Fast-start streaming and buffering of streaming content for personal media player
AssigneeSling Media, Inc.
InventorsJason Gary Krikorian, Blake Gary Krikorian, Bhupendra Natwerial Shah, Alexander Gurzhi, Satish Iyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods allow playback of a media stream received via a network. The media stream is received and stored in a buffer prior to playback. Responsive to receiving the user command to change the content of the media stream, the buffer is flushed prior to receiving the changed content in the media stream.
Claims20
A method for playing a media stream received via a network, the method comprising:
- receiving the media stream;
- storing the received media stream in a buffer;
- providing the media stream for playback;
- while the media stream is being provided for playback, receiving a user command to change the content of the media stream;
- and
- responsive to receiving the user command, flushing the buffer prior to receiving the changed content in the media stream.
A method for playing a media stream, the method comprising:
- receiving the media stream via a network from a media source;
- storing the media stream in a buffer;
- providing the media stream for playback from the buffer;
- receiving a user command to change the content of the media stream;
- and
- responsive to receiving the user command:
- flushing the buffer;
- providing an instruction to the media source to change the content of the media stream;
- after flushing the buffer, refilling the buffer with the changed content of the media stream;
- and
- subsequently providing the changed content from the buffer for playback.
A system for playing a media stream for a user, wherein the media stream is received over a network from a source, the system comprising:
- an interface configured to receive the media stream;
- a buffer configured to store the media stream as the media stream is received;
- an input device configured to receive an input representing a user command to control the content of the media stream;
- and
- a processor configured to respond to the input by flushing the buffer, transmitting an instruction to the source via the network interface to thereby adjust the content of the media stream received from the source, and providing the adjusted content of the media stream for playback from the flushed buffer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.