Patent ID: 7636934
Filing Date: 2009-12-22
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform a method comprising: selecting a lead-in video stream, wherein the lead-in stream corresponds to a portion of a particular main video-stream transmission, the portion of the particular main video-stream transmission being encoded at a first bit-rate, the selected lead-in video-stream transmission being encoded at a second bit-rate, wherein the second bit-rate represents a lower number of bits per frame than a number of bits per frame represented by the first bit-rate, wherein the lead-in video stream is scheduled for transmission during the scheduled transmission of the portion of the particular main video-stream transmission, wherein the second bit-rate is determined by a function based at least in part on a request time and a next access point transmission time, the request time corresponding to a request to receive the particular main video-stream transmission, the next access point transmission time corresponding to transmission of a next access point in the particular main video-stream following the request time, wherein if a first difference between a first request time and the next access point transmission time is less than a second difference between a second request time and the next access point transmission time, a first calculated bit-rate associated with the first difference is smaller than a second calculated bit-rate associated with the second difference; receiving the selected lead-in video-stream transmission; presenting content of the selected lead-in video stream transmission; switching reception from the lead-in to the main video-stream transmission; switching presentation from the content of the lead-in to the content of the main video-stream transmission.