Methods and systems for processing multi-media editing projects
Methods and systems of processing multi-media editing projects are described. In one embodiment, a request for one or more multi-media files is generated on a user computer that comprises part of a network where multi-media files are maintained in a network-accessible location. The request is intercepted and software executing on the user computer ascertains whether one or more of the requested multi-media files are located on the user computer. If the file or files are located on the user computer, they are retrieved and used. If a file or files are not locally available, the file or files are retrieved from the network-accessible location.
1. A method of processing a multi-media editing project comprising:
maintaining a list of one or more user designated directories where multi-media files have been stored in the past, wherein a directory path name is added to the list of one or more user designated directories when the user specifies said directory path name to store the multi-media files;
generating a request for one or more multi-media files for use in a multi-media editing project, the request being generated by a user computer that comprises part of a network where multi-media files are maintained in a network-accessible location;
intercepting the request by the user computer;
ascertaining whether a requested multi-media file is located on the user computer by checking the one or more user designated directories for the requested multi-media file listed in said list of one or more user designated directories;
retrieving the requested multi-media file from the user computer if the file is located on the user computer in said one or more of the user-designated directories; and
seeking the requested multi-media file from the network-accessible location if the multi-media file is not located on the user computer in said one or more of the user-designated directories.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising asking a user to designate a local directory if a requested file is not found on the user computer in said one or more of the user-designated directories.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising asking a user to designate a local directory if a requested file is not found on the user computer in said one or more of the user-designated directories, and then searching for the requested file in a designated local directory before seeking the requested file from the network-accessible location.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said ascertaining comprises checking various predetermined file directories on the computer's hard drive.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said maintaining a list of one or more user designated directories further comprises maintaining a list of one or more user designated directories where multi-media files are presently stored.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
updating the list responsive to receiving and storing a multi-media file in a local directory that is not on the list.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
updating the list responsive to a user designating a local directory that is not on the list.
8. One or more computer readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a user computer perform the steps comprising:
maintaining a list of one or more user designated directories where multi-media files have been stored in the past, wherein a directory path name is added to the list of one or more user designated directories when a user specifies said directory path name to store the multi-media files;
generating a request for one or more multi-media files for use in a multi-media editing project, the request being generated by the user computer that comprises part of a network where multi-media files are maintained in a network-accessible location;
intercepting the request by the user computer;
ascertaining whether a requested multi-media file is located on the user computer by checking the one or more user designated directories for the requested multi-media file listed in said list of one or more user designated directories;
retrieving the requested multi-media file from the user computer if the file is located in said one or more of the user-designated directories; and
seeking the requested multi-media file from the network-accessible location if the multi-media file is not located on the user computer in said one or more of the user-designated directories.
9. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 8 , further comprising asking a user to designate a local directory if a requested file is not found on the user computer in said one or more of the user-designated directories, and then searching for the requested file in a designated local directory before seeking the requested file from the network-accessible location.
10. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 8 , wherein said maintaining a list of one or more user designated directories further comprises maintaining a list of one or more user designated directories where multi-media files are presently stored.
11. One or more computer readable storage media as recited in claim 8 , further comprising one or more of the following:
updating the list responsive to receiving and storing a multi-media file in a local directory that is not on the list; and
updating the list responsive to a user designating a local directory that is not on the list.
12. A multi-media project editing application stored on a user computer which, when executed perform the steps comprising:
maintaining a list of one or more user designated directories where multi-media files have been stored in the past, wherein a directory path name is added to the list of one or more user designated directories when the user specifies said directory path name to store the multi-media files;
generating a request for one or more multi-media files for use in a multi-media editing project, the request being generated by the user computer that comprises part of a network where multi-media files are maintained in a network-accessible location;
intercepting the request by the user computer;
ascertaining whether a requested multi-media file is located on the user computer by checking the one or more user designated directories for the requested multi-media file listed in said list of one or more user designated directories;
retrieving the requested multi-media file from the user computer if the file is located in said one or more of the user-designated directories; and
seeking the requested multi-media file from the network-accessible location if the multi-media file is not located on the user computer in said one or more of the user-designated directories.
13. A multi-media project editing application as recited in claim 12 , further comprising asking a user to designate a local directory if a requested file is not found on the user computer in said one or more of the user-designated directories, and then searching for the requested file in a designated local directory before seeking the requested file from the network-accessible location.
14. A multi-media project editing application as recited in claim 12 , wherein said-maintaining a list of one or more user designated directories further comprises maintaining a list of one or more user designated directories where multi-media files are presently stored.
15. A multi-media project editing application as recited in claim 12 , further comprising one or more of the following:
updating the list responsive to receiving and storing a multi-media file in a local directory that is not on the list; and
updating the list responsive to a user designating a local directory that is not on the list.