Patent ID: 9014545
Filing Date: 2015-04-21
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for adaptively downloading a digital content title from a content server to a content player, the method comprising: downloading, to a content buffer within the content player, at least one unit of the digital content title from a first encoded sequence included in a plurality of encoded sequences stored on the content server, wherein each encoded sequence comprises the digital content title encoded at a different bit rate and is capable of being separately played back by the content player, and wherein the first encoded sequence corresponds to a first bit rate at which one or more units of the digital content title are encoded and stored on the content server; determining that one or more units of the digital content title still have to be downloaded and buffered for playback; selecting a second encoded sequence included in the plurality of encoded sequences from which to download a next unit of the digital content title by determining that all units of the digital content title that have not yet been downloaded from the content server for playback can be downloaded at least in part from the second encoded sequence and accessed for playback from the content buffer without resulting in a buffer under-run, wherein the second encoded sequence corresponds to a second bit rate at which one or more units of the digital content title are encoded and stored on the content server, and the second bit rate is greater than the first bit rate; downloading the next unit of the digital content title from the second encoded sequence to the content buffer for playback; and selecting a third encoded sequence included in the plurality of encoded sequences from which to download another unit of the digital content title, wherein the third encoded sequence corresponds to a third bit rate at which one or more units of the digital content title are encoded and stored on the content server, and the third bit rate is greater than the first bit rate, but less than the second bit rate.