A method for a media encoding apparatus for preventing disruption of a media stream transmitted across a lossy network, the method comprising: applying a lost packet recovery algorithm to the media stream, wherein the lost packet recovery algorithm inserts redundant information (104, 105) into a transmitted data stream including the media stream to permit reconstruction of one or more lost packets (108, 110); and applying a congestion avoidance algorithm to the transmitted data stream, wherein the congestion avoidance algorithm, if after a first predetermined period of time a packet loss is lower than a first predetermined threshold, transitions into an up-speeding state which includes the following steps: increasing a data rate of the transmitted data stream by temporarily increasing the amount of redundant information (104, 105) inserted into the transmitted data stream for a second predetermined period of time; receiving channel information from the network including packet loss and monitoring the packet loss to determine whether the network can support the increased data rate of the transmitted data stream; if the packet loss remains below a second predetermined threshold during the second predetermined period of time, increasing a bit rate of the media stream and reducing the temporarily increased amount of redundant information while maintaining the increased data rate of the transmitted data stream; and if the increased data rate is less than a maximum data rate, continuing in the up-speeding state, otherwise transitioning into a maximum data rate state, the maximum data rate state indicating that the maximum data rate is being used. applying a lost packet recovery algorithm to the media stream, wherein the lost packet recovery algorithm inserts redundant information (104, 105) into a transmitted data stream including the media stream to permit reconstruction of one or more lost packets (108, 110); and applying a congestion avoidance algorithm to the transmitted data stream, wherein the congestion avoidance algorithm, if after a first predetermined period of time a packet loss is lower than a first predetermined threshold, transitions into an up-speeding state which includes the following steps: increasing a data rate of the transmitted data stream by temporarily increasing the amount of redundant information (104, 105) inserted into the transmitted data stream for a second predetermined period of time; receiving channel information from the network including packet loss and monitoring the packet loss to determine whether the network can support the increased data rate of the transmitted data stream; if the packet loss remains below a second predetermined threshold during the second predetermined period of time, increasing a bit rate of the media stream and reducing the temporarily increased amount of redundant information while maintaining the increased data rate of the transmitted data stream; and if the increased data rate is less than a maximum data rate, continuing in the up-speeding state, otherwise transitioning into a maximum data rate state, the maximum data rate state indicating that the maximum data rate is being used. increasing a data rate of the transmitted data stream by temporarily increasing the amount of redundant information (104, 105) inserted into the transmitted data stream for a second predetermined period of time; receiving channel information from the network including packet loss and monitoring the packet loss to determine whether the network can support the increased data rate of the transmitted data stream; if the packet loss remains below a second predetermined threshold during the second predetermined period of time, increasing a bit rate of the media stream and reducing the temporarily increased amount of redundant information while maintaining the increased data rate of the transmitted data stream; and if the increased data rate is less than a maximum data rate, continuing in the up-speeding state, otherwise transitioning into a maximum data rate state, the maximum data rate state indicating that the maximum data rate is being used.