{
  "patent_number": "US 6732183",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How to Seamlessly Switch Video Streams for Many Viewers",
  "original_title": "Video and audio streaming for multiple users",
  "summary": "This patent describes a computer system that allows an administrator or viewer to smoothly switch between different video or audio sources for many people watching at the same time, without interrupting their viewing experience.",
  "what_it_does": "The system provides streaming media to multiple client devices over a network. It uses a 'network server module' to send a video stream from a 'first streaming media source' to all viewers on a single channel (Claim 1). When a 'switching terminal' (which could be an administrator or even one of the viewers, per Claims 6 and 7) requests a change, a 'proxy module' steps in. This proxy module, which usually forwards the current stream, then starts forwarding the new 'second streaming media source' to the network server module. Crucially, this happens *while* the network server is still sending the old stream to the viewers (Claim 2), allowing for a smooth, 'seamless transition' on the same channel, like switching camera feeds during a live event.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover systems where only a single client receives streaming media, as it specifies a 'plurality of clients' (Claim 1).",
    "Does not cover switching between streams that results in a noticeable interruption or 'hiccup' for the viewer, as it emphasizes 'seamless transition' (Claim 1).",
    "Does not cover systems where the new stream is sent on a completely different channel, as the transition occurs 'on the first channel' (Claim 1).",
    "Does not cover direct client-to-source streaming without an intermediary 'network server module' and 'proxy module' (Claim 1).",
    "Does not cover systems that switch streams without the proxy module forwarding the new stream while the old stream is still active (Claim 2)."
  ],
  "filed": "2000-05-04",
  "granted": "2004-05-04",
  "expires": "2020-05-04",
  "status": "expired",
  "holder": "BroadWare Technologies LLC",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/broadware-technologies-llc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "John J. Graham",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/john-j-graham"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 98,
  "tags": [
    "telecommunications",
    "software",
    "consumer_electronics"
  ],
  "abstract": "A computer system provides streaming media to a plurality of clients over a network. The system includes a proxy module that forwards streaming media from a first streaming media source to a network server module that is communicating to the plurality of client terminals. The proxy module is comunicatable with the network server module to be signaled a switch request. In response to the switch request, the proxy module forwards streaming media from a second streaming media source to the network server module while the network server module is signaling streaming media from the first streaming media source to the plurality of client terminals.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6732183/video-and-audio-streaming-for-multiple-users",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6732183/video-and-audio-streaming-for-multiple-users/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US6732183",
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}