the edge server computer transmits the first portion of the media object to the client computer. The edge server computer then requests delivery of the remaining portion of the media object from the origin server computer. Upon receipt of the remaining portion of the media object from the origin server computer, the edge server computer transmits the remaining portion of the media object to the user such that delivery of both portions of the media object to the client computer is continuous and uninterrupted.

1 . A method for streaming a media object stored at an origin server from an edge server at a bit rate, the method comprising: 
 determining a size of a prefix stored on the edge server;    determining a necessary transfer rate, based on the size of the prefix, for streaming at the bit rate; and    reserving bandwidth between the origin server and the edge server to achieve the necessary transfer rate.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the media object is stored on a disk, further comprising: 
 reserving disk bandwidth on the disk to achieve the necessary transfer rate.    
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the necessary transfer rate is greater than a threshold rate, the method further comprising: 
 increasing the size of the prefix based on the necessary transfer rate and re-calculating the necessary transfer rate based on the increased size of the prefix.    
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the media object comprises an audio and video movie media object.  
   
   
       5 . A method for streaming a media object stored on a storage device from a first server to a second server, the media object having a minimum playback rate, the method comprising: 
 reserving an amount of network bandwidth between the first and second servers;    reserving an amount of disk bandwidth on the storage device;    storing a prefix comprising a portion of the media object at the edge server; and    initiating playback of the prefix and transferring a remaining portion of the media object to the edge server if the prefix is large enough to playback the media object at the minimum playback rate using the amount of network bandwidth and the amount of disk bandwidth.    
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5 , further comprising increasing a size of the prefix if the prefix is not large enough to playback the media object at the minimum playback rate using the amount of network bandwidth and the amount of disk bandwidth.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein a size of the prefix is determined by the amount of network bandwidth and the amount of disk bandwidth.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the act of reserving the amount of network bandwidth comprises reserving the amount of network bandwidth for a duration of playback of the media object.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the act of reserving the amount of disk bandwidth comprises reserving the amount of disk bandwidth for a duration of playback of the media object.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the amount of network bandwidth, the amount of disk bandwidth, and a size of the prefix are determined to ensure playback of the media object at the minimum playback rate and balance system resources.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the media object is at least a portion of a video.  
   
   
       12 . A method of streaming media objects over a computer network to a recipient, the network having at least one origin server and at least one edge server, the method comprising: 
 receiving a request for deliver of a media object to a recipient;    if the media object is fully stored on the edge server, then streaming the media object to the recipient;    if the media object is partially stored on the edge server, then streaming a prefix of the media object to the requestor while simultaneously fetching the suffix of the media object from the origin server, then streaming the suffix to the recipient such that no interruption in streaming occurs between streaming the prefix and streaming the suffix; and    if the media object is not stored on the edge server, fetching a sufficient portion of the media object, reserving sufficient network bandwidth on a connection between the edge server and the origin server, then begin streaming the sufficient portion while the remaining portion of the media object is fetched, and streaming the remaining portion after the sufficient portion has been streamed so that no interruption in streaming occurs between streaming the sufficient portion and streaming the remaining portion.    
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the media object comprises a video movie media object.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 reserving an amount of bandwidth on a connection between the origin server and the edge server, the amount of bandwidth sufficient to allow transfer of said media object to said edge server such that the media object is viewed by the client computer without interruption.    
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 reserving an amount of disk bandwidth on a device storing the media object, the amount of disk bandwidth sufficient to allow transfer of said media object to said edge server such that the media object is received by the client computer without interruption.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said requestor comprises a client computer.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said recipient comprises a client computer.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said requestor is said recipient.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said requestor comprises a user.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said recipient comprises a user.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said media object is referenced by a URL.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said requestor requests delivery of said media object by selecting said URL.  
   
   
       23 . A computer program product for streaming media objects over a computer network to a recipient, the network having at least one origin server and at least one edge server, the computer program product, when executed on a computer, performing: 
 storing a prefix, said prefix comprising a beginning portion of said media object, and a size of the prefix is determined, at least in part, by anticipated demand for said media object;    receiving a delivery request from a requestor for delivery of said media object to a recipient;    transmitting said prefix to said recipient in response to said delivery request;    receiving a remaining portion of said media object associated with said prefix; and    transmitting said media object to said recipient such that delivery of the prefix is followed by delivery of the media object without interruption or delay.    
   
