Method and system for distributing images to client systems

摘要

A method and system for distributing images for display by client systems. A distribution system includes an image server system that is connected to image client systems via a communications link, such as the Internet. The image server system is responsible for providing image packages to the image client systems and for collecting information from the image client systems. Each image client system periodically sends a heartbeat communication to the image server system. Upon receiving a heartbeat communication, the image server system determines the state of the image client system that sent the heartbeat communication and responds appropriately. The response may include instructions for the image client system to retrieve new images, to retrieve software updates, to send usage data, and so on.

主权项

1. A method of using a distribution system for distributing images to client systems, the method comprising:
tracking communications received at the distribution system from a client system via a communications link, wherein a communication received from the client system includes a time associated with the communication; and for an image that is to be distributed by the distribution system to a client system,
determining whether a time associated with a most recently received communication from the client system is within a certain time period;based on the determining, evaluating whether to send the image to the client system via the communications link or via a mechanism other than the communications link.