Proxy Server Multimedia Redirection in Virtualized Environments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multimedia redirection techniques in virtualized environments face limitations, particularly with the use of legacy media players and HTML5 adoption, where efficient processing and rendering of multimedia content across virtualization servers and user devices remain suboptimal, leading to server and network load issues and reduced scalability.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a proxy server that modifies web content with scripting code to intercept method calls, retrieves multimedia content information, and transmits it via a remote presentation protocol for rendering on user devices, allowing for efficient multimedia content redirection and rendering without relying on legacy media players.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multimedia content is processed and rendered on the virtualization server using legacy media players, then compatibility with various multimedia formats is maintained, but server load increases and scalability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultimedia format compatibilityVSAvoidserver scalability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the multimedia processing function from the virtualization server and relocates it to the client device. The proxy server intercepts multimedia content requests and redirects them to be processed locally on the client device using native media players, thereby reducing server load while maintaining format compatibility through the use of standardized protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a proxy server as an intermediary between the virtualization server and the client device. This proxy server captures multimedia content requests, modifies them to redirect processing to the client device, and manages the communication between server and client, enabling scalable architecture without sacrificing multimedia compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If multimedia content is transmitted through the virtualization server to the user device, then centralized control and management is maintained, but network load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentralized controlVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the multimedia content transmission path from the traditional server-mediated route and creates a direct transmission channel from the proxy server to the client device. This allows centralized control to be maintained through the proxy server's ability to intercept and redirect requests while significantly reducing network load by eliminating redundant server-to-client transmissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the client device to self-serve by processing and rendering multimedia content locally using native media players. The proxy server simply redirects the content delivery to the client device for local processing, reducing the need for continuous server involvement in the actual media playback and thereby reducing network bandwidth consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If external media player plug-ins are used for multimedia rendering, then broad multimedia format support is achieved, but system complexity and security vulnerabilities increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultimedia format supportVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the client device's native media player capabilities to render multimedia content instead of relying on external plug-ins. The proxy server redirects multimedia content to be processed by the operating system's built-in media players, which already have broad format support, thereby eliminating the need for additional plug-in architecture and reducing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex, security-prone external media player plug-ins with the operating system's native media playback capabilities. These native players are already integrated into the OS security model and require no additional installation or configuration, effectively using existing resources rather than adding new complex components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS9571599B2Multimedia redirection in a virtualized environment using a proxy server

Publication Date: 2017.02.14 CITRIX SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

Methods and systems for multimedia redirection in a virtualized environment using a proxy server are described herein. The proxy server may store scripting code that may be injected into web content retrieved from a content resource server. The injected scripting code may cause an instantiated application in the virtualized environment to intercept/override at least some method calls in the web content. The proxy server may send the redirected multimedia content and other information to a client agent application executing on a user's computing device for rendering.