System and method for allocating bandwidth between media streams

A computer system, the computer system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• memory;
• and
• one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
• receiving a first request to display a first video stream on the display;
• in response to receiving the first request, displaying the first video stream on the display;
• and
• allocating, in accordance with a bandwidth allocation, available bandwidth for receiving data at the device between:
• receiving the first video stream while it is a currently displayed video stream;
• and
• preloading one or more non-displayed video streams other than the first video stream;
• wherein the available bandwidth is allocated in accordance with an historical pattern of video stream switching of a particular user;
• while displaying the first video stream on the display:
• preloading at least a portion of one or more non-displayed video streams based on the bandwidth allocation;
• and
• after preloading the portion of the one or more non-displayed video streams based on the bandwidth allocation, receiving a second request to display a second video stream on the display that is one of the one or more non-displayed video streams;
• and
• in response to receiving the second request, displaying at least a portion of the second video stream on the display using a preloaded portion of the second video stream that was preloaded in accordance with the bandwidth allocation.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer system with one or more processors, cause the computer system to:

• receive a first request to display a first video stream on the display;
• in response to receiving the first request, display the first video stream on the display;
• and
• allocate, in accordance with a bandwidth allocation, available bandwidth for receiving data at the device between:
• receiving the first video stream while it is a currently displayed video stream;
• and
• preloading one or more non-displayed video streams other than the first video stream;
• wherein the available bandwidth is allocated in accordance with an historical pattern of video stream switching of a particular user;
• while displaying the first video stream on the display:
• preload at least a portion of one or more non-displayed video streams based on the bandwidth allocation;
• and
• after preloading the portion of the one or more non-displayed video streams based on the bandwidth allocation, receive a second request to display a second video stream on the display that is one of the one or more non-displayed video streams;
• and
• in response to receiving the second request, display at least a portion of the second video stream on the display using a preloaded portion of the second video stream that was preloaded in accordance with the bandwidth allocation.