Abstract: Distinct full motion video segments may be reproduced on a plurality of playback platforms by storing duplicate video segments on each of a plurality of direct access storage devices. In response to a request for a video segment, a direct access storage device for retrieval of the video segment is selected from among devices listed in a drive information table. The selected direct access storage device is then instructed to retrieve the video segment. Finally, the drive information table is updated to reflect use of the selected direct access storage device for retrieval.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading multiple animated images on a Web page during browsing over a network with limited bandwidth. The method comprising the steps of: (1) retrieving hypertext objects containing a Java applet from servers over a network into a browser utilizing a Java engine for running Java applets; (2) displaying a default image and default image effects by the Java applet; and (3) the Java applet retrieving a target image series comprising a series of related images from the server and loading the target image series one image at a time with screen transition effects in between each image so that a speed of the screen transition effects is set to finish when a next image in the image series is retrieved over the network of limited bandwidth and prepared for loading by said Java applet, thereby making the speed of the screen transition effects proportional to a time required to retrieved the next image in the image series.

Abstract: A method and system for moving disparate data objects type into database applications is disclosed. The disparate data objects can be either retrievable locally or retrievable remotely. The method consists of: (1) creating a moving object; (2) locating a specified source data type; (3) creating sub-data objects associated with the moving object where in the sub-data objects further comprise a source data object for receiving a specified source data type and a target data object associated with said database application; and (4) converting the specified source data type to be compatible with the target data object; and moving the moving object with the specified source data after being translated into the database application.

Abstract: A method and system for permitting businesses and organizations to preview their customized Web-based advertisement in an Online directory listing. The method consists of: linking at least one database server to at least one Web server. The database server has a production database and a staging database wherein the staging database is a replica copy of the production database. Creating (or revising) custom multimedia advertisement material using a variety of widely available HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) tools; importing the resulting HTML source and associated multimedia files into the staging database stored in the database server; and previewing the custom Web pages on the staging database as if they were running on the production database.