Personal media broadcasting system with output buffer
DCFirst Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a processor configured to receive an audio/video signal and to construct a media stream suitable for transmission over a network from the audio/video signal, wherein the media stream is encoded at a bit rate;
a buffer coupled to receive the media stream, the buffer coupled to the processor for communicating an amount of free space remaining in the buffer, wherein the processor constructs the media stream by encoding the audio/video signal using a bit rate that is dynamically adjusted based on the amount of free space remaining in the buffer; and
a network interface configured to transmit the media stream stored in the buffer to a client over a network.
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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.
319 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a processor configured to receive an audio/video signal and to construct a media stream suitable for transmission over a network from the audio/video signal, wherein the media stream is encoded at a bit rate; a buffer coupled to receive the media stream, the buffer coupled to the processor for communicating an amount of free space remaining in the buffer, wherein the processor constructs the media stream by encoding the audio/video signal using a bit rate that is dynamically adjusted based on the amount of free space remaining in the buffer; and a network interface configured to transmit 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 method executable by a media device for providing media content to a remote client via a network, the method comprising:
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receiving an input signal that comprises the media content from an audio/visual source; constructing a media stream suitable for transmission over the network by encoding the input signal using a bit rate selected at least in part based on an amount of free space remaining in a buffer; storing the media stream in the buffer prior to transmission; and transmitting the media stream from the buffer to a remote client over the network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method executable by a media device for providing media content to a remote client via a network, the method comprising:
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receiving an input signal that comprises the media content from an audio/visual source; constructing a media stream suitable for transmission over the network by encoding the input signal using a bit rate that is dynamically adjusted based upon a current performance of the media device; and transmitting the media stream to a remote client over the network. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification