Patent ID: 8583817
Filing Date: 2013-11-12
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for minimizing network traffic in playing a media stream with a media module running in a client computer system, said method comprising: identifying, by the media module via a processor of the client computer system, the media stream to play on the client computer system, wherein the media stream is selected from the group consisting of a video file and an audio file, wherein a media content server coupled to the client computer system via a communication network stores the video file, the audio file, and a location sync file separately from one another, wherein the video file comprises motion pictures and an associated first audio stream, wherein the audio file consists of a second audio stream identical to the first audio stream, and wherein the location sync file comprises a pointer tracking play time of both the video file and the audio file in the media module; downloading, by the media module via the processor, the identified media stream from the media content server in an amount of a predefined buffer size of the media module and playing, by the media module via the processor, the downloaded media stream while the media stream continues to be downloaded, wherein the predefined buffer size of the media module is less than the size of the video file, wherein the pointer of the location sync file points to a current location of the media stream from said playing, wherein if the identified media stream is the video file then said playing comprises playing both the motion pictures and the associated first audio stream, and wherein if the identified media stream is the audio file then said playing comprises playing the second audio stream; and receiving, by the media module via the processor during said playing while the media stream continues to be downloaded, a notification indicating that visibility of the media module on a computer screen of the client computer system is changed during said playing the downloaded media stream while the media stream continues to be downloaded, wherein the notification is selected from the group consisting of a first notification and a second notification, wherein the first notification indicates that the media module becomes invisible on the computer screen from being visible on the computer screen, wherein the second notification indicates that the media module becomes visible on the computer screen from being invisible on the computer screen, wherein the received notification is the first notification if the identified media stream is the video file, and wherein the received notification is the second notification if the identified media stream is the audio file.