Patent ID: 9356981
Filing Date: 2016-05-31
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus, comprising: circuitry configured to: receive, from a client device, a request to stream content to the client device; and in response to the request, transmit the content to the client device as a plurality of content segments by: generating and transmitting to the client device at least one first content segment having a first time duration; generating and transmitting to the client device a plurality of second content segments configured to be played after the at least one first content segment and having a plurality of different time durations, wherein the different time durations of all of the plurality of second content segments progressively increase with respect to time, wherein each of the plurality of different time durations are at least as long as the first time duration, and wherein, for each of the plurality of second content segments, the respective second content segment is transmitted after the respective second content segment is generated to allow playback of the respective second content segment on the client device while content appearing after the respective second content segment is generated; and generating and transmitting to the client device a plurality of third content segments configured to be played after the plurality of second content segments, the plurality of third content segments having a plurality of equal time durations, wherein, for each of the plurality of third content segments, the respective third content segment is transmitted after the respective third content segment is generated to allow playback of the respective third content segment on the client device while content appearing after the respective third content segment is generated; the circuitry configured to stop generating the plurality of second content segments having the different time durations and begin generating the plurality of third content segments having the equal time durations in response to at least one of: generation of a predetermined number of the plurality of second content segments; expiration of a predetermined amount of time; or receipt of a notification from the client device.