System and method for reducing data loss over radio frequencies to roving digital receivers
First Claim
1. A method for receiving streaming digital information at a moving receiver, said method comprising:
- receiving a first packet of streaming digital content corresponding to a first time interval of the streaming digital content, wherein the first packet includes a first plurality of content units;
storing the first packet in a play buffer;
receiving a second packet of streaming digital content corresponding to a second time interval of the streaming digital content, wherein the second packet includes a second plurality of content units, and wherein one or more of the second content units are the same as one or more of the first content units, and wherein one or more of the second content units are not the same as any of the first content units;
storing one or more of the second content units in the play buffer;
sequentially reading the content units stored in the play buffer; and
playing the sequentially read content units on a media output device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Transmitting streaming media data in overlapping bursts can reduce data loss when transmitting over radio frequencies to a roving digital receiver. A digital transmitter transmits streaming media information in bursts, where each burst of data preferably contains several seconds of streaming media information. The streaming media information to be transmitted is grouped into transmission bursts, or packets, each transmission burst containing several units of media content, or content units. A content unit is an amount of content that is stored and played by a digital receiver. Each burst contains a certain amount of information, such as a certain number of content units, which are the same as some of those sent in the previous burst. Each burst also contains new content units, i.e. content units that have not previously been transmitted. Transmitting overlapping bursts of information allows a roving receiver to temporarily lose contact with the transmitter, and yet minimizes the loss of data from the receiver'"'"'s perspective. The overlapping nature of the packets makes it more likely that a roving receiver will receive all, or most, of the content units needed to continue playing the media presentation without “dead space” or static.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for receiving streaming digital information at a moving receiver, said method comprising:
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receiving a first packet of streaming digital content corresponding to a first time interval of the streaming digital content, wherein the first packet includes a first plurality of content units;
storing the first packet in a play buffer;
receiving a second packet of streaming digital content corresponding to a second time interval of the streaming digital content, wherein the second packet includes a second plurality of content units, and wherein one or more of the second content units are the same as one or more of the first content units, and wherein one or more of the second content units are not the same as any of the first content units;
storing one or more of the second content units in the play buffer;
sequentially reading the content units stored in the play buffer; and
playing the sequentially read content units on a media output device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An information handling system comprising:
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one or more processors;
a nonvolatile storage device accessible by the processors; and
a digital receiver for receiving streaming digital information, the digital receiver being effective to;
receive a first packet of streaming digital content corresponding to a first time interval of the streaming digital content, wherein the first packet includes a first plurality of content units;
store the first packet in a play buffer;
receive a second packet of streaming digital content corresponding to a second time interval of the streaming digital content, wherein the second packet includes a second plurality of content units, and wherein one or more of the second content units are the same as one or more of the first content units, and wherein one or more of the second content units are not the same as any of the first content units;
store one or more of the second content units in the play buffer;
sequentially read the content units stored in the play buffer; and
play the sequentially read content units on a media output device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer program product stored in a computer operable media, the computer operable media containing instructions for execution by a computer, which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to implement a method for receiving streaming digital information at a moving receiver, said method comprising:
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receiving a first packet of streaming digital content corresponding to a first time interval of the streaming digital content, wherein the first packet includes a first plurality of content units;
storing the first packet in a play buffer;
receiving a second packet of streaming digital content corresponding to a second time interval of the streaming digital content, wherein the second packet includes a second plurality of content units, and wherein one or more of the second content units are the same as one or more of the first content units, and wherein one or more of the second content units are not the same as any of the first content units;
storing one or more of the second content units in the play buffer;
sequentially reading the content units stored in the play buffer; and
playing the sequentially read content units on a media output device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification