Patent ID: 7464173
Filing Date: 2008-12-09
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for preparing a schedule for transmitting a multimedia file from a sender to a receiver over a network, said schedule providing at least one time segment and a corresponding transmission rate, said time segment having a start time and an end time, said multimedia file including plurality of frames, said receiver including a buffer for receiving said frames and a display device, said method comprising the steps of: determining an initial transmission rate to transmit a first frame of the file such that the receiver's buffer will have a predetermined occupancy when a transmission duration equals a frame-transmit time, wherein a duration required to transmit one frame of a multimedia file that will be displayed at a predetermined frame rate; storing in said schedule said initial transmission rate with a corresponding initial time segment having a start time equal to zero and an end time equal to frame transmit time; determining a current time segment beginning at a current start time and ending at a current end time; setting said current start time equal to said frame-transmit time; setting said current end time equal to said current start time increased by said frame-transmit time; computing a transmission rate for said current time segment wherein at said current end time said buffer has predetermined proportion of said buffer's occupancy filled, wherein said predetermined proportion is determined prior to preparing said schedule for said transmission and wherein further said proportion is one-half full; determining whether said transmission rate is feasible; if said transmission rate is feasible, then saving said current end time and said transmission rate, increasing said current time segment by adding a frame transmit time to said current end time, and repeating the aforementioned steps; but if said transmission rate is not feasible, then storing said current start time, said saved end time, and said saved transmission rate in said schedule, setting a current time segment having a current start time equal to said saved end time and a current end time equal to said saved end time increased by a frame-transmit time, and repeating said aforementioned steps.