Patent ID: 8595372
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A system for distributing streaming media via the Internet, said streaming media being composed of a plurality of time-sequenced data elements, comprising: (a) a server connected to said data communications medium for transmitting said data elements; (b) a server buffer for storing up to a pre-determined number of said data elements for transmission; (c) means for supplying said server buffer with said data elements; (d) server buffer manager means for deleting the data element that is the oldest from said server buffer for each new data element to be received into said server buffer when said server buffer is full; (e) at least one user computer connected to said data communications medium; (f) transmission means associated with said server for sending said data elements stored in said server buffer to said user computer via said data communications medium; (g) a user buffer associated with said user computer and being provided with means for storing up to a predetermined number of said data elements, which predetermined number may be different from said predetermined number of data elements to be stored in said server buffer; (h) receiving means associated with said user computer for receiving data elements sent from said server via said data communications medium, and for storing said received data elements in said user buffer; (i) playing means for playing out audio/video material from said user buffer, said playing out comprising generating audio or video on said user computer from said data elements; (j) deleting means for deleting said played out data elements from said user buffer; and (k) sending means operative: