Systems and methods for selecting buffering time for media data

A method of tailoring an amount of Pre-Data to be buffered in a media player, the method comprising:

• receiving at least a portion of a streamed media data;
• retrieving a value for a predetermined playback bit rate from the streamed media data;
• determining an available bit rate for the streamed media data;
• comparing the available bit rate to the predetermined playback bit rate;
• and selecting the amount of Pre-Data to be buffered in response to the comparison, further comprising computing the plurality of amounts of Pre-Data using a stored maximum bit deficit (MBD) value retrieved from the streamed media data,
• wherein the plurality of amounts of Pre-Data correspond to pre-determined values, and
• wherein comparing further comprises:
• generating a ratio of the available bit rate to the predetermined playback bit rate;
• comparing the ratio to a plurality of thresholds;
• and
• selecting from among a plurality of amounts of Pre-Data to be buffered in response to the comparisons of the ratio.

A method of tailoring a first indication of an amount of data to be stored in a memory buffer for a clip of streamed media data, the method comprising:

• receiving a request for at least a portion of a media data from a media player;
• determining an available bit rate of data being streamed to the media player;
• transmitting the requested portion of the media data to the media player;
• retrieving a value for maximum bit deficit for the portion of the media data, where the value is related to the available bit rate and to the requested portion;
• and
• using the value to provide the first indication.

A server that performs a method of tailoring a first indication of an amount of data to be stored in a memory buffer for a clip of streamed media data, the method comprising:

• receiving a request for at least a portion of a media data from a media player;
• determining an available bit rate of data being streamed to the media player;
• transmitting the requested portion of the media data to the media player;
• retrieving a value for maximum bit deficit for the portion of the media data, where the value is related to the available bit rate and to the requested portion;
• and
• using the value to provide the first indication.

A non-transitory computer accessible medium having computer-executable instructions comprising:

• a module adapted to receive a request for at least a portion of a media data from a media player;
• a module adapted to determine an available bit rate of data to the media player;
• a module adapted to transmit the requested portion of the media data to the media player;
• a module adapted to retrieve a value corresponding to a maximum bit deficit for the portion of the media data, where the value is related to the available bit rate and to the requested portion;
• and
• a module adapted to use the value to provide the first indication.

A method of tailoring a value for Pre-Data in a media player, the method comprising:

• receiving at least a portion of a streamed media data;
• retrieving a value for a predetermined playback bit rate from the streamed media data;
• determining an available bit rate for the streamed media data;
• comparing the available bit rate to the predetermined playback bit rate;
• generating a ratio of the available bit rate to the predetermined playback bit rate;
• comparing the ratio to a first predetermined threshold;
• selecting and using a first value for Pre-Data in response to a first outcome of the comparison of the ratio and the first predetermined threshold;
• comparing the ratio to a second predetermined threshold different than the first predetermined threshold in response to a second outcome of the comparison of the ratio and the first pre-determined threshold;
• selecting and using a second value different than the first value for Pre-Data in response to a first outcome of the comparison of the ratio and the second predetermined threshold;
• comparing the ratio to a third predetermined threshold different from the second predetermined threshold in response to a second outcome of the comparison of the ratio and the second predetermined threshold;
• selecting and using a third value different than the second value for Pre-Data in response to a first outcome of the comparison of the ratio and the third predetermined threshold;
• and
• selecting and using a fourth value different than the third value for Pre-Data in response to a second outcome of the comparison of the ratio and the third predetermined threshold.

A non-transitory computer accessible medium having computer-executable instructions for a media player, comprising:

• a module configured to receive at least a portion of a streamed media data;
• a module configured to retrieve a value for a predetermined playback bit rate from the streamed media data;
• a module configured to determine an available bit rate for the streamed media clip;
• a module configured to compare the available bit rate to the predetermined playback bit rate;
• a module configured to generate a ratio of the available bit rate to the predetermined playback bit rate;
• a module configured to compare the ratio to a first predetermined threshold;
• a module configured to select and use a first value for Pre-Data in response to a first outcome of the comparison of the ratio and the first predetermined threshold;
• a module configured to compare the ratio to a second predetermined threshold different than the first predetermined threshold in response to a second outcome of the comparison of the ratio and the first predetermined threshold;
• a module configured to select and use a second value different than the first value for Pre-Data in response to a first outcome of the comparison of the ratio and the second predetermined threshold;
• a module configured to compare the ratio to a third predetermined threshold different from the second predetermined threshold in response to a second outcome of the comparison of the ratio and the second predetermined threshold;
• a module configured to select and use a third value different than the second value for Pre-Data in response to a first outcome of the comparison of the ratio and the third predetermined threshold;
• and
• a module configured to select and use a fourth value different than the third value for Pre-Data in response to a second outcome of the comparison of the ratio and the third predetermined threshold.