Method and apparatus for continuous playback of media

A method for preparing streaming media received over a non-deterministic delay network at a client device for playback or distribution which comprises the steps of:

• receiving the streaming media at the client device;
• determining a measure of an arrival rate and a measure of a data consumption rate of the received streaming media;
• determining a measure of mismatch between the arrival measure and the consumption measure;
• and
• utilizing time-scale modification to mitigate the effects of the mismatch;
• wherein:
• the arrival measure is determined as a function of an arrival rate of data in a buffer;
• and
• the consumption measure is determined as a function of a use rate of data by a playback system or a distribution system.

A method for preparing streaming media received over a non-deterministic delay network at a client device for playback or distribution which comprises the steps of:

• receiving the streaming media at the client device;
• determining a measure of an arrival rate and a measure of a data consumption rate of the received streaming media;
• determining a measure of mismatch between the arrival measure and the consumption measure;
• and
• utilizing time-scale modification to mitigate the effects of the mismatch;
• wherein the arrival rate is determined using time-stamps for arriving data.

A method for preparing streaming media received over a non-deterministic delay network at a client device for playback or distribution which comprises the steps of:

• receiving the streaming media at the client device;
• determining a measure of an arrival rate and a measure of a data consumption rate of the received streaming media;
• determining a measure of mismatch between the arrival measure and the consumption measure;
• and
• utilizing time-scale modification to mitigate the effects of the mismatch;
• wherein the arrival rate is determined by monitoring data arrival times and data packet sizes.

A method for playback of streaming media received over a non-deterministic delay network at a client device which comprises steps of:

• receiving the streaming media at the client device in a buffer;
• playing back the streaming media;
• determining a measure of an arrival rate and a measure of a data consumption rate of the received streaming media;
• determining a time-scale modification playback rate considering one or more of the measure of arrival rate, the measure of a data consumption rate, and user input time-scale modification playback rate requests;
• utilizing time-scale modification to mitigate underflow or overflow in the buffer, or disruption in playback;
• and
• providing an indication of a current time-scale modification playback rate to the user.

A method for preparing streaming media received over a non-deterministic delay network at a client device for playback or distribution which comprises the steps of:

• receiving the streaming media at the client device;
• determining a measure of an arrival rate and a measure of a data consumption rate of the received streaming media;
• determining a measure of mismatch between the arrival measure and the consumption measure;
• and
• utilizing time-scale modification to mitigate the effects of the mismatch;
• wherein the step of utilizing comprises determining a maximum time-scale modification playback rate that can be used over a reporting time interval without draining a buffer that receives the streaming media.

A method for preparing streaming media received over a non-deterministic delay network at a client device for playback or distribution which comprises the steps of:

• receiving the streaming media at the client device;
• determining a measure of an arrival rate and a measure of a data consumption rate of the received streaming media;
• determining a measure of mismatch between the arrival measure and the consumption measure;
• and
• utilizing time-scale modification to mitigate the effects of the mismatch;
• wherein the step of utilizing comprises determining a minimum time-scale modification playback rate that can be used over a reporting time interval without overflowing a buffer that receives the streaming media;
• wherein the minimum time-scale modification playback rate is determined as a function of the arrival measure, the consumption measure, an amount of data in the buffer, and the time interval.

A method for playback of streaming media received over a non-deterministic delay network at a client device which comprises steps of:

• receiving the streaming media at the client device, which client device includes a CPU;
• playing back the streaming media;
• determining a measure of CPU availability;
• determining a time-scale modification playback rate as a function of the measure of CPU availability;
• and
• utilizing time-scale modification to prepare the streaming media for playback.