Location-Based Buffer Management Systems and Methods

A method comprising:

• using, by a buffer management system, a mobile computing device to monitor one or more network connectivity factors associated with a network as the mobile computing device moves within a geographic zone;
• generating, by the buffer management system based on the monitored one or more network connectivity factors, a network connectivity map that identifies a geographic area included within the geographic zone and that has a network connectivity level that is below a predetermined threshold;
• tracking, by the buffer management system after the generating of the network connectivity map, a geographic location of the mobile computing device while the mobile computing device receives streaming content by way of the network;
• determining, by the buffer management system based on the tracked geographic location of the mobile computing device, that the mobile computing device is approaching the geographic area;
• and
• dynamically increasing, by the buffer management system in response to the determining that the mobile computing device is approaching the geographic area and based on the tracked geographic location of the mobile computing device, a size of a buffer maintained by the mobile computing device and used to present the streaming content by way of the mobile computing device.

A system comprising:

• at least one physical computing device that
• tracks a geographic location of a mobile computing device while the mobile computing device receives streaming content by way of a network;
• determines, based on the tracked geographic location, that the mobile computing device is approaching a geographic area designated as having a network connectivity level that is below a predetermined threshold;
• and
• dynamically increases, in response to the determining that the mobile computing device is approaching the geographic area and based on the tracked geographic location of the mobile computing device, a size of a buffer maintained by the mobile computing device and used to present the streaming content by way of the mobile computing device.