Method and system for remote Java audio server in a heterogeneous distributed environment

A method for a distributed audio server, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• generating audio data in a platform-independent application;
• in response to receiving the audio data at an audio driver, determining whether an audio environment variable or an audio command line parameter is defined;
• if an audio environment variable or an audio command line parameter is defined, sending the audio data to a platform-independent audio server on a client machine specified by the audio environment variable or by the audio command line parameter;
• generating graphic data in the platform-independent application;
• sending the graphic data to a display server on the client machine specified by a display environment variable;
• and
• synchronizing the graphic data and the audio data, wherein the synchronizing includes sending information back to the platform-independent application that generated the audio data and the graphic data, and wherein the information provides an estimate of a delay time between a first time point when an audio packet is sent and a second time point when the audio packet is played.

A data processing system for a distributed audio server, the data processing system comprising:

• first generating means for generating audio data in a platform-independent application;
• determining means for determining, in response to receiving the audio data at an audio driver, whether an audio environment variable or an audio command line parameter is defined;
• first sending means for sending, in response to a determination that an audio environment variable or an audio command line parameter is defined, the audio data to a platform-independent audio server on a client machine specified by the audio environment variable or by the command line parameter;
• second generating means for generating graphic data in the platform-independent application;
• second sending means for sending the graphic data to a display server on the client machine specified by a display environment variable;
• and
• first synchronizing means for synchronizing the graphic data and the audio data, wherein the synchronizing includes sending information back to the platform-independent application that generated the audio data and the graphic data, and wherein audio packet is sent and a second time point when the audio packet is played.

A computer program product on a computer-readable medium for use in a data processing system for a distributed audio server, the computer program product comprising:

• instructions for generating audio data and graphic data in a platform-independent application;
• instructions for sending the graphic data to a display server on a client machine specified by a display environment variable;
• instructions for sending the audio data to a platform-independent audio server on the client machine specified by an audio environment variable or by an audio command line parameter;
• and instructions for synchronizing the graphic data and the audio data wherein the synchronizing includes sending information back to the platform-independent application that generated the audio data and the graphic data, and wherein the information provides an estimate of a delay time between a first time point when an audio packet is sent and a second time point when the audio packet is played.