Methods And Apparatus For Image Delivery With Time Limits

Abstract

A dynamic image delivery system receives a client request for an image at an image caching server. The image caching server measures the client's network access speed and looks for an appropriate pre-rendered copy of the requested image that is rendered for the client's network access speed in local storage. If the appropriate rendered copy is found, then the image caching server sends the rendered image to the client. If it is not found, then the image caching server dynamically renders a copy of the image and sends it to the client.

1 - 78 . (canceled) 
     
     
         79 . A computer implemented method, comprising:
 receiving a maximum time limit for image delivery;   receiving a request for an image from a client;   sending data for the image to the client;   monitoring an elapsed delivery time during the sending of data for the image;   upon the elapsed delivery time reaching the maximum time limit, stopping the sending of data for the image to the client.   
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the data for the image comprises a plurality of layers. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the image is a progressive image. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the maximum time limit is a user preference. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the maximum time limit is a user preference for a user of a content delivery network. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the method is performed in a proxy server. 
     
     
         85 . Apparatus, comprising:
 one or more computer comprising one or more hardware processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more hardware processors, will cause the one or more computers to:
 receive a maximum time limit for image delivery; 
 receive a request for an image from a client; 
 send data for the image to the client; 
 monitor an elapsed delivery time during the sending of data for the image; 
 upon the elapsed delivery time reaching the maximum time limit, stopping the sending of data for the image to the client. 
   
     
     
         86 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the data for the image comprises a plurality of layers. 
     
     
         87 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the image is a progressive image. 
     
     
         88 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the maximum time limit is a user preference. 
     
     
         89 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the maximum time limit is a user preference for a user of a content delivery network. 
     
     
         90 . The apparatus of  claim 85 , wherein the apparatus comprises a proxy server. 
     
     
         91 . A computer implemented method, comprising:
 receiving a maximum time limit for image delivery;   receiving a request for an image from a client;   sending one of a plurality of layers for the image to the client;   determining whether an elapsed delivery time has exceeded the maximum time limit;   if the elapsed delivery time has not exceeded the maximum time limit, sending another one of the plurality of layers for the image to the client.   
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein, if the elapsed delivery time has exceeded the maximum time limit, ending delivery of the image. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the maximum time limit is a user preference. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the maximum time limit is a user preference for a user of a content delivery network. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the method is performed in a proxy server. 
     
     
         96 . Apparatus, comprising:
 one or more computers comprising one or more hardware processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more hardware processors, will cause the one or more computers to:
 receive a maximum time limit for image delivery; 
 receive a request for an image from a client; 
 send one of a plurality of layers for the image to the client; 
 determine whether an elapsed delivery time has exceeded the maximum time limit; 
 if the elapsed delivery time has not exceeded the maximum time limit, sending another one of the plurality of layers for the image to the client. 
   
     
     
         97 . The apparatus of  claim 96 , wherein, if the elapsed delivery time has exceeded the maximum time limit, ending the delivery of the image. 
     
     
         98 . The apparatus of  claim 96 , wherein the maximum time limit is a user preference. 
     
     
         99 . The apparatus of  claim 96 , wherein the maximum time limit is a user preference for a user of a content delivery network. 
     
     
         100 . The apparatus of  claim 96 , wherein the apparatus comprises a proxy server.