METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING MEDIA OVER COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

摘要

Methods and systems for supplying media over communication networks are described. In one embodiment, a media supplier determines whether a media object hosted on a web server will be supplied to a client by streaming or not by streaming. Preferably, if the determination is to stream, the media supplier streams the media object to the client. In some cases, the same media supplier may be capable of supplying clients with media objects hosted on any of at least two web servers.

主权项

1. A method of supplying a media object, comprising:
receiving, by a hardware media supplier, a request for the media object hosted on a web server, wherein the hardware media supplier is distinct from the web server; determining, by the hardware media supplier, to stream the media object to a client, wherein the determining to stream comprises ascertaining the media object based upon a file name suffix of a format defined in a request header for the media object; determining, by the hardware media supplier, a part of the media object to stream to the client; converting the part of the media object from a non-streaming format into a streaming file format; and streaming the part of the media object to the client to meet a network connection speed of the client.