Patent ID: 6128712
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: G11B,H04N

Abstract:
A method for presenting a multimedia work on a playback device comprising the steps of:loading resources required for presenting a first segment of said multimedia work on said playback device into memory accessible by said playback device;presenting said first segment of said multimedia work on said playback device;identifying possible alternative succeeding segments that may be selected for presentation subsequent to said first segment;assigning a priority ranking to said possible alternative succeeding segments of said first segment wherein said step of assigning a priority ranking to possible succeeding segments of said first segment comprises the steps of:assigning a probability factor that represents an estimate of the likelihood each of said possible succeeding segments will be selected;assigning a cost factor that represents an estimate of the time used to present each of said possible succeeding segments to said playback device;deriving said priority ranking from said probability factors and said cost factors;loading resources required by said possible succeeding alternative segments into memory accessible by said playback device according to said priority ranking.