Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for distributing video over a computer network. The video is generated as a set of components including a model for a virtual set in which action occurs, a video of the action compressed to eliminate some or all non-useful portions of the video, and positional data used to position the action within the virtual set and orient the viewpoint of the set. These components are transmitted as separate data items from a server to a client, with the virtual set being preferably transmitted in advance of a specific video. The client reproduces the entire video by rendering the compressed video within the virtual set using the positional data.

Abstract: A system and method for the secure delivery of rich media resources across a computer network having a plurality of servers connectable to one or more clients. Client devices are configured to request and receive rich media resources from a show server and decryption keys from a security server. The show server receives a request for rich media resources from a client device and delivers them to the requesting client, preferably in an encrypted form. The security server responds to the request for decryption keys and transmits keys that are operative to decrypt the rich media resources received by the client device. Upon receipt of the decryption keys, the rich media resources are decrypted and played back on the client device using media player software. During the playback of the received rich media resources, heartbeat packets are generated indicating that the client is playing back the received rich media resources.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for distributing motion data over a network to a client device. The method involves storing a data model representing an actor, which may be a human actor or any other living or inanimate object. The motion of an actor at a first time and a second time is also recorded. The separate model and motion data items are transferred from a server to a client, thereby enabling the client device to reproduce the actor's motion as captured. The method is implemented by a system comprising a positional data capturing system for capturing motion data representing a position and attitude of an actor at a first time and a second time, a model storage system for storing models of the actors, the models comprising the skeletal geometry and texture of the actor, and a transmission system for transmitting the model in association with corresponding motion data for presentation by one or more clients.

Abstract: A method and software for managing the process for establishing a connection to a server over a network for the delivery of multimedia content. For a selected item of content, the software downloads a list of available servers which can provide the content, with the list including servers of different types which transmit data in different ways. Examples of different types of servers include servers which support multicasting, servers which support UDP transmissions, and servers which support TCP transmissions. The software traverses the guide and sequentially attempts to establish connections to the servers in the guide, until either a connection is established or all servers in the guide have been tried.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented that allow the efficient distribution of rich media to clients by maximizing the use of available bandwidth and client processing capabilities. A rich media presentation is divided into discrete components, and a producer of the presentation specifies how a presentation is to be assembled and where resources needed for the presentation are to be found. This information is packaged into a data structure and sent to clients. Clients use this data structure to retrieve the necessary resources for the presentation. Producers are able to prioritize the particular resources that form part of the ultimate presentation according to their importance in the presentation, and clients can retrieve the resources most suitable for their capabilities, including processing power, graphics production speed, and bandwidth.

Abstract: A system and method are described for receiving content in data packets transmitted in repeating loops of the packets arranged in a given sequence. A client subscribes to receive the content from a server. The header of each packet identifies the total number of packets in the sequence, the packet number for the current packet, and the size of the packet. The client begins receiving the packets at any point in the transmission sequence and then uses this header information to set up an index for tracking the receipt of the entire sequence. The index is used in particular to identify any packets that are missing and have not been received. The client determines whether it is better to wait for a missing packet to reappear in the sequence or to specifically request the missing packet from the server.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented that allow the efficient distribution of rich media to clients by maximizing the use of available bandwidth and client processing capabilities. A rich media presentation is divided into discrete components, and a producer of the presentation specifies how a presentation is to be assembled and where resources needed for the presentation are to be found. This information is packaged into a data structure and sent to clients. Clients use this data structure to retrieve the necessary resources for the presentation. Producers are able to prioritize the particular resources that form part of the ultimate presentation according to their importance in the presentation, and clients can retrieve the resources most suitable for their capabilities, including processing power, graphics production speed, and bandwidth.