Patent ID: 7571246
Filing Date: 2009-08-04
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: transmitting a media stream over a network from a first device to a playback device, said media stream including audio content and video content, said playback device having a buffer receiving the audio content and the video content; receiving feedback data at the first device that indicates a fullness level of the buffer at the playback device; excluding video frames from the media stream during the transmitting of the video content in response to the feedback data when a depletion rate of the buffer reaches a predetermined minimum threshold; following the excluding of the video frames from the media stream, receiving a feedback report indicating that the buffer fullness level is increasing; testing bandwidth availability of the network as a result of receiving the feedback report following the excluding of the video frames from the media stream, by sending over the network, to the playback device, padding data packets as part of the media stream that are not added to the buffer to determine whether to stop the excluding of the video frames from the media stream; using the padding data packets for testing the network bandwidth availability after the excluding of the video frames, wherein said padding data packets are not stored in the buffer; and reintroducing excluded types of video frames back into the media stream when a result of the testing reveals that the audio buffer fullness level is not further depleted by the padding data packets, whereby the testing avoids sudden depletion of the buffer caused by reintroducing the excluded video frames, wherein, as a result of the testing, the padding data packets are gradually increased to a bandwidth level corresponding to reintroduction of a first type of video frames to the media stream, wherein following the reintroduction of the first type of video frames to the media stream, the padding data packets are gradually increased to a bandwidth level corresponding to reintroduction of a second type of video frames to the media stream.