Storing and Accessing Media Files

Abstract

A content storage and communication system is claimed. The system includes at least one local network at first physical premises. The system includes at least one audio-video storage device in communication with the local network. The audio-video storage device is configured for storing at least one media file, which includes at least video. The system includes at least a first client device in communication with the local network. The system is configured to enable a user of the first client device to communicate with a wide area network. The system is configured to enable simultaneous multiple retrieval of the at least one media file stored on the audio-video storage device. The system is configured to enable multiple playbacks of media associated with the accessed media file.

1 . A content storage and communication system comprising: 
 at least one local network at a physical premises;    at least one audio-video storage device in communication with the local network and configured for storing at least one media file, the media file including at least video;    at least a first client device in communication with the local network, the system configured to    enable a user of the first client device to communicate with a wide area network;    enable access of the at least one media file stored on the audio-video storage device; and    enable playback of media associated with the accessed media file.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further configured to support go-to operations including at least one of a group consisting of a frame-number based operation and a time-code based operation.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further configured to enable the user of the first client device to cause: 
 storage of at least one media file at a remote storage device at a second physical premises that is in communication with a wide area network, the media file including at least video;    access to the media file stored at the remote storage device; and    playback, at the first physical premises, of media associated with the media file accessed from the remote storage device.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further configured to enable the user of the first client device to communicate with a user of a second client device, wherein the second client device is in communication with a wide area network, the system further being configured to enable the user of the second client device to cause: 
 access to the media file stored at the audio-video storage device, and    playback of media associated with the accessed media file.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one multimedia resource at a second physical premises in communication with a wide area network, the local network being in communication with the wide area network, wherein the system is further configured to allow access to the multimedia resource for playback, at the first physical premises, of media associated with the multimedia resource.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further configured to cause: 
 buffering of a flow of data associated with a media file from the multimedia resource, and    playback of data associated with the media file.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further configured for wireless communication.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further configured to enable the user of the first client device to operate on the play backed media using at least one operation from a group consisting of start, stop, pause, fast forward, reverse, and fast reverse operations.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further configured to enable the use of at least one communication type selected from a group consisting of video conferencing, mail, and video mail for communication between the user of the first client device and the user of the second client device.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one storage facility in communication with the local network, the storage facility configured to store at least one of pointers and hyperlinks to media files in a plurality of file systems.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further configured to 
 enable simultaneous multiple access to at least one media file stored at the audio-video storage device, and    cause multiple playbacks of media associated with the accessed media file.    
     
     
         12 . A networking system comprising: 
 at least one local network;    at least a first client device in communication with the local network;    at least one storage device in communication with the local network, the storage device being configured for storing at least one media file, the media file including time-sensitive components and time-insensitive components;    wherein the system is configured to    enable a user of the first client device to communicate with a wide area network;    enable retrieval of the at least one media file stored on the storage device; and    enable playback of media associated with the accessed media file.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further configured to enable the user of the first client device to operate on the played back media using at least one operation from a group consisting of start, stop, pause, fast forward, reverse, and fast reverse operations.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , further configured to support go-to operations including at least one of a group consisting of a frame-number based operation and a time-code based operation.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , further configured to enable the user of the first client device to cause: 
 storage of at least one media file at an audio-video storage device that is in communication with a wide area network, the media file including at least video; and    access to the media file stored at the audio-video storage device; and    playback of media associated with data from the media file accessed from the audio-video storage device.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , further configured to enable a user of the first client device to communicate with a user of a second client device, wherein the second client device is in communication with a wide area network, the system further being configured to enable the user of the second client device to cause: 
 access to the media file stored at the storage device, and    playback of media associated with data of the media file accessed from the storage device.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one multimedia resource in communication with a wide area network, the local network being in communication with the wide area network.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , further configured for wireless communication.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further configured to enable the use of at least one communication type selected from a group consisting of video conferencing, mail, and video mail for communication between the user of the first client device and the user of the second client device.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one storage facility in communication with the local network, the storage facility configured to store at least one of pointers and hyperlinks to media files in a plurality of file systems.