System and method for seamlessly switching between media streams
First Claim
1. A method for seamlessly switching between media streams during playback, comprising:
- receiving a first media stream;
playing said first media stream;
receiving a second media stream;
playing said second media stream; and
ending play of said first media stream after said playing said second media stream.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for seamlessly switching between multiple media streams of multimedia content is disclosed. A media server transmits a first media stream to a media client and a media player plays it to a user. At some point, a request to play a second media stream at the media client is detected. A media stream buffer is provided that buffers one or both of the media streams. The media stream buffer enables the media player to continue to play at least one of the media streams while switching between the first media stream and the second media stream. Since the media player continues to play at least one of the media streams to the user without interruption, the switch from the first media stream to the second media stream is thus affected seamlessly.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for seamlessly switching between media streams during playback, comprising:
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receiving a first media stream;
playing said first media stream;
receiving a second media stream;
playing said second media stream; and
ending play of said first media stream after said playing said second media stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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12. A method for seamlessly switching between media streams during playback, comprising:
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playing a first media stream;
detecting a request to play a second media stream;
beginning play of said second media stream; and
ending play of said first media stream after said beginning play of said second media stream.
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21. A method for seamlessly switching between media streams during playback, comprising:
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playing a first media stream via a first media player;
playing a second media stream via a second media player;
detecting a request to play said second media stream;
seamlessly switching from said first media player to said second media player in response to said request. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31)
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28. A method for enabling seamless switching between media streams during playback, comprising:
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transmitting a first media stream to a media client;
receiving a request for a second media stream from said media client; and
transmitting said second media stream at a second media stream index corresponding with the point at which transmitting said first media stream is stopped.
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29. A method for enabling seamlessly switching between media streams during playback, comprising:
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buffering a first media stream;
playing said first buffered media stream;
seamlessly switching between playing said first buffered media stream and playing a second media stream.
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32. A method for seamlessly switching between media streams comprising:
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playing a first media stream;
buffering a second media stream while playing said first media stream;
seamlessly switching from playing said first media stream to playing said second media stream. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A media client environment comprising:
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a foreground media player that buffers a first media stream and plays said buffered first media stream;
a background media player that buffers a second media stream and plays said buffered second media stream; and
a switch control that interchanges said foreground media player and said background media player to seamlessly switch between said first media stream and said second media stream.
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35. A method for enabling seamless switching between media streams during playback, comprising:
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buffering a first media stream;
playing said first media stream;
sending a request for a server to stop streaming said first media stream;
sending a request for a server to start streaming a second media stream;
buffering said second media stream; and
playing said first buffered media stream after said sending said request for a server to stop streaming said first media stream and while said buffering said second media stream.
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36. A media client environment for seamlessly switching between media streams during playback, comprising:
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a first media player;
a second media player; and
a media stream switch control for switching between said first media player and said second media player so that said second media player begins playing when said first media player stops playing.
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37. A method for seamlessly switching between media streams during playback, comprising:
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transmitting a first media stream to a first media player at a media client;
receiving a request for a second media stream from said media client;
transmitting said second media stream to a second media player at said media client; and
ending transmission of said first media stream to said media client when said transmitting said second media stream begins.
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Specification