Abstract: A computer system is provided including a processor, a persistent storage device, and a main memory connected to the processor and the persistent storage device. The main memory includes a compressed cache for storing data retrieved from the persistent storage device after compression and an operating system. The operating system includes a plurality of interconnected software modules for accessing the persistent storage device and a filter driver interconnected between two of the plurality of software modules for managing memory capacity of the compressed cache and the buffer cache.

Abstract: A special-purpose appliance (SPA) works in conjunction with a server farm consisting of multiple caching server appliances (CSAs) to supervise a local storage medium (i.e., a shared cache) that is accessible by all the CSAs for storing at least some of the remote objects such as web pages and their embedded objects and/or streaming media objects that have been and/or will be served by one or more of the CSAs to its respective clients. The SPA preferably also determines when to prefetch remote objects such as web pages and their embedded objects and/or streaming media objects that are not currently stored in the shared cache, but which the SPA has determined are likely to be requested in the future by one or more of the CSAs one behalf of one or more of the CSA's respective clients.

Abstract: A method for handing off to a second server, in either a fixed or mobile streaming media system, a multiple description streaming session between a first server and either a fixed or mobile client. In one embodiment, the present invention recites selecting a second server to receive a handoff of a multiple description streaming media session between the first server and the client. In this embodiment, the multiple description streaming media session is comprised of a first multiple description bitstream and a second multiple description bitstream. The present embodiment further recites receiving at the second server, the second multiple description bitstream for streaming to the client. This embodiment further recites sending the second multiple description bitstream from the second server to the client.

Abstract: A fixed client and a mobile client for receiving multiple description media streams. In one embodiment, the client comprises a multiple description receiving portion which is adapted to receive a plurality of multiple description bitstreams. The client includes memory coupled to the multiple description receiving portion for storing the plurality of multiple description bitstreams in respective portions thereof. The client of the present embodiment also includes a synchronization module coupled to the memory for blending the plurality of multiple description bitstreams. In one embodiment, a decoder is coupled to the synchronization module for decoding the plurality of multiple description bitstreams. A source control module for determining appropriate operation characteristics of the client is also coupled to the synchronization module. Also, a user interface device is coupled to the decoder to present to a user, media previously encoded into the plurality of multiple description bitstreams.

Abstract: A method and system for streaming media data to a fixed client and/or a mobile client. In one method embodiment, the present invention recites encoding media data to be streamed to a client into a first multiple description bitstream and into a second multiple description bitstream. The present method then determines the appropriate plurality of servers from a network of servers onto which the first and second multiple description bitstreams should be distributed. The present embodiment then recites distributing the first and second multiple description bitstreams to the appropriate plurality of servers positioned at intermediate nodes throughout a network such that a client is provided with access to the media data via a plurality of transmission paths. The present method is also well suited to redistribution of multiple description bitstreams to servers based upon time-varying demand, client movement, and the like.

Abstract: A method for assigning servers to provide multiple description bitstreams to a mobile client (in a mobile client environment) or to a fixed client (in a fixed client environment). In one embodiment, the present invention, upon receiving a request from a mobile client to have media data streamed thereto, analyzes a plurality of servers to determine a first candidate server for providing a first multiple description bitstream to the base station along a first path. The present method also determines a second candidate server for providing a second multiple description bitstream to the base station along a second path. The present method then sends a request to the first candidate server to provide the first multiple description bitstream to a mobile client through a base station along the first path, and also sends a request to the second candidate server to provide the second multiple description bitstream to the mobile client through the same base station along a second path.

Abstract: A method for performing a soft-handoff in a mobile streaming media system, and a method for performing a hard-handoff in a mobile streaming media system are is disclosed. In the soft-handoff embodiment, the present invention detects that a channel quality between a mobile client and a first base station remains above a drop threshold and that a channel quality between the mobile client and a second base station increases from below to above an add threshold. The present embodiment then sends a first multiple description bitstream from the first base station to the mobile client and sends a complementary second multiple description bitstream from the second base station to the mobile client. This method thereby provides improved utilization of wireless bandwidth during soft-handoffs, in contrast to conventional systems where the same bitstream is transmitted from each base station.

Abstract: A method and system for streaming media data to a fixed client and/or a mobile client. In one method embodiment, the present invention recites encoding media data to be streamed to a client into a first multiple description bitstream and into a second multiple description bitstream. The present embodiment then recites distributing the first and second multiple description bitstreams to a plurality of servers placed at intermediate nodes throughout a network such that a client is provided with access to the media data via a plurality of transmission paths.