Granted Patent B2

US 8,046,811 · App. 12/768,660 · Granted Oct 25, 2011

Abstract

Claims (55)

1. A computer-implemented method of processing media data from a network, the method compromising:

obtaining, by the computer, at least a portion of the media data via the network;

monitoring, by the computer, a varying data transfer rate associated with obtaining at least said portion of the media data via the network;

storing, by the computer, at least said portion of the media data in a local preset media storage;

categorizing, by the computer, said local preset media storage as currently accessible or currently unaccessible according to a copyright-based access restriction associated with the media data; and

when the media data is categorized as currently accessible according to said copyright-based access restriction:

enabling, by the computer, read access to said local preset media storage;

predicting, by the computer, in accordance with at least the monitored varying data transfer rate, whether processing of the media data is likely to be interrupted; and

when processing is unlikely to be interrupted, playing back, by the computer, at least said portion of the media data in real time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said copyright-based access restriction associated with the media data comprises a minimum allowable time elapse between a previous and a current playback of the media data.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein categorizing said local preset media storage as currently accessible or currently unaccessible comprises determining a current status of said local preset media storage, said current status including a last access time of said local preset media storage.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said copyright-based access restriction associated with the media data comprises a maximum number of accesses of the media data.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein categorizing said local preset media storage as currently accessible or currently unaccessible comprises determining how many times the media data has been accessed in the past.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said copyright-based access restriction associated with the media data comprises a maximum number of accesses of the media data within a specified time period.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein categorizing said local preset media storage as currently accessible or currently unaccessible comprises determining how many times the media data has been accessed within the specified time period.

8. A computing device comprising a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform the method of claim 1 .

9. A computer-implemented method of managing digital media data, the method comprising:

receiving at least a portion of the media data by the computer from a first memory storage device external to the computer;

continually determining a varying data transfer rate associated with said receiving, and continually indicating the determined data transfer rate;

storing, by the computer, the received media data in a second memory storage device internal to the computer, and indicating access status associated with the stored media data;

receiving, by the computer, an indication of a selection of at least a portion of the media data from an input device coupled with the computer;

continuously determining, by the computer, at least a portion of the total continuous realtime rendering time of the media data; and

enabling realtime processing of the media data by the computer from said second memory storage device based at least in part on at least one of said indicating of the selection and the determining.

10. The method as in claim 9 , wherein said first memory storage device is an optical disk.

11. The method as in claim 9 , wherein said first memory storage device is accessed through a computer network.

12. The method as in claim 9 , wherein the media data comprises one of:

a single media content data file; and

a plurality of media data having related criteria.

13. The method as in claim 9 , wherein said media data comprises video data, and wherein said processing of said media data comprises sending at least a portion of said media data to a display device, each of said at least a portion of said media data representing a display frame.

14. The method as in claim 9 , wherein said media data comprises audio data, and wherein said processing of said media data comprises sending at least a portion of said media data to a sound transducer.

15. A computer-implemented method of managing a plurality of media data, the method comprising:

determining, by the computer, a data transfer rate of said plurality of media data from an external memory storage;

storing, by the computer, at least one media data of said plurality of media data;

determining, by the computer, an access status of at least one media data;

determining, by the computer, a total continuous rendering time of said at least one media data;

providing, by the computer, user input control operative to receive an access selection of said at least one media data;

processing, by the computer, said at least one media data from said internal memory storage;

scheduling, by the computer, a storage of additional media data in the internal memory storage; and

removing access to said media data from said internal memory, by the computer, when said access status is an access denied status, when said total continuous rendering time exceeds a first predetermined value, and when said transfer rate exceeds a second predetermined value.

16. The method as in claim 15 , wherein managing the plurality of media data further comprises scheduling an access of said at least one media data.

17. The method as in claim 16 , wherein said access of said media data resumes after an interruption starting with a most recently stored data packet of said additional media data from said external memory storage.

18. The method as in claim 16 , wherein said user input control is further utilized to select access of said at least one media data if said at least one media data and said access status of said media data affirm said processing.

19. A computer-implemented method of managing a plurality of media data, the method comprising:

determining, by the computer, a data transfer rate of said plurality of media data from an external memory storage;

storing, by the computer, at least one media data of said plurality of media data;

determining, by the computer, an access status of at least one media data;

determining, by the computer, total continuous rendering time of at least a portion of said at least one media data;

receiving a selection, by the computer via a user input control, of said at least one media data for access;

processing , by the computer, said at least one media data from said internal memory storage; and

scheduling , by the computer, a storage of additional media data, and removing access to said at least one media data from said internal memory randomly based upon a determined ratio of previously processed and never before processed said at least one media data.

20. The method as in claim 19 , wherein said scheduling a storage of additional media data resumes after an interruption starting with a most recently stored data packet of said additional media data from said external memory storage.

21. The method as in claim 19 , wherein said total continuous realtime rendering time exceeds a first predetermined value, wherein said transfer rate exceeds a second predetermined value, the method further comprising determining an increase in optimal data quality available for retrieving said additional media data from said external memory storage.

22. The method as in claim 21 , wherein said optimal data quality provides a higher bitrate data, a larger total data size, a greater computational processing requirement, and greater computational resources for processing.

23. The method as in claim 16 , further comprising retrieving additional media data, wherein said retrieving of said additional media data resumes after an interruption starting with a most recently stored data packet of said additional media data from said first memory storage device.

24. The method as in claim 23 , wherein said continuous realtime rendering time exceeds a first predetermined value and wherein said data transfer rate exceeds a second predetermined value, the method further comprising determining an increase in optimal data quality available for retrieving said additional media data from said first memory storage device.

Assignments (8)