Faster than real time streaming in a playlist context

Abstract

A method for facilitating multimedia streaming using server-side playlists comprises a plurality of operations. An operation is performed for streaming current playlist selection data from a server that supports server-side playlists to a client having a jitter buffer. An operation is performed for receiving at the server a request for streaming multimedia content corresponding to a different playlist selection. An operation is performed for communicating client-server specification information between the server and the client for enabling the different playlist selection data to be streamed from the server to the client at a data transfer rate greater than a maximum data presentation rate. The operation for communicating client-server specification information includes transmitting from the server for reception by the client information acknowledging that the server supports faster than real-time streaming and receiving at the server information designating a current size of the jitter buffer and a maximum data rate at which data is receivable by the client. The server performs an operation for streaming the different playlist selection data from the server for reception by the client after the operation for communicating client-server specification information is performed. The different playlist selection data is streamed at a data transfer rate greater than the maximum data transfer rate at which data is outputable from the jitter buffer.

Description

[0001] Cross references to related applications [0002] This patent application claims the priority of the co-pending U.S. provisional patent application named "Faster Than RealTime Streaming In A Playlist Context" filed on December 02, 2005, and the application number is No. 60 / 741,716. There are common applicants, and they are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Technical field [0003] The present invention generally relates to streaming content on a network connection, and more specifically, to the implementation of server-side playlists that assist such streaming. Background technique [0004] Generally, when a client that does not use playlists to stream content clips wants to stop streaming one content clip and start streaming another, it uses a standard streaming protocol (for example, Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP)) to Close the current streaming session and start a new streaming session. This process of closing the current streaming session and sta...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, while streaming data at a faster-than-real-time streaming data rate is a common approach outside the context of a playlist, it is not a well-known method for addressing such delays in the context of a playlist, and in client A non-routine exchange of information must be performed between the client and the server so that the faster-than-real-time streaming of this content data takes place correctly in the context of a playlist

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