System and method for internet audio/video delivery

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for Internet audio/video delivery. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for Internet audio/video delivery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for distributing audio/video convent via a network, comprising:
 a client software application, wherein the client software application runs on a client device; and   a messaging software application, wherein the messaging software application runs on a messaging server;   wherein the client device and the messaging server are operatively connected together via the network such that the client software application receives at least one message from the messaging software application;   wherein the at least one message causes the client software application to access at least: i) a first audio/video data element and ii) a second audio/video data element; and   wherein the at least one message causes the client software application to composite together at least: i) the first audio/video data element and ii) the second audio/video data element and to render at least the composited first and second audio/video data elements at the client device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the client device comprises a client computer. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network comprises the Internet. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the client software application accesses the first and second audio/video data elements via the network. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the client software application accesses the first and second audio/video data elements from a content server. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the client software application accesses the first audio/video data element from a first content server, wherein the client software application accesses the second audio/video data element from a second content server, and wherein the first content server is distinct from the second content server. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the client software application accesses at least one of the first and second audio/video data elements by opening a data stream. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the client software application accesses at least one of the first and second audio/video data elements by downloading. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a studio software application, wherein the studio software application runs on a studio computer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the studio computer and the messaging server are operatively connected together via the network such that the messaging software application receives at least one message from the studio software application. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one message received by the client software application from the messaging software application is based at least in part upon the at least one message received by the messaging software application from the studio software application. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the messaging, compositing and rendering are carried out in essentially realtime. 
     
     
         13 . A system for distributing audio/video convent via a network, comprising:
 a plurality of client software applications, wherein each of the plurality of client software applications runs on a respective one of a plurality of client devices; and   at least one messaging software application, wherein the messaging software application runs on a messaging server;   wherein each of the plurality of client devices is operatively connected with the messaging server via the network such that each of the plurality of client software applications receives at least one message from the messaging software application;   wherein at least one of the messages cause each of the plurality of client software applications to access at least: i) a first audio/video data element and ii) a second audio/video data element; and   wherein at least one of the messages cause each of the plurality of client software applications to composite together at least: i) the first audio/video data element and ii) the second audio/video data element and to render at least the composited first and second audio/video data elements at each respective one of the plurality of client devices.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one message received by at least one of the plurality of client software applications is distinct from at least one message received by at least another of the plurality of client software applications. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one message received by each of the plurality of client software applications synchronizes each of the plurality of client software applications such as to render the composited first and second audio/video data elements in essentially the same state at essentially the same time. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of studio software applications, wherein each of the plurality of studio software applications runs on a respective one of a plurality of studio computers. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of studio computers is operatively connected with the messaging server via the network such that the messaging software application receives at least one message from each of the plurality of studio software applications. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one message received by each of the plurality of client software applications from the messaging software application is based at least in part upon at least one message received by the messaging software application from at least one of the plurality of studio software applications. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of messaging software applications, wherein each of the plurality of messaging software application runs on a respective one of a plurality of messaging servers, wherein each of the plurality of client devices is operatively connected with at least one of the plurality of messaging servers via the network such that each of the plurality of client software applications receives at least one message from at least one of the plurality of messaging software applications, and wherein each of the plurality of studio computers is operatively connected with at least one of the plurality of messaging servers via the network such that at least one of the plurality of messaging software applications receives at least one message from at least one of the studio software applications. 
     
     
         20 . A method for distributing audio/video convent via a network, comprising:
 sending to a client software application at least one message, wherein the client software application runs on a client device, wherein the at least one message causes the client software application to access at least: i) a first audio/video data element and ii) a second audio/video data element, and wherein the at least one message causes the client software application to composite together at least: i) the first audio/video data element and ii) the second audio/video data element and to render at least the composited first and second audio/video data elements at the client device; and   receiving from the client software application at least one message, wherein the at least one message received from the client software application indicates at least one of: (a) a degree of access by the client software application to at least the first audio/video data element and to the second audio/video data element; (b) a degree of completion of the compositing together at least the first audio/video data element and the second audio/video data element; and (c) a degree of completion of rendering at least the composited first and second audio/video data elements.