System and method for reducing data loss over radio frequencies to roving digital receivers

• US 7,577,397 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Klein, Paul Fredric
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/259,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20070118666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.02, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/3.06, 455/414.1, 455/414.4, 455/425, 455/456.2, 455/9, 455/10, 455/13.2, 455/504, 455/514, 709/230, 709/231
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18582 Arrangements for data linking, i.e. for data framing, for error recovery, for multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/90 Buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the one or more second content units in the play buffer further comprises:

overlaying one or more of the first content units that are the same as one or more of the second content units.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the one or more second content units in the play buffer further comprises:

selecting the second content units that are not the same as any of the first content units; and

storing the selected second content units in the play buffer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein storing the selected second content units in the play buffer comprises storing the selected second content units in a position after the first packet stored in the play buffer.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a third packet of streaming digital content corresponding to a third time interval of the streaming digital content, wherein the third packet includes a third plurality of content units, and wherein one or more of the third content units are the same as one or more of the second content units, and wherein one or more of the third content units are not the same as any of the second content units; and

storing one or more of the third content units in the play buffer.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

after receiving the first packet, encountering an obstruction that prevents reception of one or more subsequent packets; and

wherein receiving the second packet occurs after encountering the obstruction, and wherein the playing occurs without an interruption.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the media output device is a digital radio.

8. An information handling system comprising:

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.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the digital receiver stores the one or more second content units in the play buffer by overlaying one or more of the first content units that are the same as one or more of the second content units.

10. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the digital receiver stores the one or more second content units in the play buffer by selecting the second content units that are not the same as any of the first content units, and storing the selected second content units in the play buffer.

11. The information handling system of claim 10 wherein the digital receiver stores the selected second content units in the play buffer by storing the selected second content units in a position after the first packet stored in the play buffer.

12. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the digital receiver is further effective to:

receive a third packet of streaming digital content corresponding to a third time interval of the streaming digital content, wherein the third packet includes a third plurality of content units, and wherein one or more of the third content units are the same as one or more of the second content units, and wherein one or more of the third content units are not the same as any of the second content units; and

store one or more of the third content units in the play buffer.

13. The information handling system of claim 8 wherein the digital receiver is further effective to:

encounter an obstruction, after receiving the first packet, that prevents reception of one or more subsequent packets;

receive the second packet after encountering the obstruction; and

play the sequentially read content units on the media output device without an interruption.

14. A computer readable medium having encoded thereon computer 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:

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.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein storing the one or more second content units in the play buffer further comprises:

overlaying one or more of the first content units that are the same as one or more of the second content units.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein storing the one or more second content units in the play buffer further comprises:

selecting the second content units that are not the same as any of the first content units; and

storing the selected second content units in the play buffer.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein storing the selected second content units in the play buffer comprises storing the selected second content units in a position after the first packet stored in the play buffer.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving a third packet of streaming digital content corresponding to a third time interval of the streaming digital content, wherein the third packet includes a third plurality of content units, and wherein one or more of the third content units are the same as one or more of the second content units, and wherein one or more of the third content units are not the same as any of the second content units; and

storing one or more of the third content units in the play buffer.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 14 further comprising:

after receiving the first packet, encountering an obstruction that prevents reception of one or more subsequent packets; and

wherein receiving the second packet occurs after encountering the obstruction, and wherein the playing occurs without an interruption.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the media output device is a digital radio.