Method and apparatus for dynamically optimizing multimedia content for network distribution

摘要

This invention relates to efficiently transmitting images or other multimedia data with the appropriate properties over a network. The original source image data or other multimedia data that resides on a networked server may not have the appropriate characteristics for optimal transmission. The present invention describes a method for converting original source image data or other multimedia data into appropriately characterized data "on the fly". The administrator of the networked system containing the images or other multimedia data desired for transmission can apply rules as to what properties the image or other multimedia data must possess for efficient transmission. The present invention analyzes the conditions accompanying the image or other multimedia data request, determines the properties the image data or other multimedia data should contain, checks to see if an image or other multimedia data possessing those properties has already been rendered and stored in the memory cache and, if not, then sends the original source image or the original source multimedia data to a conversion engine wherein the source image or other multimedia data is converted to an image or other multimedia data that possess the correct properties to be effectively transmitted. The invention makes available to the network administrator a predetermined set of default rules that can handle many of the conditions typically encountered in an image or other type of multimedia data request, however the network administrator can later modify these rules.