Fast-start streaming and buffering of streaming content for personal media player
First Claim
1. A method for playing a media stream received from a source over a network, the method comprising:
- receiving the media stream from the source via the network;
storing the media stream in a buffer prior to rendering of the media stream;
playing the media stream from the buffer;
receiving a user command to change the content of the media stream; and
responsive to receiving the user command, providing an instruction to the source via the network to change the media stream, and flushing the buffer prior to receiving the changed content in the media stream from the source via the network.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A personal media broadcasting system enables video distribution over a computer network and allows a user to view and control media sources over a computer network from a remote location. A personal broadcaster receives an input from one or more types of media sources, digitizes and compresses the content, and streams the compressed media over a computer network to a media player running on any of a wide range of client devices for viewing the media. The system may allow the user to issue control commands (e.g., “channel up”) from the media player to the broadcaster, causing the source device to execute the commands. The broadcaster and the media player may employ several techniques for buffering, transmitting, and viewing the content to improve the user'"'"'s experience.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for playing a media stream received from a source over a network, the method comprising:
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receiving the media stream from the source via the network; storing the media stream in a buffer prior to rendering of the media stream; playing the media stream from the buffer; receiving a user command to change the content of the media stream; and responsive to receiving the user command, providing an instruction to the source via the network to change the media stream, and flushing the buffer prior to receiving the changed content in the media stream from the source via the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 23)
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13. A method for playing a media stream at a receiving device, the method comprising:
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receiving the media stream from a source over a network at the receiving device; storing the media stream in a buffer at the receiving device prior to rendering of the media stream; playing the media stream from the buffer; receiving a user command at the receiving device to change the content of the media stream; and responsive to receiving the user command; flushing the buffer; providing an instruction to the source via the network to change the content of the media stream; refilling the buffer with the changed content of the media stream; and subsequently playing the changed content from the buffer without waiting for the buffer to fill to a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for playing a media stream for a user, wherein the media stream is received over a network from a source, the system comprising:
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an interface configured to receive the media stream; a buffer configured to store the media stream as the media stream is received from the network prior to rendering of the media stream; an input device configured to receive an input representing a user command to control the content of the media stream; and a processor configured to receive the media stream from the buffer, to render the media stream received from the buffer for playback to the user and, in response to receiving the input, to flush the buffer, to direct the source via the network interface to adjust the content of the media stream received from the source, and, upon receiving the adjusted media stream via the network interface, to render the adjusted media stream from the buffer without waiting for the buffer to fill to a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification