Personal media broadcasting system with output buffer
First Claim
1. A device that transmits a media stream to a media player via a network, the device comprising:
- a buffer configured to store the media stream prior to transmission via the network;
a processor configured to construct the media stream in a format suitable for storage in the buffer prior to transmission over the network, wherein the media stream is constructed from an audio/video signal using an adjustable encoding parameter having a value determined at least in part based upon an amount of free space remaining in the buffer; and
a network interface for transmitting the media stream stored in the buffer to a client over a network.
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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.
393 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device that transmits a media stream to a media player via a network, the device comprising:
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a buffer configured to store the media stream prior to transmission via the network; a processor configured to construct the media stream in a format suitable for storage in the buffer prior to transmission over the network, wherein the media stream is constructed from an audio/video signal using an adjustable encoding parameter having a value determined at least in part based upon an amount of free space remaining in the buffer; and a network interface for transmitting the media stream stored in the buffer to a client over a network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A placeshifting system comprising:
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a placeshifting device comprising an intermediate buffer and a network interface, wherein the placeshifting device is configured to construct a media stream suitable for transmission over a network from received audio/video source content by encoding the source content using an encoding parameter selected at least in part based on an amount of free space remaining in the intermediate output buffer, wherein the placeshifting device is further configured to transmit the media stream from the intermediate output buffer via the network interface and to adapt the encoding of the audio/visual content by changing the encoding parameter as the amount of free space remaining in the transmit buffer changes during transmission of the media stream; and a client module receive the media stream from the placeshifting device over a network connection and to play the media stream for a user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing access to audio/visual content from a remotely located media client, the method comprising:
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constructing a media stream suitable for transmission over a network by encoding the audio/visual content using an encoding parameter selected at least in part based on an amount of free space remaining in a transmit buffer; storing the media stream in the transmit buffer prior to transmission; sending the media stream from the transmit buffer to the remotely located media client over the network; and adapting the encoding of the audio/visual content by changing the encoding parameter as the amount of free space remaining in the transmit buffer changes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification