Streaming media with a server identified at runtime

Abstract

A server machine may create a network connection to a device and receive a request to stream media that is managed by a different server machine. The server machine that created the network connection may be unaware of the location of the media at the time the network connection is created, and the location of the media may remain unknown to this server machine until the location is identified by the request, which may be received at runtime. In response to this request, the server machine that created the network connection may communicate with the different server machine and function as an intermediary in routing a stream of data between the device and the different server machine. In example embodiments where certain media is managed by the other server machine, the server machine may retrieve the media and stream it to the device using the created network connection.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A server system comprising:
 a connection module configured to create a network connection with a device in response to receiving a connection request from the device; and   a processor configured by a stream module to:
 receive a stream request from the device for media content stored by a server identified in the stream request and unmentioned in the connection request, the server lacking a streaming engine; 
 retrieve at least a portion of the media content from the server in response to the stream request; and 
 stream the portion of the media content to the device in response to the stream request. 
   
     
     
         2 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stream module configures the processor to receive the stream request at the server system identified in the connection request and from which the media content is absent.   
     
     
         3 . The server system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stream module configures the processor to stream the portion of the media content by providing the device with a data stream that includes the media content stored by the server and retrieved from the server.   
     
     
         4 . A method executable by a first server, the method comprising:
 creating a network connection between a device and the first server in response to the first server receiving a connection request from the device;   receiving a stream request that requests that the first server provide the device with media content stored by a second server identified in the stream request and unmentioned in the connection request, the second server lacking a streaming engine;   retrieving at least a portion of the media content from the second server, the   retrieving being performed by a processor of a machine; and streaming the portion of the media content from the first server to the device   in response to the stream request.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 receiving the connection request with a first uniform resource identifier that identifies the first server and that is distinct from. a second uniform. resource identifier that identifies the second server within the stream request. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the receiving of the stream request includes receiving the second uniform resource identifier that identifies the second server unmentioned in the connection request that identifies the first server.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the receiving of the stream request is performed by the first server from which the media content is absent   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the receiving of the stream request is performed by the first server that is identified in the connection request and unmentioned in the stream request.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the streaming of the portion of the media content includes providing the device with a data stream that includes the media content stored by the second server and retrieved by the first server.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the streaming of the portion of the media content is performed by the first server using the streaming engine that the second server lacks.   
     
     
         11 . A method executable by a first server, the method comprising:
 creating a network connection between a device and the first server in response to the first server receiving a connection request from the device;   receiving a stream request that requests that the first server receive media content from the device and provide the media content to a second server identified in the stream request and unmentioned in the connection request, the second server lacking a streaming engine;   initiating a data stream that includes at least a portion of the media content from the device to the first server, the initiating of the data stream being performed by a processor of a machine; and   providing the data stream to the second server.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 receiving the connection request with a first uniform. resource identifier that identifies the first server and that is distinct from a second uniform resource identifier that identifies the second server within the stream request. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of claim.  12 , wherein:
 the receiving of the stream request includes receiving the second uniform resource identifier that identifies the second server unmentioned in the connection request that identifies the first server.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the receiving of the stream request is performed by the first server that is identified in the connection request and unmentioned in the stream request.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the providing of the data stream that includes at least the portion of the media content to the second server includes receiving the data stream from the device and relaying the data stream to the second server that is identified in the stream request.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the providing of the data stream that includes at least the portion of the media content to the second server includes storing the portion of the media content at the second server identified in the stream request and unmentioned in the connection request that identifies the first server.