METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DOWNLOADING GRAPHIC IMAGES ON THE INTERNET

In a method and system for downloading graphic images on the Network, at least one high-resolution graphic image file of a reference image is stored at a network server. At least part of the reference image is compressed and downloaded at reduced resolution from the network server to a client connected to the network server. Upon suitable decompression, a corresponding low-resolution image is displayed and size data uniquely specifying a portion of the displayed image is uploaded from the client to the network server. The specified portion of the high-resolution graphic image file is extracted from the network server and downloaded to the client where it is displayed. Such an approach obviates the need to transfer high-resolution data intensive graphic files to the client and further allows the heavy image processing to be performed on the server much faster than is achieved in prior approaches where processing is performed locally at the client.