   
       24 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein said requestor comprises a client computer.  
   
   
       25 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein said recipient comprises a client computer.  
   
   
       26 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein said requestor is said recipient.  
   
   
       27 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein said requestor comprises a user.  
   
   
       28 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein said recipient comprises a user.  
   
   
       29 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein said media object is referenced by a URL.  
   
   
       30 . The computer program product of  claim 29 , wherein said requestor requests delivery of said media object by selecting said URL.  
   
   
       31 . A computer program product for streaming media objects over a computer network to a user, the network having at least one origin server and at least one edge server, the computer program product, when executed on a computer, performing the steps of: 
 receiving a user request for delivery of a media object;    if the media object is fully stored on the edge server, then streaming the media object to the user;    if the media object is partially stored on the edge server, then streaming a prefix of the media object to the user while simultaneously fetching the suffix of the media object from the origin server, then streaming the suffix such that no interruption in streaming occurs between streaming the prefix and streaming the suffix; and    if the media object is not stored on the edge server, fetching a sufficient portion of the media object, reserving sufficient network bandwidth on a connection between the edge server and the origin server, then begin streaming the sufficient portion while the remaining portion of the media object is fetched, and streaming the remaining portion after the sufficient portion has been streamed such that no interruption in streaming occurs between streaming the sufficient portion and streaming the remaining portion.    
   
   
       32 . A computer program product according to  claim 31 , wherein the media object comprises a video movie media object.  
   
   
       33 . A computer program product according to  claim 31 , wherein the amount of network bandwidth is sufficient to allow transfer of said media object to said edge server such that the media object is viewed by the client computer without interruption.  
   
   
       34 . A computer program product as in  claim 31 , wherein the prefix of the media object is a temporally first portion of the media object that would precede a second portion of the media object during a viewing of the media object by a user.  
   
   
       35 . A computer program product as in  claim 31 , wherein the suffix of the media object is a temporally second portion of the media object that would follow a first portion of the media object during a viewing of the media object by a user.  
   
   
       36 . A computer system for streaming media objects to a recipient in response to a request by a requester, said computer system comprising: 
 at least one origin server computer storing at least one media object; and    at least one edge server computer in communication with said origin server computer;    said at least one edge server computer storing a prefix containing a beginning portion of said media object, a size of the prefix being determined, at least in part, by anticipated demand for said media object;    said edge server computer receiving a request for the streaming of said media object; and    said origin server computer transmitting said media object associated with said beginning portion to said edge server computer, said edge server computer subsequently streaming said media object associated with said first portion to said recipient such that delivery of the beginning portion and said subsequently transmitted media object is continuous and uninterrupted.    
   
   
       37 . The computer system of  claim 36 , wherein said origin server computer contains said media object in multiple file formats.  
   
   
       38 . The computer system of  claim 36 , further including a media streaming module.  
   
   
       39 . The computer system of  claim 36 , further including a media management module.  
   
   
       40 . The computer system of  claim 36 , further including a media distribution module.  
   
   
       41 . The computer system of  claim 38 , wherein said media streaming module, media management module, and media distribution module are included in said origin server computer.  
   
   
       42 . The computer system of  claim 41 , wherein said media streaming module, media management module, and media distribution module are included in said edge server computer.  
   
   
       43 . A computer system according to  claim 36 , wherein the media object comprises a video movie media object.  
   
   
       44 . A computer system according to  claim 36 , wherein said requestor comprises a client computer.  
   
   
       45 . A computer system according to  claim 36 , wherein said recipient comprises a client computer.  
   
   
       46 . A computer system according to  claim 36 , wherein said requestor is said recipient.  
   
   
       47 . A computer system according to  claim 36 , wherein said requestor comprises a user.  
   
   
       48 . A computer system according to  claim 36 , wherein said recipient comprises a user.  
   
   
       49 . A computer system according to  claim 36 , wherein said media object is referenced by a URL.  
   
   
       50 . A computer system according to  claim 49 , wherein said requestor requests delivery of said media object by selecting said URL.