Computer implemented method and system for transmitting graphical images ...

United States Patent [i9]

Hunt et al.

[54] COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING GRAPHICAL IMAGES FROM SERVER TO CLIENT AT USER SELECTABLE RESOLUTION

[75] Inventors: William J. Hunt, Walnut Creek;

Edward James Neil, Redwood City;
Steven F. Haber, Danville; Russell D.
Wood, Martinez, all of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Insight Development Corporation,

San Ramon, Calif.

[21] Appl. No.: 622,528

[22] Filed: Mar. 25,1996

[51] Int CI.6 G06T 5/00

[52] U.S. CI 345/428; 345/329

[58] Field of Search 395/133, 762,

395/774, 806, 114, 327, 329, 335; 358/426, 262.1, 448, 449, 451; 348/426, 441; 382/232,

239, 240

[56] References Cited

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5,214,519 5/1993 Fatflhaber et al 358/451

5,274,794 12/1993 Ewing et al 395/500

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5,426.460 6/1995 Erving et al 348/14

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5,442.749 8/1995 Northcutt et al 395/200.09

5.572.643 11/1996 Judson 395/793

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Holtz, "Autosophy Image Compression for Packet Network Television", WESCON/95 Conference Record, 1995, pp. 392-397.

"Hypertext Transfer Protocol—HTTP/1.1", Fielding, R. et al.; HTTP Working Group, Internet Draft, Apr. 23, 1996 (expires Sep. 23, 1996), <URL:http://www.ics.uci.edu/pub/ itef/http/draft-ietf-4ittp-vll-spec-02.txt.>.

"PEP: An Extension Mechanism for HTTP/1.1", Khare, Rohit; HTTP Working Group, Internet Draft, World Wide Web Consortium, Feb. 22, 1995 (expires Aug. 22, 1996), <URL:http://www.ics.ud.edu/pub/itef/http/ draft-khare-http-pep-01 .txt>.

"Byte Range Retrieval Extension to HTTP". Luotonen et al.; Internet Draft, Feb. 22, 1996 (expires Aug. 1996), <URL:http://www.ics.uci.edu/pub/itef/http/ draft-ietf-4ittp-range-retrieval-00.txt>.

"Proposed Content Negotiation Definitions for HTTP/1.1", Holtman, Koen, Content negotiation subgroup of HTTP Working Group, Internet Draft, Feb. 22, 1996 (expires Aug. 27, 1996) <URL:http://www.ics.uci.edu/pub/itef/http/ draft-holtman-http-negotiation-OO.txt>.

Primary Examiner—Heather R. Herndon
Assistant Examiner—Stephen Hong

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon,
LLP

[57] ABSTRACT

Techniques for transmitting graphical images in a network environment are described. According to the techniques, the amount of data of the graphical images that is transmitted is customized in accordance with client and/or server supplied information. The techniques enable graphical images to be transmitted more efficiently than previously possible, thus saving precious network bandwidth and reducing transmission time. The invention is particularly suitable for network (intranet or Internet) implementations wherein graphical images often need to be transferred.

96 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets