Method for playing on a player of a client device a content streamed in a network

A method for playing on a player of a client device a content streamed in a network, said content consisting of a sequence of segments available in a plurality of quality levels, the player being configured so as to choose the quality level of the segments as a function of at least one parameter representative of a segment reception rate, according to an Adaptive Bit Rate, (ABR), logic of the player;

• the client device comprising a first buffer (M1) for storing segments in a format adapted for transferring within the network, the method being characterized in that it comprises performing by a processing unit of the client device:
• (a) receiving from the player a request for a current segment at a first quality level;
• (b) determining, using a closed loop controller that minimizes a difference between said first quality level and a setpoint second quality level, an optimal response delay for providing the requested current segment;
• (c) providing the requested current segment from the first buffer (M1) at the expiration of said estimated optimal response delay, wherein
• said ABR logic of the player is defined by a first function of said at least one parameter representative of a segment reception rate,
• the segment reception rate is based on at least a capacity of the client device and/or network,
• the network comprises a peer-to-peer network of client devices, and
• a parameter representative of a capacity of said peer-to-peer network is chosen among a transfer speed of the peer-to-peer network, a segment availability, a rate of segment fetching, and a stability of the client devices.