System and method for minimizing perceived dead air time in internet streaming media delivery

• US 20020120752A1
• Filed: 02/27/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benhov GmbH, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mosi Media LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Mason, James Eric, Frerichs, David, Logan, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,631,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355

Abstract

A system for supplying streaming media or other media sources to clients, where said system minimizes the lag time perceived by the user during negotiation between media sources by outputting the media content remaining in the buffer while the system is negotiating connection and buffering information from a second media source.

Claims

1. A device for receiving streaming audio content from a plurality of internet based audio content servers and outputting received audio content to an annunciating system, said audio content servers being capable of transmitting a substantially continuous stream of audio content to the device, wherein:

said device is programmed for determining a desired first audio content provider and a desired second audio content provider based on user input;

said device is programmed to create a first buffer for buffering a first stream of audio content from a first internet based audio content servers and to create a second buffer for buffering a second stream of audio content from a second internet based audio content servers;

said device is programmed to receive, buffer and output a first stream of audio content from the first internet based audio content server, using the first buffer to buffer the first stream of audio content and transmit the first stream of audio content to the annunciating system, and, upon receiving input directing the device to connect to a desired second audio content provider, receive and buffer the second stream of audio content from the second internet based audio content server, using the second buffer to buffer the second stream of audio content and transmit the second stream of audio content to the annunciating system while continuing, said receiving and buffering of the second stream occurring while the device continues to transmit the first stream of audio content to the annunciating system until the first buffer is empty.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is further programmed to cease transmission of the first audio content to the annunciating system upon buffering of a predetermined amount of data from the second audio content server in the second buffer.

3. A system for operating an internet appliance to receive streaming media data from a plurality of media servers, and for selectively receiving media data from a first media server and a second media server in response to user input, the first media server and the second media server being coupled to a global network of computers and capable of transmitting first media data and second media data through the global network of computers to the internet appliance, said system programmed to perform the following steps:

upon receiving user input, negotiating connection with the first media server and directing the first media server to transmit first media data to the internet appliance, said internet appliance having a first buffer for storing the first media data;

outputting the first media data in the first buffer when the first buffer is filled to a first low-water mark;

upon receiving user input, negotiating connection with the second media server and directing the second media server to transmit second media data to the internet appliance, the internet appliance having a second buffer for storing the second media data;

directing the first media server to cease transmission of the first media data to the internet appliance when the internet appliance receives user input directing it to connect to the second media server;

continuing output of the first media data in the first buffer after the internet appliance receives user input directing it to connect to the second media server; and

outputting the second media data in the second buffer when the second buffer is filled to a second low-water mark.

4. A system for operating an internet appliance to receive streaming media data from a plurality of media servers, and for selectively receiving media data from a first media server and a second media server in response to user input, the first media server and the second media server being coupled to a global network of computers and capable of transmitting first media data and second media data through a media database server to the internet appliance, said system programmed to perform the steps of:

directing the first media server to transmit first media data to the media database server through a global network of computers when the internet appliance has negotiated connection with the first media server;

directing the media database server to transmit the first media data to the internet appliance, said internet appliance having a first buffer for storing the first media data;

outputting the first media data in the first buffer when the first buffer is filled to a first low-water mark;

directing the second media server to transmit second media data to the media database server through the global network of computers when the internet appliance has negotiated connection with the second media server;

directing the media database server to transmit second media data to the internet appliance through the global network of computers, the internet appliance having a second buffer for storing the second media data;

directing the first media server to cease transmission of the first media data to the media database server when the second media server is transmitting the second media data to the media database server;

outputting the second media data in the second buffer when the second buffer is filled to a second low-water mark;

ceasing output of the first media data in the first buffer.

5. A method for operating an internet appliance to receive streaming media data from a plurality of media servers, and for selectively receiving media data from a first media server and a second media server in response to user input, the first media server and the second media server being coupled to a global network of computers and capable of transmitting first media data and second media data through the global network of computers to the internet appliance, said method comprising:

negotiating connection with the first media server and receiving first media data from the first media server;

storing the first media data in a first buffer having a first low-water mark;

outputting first media data when the first buffer is filled to the first low-water mark;

negotiating connection with the second media server and receiving second media data from the second media server;

storing second media data in a second buffer having a second low-water mark;

ceasing receipt of first media data; and

continuing output of first media data from the first buffer while negotiating connection to the second media server.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of continuing output of the first media data from the first buffer until the second buffer is filled to the second low-water mark.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of ceasing receipt of first media data is simultaneous with the step of outputting second media data when the second buffer is filled to the second low-water mark.

8. A method for operating an internet appliance to receive streaming media data from a plurality of media servers, and for selectively receiving media data from a first media server and a second media server in response to user input, the first media server and the second media server being coupled to a global network of computers and capable of transmitting first media data and second media data through a media database server to the internet appliance, said method comprising:

negotiating connection with the first media server and transmitting first media data from the first media server to the media database server;

transmitting first media data from the media database server to the internet appliance;

creating a first buffer on the internet appliance, said first buffer having a first low-water mark, and storing the first media data in said first buffer;

outputting first media data when the first buffer is filled to the first low-water mark;

negotiating connection with the second media server and transmitting second media data from the second media server to the media database server;

transmitting second media data from the media database server to the internet appliance;

creating a second buffer on the internet appliance, said second buffer having a second low-water mark, and storing the second media data in said second buffer;

ceasing transmission of first media data to the media database server; and

continuing output of first media data from the first buffer while negotiating connection to the second media server.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of continuing output of the first media data from the first buffer until the second buffer is filled to the second low-water mark.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of ceasing transmission of first media data is simultaneous with the step of outputting second media data when the second buffer is filled to the second low-water mark.