Method and apparatus for distributing color corrected images across a network using distributed caching

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to image delivery over a network and more specifically to delivering color corrected images using distributed caching.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Color correcting images for delivery to users through a network generally relies on knowledge of each user's system. Thus color corrected images are usually prepared individually for each user according to the characterization of the user's system, and are not generally cacheable. Some systems create multiple versions of images for delivery over a network. What is needed is a technique of correcting and delivering images over a network that is compatible with distributed caching and would permit users having similarly characterized systems to receive similar images from distributed caching and thus optimize image delivery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method for distributing images and other content over a network whereby multiple versions of an image, color corrected for individual classes of users, are integrated with a content distribution network so that these multiple image versions are dispersed geographically over different caching servers connected to the network. Color corrected images may be combined with regional caching solutions to speed the delivery of the images to the end user. Regional caching solutions use the URL of the image to tag it as cache-able and optionally can provide information to the caching service to improve the efficiency of caching. In a first aspect, the present invention uses information in the URL to color correct an image. By combining the information needed for caching with the information needed for color correction, the present invention can work in conjunction with distributed caching systems to provide regionally cached, color corrected images.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a system that can be delivered with many caching servers distributed worldwide and one central color correction server or it can be delivered with multiple color correcting and caching servers distributed worldwide. In both cases color corrected images can be delivered to the end user faster than a solution that does not combine color correction and distributed caching, or color correcting alone.

Thus, in one aspect, the present invention provides a method for distributing color corrected images over a computer network to a client computer by receiving an image request from the client computer, selecting a color corrected image from a cache of color corrected images in response to the request wherein each image in the cache is corrected according to one of a finite number of sets of image display characteristics, and forwarding the image request to a color server to select an image in response to the request when an image cannot be selected from the cache in response to the request. Further, an image provided by the color server in reply to the request may be stored in the cache of color corrected images for later use as well as forwarded to the client computer.

In another aspect of the invention, a computer network for distributing color corrected images to a client computer comprises a cache of color corrected images, each image corrected according to one of a finite number of sets of image display characteristics; a caching server to receive an image request from the client computer and connected to the cache to select a color corrected image from the cache in response to the request; and a color server connected to the caching server to receive the image request and to select an image in response to the request when the caching server cannot select an image from the cache in response to the request.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become further apparent from the detailed description and accompanying figures that follow. In the figures and description, numerals indicate the various features of the invention, like numerals referring to like features throughout both the drawings and the description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer network according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, system 10 according to the present invention provides color images from network servers to users, enhanced when possible, with user specific color correction information to provide high fidelity color images to the users. In particular, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, color server 28 may provide color catalog pages for clothing or other products to a potential buyer, such as user 14, adjusted to provide high fidelity color images in accordance with the color display characteristics of display 14D.

In general, system 10 may include one or more network servers and one or more users. Network servers may include color server 28, commercial server 24, and caching server 26. Users may include users 14 and 30, interconnected to network servers using network 12. Network nodes such as color server 28 may serve as a user or client for some purposes and a server for others. System 10 does not require a static server, constantly functioning as a server, in all embodiments.

Network 12 may be any type of network such as a LAN, intranet or an internet such as the World Wide Web (WWW). Network 12 may also utilize any type of appropriate network protocol, such as HTTP as used on the World Wide Web. Color server 28 may be used to host color correctable images 50 to be made available to users of commercial or other network sites. Caching server 26 may also be used to host color corrected images according to the present invention.

User 14 may be any conventional network client device and may include one or more electronic devices 14A, conventionally a personal computer or workstation, and one or more display devices 14D, conventionally a CRT or LCD display monitor. User 14 may also include remote storage 14R and or local storage 14L with