Method for data rate and buffer estimation for multi-source delivery

A variable quality media system comprising:

• a network or application-layer decoder configured to receive media content of a data segment over at least one network path and store the media content, the media content being encoded with network or application-layer code;
• and
• a media renderer, associated with a buffer;
• and
• a media quality selector, configured to obtain a decoding metric of the network or application-layer decoder and select a quality of the media content of subsequent data segments based on the decoding metric, the decoding metric indicating a property of the decoding process,
• wherein the network or application-layer decoder is further configured to decode the media content and provide decoded media content to the buffer.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions for:

• receiving media content of a data segment over at least one network path, the media content being encoded with network or application-layer code;
• storing the media content in a network or application-layer decoder, the network or application-layer decoder being configured to decode the media content and provide decoded media content to a buffer associated with a media renderer;
• obtaining a decoding metric of the network or application-layer decoder, the decoding metric indicating a property of the decoding process;
• and
• selecting the quality of the media content of subsequent data segments based on the decoding metric.