Adaptive streaming for digital content distribution

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to download for playback a digital content title from a content server by performing the steps of:

• downloading for playback a first unit of digital content from a first encoded sequence included in a plurality of encoded sequences stored on the content server, wherein each encoded sequence included in the plurality of encoded sequences comprises the digital content title encoded at a different bit rate and is capable of being separately played back on a client machine;
• determining for a first time that at least one unit of the digital content title has not yet been downloaded;
• downloading for playback a second unit of digital content from a second encoded sequence included in the plurality of encoded sequences;
• determining for a second time that at least one unit of the digital content title has not yet been downloaded;
• and
• downloading for playback a third unit of digital content from a third encoded sequence included in the plurality of encodes sequences.

A computing device, comprising:

• a memory storing a playback application;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, wherein, when executed by the processor, the playback application configures the processor to:
• determine whether all remaining units of a digital content title encoded at a current bit rate can be downloaded from a content server and played back without a buffer under-run;
• and
• if all remaining units of the digital content title encoded at the current bit rate cannot be downloaded and played back without a buffer under-run, then:
• select a first encoded sequence stored on the current sever that comprises the digital content title encoded at a first bit rate that is lower than the current bit rate,
• determine that all remaining units of the digital content title encoded at the first bit rate can be downloaded via the first encoded sequence and played back without a buffer under-run, and
• download from the content server for playback a next unit of the digital content title via the first encoded sequence, or
• if all remaining units of the digital content title encoded at the current bit rate can be downloaded and played back without a buffer under-run, then:
• select a second encoded sequence that comprises the digital content title encoded at a second bit rate that is greater than the current bit rate,
• determine whether all remaining units of the digital content title encoded at the second bit rate can be downloaded via the second encoded sequence and played back without a buffer under-run, and
• download from the content server for playback a next unit of the digital content title via either a current encoded sequence that comprises the digital content title encoded at the current bit rate or the second encoded sequence.