Patent · US Expired

Startup methods and apparatuses for use in streaming content

US6792449B2 · kind B2 · utility

69Cited by
13References
52Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 28, 2001
Grant dateSep 14, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 2, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/44209
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use with a client and server device connected through a communication link. The client device sends a startup request to the server device. The startup request identifies a streamable media content that is to be provided to the client device, a communication link bandwidth associated with the communication link, and an amount of the desired streamable media content that is to be provided at a bitrate greater than the encoded bitrate but no greater than about the communication link bandwidth. The server device buffers at least the amount of the streamable media content, and transmits the amount of the buffered streamable media content at the higher bitrate. The server device locates a discrete rendering point in the amount of the buffered streamable media content and initiates transmission beginning with the discrete rendering point. After transmitting the amount of the buffered streamable media content, the server device transmits subsequent portions of the streamable media content to the client device at a bitrate about equal to the encoded bitrate. The client device buffers received streamable media content, and subsequently renders the bu…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.